BT-43

BT-43
In 1943, an armoured personnel carrier project was developed in Finland using the platform of a captured Soviet wheeled tracked tank BT-7. A single prototype-demonstrator was produced. The tank was stripped of the turret and a wooden superstructure was fitted to the hull, resembling a conventional truck hull with wooden sidewalls. The machine bore the name Christie kuljetusvaunu (Christie's transport vehicle) and the marking designation Ps.611. The prototype underwent trials in 11/1943 in the battalion of self-propelled guns. The tests were conducted by Maj. Åkerman (commander of one self-propelled gun platoon) and Capt. Kvikant and reported their result to the commander of the armoured division, Major General Lagus. From their report on the rolling tests of 14.12.1943, in addition to the reproach of insufficient passability through Finnish terrain and design flaws, their proposal for modification of the superstructure of this machine emerged. The drawings are attached (ATTENTION !!! It is only a proposal for modification of the prototype, but there is no proof if this proposal was implemented). Globally, the original design was judged to be suitable enough to carry troops, but the project was stopped and serial production was not started. The prototype was due to end up in the scrap yard in 5/1945.

Note:
In the book by Messrs Muikku and Purhonen, Finnish Armoured Technology, on page 76, there is a drawing of the original design which differs significantly from the drawings below.

forum.axishistory.com
correspondence with Jarkko Vihavainen
Esa Muikku, Yukka Purhonen - Suomalaiset Panssarivaunut 1918-1997

Výkresy návrhu modifikovaného transportéra.

S dovolením Jarkko Vihavainen (foto z 12/2005) via Fínsky vojenský archív