BA-64

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BA-64B

General characteristics
Crew	2
Length	3.66 m
Width	1.53 m
Height	1.90 m
Weight	2.3 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour	4–15 mm
Main armament	7.62 mm DT machine gun with 1260 rounds
Secondary armament	–
Mobility
Power plant	4-cylinder GAZ-64 50 hp (37 kW)
Suspension	wheeled 4×4
Road speed	80 km/h
Power/weight	22 hp/tonne
Range	540 km

The BA-64 was a 4×4 light armoured car, employed by the Soviet Army from 1942 into the early 1960s for reconnaissance and liaison tasks.

The BA-64B was nicknamed 'Bobik' by its crews. The total recorded number of BA-64s produced differs even in Russian sources. The most frequently-stated figures are 9,110 (3,901 BA-64 and 5,209 BA-64B) vehicles which were built in the GAZ automobile plant, although a memorial plaque near the pictured Nizhny Novgorod car states 9,063 cars. The Red Army representatives accepted only 8,174 BA-64s, including 3,390 with radio sets; the other vehicles were transferred to NKVD units and Soviet allies.

1 Production history
- 1.1 Variants
2 Combat history
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Production history

The BA-64 armoured car was a construction initiative of GAZ chief designer V. A. Grachev. Design work started in July 17, 1941. The designer's team also included F. A. Lependin (general layout), G. M. Wassermann (leading engineer), Yu. N. Sorochkin, B. T. Komarevskiy, V. F. Samoilov (armoured hull) and others. On April 10, 1942, Grachev was awarded the Third Grade Stalin Prize for creation of the BA-64 armoured car and GAZ-61 light jeep.

Memorial BA-64B armoured car in Nizhniy Novgorod Kremlin, Russia

The initial BA-64 model was based upon the GAZ-64 jeep and fitted with sloped armour that had some similarities to the German Sd kfz 222 design. One captured Sd Kfz 222 was transferred to GAZ for examination and analysis on September 7, 1941. The first prototype was tested on January 9, 1942. It had an open roof, with a pintle-mounted 7.62mm DT machine gun. The vehicle was operated by a crew of two. The next day the BA-64 prototype was shown to Kliment Voroshilov. The official presentation was in the Kremlin on March 3, 1942. The State Defence Committee adopted the BA-64 for Red Army service on March 14, 1942. It was top-heavy and could easily overturn on rough terrain.

The improved BA-64B model was introduced in 1943, based on the GAZ-67B jeep, with a wider wheelbase. This model also had a small machine-gun turret added. The mass production of BA-64Bs continued through the rest of the Second World War and ceased in 1946. The last 62 vehicles were completed in that year.

BA-64Bs were also used by Polish and Czech units, raised in Soviet Union. After the end of the war, some BA-64Bs were transferred to the police of the GDR. There were other post-war transfers of BA-64Bs to North Korea, China and Yugoslavia.

[edit] Variants

BA-64, initial open-topped production, based on GAZ-64
BA-64B, main production with turret, based on GAZ-67B
BASh-64, staff vehicle with a variety of armoured compartments
BA-64DShK (1944), armed with 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun
BA-64D (desantniy, prototype only), personnel carrier for six men
BA-64ZhD (prototype only), two different railcar versions with flanged wheels, developed at GAZ and the Vyksunskiy Factory
BA-64SKh (prototype only), half-track with front skis for travel in snow, based on experimental GAZ-60

[edit] Combat history

The major drawback of the BA-64 was its light armament. However, BA-64s were successfully utilised in reconnaissance and liaison missions despite this disadvantage. Another benefit was the high elevation angle of the DT machine gun. In complement with high speed and good manoeuvrability, this allowed BA-64s the be used in urban combat with success against enemy infantry hiding on the upper floors of buildings. Also, BA-64s could return fire to enemy planes. The light firepower of BA-64s was not sufficient for effective destruction of aerial targets, but it significantly limited the enemy's flight freedom and thus helped to reduce the losses of friendly troops.

[edit] References

Zaloga, Steven J.; James Grandsen (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two. London: Arms and Armour Press, pp. 187–189. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.

[edit] External links

BA-64 at Russian BattleField site
BA-64 armored car at armchairgeneral.com
Russia's BA-64 Armored Cars at wwiivehicles.com
Oruzhiye pobedy: Bronevik BA-64 in Avtorevyu No. 8, 2005 (Russian language)—includes photos of a restored BA-64
BA-64 at Vasiliy Chobitok's ArmorSite (in Russian)

Soviet armoured fighting vehicles of World War II

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