Heavy armored car developed in the Soviet Union, based on the BA-I. The BA-3 was developed in 1933 and the BA-6 in 1936, both with a turret that was identical to that used on the T-26 tank.
BA-3
Four wheeled variant (two wheels in the back, plus two wheels at front). Most of BA-3 production was based on the Ford-Timken chassis, a 6×4 modification of the US Ford AA 4×2 truck, on a Russian version of the same chassis - GAZ-AAA. The BA-3 had a crew door in the rear of the hull, removed in later variants. Used during the Spanish Civil War, Battle of Khalkhin Gol (Nomonhan
Incident), Finnish War and Eastern Front against the Germans. Production began in 1934 and around 180 BA-3's were built at the Izhorskij and Vyksunskij factories, until production ended in 1935.
BA-6
Six wheeled variant (two sets of wheels in the back, plus two wheels at front). Used the same GAZ-AAA chassis. BA-6 were the new GK tires, filled with sponge (porous rubber), and were less vulnerable to small-caliber fire, but reduced top speed and range. Used during the Spanish Civil War, Battle of Khalkhin Gol (Nomonhan
Incident), Finnish War and Eastern Front against the Germans. Production began in 1936 with 386 cars produced at the Izhorskij factory until production ended in 1938.
BA-10
Ten wheeled variant (two sets of double wheels in the back, plus two wheels at front). Developed in 1938, a total of 3,311 were built. The BA-10 used a slightly smaller, better-sloped armor layout than that of the BA-6, thus improving protection while saving weight. First used in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol (Nomonhan
Incident). Afterwards, used in the Finnish War and Eastern Front against the Germans until 1943.
Technical Details (BA-3 / BA-6)
Crew 4
Length 4.65 m
Width 2.1m
Height 2.2m
Weight 5.82 tons (BA-3) 5.10 tons (BA-6)
Engine 4-cylinder petrol GAZ-A
Max Speed 63 km/h (BA-3) 55km/h (BA-6)
Range 260 km (BA-3) 200 km (BA-6)
Armor 15mm turret, 9mm hull
Armament (turret) 45 mm 20-K gun with 60 rounds (hull) 2×7.65 Degtyaryov machine guns
Technical Details (BA-10)
Crew 4
Length 4.65 m
Width 2m
Height 2.2m
Weight 5.14 tons
Engine 4-cylinder petrol GAZ-MM
Max Speed 53 km/h
Range 300 km
Armor 15mm turret, 6mm hull
Armament (turret) 45 mm 20-K gun with 49 rounds (hull) 2×7.65 Degtyaryov machine guns
