BT-7M

BT-7M

BT-7

BT-7M

BT-7

USSR

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.0	2.0	2.0

Class:

Light tank

Research:5 900

Purchase:6 300

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Description

The BT-7M is a rank I Soviet light tank with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike".

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull20 / 15 / 13

Turret15 / 15 / 13

Crew3 people

Visibility84 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	20 mm (18°) Upper plate 15 mm (61°) Middle plate 20 mm Lower plate	20 mm Forward 15 mm + 4 mm Rearward	10-13 mm	10 mm Roof 4 mm Radiator grilles
Turret	15 mm Turret front 15 mm Gun mantlet	15 mm Forward 13 mm Rearward	13 mm	10 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 15 mm thick.
• Belly armour is 6 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB69 / 12 km/h

RB and SB63 / 11 km/h

Number of gears3 forward

1 back

Weight14.7 t

Engine power

AB954 hp

RB and SB500 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB64.9 hp/t

RB and SB34.0 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	69	12	14.7	775	954	52.72	64.9
Realistic	63	11		442	500	30.07	34.01

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB249 → 320

RB286 → 368

SB359 → 462

Total cost of modifications5 940

4 500

Talisman cost410

Crew training1 800

Experts6 300

Aces75

Research Aces135 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

20 / 20 / 30 %

106 / 106 / 106 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 300 Cost: 230 55 Suspension Research: 330 Cost: 250 60 Brake System Research: 330 Cost: 250 60 Filters Research: 500 Cost: 380 90 Transmission Research: 640 Cost: 480 115 Engine Research: 640 Cost: 480 115	Improved Parts Research: 300 Cost: 230 55 Improved FPE Research: 330 Cost: 250 60 Crew Replenishment Research: 500 Cost: 380 90	Horizontal Drive Research: 300 Cost: 230 55 45mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack Research: 300 Cost: 230 55 Adjustment of Fire Research: 330 Cost: 250 60 Elevation Mechanism Research: 500 Cost: 380 90 Artillery Support Research: 640 Cost: 480 115

Armaments

Main armament

45 mm 20-K cannon

Ammunition188 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

3.8 → 2.9 s

Vertical guidance-5° / 20°

45 mm 20-K					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	188	-5°/+20°	±180°	N/A	15.2	21.1	25.6	28.3	30.1	3.77	3.33	3.07	2.90
Realistic					9.5	11.2	13.6	15.0	16.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
BR-240	APHEBC	70	68	59	50	42	35
BR-240SP	AP	73	71	62	52	44	37

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
BR-240	APHEBC	760	1.43	1.2	9	29.26	48°	63°	71°
BR-240SP	AP	757	1.43	N/A	N/A	N/A	47°	60°	65°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
188	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__

Machine guns

7.62 mm DT machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition1 890 rounds

Belt capacity63 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate600 shots/min

7.62 mm DT
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	1,890 (63)	600	N/A	N/A

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".

Pros:

• More powerful engine, meaning it is much faster than the previous BT-7
• Fast firing gun

Cons:

• Sits at a higher BR than the previous BT-7
• Armour remains paper thin, with heavy machine guns and autocannons from SPAA being able to shred it

History

The BT-7M was an improved version of the Soviet BT-7 light tank developed before the Second World War. The main improvement was in terms of the powerplant, and at the time it was built no other tank in the world could reach the same speeds.

Development

Development of a version of the BT-7 light tank began in the Soviet Union in 1938 with the construction of four prototypes at the Kharkov Locomotive Plant called the BT-8, which used a V12 diesel engine which was developed from the Hispano-Suiza 12Y aircraft engine. After the BT-8 was tested against the BT-7 it was determined to continue its development which resulted in the production version, designated BT-7M.

Design

The BT-7M had the 500 horsepower V12 engine which was actually chosen partly due to greater fuel efficiency. The hull was reinforced with braces and some of the fuel storage was removed due to the higher fuel efficiency of the engine. The BT-7M’s engine also proved to be much safer in that it caught on fire much less often when hit by enemy fire. The BT-7M was proven to have a top speed of 62 km/h on tracks and 86 km/h with just wheels. Other than these changes, the BT-7M was fairly similar to the regular BT-7.

Production and Service

The BT-7M entered production in 1939, replacing all earlier BT-7 variants on production lines. It was the last BT-7 variant produced with production lasting until 1941. Approximately 788 BT-7M tanks were built during that time period, being superseded on production lines by the T-34 medium tank. The BT-7M did end up seeing some combat during the Great Patriotic War.

Media

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See also

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• reference to the series of the vehicles;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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