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Soviet Union's BT-51 Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank)
Design
It was found that the BT-2 wasn't adequate during the war with Finland so new requirements were devised for a vehicle with stronger armament, a single turret with the main gun and coaxial MG, space for a radio, and better mobility with an engine manufactured in the Soviet Union.2 The BT-5 was the design that was selected to meet those specifications.2
It was the first main production model of the BT series.8
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
Turret
The turret was riveted with an extension to the rear to make room for the 45 mm model 1932 main gun and a 7.62 mm DT MG.2
The 45 mm gun had a velocity of 2,350 ft/sec.6 The range it could fire was 4,800 meters.2 The velocity of an 1.43 kg shell was 760 m/sec.2 42 mm of armor could be penetrated at 100 meters.2
It had a larger turret9, 2 rectangular escape hatches in the turret2, new engine, and a stronger suspension.8
The top of the turret a PTK panoramic scope.2
Prototype
Production
- BT-5: 5,000
- Production: 1932 - ?1,2,6
- Manufacturer: factory in Kharkov1
- BT-IS: 52
- Production: 19372
Variants
- BT-5:
- BT-5AT, BT-5A8,9: Artillery tank.2,9 Close support version with 76.2 mm howitzer.2,8,9 It's 6.2 kg shell could be fired 7,125 meters.2 Turret was from T-28.9
- BT-5TU(1934), BT-5(V)1, BT-5U9, BT-5TU9, BT-61: Commander's version.1,2 Carried only 72 shells to make room for the radio sets.2 The antenna was placed around the turret.1,2
- T-5Pch2, BT-5PKh1: Had a snorkel device attached so that it could go through water obstacles 5 meters deep.1,2 Able to ford water obstacles by going under water.7 Was tested by the 4th Don Cossack Division in 1936.1
- BT-IS2: Five prototype vehicles that had improvements designed by N. F. Zygankovich.2 It had 3 pairs of road wheels to be driven on, and also had more angled hull armor.2
- BT-DT: Had smoke emitters.7
- BT-IT: Bridge layer.7,9
- BT-5-OT: Had flamethrower.7,9
Usage
Spanish Civil War
About 501 / 64 fought in the Spanish Civil War on the Republican side.2
Against Japan
The BT-5s saw action against the Japanese at Khalkin-Gol in July 1939.2
Internal Action
The occupation of the western areas of White Russia & Ukraine in September 1939.2
War with Finland
The BT-5 was used in the Winter War of 1939-1940 against Finland.1,2
Defending the Motherland
The BT-5 were used against the invading Germans in 1941.2
| BT-51 (1933 Model) | BT-5A9 | BT-DT | BT-5PK | BT-IT | BT-5-OT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 31,2,3,4,7,8,9 | 37,9 | 37 | 37 | 17 | 27 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||||
| Weight | 11.3 tons8, 11.31 tons1, 11.5 tons2,4,7,9, 11.52 tons3, 11.9 tons5 11,500 kg1,8, 11,700 kg3 25,350 lb |
11.7 tons7,9 | 11.7 tons7 | 11.7 tons7 | 12.7 tons7 | 11.6 tons7 |
| Length w/gun | 18'1,3,4,8, 18.1'7,9, 19' 5.5" 5.48 m3, 5.49 m1,8, 5.76 m2, 5.8 m5 |
18'7,9 | 18'7 | 18'7 | With bridge: 21.33'7 | 18'7 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||||
| Height | 7' 3"1,3,8, 7.25'4,7,9, 7' 9.5" 2.21 m1,8, 2.2 m3, 2.24 m5, 2.25 m2 |
7.25'7,9 | 7.25'7 | 7.25'7 | 7.25'7 | 7.25'7 |
| Width | 7' 4"1,3,8, 7.33'4,7,9, 7' 10.25" 2.15 m2, 2.23 m3,5, 2.24 m8, 2.33 m1 |
7.33'7,9 | 7.33'7 | 7.33'7 | 7.33'7 | 7.33'7 |
| Width over tracks | ||||||
| Ground clearance | 9" 0.35 m2 |
|||||
| Ground clearance - wheels | 9"7 | 9"7 | 9"7 | 9"7 | 9"7 | 9"7 |
| Ground clearance - tracks | 10.5"7 | 10.5"7 | 10.5"7 | 10.5"7 | 10.5"7 | 10.5"7 |
| Ground contact length | 12'7,9 | 12'7,9 | 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 M19321 45 mm M325 45 mm L/467 45 mm L/46 A/TK9 |
76.2 mm L/16.57,9 | 45 mm L/467 | OT-130 Flame Gun7 | ||
| Secondary | ||||||
| MG | 1: MG4 7.62 mm DTMG7,9 |
7.62 mm DTMG7,9 | 7.62 mm DTMG7 | 7.62 mm DTMG7 | 7.62 mm DTMG7 | 7.62 mm DTMG7 |
| MG - coaxial | 1 or 2: 7.62 mm DT2 7.62 mm MG1 7.62 mm DT MG3,5,8 1: MG6 |
|||||
| Side arms | ||||||
| Quantity | ||||||
| Main | 72-1151,2,9 With radio: 722,7 Without radio: 1152,7 |
727, 72 - 1159 | 727 | 28.6 gallons7 | ||
| Secondary | ||||||
| MG | 2,3941,2,7,9, 2,7092 | 2,3947,9 | 2,3947 | 2,3947 | 2,3947 | |
| Side arms | ||||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6 - 131,3,4, 138 Front: 155 Side: 105 |
|||||
| Hull Front, Upper | 132,7,9 | 137,9 | 137 | 137 | 137 | 137 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 132 | |||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 10 - 137,9, 132 | 10 - 137,9 | 10 - 137 | 10 - 137 | 10 - 137 | 10 - 137 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 132 | |||||
| Hull Rear | 107, 132 | 107 | 107 | 107 | 107 | 107 |
| Hull Top | 6 - 107,9, 102 | 6 - 107,9 | 6 - 107 | 6 - 107 | 6 - 107 | 6 - 107 |
| Hull Bottom | 6 - 102,7,9 | 6 - 107,9 | 6 - 107 | 6 - 107 | 6 - 107 | 6 - 107 |
| Turret Front | 10 - 139, 132,7 | 10 - 139, 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 Aero1,9 |
M-5 modified Aero7 M-5 Aero9 |
M-5 modified Aero7 | M-5 modified Aero7 | M-5 modified Aero7 | M-5 modified Aero7 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke2 | |||||
| Cooling | Water7 | Water7 | Water7 | Water7 | Water7 | Water7 |
| Cylinders | 122,6,9, V-121,7,8 | 129, V-127 | V-127 | V-127 | V-127 | V-127 |
| Capacity | ||||||
| Net HP | 3501,2,4,6,9, 3655, 4008 350@2,300 rpm2,7 |
3509, 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/ton2,7 | 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 | Gasoline7,9 | 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, 69 mph9, 40 - 69 mph4 53 kph5, 70 kph3 |
|||||
| Max speed - tracks | 40 mph1 52 kph2, 65 kph1 |
|||||
| Max speed - wheels | 69 mph7, 70 mph1 72 kph2, 112 kph1 |
69 mph7,9 | 69 mph7 | 69 mph7 | 69 mph7 | 69 mph7 |
| Cross country speed | 31 mph | |||||
| Cross country speed - tracks | 39 mph7 | 39 mph7 | 39 mph7 | 39 mph7 | 5 mph7 | 39 mph7 |
| Road radius | 55 miles1, 124 miles3, 186.4 miles 90 km1, 200 km3 |
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| Road radius - tracks | 200 km2 | |||||
| Road radius - wheels | 187 miles7,9 300 km2 |
187 miles7,9 | 187 miles7 | 187 miles7 | 187 miles7 | 187 miles7 |
| Cross country radius - tracks | 125 miles7,9 | 125 miles7,9 | 125 miles7 | 125 miles7 | 125 miles7 | 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 | 8"7 | 8"7 | 8"7 | 8"7 | 8"7 |
| Vertical obstacle - tracks | 29.8"7 0.55 m2 |
29.8"7 | 29.8"7 | 29.8"7 | 30"7 | 30"7 |
| Climbing ability | 37°2 | |||||
| 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 | 2 x 3.957 | 2 x 3.957 | 2 x 3.957 | 2 x 3.957 | 2 x 3.957 |
| Width - track | 10.25"7,9 | 10.25"7,9 | 10.25"7 | 10.25"7 | 10.25"7 | 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 |
Sources:
- Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
- Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
- 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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- 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
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
