- BA-3
Infobox Weapon
name=BA-3
caption=The BA-3 armored car
origin=flagcountry|Soviet Union|1923
type=Armored car
is_vehicle=yes
length=4.65 m
width=2.10 m
height=2.20 m
weight=6 tonnes
suspension=wheeled
speed=63 km/h
vehicle_range=260 km
primary_armament=45mm 20-K gun
secondary_armament=2×7.65 DT
armour=15 mm
engine=4-cylinder petrolGAZ -A
crew=4
engine_power=40 hp (30 kW)
pw_ratio=7 hp/tonneThe BA-3 ("Broneavtomobil 3") was an armored car developed in the
Soviet Union in the early 1930s. The 45 mm gun turret was the same as that used on theT-26 andBT-5 light tanks. It was built on the GAZ-AAA chassis. This 6×4 chassis was a modification of the US Ford AA 4×2 truck. This chassis limited mobility to roads or very hard ground. Mobility could be improved slightly by fitting tracks to the rear pair of dual wheels, making this car a convertible half-track.The BA-3 is very similar to the later
BA-6 ; the BA-3 has a door in the right rear of the hull that is not present on the BA-6. Both cars were superseded by the laterBA-10 . All cars of this series were very heavily armed for the era; they could knock out other recon vehicles with ease. However, their thin armor made them vulnerable to heavy machinegun fire and small caliber cannon fire.The BA-3 was used in combat against the Japanese in the
Battle of Khalkhyn Gol , in the FinnishWinter War , in theSpanish Civil War and in the early stages of fighting on the Eastern Front against the Germans. Ironically the German Army used a few Spanish-built six-wheeled armored cars that were close copies of the BA-3/6 series. The heavy scout vehicle role was taken over by light tanks such as theT-60 andT-70 later in the war.References
* Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). "Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two", London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.
External links
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/ba3_1.asp BA-3 Armored Car – Walk around photos]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.