BT Tank - Variants

Variants

• BT-1: Christie prototype with no turret.
• BT-2 Model 1932: M-5-400 engine (copy of U.S. Liberty engine), three modifications of turret produced: with single 37 mm gun; 37 mm gun and one DT machine gun; twin DP machine guns mount and a single machine gun. In late 1932 modified to BT-3 but produced under same designation.
• BT-3: same as BT-2, produced according to metric system (instead of Imperial system as used for BT-2). In official documentation referred to as BT-2.
• BT-4: was a design with welded hull and minor changes in the suspension. 3 prototypes produced (with partially riveted hull)
• BT-5: larger cylindrical turret, 45 mm gun, coaxial DT machine gun.
  • BT-5 Model 1933: new turret with twin hatches and larger bustle.
  • BT-5PKh: snorkelling variant (prototypes only).
  • BT-5A: artillery support version with 76.2 mm howitzer (few made).
  • BT-5 flamethrower tank: (prototypes only).
  • PT-1A: amphibious variant with new hull (few made).
• BT-7 Model 1935: welded hull, redesigned hull front, new Mikulin M-17T engine (licensed copy of a BMW engine), enclosed muffler.
  • BT-7 Model 1937: new turret with sloping armour.
  • BT-7TU: command version, with whip antenna instead of earlier frame antenna.
  • BT-7A: artillery support version with 76.2 mm howitzer.
  • OP-7: flame-thrower version with external fuel panniers (prototype only).
• BT-7M (1938, prototypes designated A-8; sometimes referred to as BT-8): new V-2 diesel engine replacing earlier gasoline engines, three DT machine guns: coaxial, in P-40 AA mount on roof and in a ball-mount on turret rear.
• BT-42: Finnish assault gun; captured BT-7s were equipped with British 114 mm howitzers.
• BT-43: Finnish armoured personnel carrier; captured BT-7s equipped with troop accommodation.
• BT-IS: Prototype/proof-of-concept platform with heavily sloped armor; forerunner of the armor design on the T-34.
• BT-SW-2 Cherepakha ("turtle"): Another prototype, which took the armour sloping to an extreme.
• A-20: Prototype for a new BT tank, with 20 mm armour, 45mm gun, model V-2 diesel engine, and 8×6-wheel convertible drive. Lost out in trials to the A-32, which was further improved and produced as the T-34 medium tank.
• TTBT-5, TTBT-7: teletanks, remote-controlled tanks.