BT-5

BT-5




In early 1933, less than a year after the start of serial production of the BT-2, a prototype of an upgraded twin, called the BT-5, was completed. The chassis was strengthened, disc-moulded running wheels were used, and more use was made of the indigenous M-5 engine. It was also fitted with a new turret with 15 mm armour, increased internal space for 2 men and a 45 mm gun with a coupled machine gun. The turrets were supplied by two companies - Mariupol plant (riveted turret, some of the turrets were fitted with an inclined machine gun) and Izhora metallurgical plant (welded turret with a larger balancer). The balancers were also used to store ammunition. In Mariupol, in 1934, the more advanced Izhorsk turrets were also produced. These turrets were also used on the T-26. The turret was accessed from above by two hatches and the drive was manual. Some of the tanks (command tanks) were equipped with a 71-TK-1(3) radio with a frame antenna around the turret.


In late 1933, to demonstrate the quality and test the vehicles, the ChPZ leadership organized a non-stop drive of 5 serial fives from Kharkov to Moscow (1,100 km). The tanks rode on wheels, refueling as they went. They had their combat baptism during the Civil War in Spain, where 50 BT-5s were transported by the ship Kabo San Augustin with Soviet volunteers who formed an independent tank regiment. They went on to fight against the Japanese in 1938 (Chasan) and 1939 (Chalchyn Gol), in the Polish campaign (along with BT-2s in tank regiments of cavalry divisions) and in the Winter War with Finland. The last action of a smaller number of up to 12 years old veterans was the offensive against the Japanese Army in August 1945 (of course, on less exposed places of the front).

BT-5s were able to achieve successes if used in accordance with their design and purpose (breakthroughs in territory not saturated with PT prosyredky, bypasses, etc.). Once they were used in small groups for direct infantry support or urban combat, their strengths-speed and agility-were suppressed and poor armor came to the fore, with fatal consequences.



Source:
PEJČOCH, Ivo, PEJS, Oldřich: Obrněná technika 3, USSR 1919-1945 Part I, ARES, Prague 2002
MAGNUSKI, Janusz:, KOLOMIJEC, Maksym: Rudý Blitzkrieg, Bonus A, Brno 1996
http://www.battlefield.ru/

Further variants and developments of the BT-5

As with the BT-2, various variants and improvements to the BT-5 were already being tested as production began. Designers focused on increasing firepower, increasing range and overcoming obstacles. The Gas Dynamics Laboratory engineered an interesting improvement when two rails were mounted on the turret of the 5, which could be used to launch RS-132 (132 mm) with a range of up to 6 km or a rocket torpedo launcher TT-250. Several trials were conducted, but the vehicle thus modified was not recommended for series production. Furthermore, as I mentioned in my article on the BT-2, the tested Čepal BD-2 engine (tank designation BDT-1) was installed in a small series of tanks.Although it meant a significant increase in range, the approval committee recommended refinement. However, it did its job (experience for the designers) in the five.
Since BT tanks were designed for deep breakthroughs other interesting designs were prototypes for violent crossing of watercourses, on which engineers from Kubinka worked. The first variant was the attachment of two engineer pontoons using engineer bridge parts to the tank hull (the tank had to be towed on the water). The solution was interesting, but somewhat impractical (either the tank would not pass through a gap of less than 8 m on land or the crew would be killed during the laborious removal of the parts). It seemed more viable to equip the tank with a waterproof canvas "apron" (similar to the Valentine DD and Shermann DD - ing.Straussler) and to use specially designed floats. Propulsion was provided by tracks or two screws driven from the side gears.
Among the timeless designs was the BT-5 with OPVT kit. It was a standard five, equipped with a deep wading kit to a depth of 4.5m by active designer K.Sirken. It consisted of three tubes (air for crew, engine and exhaust), the other construction with only one fixed and one flexible tube with flaps (air intake common and exhaust ). The sealing was done with sponge rubber (holes and turret bearing) and leather (hatch). Tanks so modified were called BT-PCH (underwater running).
Technik V. Two prototypes (BT-SV I and II) were built at the Tank Repair Plant in Kharkov, but during tests in Kubinka it turned out that the increased bullet resistance took a heavy toll on speed and mobility, especially on wheels.
The paths were trodden, the dead ends explored and the BT-7 was rolled into the world.

Source.Part, ARES, Prague 2002
MAGNUSKI, Janusz:, KOLOMIJEC, Maksym: Red Blitzkrieg, Bonus A, Brno 1996
https://www.battlefield.ru/

BT-5



článek k tématu

Nárys BT-5



Zdroj
BARJATINSKIJ,m., KOLOMIEC, M.:Legkie tanku BT-2 i BT-5, Broněkollekcija 1/1996, Modělist-Konstruktor, Moskva 1996

Tři typy věží BT-5 - typ Mariupolsk, nýtovaná s malým vyvažovačem (nahoře) a typ Ižorsk, svařovaná s vyvažovačem přez celou zadní část (uprostřed). Na dolním snímku je BT-5TU(popř.K) s věží Ižorsk s rámovou anténou k radiostanici 71-TK-1.



Zdroj:
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://otvaga2004.narod.ru/

Hlavní odlišností od BT-2 byla dvoumístná věž s kanónem vzor 1932/38 ráže 45 mm. BT-5 si zabojovaly ve Finsku.

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Tank BT-5 nalezený a vytažený v červnu 2007 z Něvy


V sérii fotografií na http://www.nortfort.ru/np/foto_tbt1_e.html si můžete všimnout několika zajímavostí.



Poznámka
pět fotografií na ukázku převzato ze serveru Northern Fortres a doplněn text kolegy cimbala.


Moderátor Jiří Tintěra

One of the machines BT-5, supplied španielskym republikánom in počte 50 pcs.

source: http://histomil.com.

Another BT-5 in the marking of the Spanish Republican forces.

dzen.ru