BA-64

BA-64
BA-64
	BA-64
Type	Armoured car
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1942–1950s (USSR)
Used by	various
Wars	World War II, Korean War
Production history
Designer	Vitaliy Grachev
Designed	1942
Manufacturer	GAZ
Produced	1942–46
Number built	9110
Variants	BA-64B, BA-64D, BA-64E, BA-64G, BA-64W
Specifications
Weight	2.36 tonnes
Length	3.66 m (12.0 ft)
Width	1.69 m (5 ft 6.5 in)
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 2.8 in)
Crew	2
Armor	4–15 mm
Main; armament	7.62×54mmR DT machine gun with 1260 rounds
Engine	4-cylinder liquid-cooled GAZ-MM; 50 hp (37 kW)
Power/weight	22 hp/tonne
Suspension	Wheeled, 4x4
Ground clearance	23.5 mm (0.9 in)
Operational; range	300–600 km
Speed	80 km/h

The BA-64 is a small, lightly armoured, four-wheeled Soviet scout car. It can carry a Degtyaryov machine gun or PTRD anti-tank rifles. Nicknamed Bobik (a popular dog name/nickname) by Red Army crews, the vehicle has been widely exported.

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. BA-64 inspired other military vehicles such as SK-1^{[citation needed]}

Production history

The BA-64 armoured car was a construction initiative of GAZ chief designer V. A. Grachev. Design work started on 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 utility vehicle.

The initial BA-64 model was based on the GAZ-64 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. The hull had many resemblances with sdkfz-234 basic shape, and 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, 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.

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

Combat history

File:Ba64 nn.jpg

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

The major drawback of the BA-64 was its light armament. However, BA-64s were used successfully in reconnaissance and liaison missions. One benefit was the high elevation angle of the DT machine gun. Together with the vehicle's high speed and good manoeuvrability, this made BA-64s successful in urban combat against enemy infantry on the upper floors of buildings. In addition, the high-angle traverse of the DT machine gun could be used to engage enemy aircraft, although the weapons fitted lacked adequate firepower for this.