BT-5 Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank)

USSRs BT-5 Fast Tank

USSRs BT-5 Fast Tank

USSRs BT-5 Fast Tank

USSRs BT-5 Fast Tank

Production started at end of 1932.6 About 50 fought in the Spanish Civil War on the Republican side. Also saw action against the Japanese at Khalkin-Gol in July 1939, occupation of the western areas of White Russia & Ukraine in September 1939, Winter War of 1939-1940 against Finland, and in 1941 against the Germans.

It was the first main production model.8 It had a larger turret, 2 rectangular escape hatches in the turret, new engine, and a stronger suspension8. Built at a factory in Kharkov. In 1933 the turret had a rear extension mounted.

The 45 mm gun had a velocity of 2,350 ft/sec.6

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

BT-5AT,
BT-5A8:

USSRs BT-5A Fast Tank

Close support version with 76.2 mm howitzer.8 It's 6.2 kg shell could be fired 7,125 meters.

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

BT-5TU(1934),
BT-5(V):

USSRs' BT-5(V) Fast Tank

Commander's version. Carried only 72 shells to make room for the radio sets. The antenna was placed around the turret.

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

T-5Pch,
BT-5PK:

Had a snorkel device attached so that it could go through water obstacles 5 meters deep.

Able to ford water obstacles by going under water.7

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

BT-IS:

Five prototype vehicles that had improvements designed by N. F. Zygankovich. It had 3 pairs of road wheels to be driven on, and also had more angled hull armor.

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

BT-DT:

USSRs BT-DT Smoke Emitter Fast Tank

Had smoke emitters.7

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

BT-IT:

Bridge layer.7

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

BT-5-OT:

Had flamethrower.7

When on wheels, steering was done by a steering wheel operating the front wheels.7 When on tracks, steering was done with the clutch and brake.7

  BT-5 (1933 Model) BT-5A BT-DT BT-5PK BT-IT BT-5-OT
Crew 31,2,3,4,7,8 37 37 37 17 27
Physical Characteristics            
Weight 11.3 tons8, 11.31 tons1, 11.5 tons2,4,7, 11.52 tons3, 11.9 tons5
11,500 kg1,8, 11,700 kg3
25,350 lb
11.7 tons7 11.7 tons7 11.7 tons7 12.7 tons7 11.6 tons7
Length w/gun 18'1,3,4,8, 18.1'7, 19' 5.5"
5.48 m3, 5.49 m1,8, 5.76 m2, 5.8 m5
18'7 18'7 18'7 With bridge: 21.33'7 18'7
Length w/o gun            
Height 7' 3"1,3,8, 7.25'4,7, 7' 9.5"
2.21 m1,8, 2.2 m3, 2.24 m5, 2.25 m2
7.25'7 7.25'7 7.25'7 7.25'7 7.25'7
Width 7' 4"1,3,8, 7.33'4,7, 7' 10.25"
2.15 m2, 2.23 m3,5, 2.24 m8, 2.33 m1
7.33'7 7.33'7 7.33'7 7.33'7 7.33'7
Width over tracks            
Ground clearance 9"
0.35 m2
Wheels: 9"7
Tracks: 10.5"7
Wheels: 9"7
Tracks: 10.5"7
Wheels: 9"7
Tracks: 10.5"7
Wheels: 9"7
Tracks: 10.5"7
Wheels: 9"7
Tracks: 10.5"7
Wheels: 9"7
Tracks: 10.5"7
Ground contact length 12'7 12'7 12'7 12'7 12'7 12'7
Ground pressure 9.3 psi7
0.65 kp/(cm2)2
9.3 psi7 9.3 psi7 9.3 psi7 10.4 psi7 9.3 psi7
Turret ring diameter            
Armament            
Main 45 mm 1932 L/42 45 mm 19322,3
45 mm1,4,6,8
45 mm M325
45 mm L/467
76.2 mm L/16.57   45 mm L/467   OT-130 Flame Gun7
Secondary            
MG 1 or 2: 7.62 mm DT, coaxial2
7.62 mm MG1 coaxial
7.62 mm DT MG3,5,8, coaxial5
1: MG4
1: MG, coaxial6
7.62 mm DTMG7
7.62 mm DTMG7 7.62 mm DTMG7 7.62 mm DTMG7 7.62 mm DTMG7 7.62 mm DTMG7
Side arms            
Quantity            
Main 72-1152
With radio: 727
Without radio: 1157
727   727   28.6 gallons7
Secondary            
MG 2,3947, 2,7092 2,3947   2,3947 2,3947 2,3947
Side arms            
Armor Thickness (mm) 6 - 133,4, 138
Front: 155
Side: 105
         
Hull Front, Upper 132,7 137 137 137 137 137
Hull Front, Lower 132          
Hull Sides, Upper 10 - 137
132
10 - 137 10 - 137 10 - 137 10 - 137 10 - 137
Hull Sides, Lower 132          
Hull Rear 107, 132 107 107 107 107 107
Hull Top 6 - 107
102
6 - 107 6 - 107 6 - 107 6 - 107 6 - 107
Hull Bottom 6 - 102,7 6 - 107 6 - 107 6 - 107 6 - 107 6 - 107
Turret Front 132,7 137 137 137   137
Turret Sides 132,7 137 137 137   137
Turret Rear 132,7 137 137 137   137
Turret Top 102,7 107 107 107   107
Engine (Make / Model) M-5 Liberty Aero2,3
M-56
M-5 modified Aero7
Liberty Aero8
M-5 modified Aero7 M-5 modified Aero7 M-5 modified Aero7 M-5 modified Aero7 M-5 modified Aero7
Bore / stroke            
Cooling Water7 Water7 Water7 Water7 Water7 Water7
Cylinders 126, V-127,8 V-127 V-127 V-127 V-127 V-127
Capacity            
Net HP 3504,6, 3655, 4008
350@2,300 rpm7
350@2,300 rpm7 350@2,300 rpm7 350@2,300 rpm7 350@2,300 rpm7 350@2,300 rpm7
Power to weight ratio 30.4 hp/ton7 30.4 hp/ton7 30.4 hp/ton7 30.4 hp/ton7 30.4 hp/ton7 30.4 hp/ton7
Compression ratio            
Transmission (Type) 4 forward, 1 reverse
Wheels: Chain drive7
Tracks: Sliding gear7
Wheels: Chain drive7
Tracks: Sliding gear7
Wheels: Chain drive7
Tracks: Sliding gear7
Wheels: Chain drive7
Tracks: Sliding gear7
Wheels: Chain drive7
Tracks: Sliding gear7
Wheels: Chain drive7
Tracks: Sliding gear7
Steering            
Steering ratio            
Starter            
Electrical system            
Ignition            
Fuel (Type) Gasoline4,7,8 Gasoline7 Gasoline7 Gasoline7 Gasoline7 Gasoline7
Octane            
Quantity 88 gallons7, 105 gallons,
400 liters2
88 gallons7 88 gallons7 88 gallons7 88 gallons7 88 gallons7
Road consumption            
Cross country consumption            
Performance            
Traverse 360°7 360°7 360°7 360°7 -5° to +5°7 360°7
Max speed 39 mph6, 43 mph3, 68.4 mph, 40 - 69 mph4
53 kph5, 70 kph3
Tracks: 52 kph2, 65 kph1, 40 mph1
Wheels: 69 mph7, 70 mph1, 72 kph2, 112 kph1
Wheels: 69 mph7 Wheels: 69 mph7 Wheels: 69 mph7 Wheels: 69 mph7 Wheels: 69 mph7
Cross country speed 31 mph
Tracks: 39 mph7
Tracks: 39 mph7 Tracks: 39 mph7 Tracks: 39 mph7 Tracks: 5 mph7 Tracks: 39 mph7
Road radius 55 miles1, 124 miles3, 186.4 miles
90 km1, 200 km3
Tracks: 200 km2
Wheels: 187 miles7, 300 km2
Wheels: 187 miles7 Wheels: 187 miles7 Wheels: 187 miles7 Wheels: 187 miles7 Wheels: 187 miles7
Cross country radius Tracks: 125 miles7 Tracks: 125 miles7 Tracks: 125 miles7 Tracks: 125 miles7 Tracks: 125 miles7 Tracks: 125 miles7
Turning radius 40'7 40'7 40'7 40'7 40'7 40'7
Elevation limits -4° to +40°7 -4° to +60°7   -4° to +60°7 -5° to +5°7 -10° to +40°7
Fording depth 3.98'7, 4'
0.9 m2
3.98'7 3.98'7 3.98'7 3.98'7 3.98'7
Trench crossing 8.85'7, 8' 9"
2 m2
8.85'7 8.83'7 8.85'7 20'7 6.85'7
Vertical obstacle Wheels: 8"7
Tracks: 29.8"7
0.55 m2
Wheels: 8"7
Tracks: 29.8"7
Wheels: 8"7
Tracks: 29.8"7
Wheels: 8"7
Tracks: 29.8"7
Wheels: 8"7
Tracks: 30 "7
Wheels: 8"7
Tracks: 30 "7
Climbing ability            
Suspension (Type) Christie independent type7 Christie independent type7 Christie independent type7 Christie independent type7 Christie independent type7 Christie independent type7
Wheels each side 47 47 47 47 47 47
Return rollers each side            
Tracks (Type)            
Length            
Width Tire: 2 x 3.957
Track: 10.25"7
Tire: 2 x 3.957
Track: 10.25"7
Tire: 2 x 3.957
Track: 10.25"7
Tire: 2 x 3.957
Track: 10.25"7
Tire: 2 x 3.957
Track: 10.25"7
Tire: 2 x 3.957
Track: 10.25"7
Diameter 32.5"7 32.5"7 32.5"7 32.5"7 32.5"7 32.5"7
Number of links            
Pitch            
Tire tread            
Track centers/tread 6.33'7 6.33'7 6.33'7 6.33'7 6.33'7 6.33'7
Production 1932- : 5,000          

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 the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  5. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  6. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  7. Profile AFV Weapons 37 Russian BT Series, John F. Milsom, 1971
  8. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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