BA-10: Soviet medium armored car

BA-10

During the late 1930s, Soviet armoured fighting vehicle designers incorporated sloped armor into all their new designs, and redesigned some existing vehicles to take advantage of it.

The BA-10 used a slightly smaller, better-sloped armor layout than that of the BA-6, thus improving protection while saving weight. The greater engine power (50 HP, compared to 40 HP on the BA-6) made the vehicle more reliable.

Like its predecessors, the BA-10 could be converted to a half-track by fitting auxiliary tracks to the rear pair of dual tandem wheels.

On early BA-10s, these tracks were stowed strapped on top of the fenders. Later vehicles had an enclosed stowage box for the tracks in the same location. The tracks were often fitted when the vehicle needed to move across snow or soft ground.

The BA-10 first saw action against the Japanese in Manchuria at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939. Some were captured and later used by the Manchukuo.

BA-10M

During World War II the BA-10 was used against the Germans on the Eastern Front, but was rarely seen after the winter of 1941–42. Later in the war, the heavy scouting role was taken over by light tanks such as the T-60 and T-70. A few BA-10s were seen as late as 1943 on the Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) front.

Made in the USSR in 1938

Production: 3392

Crew: 4 persons

Armour: 10 mm

Chassis: GAZ-AAA

Engine: M-1 (4 cylinders)

Power: 50 HP

Max. speed: 53 km/h

Weight: 5100 kg

Armament: 1 × cannon M1932 20-K (45 mm) + 2 × chain gun DT (7,62 mm)

Read more: Tanks and fighting vehicles with Andrew Pantele ...