The BA-64 was a 4×4 light armored car used by the Soviet Union during World War II.
Description[]
Designed in 1942, it was armed with a 7.62 mm DT machine gun and required a crew of two men.[1] Despite having relatively light armor, the BA-64's was a successful reconnaissance vehicle, due in part to its GAZ-MM engine which gave it a top speed of 80 km/h.[1]
The total weight of the BA-64 was around 2,400 kilograms while its total length was 3.6 metres. Its maximum range when travelling on road ways was around 350 kilometers.
In combat, the BA-64 was comparable to the SdKfz 221 and as such, oftentimes performed the very same roles. Reliabilitiy however was better than its German counterpart. The chassis itself was based upon the GAZ-64.
Variants[]
The first variant of the BA-64 series was the BA-64B. It had a large wheel base and was based upon the later GAZ-67. Furthermore, the BA-64B had armor plates that had been slanted more to deflect more gunfire. The BASh-64 was a staff car modification made to the original BA-64.[2] The BA-64SDhK, introduced in 1944, was a model similar to the BA-64B except that it had been given the DShK Heavy Machine Gun while the BA-64D had been a proposed infantry carrier with capacity for up to six men.
History[]
The BA-64 was initially introduced in 1941 following a quick development period following the Winter War. It came out of the need for cheap, reliable armored cars to service infantry formations where tanks and other armored vehicles were not available. It was quickly adopted by frontline troops and was well liked. It had continued serve throughout the Eastern Front in various roles. In total, around 9,000 models had been produced by the end of the war.