BT-42

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BT-42
BT-42 in Finnish Tank Museum
Type	Assault gun
Place of origin	Finland
Service history
Wars	Continuation War
Production history
Number built	18
Specifications
Weight	15 tonnes
Length	5.7 m
Width	2.1 m
Height	2.2 m
Crew	3

Armor	6–13 mm
Primary armament	114mm (4.5-inch) howitzer
Engine	M-17T 500 hp (370 kW)
Power/weight	hp/tonne
Suspension	Christie
Operational range	375 km
Speed	53 km/h

The BT-42 was a Finnish assault gun built during the Continuation War. It was constructed from captured Soviet BT-7 light tanks and British 4.5-inch howitzers (114mm-calibre light howitzer, model 1908) from 1918, which had been donated during the Winter War. Only eighteen vehicles were constructed.

[edit] Combat History

The BT-42s were deployed as part of the Finnish Armoured Division. The BT-42 was first used on the front along the river Svir in 1943. The assault guns engaged Soviet forces on the other side of the river and managed to destroy several targets. However the crews were not impressed since the tank suffered from mechanical failures and the main gun was only effective against "soft" targets.

The BT-42s were used again during the major Soviet offensive in 1944. They were deployed in the defence of Vyborg but were unable to stop the advancing Soviet forces.