BT-5 Bystrochodnij Tankov (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:

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):

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:

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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