Difference between revisions of "BT-7 TD"

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{{About
 +
| about = Soviet gift light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = BT-7 (Family)
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}}
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=ussr_bt_7_1937_td
 
|code=ussr_bt_7_1937_td
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Hot Tracks"]] as reward for [[wt:en/news/7020-special-twitch-drops-watch-enlisted-streams-and-get-rewards-en|watching Enlisted streams on Twitch.tv]].
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was a Soviet light tank, developed from the previous BT-5 light tank. Both designs shared the same 45 mm 20-K cannon aswell as coaxial DT machine gun. Unlike the BT-5, the BT-7s hull was welded and the shape of hull at front was also redesigned. The frontal armour protection was slightly increased from 13 to 20 mm of armour. New short-pitch tracks were installed and Mikulin M-17T engine which was a licensed copy of German BMW VI V-12 engine was used instead of the M-5-400 found in BT-5 and earlier BT series tanks. New turret turret featuring sloped armour was also adopted. The BT-7 was used during Winter War and Continuation war with Finland aswell as during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. Their numbers greatly reduced due to combat losses after 1941, the BTs served for the remainder of war. One example in running condition is preserved to this day.
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 +
The BT-7 TD was introduced during [[Update "Hot Tracks"]] as reward for [[wt:en/news/7020-special-twitch-drops-watch-enlisted-streams-and-get-rewards-en|watching Enlisted streams on Twitch.tv]]. The BT-7 TD is identical to the [[BT-7]] in every way except for the exclusive camouflage, of a BT tank during the battle of Moscow, similar to the one found on the [[T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.)]]. The BT-7 TD features a very powerful gun on a highly mobile chassis, at the cost of no valuable armour. The tank commanders should utilize the speed of the BT to flank their enemies and shoot them from sides and then quickly change position and perform another ambush as the vehicle itself is very lightly armoured and any hit is fatal.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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The armour is well angled at certain points like the front, however being as thin as it is, don't count on it to protect you very well. With 20 mm armour on the front and with all that inclination on the armour panels, this vehicle had decent protection. With 5 mm less armour on the turret, that's the vulnerability of the tank, especially on the turret's backside, where the ammo is stored. However, you only get 3 crew members in the vehicle, making the tank vulnerable to any "crew knocked out" scenarios. One strong point for the vehicle is that you have speed, and the trade-off of speed vs. armour can come in handy especially travelling around 59 km/h (It's very hard to reach 60 km/h) ensures any enemy SPG will be very unlikely to hit close to you.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
−
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
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* Rolled homogeneous armour
−
<!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)
 
−
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) -->
 
  
−
{| class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
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| Hull || 15 mm (61°) ''Upper front glacis'' <br> 20 mm (18°) ''Driver's hatch'' <br> 20 mm (5-52°) ''Lower front glacis''|| 20 mm ''Driver compartment'' <br> 15 + 4 mm ''Fighting & engine compartments'' || 10 mm (55°) ''Upper glacis'' <br> 13 mm (15°) ''Centre plate'' <br> 13 mm (58°) ''Lower glacis'' || 10 mm <br> 4 mm ''Engine vents''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
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| Turret || 15 mm (7-53°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 15 mm (13°) ''Turret front'' || 15 mm (13°) ''Front'' <br> 13 mm (13°) ''Bustle'' || 13 mm (15°) || 10 mm
−
|-
 
−
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes'''
  
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'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of -->
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* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 15 mm thick.
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<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. -->
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* Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
 +
* Mudguards and storage boxes are 4 mm thick.
 +
* There is a 4 mm internal wall separating the crew compartment from the engine compartment.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''
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It is a very fast tank with relatively thin armour. It can be useful to flank and hit the side armour of enemy tanks, taking advantage of its very high speed. With its speed and low weight, this tank will drift in turns. For maximum control in turns, reduce throttle beforehand and only tip/nudge the turn-keys. It needs some time to get used to, however, it can prepare you for the T-34's break-turns.
  
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}
+
Your speed can be your best defence, so move fast and try to zig-zag a bit to make yourself a more difficult target for tanks farther away (not too much though, or you'll bleed off too much speed).
 +
 
 +
Off-road behaviour is good and the drifts aren't as extreme as on city roads. Top speed is not really reduced as well, making the BT-7 one of the fastest early tanks due to its relatively wide tracks, something both the [[M2A4|Light tank M2]] and [[Pz.II C|Panzer II]] miss.
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 +
Like its predecessor the [[BT-5]], the BT-7 has competitive mobility, easily being able to reach capture points before most other tanks or get to competitive camping spots before anyone else, the 400 hp engine gives the BT-7 a good power-to-weight ratio, which also allows the BT-7 to scale hills and smaller obstacles with relative ease.{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
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==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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{{:20-K (45 mm)/Ammunition|BR-240, BR-240SP}}
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! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
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! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | '''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
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | 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]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
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[[File:Ammoracks_BT-7.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the BT-7 (identical).]]
−
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
+
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.89''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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! 5th<br>rack empty
 
! 5th<br>rack empty
 
! 6th<br>rack empty
 
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! 7th<br>rack empty
 +
|-
 +
| '''188''' || 174&nbsp;''(+14)''|| 162&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 147&nbsp;''(+41)'' || 135&nbsp;''(+53)'' || 123&nbsp;''(+65)''|| 108&nbsp;''(+80)''|| 89&nbsp;''(+99)''
 +
|-
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 +
! 9th<br>rack empty
 +
! 10th<br>rack empty
 +
! 11th<br>rack empty
 +
! 12th<br>rack empty
 +
! 13th<br>rack empty
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
!
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''188''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __
+
| 73&nbsp;''(+115)'' || 57&nbsp;''(+131)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+147)'' || 25&nbsp;''(+163)'' || 13&nbsp;''(+175)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+187)''|| No
 +
!
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 +
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
 +
* Turret empty: 147&nbsp;''(+41)'' shells.
 +
* Turret and side racks empty: 89&nbsp;''(+99)'' shells.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coaxial || 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
+
| Coaxial || 2,394 (63) || 600 || - || -
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->There are two common schools of thought when driving the BT-7, firstly rushing a capture point using your better than average mobility to get there before other friendly or enemy tanks. This tactic can help to gain points early in the game and perhaps even a few kills as enemy tanks try to take the point that you captured, but your fairly thin armour will leave you at risk of being crippled and destroyed by enemy fire unless you retreat to cover or get back up from friendly vehicles. The second school of thought is not to charge right into the combat, but wait a while to see how the battle develops - observe where and how many enemy tanks go, maybe fire a few shots from a distance. Use your great mobility to get to the best positions and flank the enemy, from these positions you could snipe into the main battler area to damage and kill enemy vehicles. You could then decide to use the BT-7's mobility to charge at lonely opponents, which at close range have no chance of keeping their guns pointed at you as you can essentially drive circles around them. Keep in mind that charging into more than 1 opponent is usually a quick end as it is very hard to not get hit by either of them at the same time. There is basically paper armour on BT-7 to stop anything other than machine-gun fire, overall speed is key, being mobile and changing your position often will be a great way to avoid enemy fire and potential revenge kill attempts.
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
 
 +
If you lose one of your 3 crew members it would be advisable to head to a friendly capture point to use your crew replenishment as your vehicle needs 2 members to operate, and having a 'spare' crew member can come in handy.
 +
 
 +
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
 +
 
 +
* [[Pz.II (Family)|Pz.IIs]], [[Flakpanzer I]] - Although not as fast as the BT-7, the Pz.IIs still have an average speed of around 40 km/h. Also, they are equipped with a deadly 20 mm autocannon that will punch holes on the BT-7 with ease, and their rate of fire can quickly kill multiple crew. The BT-7 has thin armour protecting only 3 crew, making it extremely vulnerable to those autocannons. Try to finish them before they shoot at you.
 +
 
 +
* [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234 series]] - These wheeled vehicles all have scary on-road speeds of more than 60 km/h, so in any map, with roads connecting to the points they can always get there first and set up an ambush. However, these vehicles are wheeled meaning they cannot turn in place, they are rather sluggish when trying to turn, and they have either slow turret traverse or no turret at all, so the player can use this to their advantage. Wiggle/circle around them to avoid their guns and force them to turn, then aim carefully and immobilise them. Note that the DT machine gun on the BT-7 only has 10 mm penetration at most, making it almost impossible to go through their armour and kill any crew, so don't think of destroying these wheeled vehicles with the MG.
 +
 
 +
* [[M8 Greyhound]], [[M3 Stuart (Family)|M3 Stuarts]] - These vehicles can be equally fast, and the M8 can outrun the BT-7 if it's travelling on road, allowing them to get to the point before the BT-7 does. Therefore, if America is on the other side the player might want to change their tactics and not rush the point since low tier battles are always filled with fast tanks. The M8 has a roof-mounted .50 cal MG which easily tears the BT-7's armour apart and kills the crew inside. Also, most of them have a vertical stabiliser that works at low speed, so avoid firing on the move with them.
 +
 
 +
* [[B1 bis]] - A heavily armoured tank for its BR, but do not panic when you see it. Don't fire at a distance unless you are directly aiming at its side armour. The best option is to try and get as close to it as possible (point-blank range is ideal) and shoot straight at its side. However sometimes due to a variety of reasons the player might be unable to flank it and has to face it frontally. If that is the case, shoot the rather vertical driver's compartment and there's a great chance of penetration, killing the driver and the commander (which is also the gunner for the turret). Or, shoot between the two guns on the turret to kill the commander/gunner. Or, shoot at the near-vertical part of the curved gun mantlet of the big hull-mounted gun.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== 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".'' -->
 
<!-- ''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".'' -->
−
''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:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Deadly firepower at its BR: high penetration of up to 70 mm, with the 29 g TNT it can frontally knock out most tanks like [[Pz.II (Family)|Pz.II]], [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]] or [[M3 Stuart (Family)|M3 Stuart]]; its firepower is effective even in high tier battles, if aiming at the right spot
 +
* One of the fastest tanks in the game, great acceleration and overall mobility makes it a nice point-capper, flanker and climber - can outrun the commonly seen M3 Stuart on road
 +
* 3-4 second reload time is quick enough to destroy opponents it cannot knock out with a single shot, like [[Pz.IV C]] and [[LVT(A)(1)|LVT(A)]] series
 +
* Adequate reverse speed of -10 km/h allows it to quickly retreat from danger when there is no time to turn around
 +
* Small and low profile allows it to easily hide behind cover or bushes
 +
* Winter camouflage comes as the standard camouflage, excellent on winter maps but may cause some issues in other climates
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Poor survivability: non-existent armour on all sides plus the closely packed crew makes it vulnerable to autocannons ([[Pz.II (Family)|Pz.II]], [[Flakpanzer I]]), heavy MG ([[M13 MGMC]]) and even solid shells
 +
* Turret and hull traverse is rather slow, meaning it may not be able to keep track of fast targets- this is also a disadvantage in a close quarters duel, as other light tanks like [[M3 Stuart (Family)|M3 Stuart]] can turn way faster
 +
* Although fast, it is still slower than the [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]] series on road.
 +
* Gun depression of only -6 degrees (worse than previous BT-5) means it cannot effectively fight in hills
 +
* Fuel tanks and ammo are scattered inside and are prone to detonation upon being hit
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
 
 +
{{main|BT-7#History|l1=History of the BT-7}}
 +
 
 +
=== Development ===
 +
The success of the [[BT-5|BT light tanks]] in Soviet service prompted additional upgrades and other developmental projects done on the design to increase its service life. The development led to the final model of the BT light tank series, the '''BT-7'''. The tank differed from the older BT-5 tank with a welded hull, redesigned hull front, and a new engine in the Model 1935 version. The '''Model 1937''' version of the BT-7 added a redesigned turret that featured sloping armour.
 +
 
 +
The tank initially had a canted-ellipse shaped turret mounting the main gun and coaxial machine guns with the focus of allowing the tank to mount different tanks without changing the whole design, which led to the development of two main kinds of BT-7s, the normal variant with a 45 mm 20K gun for anti-armour and an artillery variant called the ''BT-7A'' which mounted a 76.2 mm KT-26 howitzer for anti-infantry. The tank was redesigned before it entered production by using the BT-5 turret instead with the main gun and coaxial machine gun still attached, though the concept of swapping to different guns was still in development for the tank. A radio was also installed on the turret as well. The tank had a three-man crew, the commander/gunner and loader in the turret, and the driver in the front. Production started in 1935 but was redesigned in 1937 with a new conical turret that allowed more ammunition to be stored and a machine gun on the rear of the turret. The BT-7 mod. 1937 also had improvements on the drive wheels, gearbox, and tracks by 1938. The BT-7 went on to be produced from 1935 to 1940 for a total unit production of between 2,700 to 5,300 tanks.
 +
 
 +
=== Combat usage ===
 +
The BT-7 served alongside its older counterpart BT-5 tanks. The BT light tanks were meant to be cavalry tanks, and at the time of their introduction, they were considered some of the finest tanks against other countries' tanks. They had great mobility of all available tanks, and its 45 mm gun could perform very well in combat. The only drawbacks of the design were its light armour and its gasoline engine, which caused the design to be rather flammable to improvised incendiary weapons. The BT-7's most notable combat service came against the Japanese at Khalkhin Gol. The tactics of Soviet Marshal Georgi Zhukov and the performance of his BT-5 and BT-7 tanks led to a decisive victory. It was during this battle that the BT tanks' tendency to catch fire was found, but its performance was positive against the inferior Japanese armoured forces.
 +
 
 +
The BT-7 next combat use was during the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa when Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union. The superior German tanks [[Pz.III F|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IV]] was able to easily take out these lightly armoured tanks. Reports note that about 2,000 BT-7 tanks were lost in the first 12 months alone against the German forces, with hundreds broken down from low maintenance and were abandoned. Despite their inferiority, the Soviets continued to produce and field them among armour and mechanized units to boost their operational capacity, though most were kept away from the front lines due to their inadequacy. The BT-7 would finally see its service again in the Soviet invasion of Japanese-controlled Manchuria. The Soviets fielded the BT-7 and other tanks in its inventory against the inferior Japanese forces in Manchuria, where it proved very effective against the more lightly armoured Japanese tanks employed. The BT series were all retired after the end of World War II due to their obsolete design as an inter-war period tank design.
 +
 
 +
=== Legacy ===
 +
Perhaps the most important impact of the BT light tanks series was that it kick-started the development of the [[T-34 (1940)|T-34]] medium tank, which would go on as the most-produced tank of World War II. A new design team was formed in 1937 at the KhPZ factory, where they built prototypes utilizing more armour and a heavier gun onto the design, which was called the ''A-32'' and was approved for production as the T-34 tank. The BT tanks also serve as the basis of support vehicles such as the ''BT-7A'' artillery tan, ''BT-7TU'' command tank, ''OP-7'' flamethrower tank, and even the ''TT-BT-7'' remote-controlled tank. An attempt in 1940 also had the BT-7 up-armoured with hinged homogeneous armour, which added five tons to the design weight. These vehicles are not known to have seen service in combat units.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
{{Notice| Skins and videos about the [[BT-7#Media|BT-7]] can be used for the {{PAGENAME}}}}
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_bt_7_1937_td Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|RGc9HJa84sw|'''Twitch Drop Tank - BT-7 TD''' - ''8Bit Dane''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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; Related development
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* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
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== External links ==
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* ''other literature.'' -->
 
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
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{{Twitch Drops}}
 
{{USSR light tanks}}
 
{{USSR light tanks}}

Latest revision as of 11:17, 20 October 2024

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This page is about the Soviet gift light tank BT-7 TD. For other versions, see BT-7 (Family).
BT-7 TD
ussr_bt_7_1937_td.png
GarageImage BT-7 TD.jpg
BT-7 TD
USSR flag.png USSR
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.3 1.3 1.3
Class:
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
Show in game

Description

The BT-7 TD was a Soviet light tank, developed from the previous BT-5 light tank. Both designs shared the same 45 mm 20-K cannon aswell as coaxial DT machine gun. Unlike the BT-5, the BT-7s hull was welded and the shape of hull at front was also redesigned. The frontal armour protection was slightly increased from 13 to 20 mm of armour. New short-pitch tracks were installed and Mikulin M-17T engine which was a licensed copy of German BMW VI V-12 engine was used instead of the M-5-400 found in BT-5 and earlier BT series tanks. New turret turret featuring sloped armour was also adopted. The BT-7 was used during Winter War and Continuation war with Finland aswell as during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. Their numbers greatly reduced due to combat losses after 1941, the BTs served for the remainder of war. One example in running condition is preserved to this day.

The BT-7 TD was introduced during Update "Hot Tracks" as reward for watching Enlisted streams on Twitch.tv. The BT-7 TD is identical to the BT-7 in every way except for the exclusive camouflage, of a BT tank during the battle of Moscow, similar to the one found on the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.). The BT-7 TD features a very powerful gun on a highly mobile chassis, at the cost of no valuable armour. The tank commanders should utilize the speed of the BT to flank their enemies and shoot them from sides and then quickly change position and perform another ambush as the vehicle itself is very lightly armoured and any hit is fatal.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull20 / 15 / 13
Turret15 / 15 / 13
Crew3 people
Visibility84 %

The armour is well angled at certain points like the front, however being as thin as it is, don't count on it to protect you very well. With 20 mm armour on the front and with all that inclination on the armour panels, this vehicle had decent protection. With 5 mm less armour on the turret, that's the vulnerability of the tank, especially on the turret's backside, where the ammo is stored. However, you only get 3 crew members in the vehicle, making the tank vulnerable to any "crew knocked out" scenarios. One strong point for the vehicle is that you have speed, and the trade-off of speed vs. armour can come in handy especially travelling around 59 km/h (It's very hard to reach 60 km/h) ensures any enemy SPG will be very unlikely to hit close to you.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 15 mm (61°) Upper front glacis
20 mm (18°) Driver's hatch
20 mm (5-52°) Lower front glacis		 20 mm Driver compartment
15 + 4 mm Fighting & engine compartments 		10 mm (55°) Upper glacis
13 mm (15°) Centre plate
13 mm (58°) Lower glacis 		10 mm
4 mm Engine vents
Turret 15 mm (7-53°) Gun mantlet
15 mm (13°) Turret front 		15 mm (13°) Front
13 mm (13°) Bustle 		13 mm (15°) 10 mm

Notes

  • Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 15 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
  • Mudguards and storage boxes are 4 mm thick.
  • There is a 4 mm internal wall separating the crew compartment from the engine compartment.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB55 / 11 km/h
RB and SB50 / 10 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight13.7 t
Engine power
AB763 hp
RB and SB400 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB55.7 hp/t
RB and SB29.2 hp/t

It is a very fast tank with relatively thin armour. It can be useful to flank and hit the side armour of enemy tanks, taking advantage of its very high speed. With its speed and low weight, this tank will drift in turns. For maximum control in turns, reduce throttle beforehand and only tip/nudge the turn-keys. It needs some time to get used to, however, it can prepare you for the T-34's break-turns.

Your speed can be your best defence, so move fast and try to zig-zag a bit to make yourself a more difficult target for tanks farther away (not too much though, or you'll bleed off too much speed).

Off-road behaviour is good and the drifts aren't as extreme as on city roads. Top speed is not really reduced as well, making the BT-7 one of the fastest early tanks due to its relatively wide tracks, something both the Light tank M2 and Panzer II miss.

Like its predecessor the BT-5, the BT-7 has competitive mobility, easily being able to reach capture points before most other tanks or get to competitive camping spots before anyone else, the 400 hp engine gives the BT-7 a good power-to-weight ratio, which also allows the BT-7 to scale hills and smaller obstacles with relative ease.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 55 11 13.7 620 763 45.26 55.69
Realistic 50 10 354 400 25.84 29.2

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB172 → 221 Sl icon.png
RB182 → 234 Sl icon.png
SB214 → 275 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications4 430 Rp icon.png
2 670 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost300 Ge icon.png
Crew training600 Sl icon.png
Experts2 100 Sl icon.png
Aces45 Ge icon.png
Research Aces110 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 20 / 20 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
250 Rp icon.png
Cost:
150 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
250 Rp icon.png
Cost:
150 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
480 Rp icon.png
Cost:
290 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
480 Rp icon.png
Cost:
290 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
250 Rp icon.png
Cost:
150 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
45mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
250 Rp icon.png
Cost:
150 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
480 Rp icon.png
Cost:
290 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

45 mm 20-K cannon
Ammunition188 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.8 → 2.9 s
Vertical guidance-6° / 25°
Main article: 20-K (45 mm)
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 -6°/+25° ±180° N/A 15.2 21.1 25.6 28.3 30.1 3.77 3.34 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 67 58 47 39 32
BR-240SP APBC 73 70 60 50 41 34
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 APBC 757 1.43 - - - 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the BT-7 (identical).
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty
188 174 (+14) 162 (+26) 147 (+41) 135 (+53) 123 (+65) 108 (+80) 89 (+99)
8th
rack empty 		9th
rack empty 		10th
rack empty 		11th
rack empty 		12th
rack empty 		13th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
73 (+115) 57 (+131) 41 (+147) 25 (+163) 13 (+175) 1 (+187) No

Notes:

  • Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
  • Turret empty: 147 (+41) shells.
  • Turret and side racks empty: 89 (+99) shells.

Machine guns

7.62 mm DT machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition2 394 rounds
Belt capacity63 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: DT (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm DT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,394 (63) 600 - -

Usage in battles

There are two common schools of thought when driving the BT-7, firstly rushing a capture point using your better than average mobility to get there before other friendly or enemy tanks. This tactic can help to gain points early in the game and perhaps even a few kills as enemy tanks try to take the point that you captured, but your fairly thin armour will leave you at risk of being crippled and destroyed by enemy fire unless you retreat to cover or get back up from friendly vehicles. The second school of thought is not to charge right into the combat, but wait a while to see how the battle develops - observe where and how many enemy tanks go, maybe fire a few shots from a distance. Use your great mobility to get to the best positions and flank the enemy, from these positions you could snipe into the main battler area to damage and kill enemy vehicles. You could then decide to use the BT-7's mobility to charge at lonely opponents, which at close range have no chance of keeping their guns pointed at you as you can essentially drive circles around them. Keep in mind that charging into more than 1 opponent is usually a quick end as it is very hard to not get hit by either of them at the same time. There is basically paper armour on BT-7 to stop anything other than machine-gun fire, overall speed is key, being mobile and changing your position often will be a great way to avoid enemy fire and potential revenge kill attempts.

If you lose one of your 3 crew members it would be advisable to head to a friendly capture point to use your crew replenishment as your vehicle needs 2 members to operate, and having a 'spare' crew member can come in handy.

Enemies worth noting:

  • Pz.IIs, Flakpanzer I - Although not as fast as the BT-7, the Pz.IIs still have an average speed of around 40 km/h. Also, they are equipped with a deadly 20 mm autocannon that will punch holes on the BT-7 with ease, and their rate of fire can quickly kill multiple crew. The BT-7 has thin armour protecting only 3 crew, making it extremely vulnerable to those autocannons. Try to finish them before they shoot at you.
  • Sd.Kfz.234 series - These wheeled vehicles all have scary on-road speeds of more than 60 km/h, so in any map, with roads connecting to the points they can always get there first and set up an ambush. However, these vehicles are wheeled meaning they cannot turn in place, they are rather sluggish when trying to turn, and they have either slow turret traverse or no turret at all, so the player can use this to their advantage. Wiggle/circle around them to avoid their guns and force them to turn, then aim carefully and immobilise them. Note that the DT machine gun on the BT-7 only has 10 mm penetration at most, making it almost impossible to go through their armour and kill any crew, so don't think of destroying these wheeled vehicles with the MG.
  • M8 Greyhound, M3 Stuarts - These vehicles can be equally fast, and the M8 can outrun the BT-7 if it's travelling on road, allowing them to get to the point before the BT-7 does. Therefore, if America is on the other side the player might want to change their tactics and not rush the point since low tier battles are always filled with fast tanks. The M8 has a roof-mounted .50 cal MG which easily tears the BT-7's armour apart and kills the crew inside. Also, most of them have a vertical stabiliser that works at low speed, so avoid firing on the move with them.
  • B1 bis - A heavily armoured tank for its BR, but do not panic when you see it. Don't fire at a distance unless you are directly aiming at its side armour. The best option is to try and get as close to it as possible (point-blank range is ideal) and shoot straight at its side. However sometimes due to a variety of reasons the player might be unable to flank it and has to face it frontally. If that is the case, shoot the rather vertical driver's compartment and there's a great chance of penetration, killing the driver and the commander (which is also the gunner for the turret). Or, shoot between the two guns on the turret to kill the commander/gunner. Or, shoot at the near-vertical part of the curved gun mantlet of the big hull-mounted gun.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Deadly firepower at its BR: high penetration of up to 70 mm, with the 29 g TNT it can frontally knock out most tanks like Pz.II, Chi-Ha or M3 Stuart; its firepower is effective even in high tier battles, if aiming at the right spot
  • One of the fastest tanks in the game, great acceleration and overall mobility makes it a nice point-capper, flanker and climber - can outrun the commonly seen M3 Stuart on road
  • 3-4 second reload time is quick enough to destroy opponents it cannot knock out with a single shot, like Pz.IV C and LVT(A) series
  • Adequate reverse speed of -10 km/h allows it to quickly retreat from danger when there is no time to turn around
  • Small and low profile allows it to easily hide behind cover or bushes
  • Winter camouflage comes as the standard camouflage, excellent on winter maps but may cause some issues in other climates

Cons:

  • Poor survivability: non-existent armour on all sides plus the closely packed crew makes it vulnerable to autocannons (Pz.II, Flakpanzer I), heavy MG (M13 MGMC) and even solid shells
  • Turret and hull traverse is rather slow, meaning it may not be able to keep track of fast targets- this is also a disadvantage in a close quarters duel, as other light tanks like M3 Stuart can turn way faster
  • Although fast, it is still slower than the Sd.Kfz.234 series on road.
  • Gun depression of only -6 degrees (worse than previous BT-5) means it cannot effectively fight in hills
  • Fuel tanks and ammo are scattered inside and are prone to detonation upon being hit

History

Main article: History of the BT-7

Development

The success of the BT light tanks in Soviet service prompted additional upgrades and other developmental projects done on the design to increase its service life. The development led to the final model of the BT light tank series, the BT-7. The tank differed from the older BT-5 tank with a welded hull, redesigned hull front, and a new engine in the Model 1935 version. The Model 1937 version of the BT-7 added a redesigned turret that featured sloping armour.

The tank initially had a canted-ellipse shaped turret mounting the main gun and coaxial machine guns with the focus of allowing the tank to mount different tanks without changing the whole design, which led to the development of two main kinds of BT-7s, the normal variant with a 45 mm 20K gun for anti-armour and an artillery variant called the BT-7A which mounted a 76.2 mm KT-26 howitzer for anti-infantry. The tank was redesigned before it entered production by using the BT-5 turret instead with the main gun and coaxial machine gun still attached, though the concept of swapping to different guns was still in development for the tank. A radio was also installed on the turret as well. The tank had a three-man crew, the commander/gunner and loader in the turret, and the driver in the front. Production started in 1935 but was redesigned in 1937 with a new conical turret that allowed more ammunition to be stored and a machine gun on the rear of the turret. The BT-7 mod. 1937 also had improvements on the drive wheels, gearbox, and tracks by 1938. The BT-7 went on to be produced from 1935 to 1940 for a total unit production of between 2,700 to 5,300 tanks.

Combat usage

The BT-7 served alongside its older counterpart BT-5 tanks. The BT light tanks were meant to be cavalry tanks, and at the time of their introduction, they were considered some of the finest tanks against other countries' tanks. They had great mobility of all available tanks, and its 45 mm gun could perform very well in combat. The only drawbacks of the design were its light armour and its gasoline engine, which caused the design to be rather flammable to improvised incendiary weapons. The BT-7's most notable combat service came against the Japanese at Khalkhin Gol. The tactics of Soviet Marshal Georgi Zhukov and the performance of his BT-5 and BT-7 tanks led to a decisive victory. It was during this battle that the BT tanks' tendency to catch fire was found, but its performance was positive against the inferior Japanese armoured forces.

The BT-7 next combat use was during the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa when Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union. The superior German tanks Panzer III and Panzer IV was able to easily take out these lightly armoured tanks. Reports note that about 2,000 BT-7 tanks were lost in the first 12 months alone against the German forces, with hundreds broken down from low maintenance and were abandoned. Despite their inferiority, the Soviets continued to produce and field them among armour and mechanized units to boost their operational capacity, though most were kept away from the front lines due to their inadequacy. The BT-7 would finally see its service again in the Soviet invasion of Japanese-controlled Manchuria. The Soviets fielded the BT-7 and other tanks in its inventory against the inferior Japanese forces in Manchuria, where it proved very effective against the more lightly armoured Japanese tanks employed. The BT series were all retired after the end of World War II due to their obsolete design as an inter-war period tank design.

Legacy

Perhaps the most important impact of the BT light tanks series was that it kick-started the development of the T-34 medium tank, which would go on as the most-produced tank of World War II. A new design team was formed in 1937 at the KhPZ factory, where they built prototypes utilizing more armour and a heavier gun onto the design, which was called the A-32 and was approved for production as the T-34 tank. The BT tanks also serve as the basis of support vehicles such as the BT-7A artillery tan, BT-7TU command tank, OP-7 flamethrower tank, and even the TT-BT-7 remote-controlled tank. An attempt in 1940 also had the BT-7 up-armoured with hinged homogeneous armour, which added five tons to the design weight. These vehicles are not known to have seen service in combat units.

Media

Msg-info.png Skins and videos about the BT-7 can be used for the BT-7 TD
Skins
Videos
Twitch Drop Tank - BT-7 TD - 8Bit Dane

See also

Related development

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Twitch Drop vehicles
Ground vehicles  M5A1 TD · Pz.II C TD · Pz.III J1 TD · Sd.Kfz.234/2 TD · BT-7 TD · Chi-Ha Kai TD · Strv m/39 TD
Aviation  P-40E-1 TD
Fleet  Dark Aggressor TD

USSR light tanks
T-26  T-26 · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26-4 · T-26E
BT  BT-5 · RBT-5 · BT-7 · BT-7 TD · BT-7M · BT-7A (F-32)
T-50  T-126 · T-50
T-70  T-70 · T-80
PT-76  PT-76B · PT-76-57 · Object 906
BMP  BMP-1 · BMP-2 · BMP-2M · BMP-3
BMD  BMD-4
2S25  2S25 · 2S25M
Wheeled  BA-11 · BTR-80A
Other  T-60 · Object 685 · 2S38
China  ▂Type 62

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