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Soviet Union's BT-2¹ Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank)

BT-2 Fast Tank:	BT-2 Fast Tank:	BT-2 Fast Tank:	BT-2 Fast Tank:
BT-2 Fast Tank:

Design

With the vast territories of Russia there was a need seen for fast tanks. In 1931, two Christie M-1931 (T-3) tanks were purchased from the United States.^2,4 These were sent to Voronesh for testing.² The Kharkov "Comintern" factory was to build prototypes based on the Christies.² On May 23, 1931, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR authorized mass production of the tank that was designated the BT-2.²

The BT-2 was built upon the chassis of the BT-1.¹

The BTs were to be used in the mechanized, armored, and cavalry units.² They were to advance into the enemy's rear to break supply lines and disrupt communications.²

The rear half of the hull had the engine and transmission.⁴ The turret was placed near the front of the hull.⁴

Christie Suspension

They could be run on track across country or on wheels on roads.⁴ It took about a half-hour to switch from one mode to the other.^2,4 When running on wheels the tracks were stored on racks above the running gear. When running on wheels 1/3 of the weight was on the back pair of road wheels which could cause it to sink and slip if driven onto soft ground.² Each wheel had twin rubber tires and were linked via an axle arm with a coil spring.² The chassis was very steady when moving fast and on uneven terrain.²

The driver sat in the center and used a steering wheel when on wheels and a clutch and brake system when on tracks.^2,4,5 When on wheels the tracks were placed on shelves along the side of the hull.⁴ When using wheels, the front pair of wheels were steered by a wheel.⁵ These were copied from the Christie T3.⁴

The idler was at the front and the drive was at the rear.¹

Prototype

The drawings for the prototype was delivered to the Kharkov "Komintern" factory in August 1931. The first two prototypes were delivered to the Red Army for trials. These were the BT-1 and it was almost a copy of the Christie with 2 machine guns.

Three of the prototypes appeared in the 1931 November Revolution Parade in Moscow.¹

Production

Production started in September 1931. Full production started in 1932. The first 60 models had no MGs. The next 350 had a 7.62 mm DA-2 twin MG and a 7.62 mm DT in ball mantlet. There was no room for a radio.

Production stopped after only a few models were built.

• BT-2:
  • Production: 1931 - 1933²

Variants

• BT-2:
  • First 60 had 37 mm BS-3 tank gun with no machine gun in the turret.² Were unpopular with crews.¹
  • The next 350 had the 37 mm gun with a 7.62 mm DA-2 twin MG and a 7.62 mm DT MG in a ball mantlet.²
• 76 mm Self Propelled Gun: Was to have a main gun with a 7.62 mm DT MG.² Never got out of design stage.

Usage

The BT-2 entered service in 1932.¹

vs. Finland and Germany

The BT-2s saw action in the 1939-1940 Winter War with Finland and in 1941 against the Germans.²

A few BT-2s were still in service with armored divisions in 1941.¹

	BT-21 (1931 Model)
Crew	2 - 32, 31,3,4,5,6,7
Physical Characteristics
Weight	22,500 lb, 10.2 tons1,2,7, 10.82 tons1, 11 tons5,6, 11.02 tons3 9,253.3 kg1, 11,000 kg1, 11,200 kg3,6
Length w/gun	18'1,3,6,7, 18.1'5, 19' 4.25", 5.76 m2, 5.48 m3, 5.49 m1,6
Length w/o gun
Height	6' 4"3,6, 7.25'5,7, 7' 3"1, 7' 9.5" 1.92 m3, 1.93 m6, 2.21 m1, 2.2 m2
Width	7' 4"1,3,6, 7.33'5,7, 7' 10.25" 2.15 m2, 2.23 m3, 2.24 m6, 2.33 m1
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	0.35 - 0.38 m2 Wheels: 9"5 Tracks: 10.5"5
Ground contact length	10.66'7, 12'5
Ground pressure	8.96 psi5 0.63 kp/(cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm M 19301,3,5,7 37 mm BS-3 1931 Model2 37 mm1,4,6
OR	2: 7.62 mm MG7
MG	7.62 mm DT MG3,5,6
MG - coaxial	7.62 mm DT MG1,2 7.62 mm MG1 MG4
OR	Twin 7.62 mm DT-2 MG2
MG - hull	7.62 DT MG2
Side arms
Quantity
Main	92 - 962, 961,2,5,7
OR	4,0007
MG	2,7092,5,7, 4,0001
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	6-133, 136
Hull Front, Upper	132,5,7
Hull Front, Lower	132
Hull Sides, Upper	10 - 135,7, 132
Hull Sides, Lower	132
Hull Rear	105, 132
Hull Top	6 - 105,7, 102
Hull Bottom	6 - 102,5,7
Turret Front	132,5
Turret Sides	132,5
Turret Rear	132,5
Turret Top	102,5
Engine (Make / Model)	Liberty Aero2,3,5,6,7
Bore / stroke	4 stroke2
Cooling	Water5
Cylinders	V-125,6, 122,7
Capacity
Net HP	3437, 4002,4,6, 343@2,000 rpm2, 343 - 400@2,000 rpm5
Power to weight ratio	30 HP/ton4, 32.6 HP/ton5, 33.6 HP/ton2
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Wheels: Chain drive5 Tracks: Sliding gear5
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2,6,7
Octane
Quantity	88 gallons5 400 liters2
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°5
Max speed	68.4 mph1, 69 mph7 110 kph1
Max speed - tracks	39 mph4, 40 mph1,6 62 kph2, 65 kph1,6
Max speed - wheels	65 mph6, 69 mph5, 70 mph1 105 kph6, 110 kph2, 112 kph1
Cross country speed	31 mph1 50 kph1
Cross country speed - tracks	39 mph5
Road radius	55 miles1, 186 miles1, 187 miles3,7 90 km1, 300 km1,3
Road radius - tracks	124 miles6 200 km6, 150-200 km2
Road radius - wheels	186 miles6, 187 miles5 300 km6, 250-300 km2
Cross country radius	125 miles7
Cross country radius - tracks	125 miles5
Turning radius	40'5
Elevation limits	-8° to +25°2, -4° to +40°5
Fording depth	3.98'5 1 - 1.2 m2
Trench crossing	6.85'5 2.1 m2
Vertical obstacle	0.75 m2 Wheels: 8"5 Tracks: 29.8"5
Climbing ability	40°2
Suspension (Type)	Christie4 Christie independent type5
Wheels each side	44,5
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	Tire: 2 x 3.95"5 Track: 10.25"5,7
Diameter	32.5"5
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6.33'5

Sources:

1. Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
2. Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
3. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
4. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
5. Profile AFV Weapons 37 Russian BT Series, John F. Milsom, 1971
6. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
7. Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977

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