BA-10

The Soviet Broneavtomobil (BA) 10 heavy armored car was an evolution of earlier pre-war designs which Soviet planners intended as a temporary solution until the more advanced BA-11 entered service. Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 and unsuitability of the BA-11 resulted in the BA-10 serving throughout the war (though not in front-line capacity after 1942). Built upon a three-axle chassis, the BA-10 used a slightly smaller, better-sloped armor layout than its predecessor, the BA-6, improving protection while saving weight. This advantage, plus increased engine power, made the BA-10 more reliable and gave it a top speed of 33 mph. It could be converted to a half-track by fitting auxiliary tracks to the rear pair of dual tandem wheels. It featured a 45 mm L/46 M1932/38 (20-K) gun in a fully-rotating turret, capable of firing both ant-tank and anti-personnel rounds. Secondary armament included two 7.62 DT machine guns. It carried a crew of four and weighed 5.1 tonnes. The BA-10 first saw action against the Japanese in Manchuria at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in July 1939. It was involved in all subsequent Soviet military operations through 1941. Beginning in early 1942, however, the type was largely replaced in the heavy scouting role by light tanks such as the T-60 and T-70. The Manchukuo, Finns, and Germans used captured examples. Soviet industry produced 3,311 examples between 1939 and 1941.