3 LIGHT TANK BT-7 (1937)

The BT-7 is a Soviet light tank from the interwar period and from the initial phase of World War II. The first prototypes of this vehicle were created in the early 1930s, and serial production lasted from 1935 to 1940. Probably around 5,300-5,500 vehicles of this type were created in its course. In the basic version (BT-7), the drive was provided by a single M-17T engine with a capacity of 450 HP. The basic armament consisted of a 1932 model gun caliber 45 mm and 1 machine gun DT 7.62 mm. The BT-7 belonged to the family of high-speed (high-speed) tanks developed in the USSR based on the imported chassis and suspension of Walter Christie. It allowed these tanks to move on both tracks and wheels. Of course, when driving on the road, the maximum speed of the BT family cars was very high - far exceeding the capabilities of tracked cars. The BT-7 tank also had this option. It was created as an evolutionary development of the BT-5 car. However, it had a larger hull than its predecessor. From 1937, a new turret was installed on it, the suspension was also strengthened and the drive train was improved. In late 1939, the BT-7M model, powered by the more powerful W-2 engine and a completely new turret, entered production. The BT-7 tanks were used in combat during the aggression against Poland in September 1939, as well as in the initial phase of the German-Soviet war in 1941.