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Soviet Union's BT-1 Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank)
BT-1 fast tank: |
BT-1 fast tank: |
Design
C. C. Benson, a United States Cavalry officer, wrote in two military journals about the Christie Model 1940 vehicle.5 The head of the Red Army Military Technical Board, Innokenti Andreyevich Khalepsky, saw the articles and became very interested in the Christie design.5 Two Christie tanks were snuck out of the United States that became the basis for the BT series.5
The BT series were to be mechanized cavalry complementing the T-28s that would serve as infantry support.5
When on wheels, the steering wheel controlled the front pair of wheels.3 When on tracks, the steering was done by clutch and brake.3
The construction was all riveted.4
Production
- BT-1: 12
- Manufacturer: Kharkov Locomotive Works (KhPZ Nr 183)5
Prototype
The building of the prototype began in May 1931.2 Only one was produced.2
| BT-1 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 31,2,3,4,5 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 10 tons4,5, 10.2 tons1,3, 11 tons2 10,200 kg4,5 |
| Length w/gun | 18'1,3,4,5 5.49 m4,5 |
| Length w/o gun | 18'3 |
| Height | 6.33'1, 6' 4"4,5, 7.25'3 1.92 m5, 1.93 m4 |
| Width | 7.33'1,3, 7' 4"4,5 2.23 m5, 2.24 m4 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance - wheels | 9"3 |
| Ground clearance - tracks | 10.5"3 |
| Ground contact length | 10.663 |
| Ground pressure | 8.96 psi3 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 7.62 mm MG1 2: MG2,4,5 2: 7.62 mm MG, air cooled3 |
| Secondary | 7.62 mm DT MG4 |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 4,0003 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 0.24" - 0.51"5 6 - 131,5, 134 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 133 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 10 - 133 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | 103 |
| Hull Top | 6 - 103 |
| Hull Bottom | 6 - 103 |
| Turret Front | 133 |
| Turret Sides | 133 |
| Turret Rear | 133 |
| Turret Top | 103 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Liberty2,5 Liberty Aero3,4 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water3 |
| Cylinders | V-123,4,5 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 343 - 4001, 3505, 4002,4 343 - 400@2,000 rpm3 |
| Power to weight ratio | 36.4 hp / ton2, 34.3 hp/ton3 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Wheels: Chain drive3 Tracks: Sliding gear3 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline1,3,4 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 88 gallons3 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°3 |
| Max speed | 39 mph2, 40 - 69 mph1 |
| Max speed - track | 40 mph4,5 65 kph4,5 |
| Max speed - wheel | 65 mph4,5, 69 mph3 105 kph4,5 |
| Cross country speed - track | 39 mph3 |
| Road radius - track | 124 miles4 200 km4 |
| Road radius - wheel | 186 miles4, 187 miles3 300 km4 |
| Cross country radius - track | 125 miles3 |
| Turning radius | 40'3 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +10°3 |
| Fording depth | 3.95'3 |
| Trench crossing | 6.85'3 |
| Vertical obstacle - wheels | 8"3 |
| Vertical obstacle - tracks | 29.4"3 |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Christie2 Christie independent type3 |
| Wheels each side | 42,3 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 2 x 3.95"3, 10.25"3 |
| Diameter | 32.5"3 |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 6.33'3 |
Sources:
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Profile AFV Weapons 37 Russian BT Series, John F. Milsom, 1971
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
- Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
