DESCRIPTION

Soviet Tank BT-5 with RS-132 Missile System Plastic Model Kit 

UMT 406

1:72 Scale

Manufacturer: UM military technics

Material: Plastic

Condition: New in original packaging

Historical reference

BT-5 - Soviet light wheeled-tracked tank. Serial tank of the BT family ("Fast Tanks"). It was adopted for service in accordance with the military doctrine, which determined the advantages of high-speed cruising tanks, capable of covering long distances in the shortest possible time and operating in operational spaces. The KhPZ was serially produced in 1933-1935.

It is an improved version of the BT-2 tank in the direction of strengthening cannon armament and a Soviet-made engine, slightly increased height and weight. Designed for staffing the mechanized and tank corps of the Red Army. Serial production was organized at the Kharkov Steam Locomotive Plant (KhPZ) in 1933. In terms of armament, armor, external communications and cross-country ability, the BT-5 was not inferior to the Soviet T-26 tank of the same type in terms of mass, and significantly outnumbered this tank. The tracked propeller and the suspension of the road wheels were simpler than those of the T-26. The vehicle was not difficult to learn, it was distinguished by unpretentious maintenance and high mobility, thanks to which it was popular among tankers. BT-5 was one of the main tanks of the Red Army of the pre-war period. In 1935, the BT-7 modification, which had higher tactical and technical indicators, gave way in production, in which the riveted hull structure was replaced with a welded one.

The production of BT-5s at KhPZ began in March 1933, when the last 37 BT-2s were made. Due to the continuity of the design, the first 16 BT-5s were presented to military acceptance on March 22. In total, according to the results of 1933, 1,005 BT-2 and BT-5 units were delivered, but the report compiled by the military representative of the KhPZ said that in the second half of the year, compared to the first, the percentage of defects increased significantly (9-41% versus 5 -8% BT per month). The build quality of the BT-5 was improved only in the middle of 1934.

The turrets of the first series machines were made of so-called "technological armor" (regular steel or unhardened armor), in total 30 non-armor towers and 10 of unhardened armor were delivered. It was possible to completely replace them with armored ones only in 1935.

Armored steel for the towers was supplied by Izhora (PI grade) and Mariupol plants (MI grade). Both turret types had 13 mm armor. The mass of the equipped welded turret without weapons and ammunition was 675 kg, and with weapons and ammunition - 1100 kg. The turret was rotated manually.

The MI armor was two-layer, which was supposed to provide greater bullet resistance compared to the PI single-layer armor. A total of 230 units were produced for "Mariupol" towers with a small niche. Such machines were sent to the disposal of educational institutions and training battalions of mechanized brigades.

But in June - July 1934, after summarizing data on the operation of serial BT-5s, it was decided to completely switch to the Izhora tower, originally designed for installation on modernized T-26 tanks, since the MI armor had a number of hidden defects, including chips, cracks and edge incontinence. By that time, silicon-manganese-molybdenum steel of increased viscosity was obtained at the Izhora plant, therefore, the IZ brand armor was adopted by the Decree of the NKTP Armored Council for the production of BT-5 tanks.

The BT-5 was produced until the end of 1935, and the 45-mm cannon of the 1934 model was installed on the tanks of the latest issues, which is an improved version of the 20K cannon of the 1932 model. A total of 1,884 cars were produced. In addition, by December 3, 1939, one BT-2 tank, which was in the 2nd Red Banner Army of the Far Eastern Front, was converted by the rembaz into the BT-5.

With love from Ukraine