BT (Bystrochodia Takhn) Tanks

Genesis

La mission technique soviétique envoyée à l' étranger en 1929 fut très impressionnée par les nouveaux chars rapides et convertibles construits aux USA par J. Walter Christie. Ces chars munis de puissants moteurs d' avion pouvaient à la fois évoluer avec ou sans chenilles, pouvaient atteindre une vitesse maximale de 63 km/h sur chenilles et de plus de 100 km/h sur roues et parcourir 230 km sans ravitaillement. Ce type de char convenait parfaitement aux missions dévolues aux chars BT (rapides) des formations mécanisées DD (à grand rayon d' action) qui étaient chargées des opérations autonomes de pénétration profonde. Deux chars Christie furent achetés par l' Union soviétique.

The Soviet technical mission sent abroad in 1929 was very impressed by the new fast and convertible tanks built in the USA by J Walter Christie. These tanks provided with powerful engines of plane could at the same time move with or without tracks, could reach a maximum speed of 63 km/h crawler-mounted and more than 100 km/h on wheels and traverse 230 km without supply. This type of tank was appropriate perfectly for the missions reserved for tanks BT (rapids) of the mechanized formations DD (with large operating range) which were in charge of the autonomous operations of deep penetration. Two Christie tanks were bought by the Soviet Union.

Christie T-3.

src: Soviet Tanks Developement

Christie T-3.

src: Soviet Tanks Developement

T-3 tank during cross-country tests.	T-3 was a convertible tank (walk on tracks or on wheels)
src: Encyclopedia of the Guns of the WW2	src: US Medium Tanks

Driver compartment

src: Photos Gallery of WW2

Le premier exemplaire russe, le BT-1 fut réalisé en un temps record: commencé le 23 mai 1931, il fut finalisé en juin de la même année. Il fut suivit de deux autres avec lesquels il participa au traditionnel défilé de la Place Rouge au mois de novembre suivant.

The first Russian specimen, the BT-1 was realized in record time: begun on May 23, 1931, it was finalized in June of the same year. It was followed from two others with which it took part in the traditional procession of the Red Place in next November.

BT-1
src: Photos Gallery of WW2	src: ?

Production

Entre septembre 1931 et 1933, environ 300 BT-2 furent produits par l'usine KhPZ. Un total de 1884 BT-5 furent produits par l'usine KhPZ entre 1933 et 1934. Entre 1935 et 1940, un total de 5328 chars BT-7 furent produits (BT-7A non compris) par l'usine KhPZ.

Between September 1931 and 1933, approximately 300 BT-2 were produced by the KhPZ factory. A total of 1884 BT-5 were produced by the KhPZ factory between 1933 and 1934. Between 1935 and 1940, a total of 5328 tanks BT-7 were produced (BT-7A not included) by the KhPZ factory.

BT-5 in factory

src: site Russia's Vehicle History

Sources:

• Site Tank Development
• Site Russian vehicles' history
• Site Tanks of WWII/Soviet Union
• Les blindés de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, Ed. Atlas