BT-7 Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank)

Early BT-7

Went into production in 1935.⁷

In September 1936, during maneuvers in Byelorussia, British General Wavell and Colonel Martel saw the tank.⁷ Martel wrote: "The design of the fighting body is not very good but the performance of the machine is at least twice as good as the A9."⁷ He further suggested that the British War Office purchase one.⁷

Used conical turret with MG in rear.¹⁰

Had new Saslavsky brakes, new main clutch, new turret, thicker armor, and all welded¹⁰. New engine¹⁰ with an improved gearbox¹⁰ with 3 forward gears. Used a control stick for steering.

In 1938 an improved gun sighting system was installed.

Used by the 2nd Mechanised Brigade at Lake Hasan against the Japanese in 1938.⁹ The 6th and 11th Tank Brigades had 400 BT-7s and BT-5s, and fought against the Japanese at the Khalkin Gol River from May to August 1939.⁹

Used during the invasion of Poland in 1939 and in Finland in 1939-1940.⁷

BT-7-1:

Cylindrical turret from the BT-5.⁷

BT-7-2:

Training turret:

Training turret at Stalin Military Academy:

Conical turret with twin horn periscopes.⁷ Had 2 round hatches on the turret room and was nicknamed "Mickey Mouse" by the Germans.

BT-7-1(U), BT-7-1(V)¹⁰:

Command tank.¹⁰ Carried 132-146 shells. Had a 71-TK radio set installed. The cylindrical turrets had a wrap around antenna, whereas the conical turrets had a rod antenna.

OP-7:

Flame thrower installed. Apparently didn't reach the front lines.

BT-7A:

BT-7A

Had short barreled 76.2 mm gun installed. Carried 40 shells if it had a radio, and 50 if it didn't.

BT-7M¹⁰, BT-8:

BT-7M

Sometimes known as the BT-8.⁷ Was a major redesign in 1939. It had a sloping front glacis instead of the previous pointed noses.⁷ Had a diesel engine installed.¹⁰ Hull MG was placed next to the driver.⁷ Used at Khalkin-Gol and in Finland.⁷

	BT-7 (1936 model)	BT-7-1	BT-7-1V	BT-7-2	BT-7A	BT-7M (1939 model) also known as BT-8	BT-IS
Crew	31,2,3,4,5,10	38	38	38	38	32,8	38
Physical Characteristics
Weight	30,450 lb 13.68 tons1, 13.7 tons10, 13.8 tons2,4,6, 14 tons5 13,900 kg1,10	13.8 tons8	13.6 tons8	13.8 tons8	13.8 tons8	32,300 lb, 14.4-14.5 tons2, 14.6 tons7, 14.65 tons2,8	15.6 tons8
Length w/gun	18', 18' 7"1,10, 18' 8"3,7, 18.65'4, 20' 0.5" 5.68 m3, 5.66 m1,2,5,6,10, 6.8 m5	18.658	18.658	18.658	18.658	18.65'8, 20' 0.5", 5.66 m2	18.988
Length w/o gun
Height	7' 6"3,7, 7.5'4, 7' 11"1,10, 7' 11.3"5, 8' 7" 2.28 m3, 2.41 m10, 2.42 m1,2,5,6	7.5'8	7.5'8	7.5'8	7.5'8	7.5'8, 8' 0.75", 2.42 m2	7.5'8
Width	7'3, , 7' 6"1,5, 7' 11.5"10, 7.98'4, 8'7, 8' 7" 2.23 m6, 2.29 m1,2,5, 2.43 m3,10	7.988	7.988	7.988	7.988	7.98'8, 8' 7", 2.29 m2	7.58
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 2", 4-4.2 m2	Wheels: 10.5"8 Tracks: 12"8	Wheels: 10.5"8 Tracks: 12"8	Wheels: 10.5"8 Tracks: 12"8	12"8	0.35 m2 Wheels: 10.5"8 Tracks: 12"8	Wheels: 10.5"8 Tracks: 12"8
Ground contact length		12'8	12'8	12'8	12'8	12'8	12'8
Ground pressure	11.24 psi, 0.75 kp/(cm2)2	10.2 psi8	10.2 psi8	10.2 psi8	10.2 psi8	10.4 psi8 0.78 kp/(cm2)2	11 psi8
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	45 mm4,5,10 45 mm M-323 45 mm 19342 45 mm 1934 L/46, 45 mm1	45 mm L/468	45 mm L/468	45 mm L/468	76.2 mm L/16.58	76.2 mm5 76.2 mm, or 45 mm 19382 76.2 mm L/268	45 mm L/468
Secondary
MG	2: MG4 2 or 3: 7.62 mm DT, coaxial, hull2 2: 7.62 mm DT MG3,10 2: 7.62 mm MG1,5	2: 7.62 mm DTMG8	2: 7.62 mm DTMG8	2: 7.62 mm DTMG8	7.62 mm DTMG8	3: 7.62 mm DT, coaxial, rear turret2	2: 7.62 mm DTMG8
Side arms
Quantity
Main	132-1882	1728	1888	With radio: 1468 Without radio: 1888	1328	408	1328
Secondary
MG	2,3942	2,3948	2,3948	2,3948	2,3948	2,3942	2,3948
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	10 - 225 6 - 223,4 227,10 Turret: 157 Front: 206 Side: 156
Hull Front, Upper	13- 22, 222	228	228	228	228	30, 222,8	308
Hull Front, Lower	13, 222					222
Hull Sides, Upper	132	138	138	138	138	132,8	158
Hull Sides, Lower	132					132
Hull Rear	132	138	138	138	138	132,8	138
Hull Top	102	6 - 108	6 - 108	6 - 108	6 - 108	6 - 108 102	6 - 108
Hull Bottom	12, 6-102	6 - 108	6 - 108	6 - 108	6 - 108	6-102,8	6 - 108
Turret Front	152	138	138	158	158	152,8	308
Turret Sides	152	138	138	158	158	152,8	208
Turret Rear	152	138	138	158	158	152,8	158
Turret Top	10, 152	108	108	108	108	108, 152	108
Engine (Make / Model)	M-15 T2,3,10 M-17T5,7	MT-17T Liberty modified Aero8	MT-17T Liberty modified Aero8	MT-17T Liberty modified Aero8	MT-17T Liberty modified Aero8	W-22 V-28	V-28
Bore / stroke		120 mm8 / 146 mm8	120 mm8 / 146 mm8	120 mm8 / 146 mm8	120 mm8 / 146 mm8	150 mm8 / 187.7 mm8	150 mm8 / 187.7 mm8
Cooling		Water8	Water8	Water8	Water8	Water8	Water8
Cylinders	V-125,10	V-128	V-128	V-128	V-128	V-128	V-128
Capacity
Net HP	4504,6,7,10 5005	450@1,750 rpm8	450@1,750 rpm8	450@1,750 rpm8	450@1,750 rpm8	500@2,200 rpm8	500@2,200 rpm8
Power to weight ratio		32.6 hp/ton8	32.6 hp/ton8	32.6 hp/ton8	32.6 hp/ton8	35 hp/ton8	32 hp/ton8
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	3 forward, 1 reverse	Wheels: Chain drive8 Tracks: Sliding gear8	Wheels: Chain drive8 Tracks: Sliding gear8	Wheels: Chain drive8 Tracks: Sliding gear8	Wheels: Chain drive8 Tracks: Sliding gear8	Wheels: Chain drive8 Tracks: Sliding gear8	Wheels: Chain drive8 Tracks: Sliding gear8
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline4,5,10	Gasoline8	Gasoline8	Gasoline8	Gasoline8	Diesel8	Diesel8
Octane
Quantity	167 gallons, 790 liters2	174 gallons8	174 gallons8	174 gallons8	174 gallons8	174 gallons8	174 gallons8
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°	360°8	360°8	360°8	360°8	360°	360°8
Max speed	53.4 mph3,5, 46 mph, 45 mph1,4 50 kph6, 72 kph1, 86 kph3,5 Tracks: 33 mph7, 45 mph10, 53 kph2, 72 kph10 Wheels: 45 mph7, 70 mph10, 73 kph2, 112 kph10	Wheels: 45.6 mph8	Wheels: 45.6 mph8	Wheels: 45.6 mph8	40 mph8	40 mph Tracks: 62 kpm2 Wheels: 54 mph8 86 kph2	Wheels: 70 mph8
Cross country speed	31 mph	Tracks: 33 mph8	Tracks: 33 mph8	Tracks: 33 mph8	33 mph8	31 mph, 39 mph8	Tracks: 40 mph8
Road radius	155 miles3,5, 311 miles, 265 miles1 250 km3,5, 430 km1 Tracks: 249 miles10, 375 km2, 400 km10 Wheels: 311 miles10, 500 km2,10	Wheels: 310 miles8	Wheels: 310 miles8	Wheels: 310 miles8	280 miles8	435 miles Tracks: 600 km2 Wheels: 440 miles8, 700 km2	Wheels: 430 miles8
Cross country radius		Tracks: 220 miles8	Tracks: 220 miles8	Tracks: 220 miles8	220 miles8	Tracks: 375 miels8	Tracks: 370 miles8
Turning radius	20' 6"	40'8	40'8	40'8	40'8	40'8	40'8
Elevation limits		-4° to +40°8	-4° to +40°8	-4° to +40°8	-4° to +60°8	-10° to +40°8	-10° to +40°8
Fording depth	4'5 1.2 m2, 1.22 m5	3.98'8	3.98'8	3.98'8	3.98'8	3.25'8 1.2 m2	3.25'8
Trench crossing	6'5, 6' 7", 1.83 m5, 2 m2	6'8	6'8	6'8	6'8	6.85'8 2 m2	6.85'8
Vertical obstacle	1' 10", 2' 6"5, 0.55 m2, 0.76 m5	Wheels: 8"8 Tracks: 30"8	Wheels: 8"8 Tracks: 30"8	Wheels: 8"8 Tracks: 30"8	30"8	0.55 m2 Wheels: 8"8 Tracks: 308	Wheels: 8"8 Tracks: 30"8
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Christie	Christie Independent type8	Christie Independent type8	Christie Independent type8	Christie Independent type8		Christie Independent type8
Wheels each side	4	48	48	48	48		48
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	10"	Tire: 2 x 3.95"8 Track: 10.25"8	Tire: 2 x 3.95"8 Track: 10.25"8	Tire: 2 x 3.95"8 Track: 10.25"8	Tire: 2 x 3.95"8 Track: 10.25"8	Tire: 2 x 3.95"8 Track: 10.25"8	Tire: 2 x 3.95"8 Track: 10.25"8
Diameter		32.5"8	32.5"8	32.5"8	32.5"8	32.5"8	32.5"8
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread		6.33'8	6.33'8	6.33'8	6.33'8	6.338	6.33'8
Production	1935- : 2,000					1938-1940: 706 M: 1940: 7062

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. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
6. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
7. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
8. Profile AFV Weapons 37 Russian BT Series, John F. Milsom, 1971
9. Russian Armour Volume 2: Light Tank T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T-40, T-50, T-60, T-70, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, 2006
10. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006

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