General Characteristics (BT-5) | |
Length: | 5.7 m |
Width: | 2.1 m |
Height: | 2.2 m |
Weight: | 11.5 tons |
Speed: | 53 km/h (road) - (off-road) |
Range: | 375 km |
Primary armament: | 45 mm gun |
Secondary armament: | one or two 7.62 mm machine guns |
Power plant: | |
Crew: | 3 |
The BT-2, BT-5 and BT-7 Soviet fast tanks, were produced between 1931 and 1940.
Table of contents |
2 Combat History |
Production History
In 1931 two experimental Christie tanks were purchased from the US. The first prototypes BT-1s appeared in August 1931. These were almost copies of the Christie design. Only a few BT-1s were built. In September 1931 the production of the BT-2 started. The BT-2s were equipped with 37 mm gun and one to three machine guns.
The BT-3 and later models were equipped with a 45 mm gun. Variants
Combat History
Some BT-5s saw action on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. Also fought against Japan in 1939 and Finland during the Winter War (mainly BT-2 and BT-5). BT-5 and BT-7 took part in 1941 battles of the WWII, then most of them were abandoned, destroyed or replaced by more modern T-34 tanks.