BT-2

Citace - cimbal :

BT-2

At the end of the 20. years constructed, on the basis of its patent on the independent suspension of all wheels, J.W. Christie for its time revolutionary kolopásový tank Christie M1928. His fame penetrated even to the USSR, where he began to be interested. It was an ideal machine, which could meet the requirements in the Plan for the construction of tank forces DRRA from 1929 for a quick in-depth exploration and operation to break enemy supply lines. Tanks produced at that time in the USSR these requirements absolutely did not and given the state of the industry there was no chance for a sudden change.

In April, 1930 made a deal the soviet enterprise Amtorg with Christiem transfer of production documentation and 2 pcs prototyping M1930 (according to some sources called the M1931) for 160 thousand USD, and at the beginning of the year 1931 were prototypes without turrets delivered to the USSR as agricultural tractors. Vehicles with the designation of the Original I and II (BT-1) has been subjected to testing and even with the documentation handed over to the kharkiv locomotive works ChPZ Im. The Comintern - The Factory 183. In this company were in the future under the leadership of N.And Kunčenka produced by BT for all versions. The new tank received the designation BT-2 and by the end of the year they were made 3 prototypes (the plan was 6 pcs). As in the USSR has not been available a suitable engine in sufficient quantities, it was from the united states purchased 2 000 pcs engines Liberty. The part of the tank BT-2 was assembled and modified aircraft engine M-5 (license Liberty) of similar parameters.

The problem has become armament of a tank. Originally, it was foreseen cannon caliber 45 mm (its development but not completed) and a machine gun. Therefore, it should be the first series armed with a cannon B-3 caliber 37 mm. In the tower designer And.And. Mološtanova but ultimately appeared these four variants of equipment - the already mentioned kanon B-3 (60 pcs), two machine guns (DA) on a common carriage, two machine guns (DA) on a common carriage, and one (DT) obliquely facing (machine-gun a total of 350ks) and 200 pcs of vehicles came out of production with a combination of the cannon of 37 mm and an oblique machine gun.

The crew consisted of 2 men - the driver, the tank entered dual doors in the front hull and the commander (at the same time, the loader and gunner), whose habitat in the tower was accessed by a hatch in the roof. For a ride with seat belts to the management of used přibržďování belts, for the ride on wheels the wheel, which drove the front pair of wheels.

These vehicles were constructed and handed over in 1932 396 pcs (plan 600 pcs) and at the beginning of the following year, 214 pcs (according to some sources, 224 pcs). After the production was terminated and the plant no. 183 switched to the production of more advanced BT-5. BT-2 had a number of pros and cons. Among the good qualities belonged to a high speed (for serial machines is limited to 52 and 72 km/h), range, continuity, the ability to continue to run after the damage to the belt, the revolutionary face shape and the version with the cannon and machine gun armament. Among the ills belonged to the absence of links, tight fighting space, single tower and the engine (bad started and lightly started to burn).

BT-2 participated in operations against the Japanese in 1938 and 1939 and the attack on Poland in 1939. Few pieces have survived even the operation Barbarossa.




Source:
PEJČOCH, Ivo, PEJS, Oldřich: Armored technician 3, SSSR 1919-1945 as well.part, ARES, Prague 2002
MAGNUSKI, Janusz:, KOLOMIJEC, Maksym: the Red Blitzkrieg, Bonus, Brno 1996
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