Soviet - BT7A

The Soviet BT-7A was an artillery support variant of the BT-7 “fast tank,” developed in 1936 to provide heavier firepower for mobile units. Instead of the standard 45mm gun, it was fitted with a short-barrelled 76.2mm KT-28 howitzer, mounted in a larger, modified turret that also housed a 7.62mm DT machine gun. Armour protection remained light, up to 22mm, but the vehicle retained the excellent mobility of the BT series thanks to its M-17T 12-cylinder petrol engine, capable of reaching 50–55 km/h (31–34 mph) despite the added weight of the new gun. The BT-7A was intended to suppress enemy infantry, machine gun nests, and fortifications, complementing the lighter-armed BT-7s in mechanised formations. Around 150 units were produced, and they saw combat in the Winter War (1939–40) against Finland and in the early months of the German invasion in 1941. While its short-range howitzer was less effective against tanks, the BT-7A provided valuable fire support and demonstrated the Red Army’s early attempts to integrate self-propelled artillery into its armoured forces.

Multi part resin model.

Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.