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BA-10 / BA-32

1938 COLD WAR WINTER WAR WORLD WAR 2

History

Armored vehicles played an important role in warfare during the First World War due to their ease of manufacture and ability to carry machine guns. In addition to military use, armored vehicles have also found a home for police forces tasked with maintaining peace and colonial interests in border areas. In the early days, armoured vehicles were nothing more than the chassis of commercial trucks to which heavy armoured hull superstructures were mounted, usually with a turret on top. Machine guns are the standard weapon, more or less retained within the commercial interior.

This makes it a large and bulky vehicle, but effective in the protection and firepower they provide at the cost. By the 1930s, this standard method of building armored vehicles had given way to more well-defined developments, and many excellent examples soon emerged before and during World War II.

In the early 1930s, the Soviet Union began to design and develop a new armored vehicle - although its appearance was closer to the clumsy pre-World War II vehicles.

The Gorky Automobile Plant was commissioned to produce a new series of armored vehicles, designated BA-10 ("Broneavtmobil 10"), the first of which appeared from 1932. The vehicle is based on earlier armoured vehicle developments known as the BA-3 and BA-6 series, which are further developments of the BA-I series (as is the BA-9).

The system was developed on the chassis of the Soviet GAZ-AAA series of "six-wheeled" commercial trucks, although it was adapted to the new battlefield model. The chassis retains the four rear axles (twin tires in all positions), the front axle is single, and the engine is front-mounted.

The suspension system was strengthened to support the enormous weight of the new hull layout, and the sloping armoured sides contained the crew's cockpit and fighting compartment. In addition, a transversal tower was installed on the roof of the superstructure. The armor protection of various fairings ranges from 6mm to 15mm. The standard operator consists of four people, including the driver, machine gunner, turret gunner and vehicle commander.

The driver took control of a front left position with the gunner to his right. Two other crew members sat in the turret position to manage the rest of the weapons. Aiming is achieved through aiming slots on the armor, which are also raised panels for improved visibility when not "buckled". In addition to the six-axle arrangement, a pair of spare wheels are mounted on the front of the fuselage, designed to spin freely when encountering rough terrain - increasing the vehicle's wheelbase and weight transfer.

The road ahead is illuminated by two car headlights, and the front wheels are covered by circular fenders. Early units saw their hulls riveted, but later this largely gave way to welded forms.

Standard armament for these early production models consisted of a 37mm anti-tank gun or a 12.7mm DShK series machine gun. This enabled the vehicle to attack lightly armored vehicles and light tanks of the time, while providing field suppression capabilities. The main battery can either fire high-explosive rounds at "soft targets" including infantry, or attack armor with an armor-piercing gun if necessary. A 7.62mm DT machine gun was mounted to the right of the driver and managed by a dedicated crew. Another 7.62mm DT machine gun was mounted in a coaxial position next to the gunner-operated turret main gun.

In addition, all crew members' personal weapons can be used in an emergency.

The total weight of the vehicle is 11,300 pounds, with the armored superstructure and ammo racks adding a lot of weight to the frame. The overall length is 4.65 meters, which also makes the vehicle quite long, especially when cornering. The addition of turrets also hindered tall buildings, which encouraged taller side profiles along the horizon - an attractive target for enemy anti-tank forces, to say the least.

The water-cooled 4-cylinder GAZ-M-1 series gasoline engine produces 85 horsepower, which equates to a top speed of 33 miles per hour and a maximum range of 200 miles. Combined with its retro look, the BA-10 remained a serviceable vehicle for its time, very fit for purpose and designed according to the dogma of the Soviet Army at the time.

In practice, the vehicle can adapt to the terrain by adding snow chains to each wheel element. Some are even wrapped in chains to provide extra traction on soft ground in a de facto "half-track" role. The spare tire mentioned above actually came into play in the field, allowing the long BA-10 to tackle rough terrain with a little help. In 1937, the improved BA-10M appeared, which installed the turret of the T-26B series of light tanks, retained its 45mm anti-tank gun and increased the overall firepower of the BA-10 series.

In search of additional firepower, engineers completed several installations of other tank turrets, but none were as widespread as the BA-10M.

The first combat operations of the BA-10 armored vehicle took place during the border war between the Soviet Union and Imperial Japan. The Empire tried to increase its possessions and relocate to Manchuria. To tighten control over the suburbs, the army moved into the border areas, creating tension between the Empire and the Soviet Union, and war broke out.

From May 11 to September 16, 1939, Manchuria (now Manchukuo) and Mongolia fought a battle at Kaerxin Gol. The BA-10 entered service, the Japanese were thoroughly defeated by the Red Army and cemented its status as the standard armored personnel carrier - although by WWII they were largely outdated in appearance and quality.

As such, the BA-10 will be used in upcoming WWII pre-Soviet campaigns, including Estonia and Latvia. This type was also widely used during the Winter War when the Soviet Union invaded Finland. However, the resistance of the Finns was fierce, and a considerable number of BA-10 armored vehicles were shot down by the enemy.

In June 1941, the Germans turned against their Soviet allies through Operation Barbarossa, causing chaos in the Soviet hinterland, capturing many manufacturing facilities and destroying or rebuilding BA-10 vehicles (as well as other vehicles and artillery) in the process. ) in the Bundeswehr. German BA-10 vehicle renamed Panzerspahwagen BAF 203(r) - "r" is used to denote its Russian origin. About 1,200 BA-10s are believed to be in service at the time of the German invasion.

These BA-10s serving in Germany were relegated to security and anti-partisan duties, and their use in the field could be further expanded in the short term. Romania was another well-known BA-10 operator, using captured systems in combat with the Soviet Union.

During these operations, the BA-10 proved to be very vulnerable to the basic elements of warfare. The vehicle's armor is fairly light for front-line combat, and its high profile exhausts the crew. Rubber tires can be penetrated by bullets, and side armor can be penetrated by armor-piercing guns. The front engine acts to a certain extent as a protective buffer for the occupants, and could be damaged, turning the entire vehicle into a fixed shelter. The front machine gun had a limited range and the driver's seat had limited visibility through the sight.

The weight and mass of the vehicle certainly played a role in the BA-10's tactical successes and failures. Where the BA-10 shines, however, is its application of mobile firepower and off-road terrain management, including a good combat area.

With the loss of BA-10 stockpiles and production facilities, the BA-10 was largely abandoned in service with the Red Army after 1941. To take their place, the Red Army used their inventory of light tanks that provided roughly the same amount of firepower via a more adaptable tracked chassis.

Armored vehicles in service with the Red Army have been more or less removed from future considerations - the focus is now on larger and more powerful machines, such as the excellent T-34 medium tank and similar armored vehicles. The few remaining BA-10 vehicles were stripped of their war parts (including removal of the turret assembly) and developed into purpose-built armored personnel carriers, providing mobility and some armor protection.

When the Soviet Union fought a bloody war, all possible vehicles were used to repel the onslaught of German aggression.

While certainly a limited design from a WWII perspective, the BA-10 series still performed well in action. At the beginning of 1932, the car was developed as a GAZ amphibious car, connected to a flotation unit, with limited production. The basic BA-10 armored vehicle produced later was also designated "BA-32".

There is a special railway version called "BA-10ZhD" which can also be driven on the road if necessary. The BA-10 series remained the largest number of armored vehicles in service with the Soviet Army prior to the war with Germany, with a total of 3,311 units delivered.