Tanker's Tuesday: BT2

A revolutionary design

BT means Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank). It was indeed a new class of its own, originally invented and refined in the USA, as the brainchild of American Engineer Walter J. Christie, which had a tremendous influence in tank design during the thirties. Christie has observed WWI tanks in action and the beginnings of US tank postwar development at home. He had realized how deep was the gap between the fast armored cars, but with poor off-road capabilities, and the slow, but all-terrain proved tracked tanks. He devised new ways to cope with this problem, revolving around power-to-weight ratio and new suspension designs. His first prototype was ready in 1923, but was rejected by the US Army. He then developed even faster tanks, equipped with powerful radial aircraft engines and the acclaimed "Christie" suspension, as well as the concept of removable tracks. The idea was that, with this new suspension and the combination of very large rubberized wheels and huge vertical coils, his model remained operational even after its tracks were disabled, excessively worn or broken. The tank was also capable to reach the battlefield by itself, on roads, with its tracks stored on the mudguards, rather than to be carried by rail. It was displayed on impressive shows and quickly dubbed by the press "the race tank". However, the Army only ordered a single prototype for evaluation by the cavalry corps, the Christie model 1931, but further orders were cancelled. - See more at: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BT-2.php#sthash.r3MtEi4V.dpuf

 

 

A revolutionary design

BT means Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank). It was indeed a new class of its own, originally invented and refined in the USA, as the brainchild of American Engineer Walter J. Christie, which had a tremendous influence in tank design during the thirties. Christie has observed WWI tanks in action and the beginnings of US tank postwar development at home. He had realized how deep was the gap between the fast armored cars, but with poor off-road capabilities, and the slow, but all-terrain proved tracked tanks. He devised new ways to cope with this problem, revolving around power-to-weight ratio and new suspension designs. His first prototype was ready in 1923, but was rejected by the US Army. He then developed even faster tanks, equipped with powerful radial aircraft engines and the acclaimed "Christie" suspension, as well as the concept of removable tracks. The idea was that, with this new suspension and the combination of very large rubberized wheels and huge vertical coils, his model remained operational even after its tracks were disabled, excessively worn or broken. The tank was also capable to reach the battlefield by itself, on roads, with its tracks stored on the mudguards, rather than to be carried by rail. It was displayed on impressive shows and quickly dubbed by the press "the race tank". However, the Army only ordered a single prototype for evaluation by the cavalry corps, the Christie model 1931, but further orders were cancelled.

 http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BT-2.php

A revolutionary design

BT means Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank). It was indeed a new class of its own, originally invented and refined in the USA, as the brainchild of American Engineer Walter J. Christie, which had a tremendous influence in tank design during the thirties. Christie has observed WWI tanks in action and the beginnings of US tank postwar development at home. He had realized how deep was the gap between the fast armored cars, but with poor off-road capabilities, and the slow, but all-terrain proved tracked tanks. He devised new ways to cope with this problem, revolving around power-to-weight ratio and new suspension designs. His first prototype was ready in 1923, but was rejected by the US Army. He then developed even faster tanks, equipped with powerful radial aircraft engines and the acclaimed "Christie" suspension, as well as the concept of removable tracks. The idea was that, with this new suspension and the combination of very large rubberized wheels and huge vertical coils, his model remained operational even after its tracks were disabled, excessively worn or broken. The tank was also capable to reach the battlefield by itself, on roads, with its tracks stored on the mudguards, rather than to be carried by rail. It was displayed on impressive shows and quickly dubbed by the press "the race tank". However, the Army only ordered a single prototype for evaluation by the cavalry corps, the Christie model 1931, but further orders were cancelled. - See more at: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BT-2.php#sthash.r3MtEi4V.dpuf

A revolutionary design

BT means Bystrochodnij Tankov (Fast Tank). It was indeed a new class of its own, originally invented and refined in the USA, as the brainchild of American Engineer Walter J. Christie, which had a tremendous influence in tank design during the thirties. Christie has observed WWI tanks in action and the beginnings of US tank postwar development at home. He had realized how deep was the gap between the fast armored cars, but with poor off-road capabilities, and the slow, but all-terrain proved tracked tanks. He devised new ways to cope with this problem, revolving around power-to-weight ratio and new suspension designs. His first prototype was ready in 1923, but was rejected by the US Army. He then developed even faster tanks, equipped with powerful radial aircraft engines and the acclaimed "Christie" suspension, as well as the concept of removable tracks. The idea was that, with this new suspension and the combination of very large rubberized wheels and huge vertical coils, his model remained operational even after its tracks were disabled, excessively worn or broken. The tank was also capable to reach the battlefield by itself, on roads, with its tracks stored on the mudguards, rather than to be carried by rail. It was displayed on impressive shows and quickly dubbed by the press "the race tank". However, the Army only ordered a single prototype for evaluation by the cavalry corps, the Christie model 1931, but further orders were cancelled. - See more at: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BT-2.php#sthash.r3MtEi4V.dpuf