Russian BT Tanks and their variants

Source text: Military Modelling April 1994

Click on the pictures

Russian BT Tanks

With the mechanisation of the Soviet Army during the 1930's, three of what they considered the best foreign commercially available tanks were put into large scale production. One of these was the American Christie Model 1930, which was mass produced with slight alterations as a (phonetically - the ch as in loch) Bistrochodnogo Tanka or BT, for use in the exploitation role.
The BT-5 which appeared in 1933 was the first of this series to mount a 45mm gun with a coaxial machine-gun, rather than just machine-guns or a 37mm gun and an independent machine-gun. It differed visually from the earlier models mainly with regard to the design of turret and gun mounting, although the wheels were always of the simplified dished pattern introduced on the earlier BT-2. The BT-5 was replaced in production by an improved version the BT-7 in 1935.
Early production BT-5's had a cilindrical turret with a small bustle box attached, and the cylindrical outside silencer was later dispensed with in favour of direct exhaust pipes protruding from the rear of the air outlet guard as always fitted to the BT-7. The frame arial was only fitted to those tanks with wireless used in command role.

Combat History

BT-5's were first used in action during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 when they fought on the Republican side against the Nationalists. BT's made up part of the large 500 stroke tank force under General Zhukov which took part in the influential battle of Nomonhan against the Japanese over the disputed area between Mongolia and Manchuria in August 1939. They participated in the carve up of Poland (in league with the Germans), and the invasion of Finland the same year.
Used to help try and stem the German advance into the USSR during the German onslaught in 1941, many were dug in and used as fixed pill boxes when they ran out of fuel or broke down and couldn't be repaired due to the poor logistics of the Red Army at the time. Whilst they only had thin armour their gun was a very potent weapon when they were first built.

"Christi T-3"

The photes are made by Narayan Senupta, on Aberdeen Proving Ground - www.peachmountain.com/5Star

The T3 Tornado and other Christi tanks are the ancestors to the famous Soviet BT series of tanks and thus also influenced the design of the T-34 tank. This model is the M1931 (model 1931) and was also referred to as the T3. This tank was derived from the earlier M1928. The M1931 was 2 ton's heavier, better armoured and mounted a turret sporting a 37mm gun.
The US bought 3 of the Christi T3 tanks and the Soviets bought 2.The US didn't proceed further with this design, but the Sovietsdid basing the BT tanks almost directly on the Christi.

Kit UM403 - Christie Tank T3 - 1931/1940 - model built by Zhenmin Han

"Christi M1940 / BT-2 hull without turret - Model built by Vladimir Yakubov (www.RussianNavy.net) - (converted UM BT-2 model)"

"BT-1 Variants"

1931 Soviet BT-1 Light Tank Two m.g.
1932 Soviet BT-1 Light Tank Two m.g.

"BT-2 Variants"

1931 Soviet BT-2 Light Tank gun + m.g.
1931 Soviet BT-2 Light Tank gun + non-coaxial m.g.
1931 Soviet BT-2 Light Tank three m.g.
1931 Soviet BT-2 Light Tank Two m.g. + non-coaxial m.g.

1932 Soviet BT-2 Light Tank gun + m.g.
1932 Soviet BT-2-1 Light Tank Two m.g. + non-coaxial m.g.
Possible turret layouts

Kit UM338 - BT-2 w/machine guns - Model built by Zhenmin Han

Model built by Brett Mahoney

Kit UM302 - BT-2 with 37mm gun and mg - Model built by Matej Paluda

Model built by Drew Gleason

Model built by Augusto Versiani

Model built by unknown - 1/35 scale - pictures from ww2.mimerswell.com

Kit um303 - Artillery Tank D-38 (Tank BT-2 w/A-43 turret) - Model built by Zhenmin Han

"BT-3 and BT-4 Variants"

BT-3 is in official documentation referred to as BT-2.
The BT-3 was a modified version of the BT-2, with solid disc wheels in place of the spoked type of earlier vehicles. It is also up-gunned with a 45mm gun. The BT-4 was a prototype with hull features similar to the BT-3 but with twin turrets replacing the single turret. The major problem with the BT-2 was it's mechanical unreliability, a problem neber entirely solved.

"BT-4 Variants"

1932 Soviet BT-4 Light Tank two turrets gun and m.g.

BT-4 was a design with two turrets, a welded hull and minor changes in the suspension. 3 prototypes were produced (with partially riveted hull)

"BT-5 Variants"

1933 Soviet BT-5 Light Tank
1934 Soviet BT-5 Light Command Tank
1934 Soviet BT-5 Light Tank
1934 Soviet BT-5A Light Artillery Command Tank
1934 Soviet BT-5A Light Artillery tank

Kit um360 - BT-5 with cylindrical turret

Kit um301 - Russian BT-5 - Model built by Brett Mahoney

Built by unknown - 1/35 scale Zvesda - ww2.mimerswell.com

Built by Chema Cabero - 1/35 scale - missinglynx

Kit um313 - RBT-5 with Rockets - Model built by Al Magnus

Model built by Zhenmin Han

Kit um406 - BT-5 with Rocket Mounting RS-132

"BT-7 Variants"

Kit um310 - BT-7 M1935 - Model built by Zhenmin Han

Kit um311 - BT-7 M1937 with conical turret - model built by Drew Gleason

Kit um312 - BT-7A with artillery turret - Model built by Brett Mahoney

Model built by Zhenmin Han

"A20 Last BT version"

"From BT to T34"

From left to right; BT7, A20, T34

First T34

"Finish BT-42 and BT-43"

BT-42 - a captured BT-7, re-armed by and in Finish service

Kit um339 - Finnish Tank BT42 - Model built by Zhenmin Han

BT-42

As the Second World War progressed, the Soviets were fielding better and better tanks. The Finnish Army, on the other hand, had to make due with a large number of captured tanks, which were for the most part lightly armored and armed. The Finns decided to redesign the BT-7 model 1937 tank. They constructed a new turret and armed it with British-made 114.3 mm howitzers that had been supplied by the British during the Winter War (Q.F. 4,5 inch howitzer Mark II, also known as 114 Psv.H/18 in Finland). The Finns constructed 18 BT-42s and these were pressed into service in 1943.
The BT-42 saw action for the first time in 1943, at the Svir River, where it was used to take out enemy pillboxes. The design worked reasonably well against soft targets but was completely unsuitable in the anti-tank role. To counter this, the Finns copied a German-designed HEAT round for the gun, and it was initially thought that it could defeat the sloping armour of the T-34, however, this was not the case. [1] The BT-42 quickly became very unpopular among its crews. Its mechanical weaknesses could mainly be attributed to the new turret, which apart from giving the tank a high profile also added significant weight to the vehicle, stressing the suspension and the engine.
The BT-42s were used again during the major Soviet offensive in 1944. They were deployed in the defence of Vyborg but were unable to stop the advancing Soviet forces. The BT-42 would suffer heavily during the fighting. At one point, a Finnish BT-42 managed to hit a Soviet T-34 18 times, failing even to immobilize the enemy vehicle. The Finns lost 8 of the 18 vehicles engaged without having made any significant contribution to the fighting. It should however be noted that the Finnish armored units were still mostly comprised of old T-26s, T-28s, and BT-42 AFVs, and that all of these suffered losses during these days (including 25 of the 87 T-26s and a third of all A-20 artillery tractors). German emergency supplies of PzKpfw IVs, StuG IIIs and captured T-34s made it possible for the Finns to replace its aging tanks for more efficient ones. The BT-42 was retired soon after the Vyborg battles and was replaced in the role by German-made StuG IIIs.

BT-43 APC with wooden platform

BT-43

In March 1943, the Finnish armoured division suggested that 20 BT-7s should be redesigned into armoured personnel carriers. The Finnish HQ gave its approval sign on 18 May 1943, but limited the number of vehicles to 14. A prototype was designed by removing the turret of a BT-7 and by constructing a wooden platform on top of the chassis. Additional hatches were also installed to allow easier embarking and disembarking of the vehicle. The BT-43 prototype was tested in November 1943, but series production was never started. The single prototype was scrapped in May 1945.

"Special BT Variants"

"BT Experimental Variants"

KBT-7 - Commanders Tank

BT-SV

BT-BMP - Who can inform me of this vehicle, is't an original concept, experimental, drawingtable or fake concept?

Drawings from internet - russiannavy.net - (After research I don't have found reference to this vehicle in any of the major Russian books on AFV’s.)

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