BT-43
The BT-43 was a Finnish armored personnel carrier prototype, designed during the Second World War. It was developed from the Soviet-made BT-7 tank, which had been captured in large quantities during the Winter War and early Continuation War.
| BT-43 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Armored personnel carrier |
| Place of origin |  Finland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943 - ? |
| Used by | Finland |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1943 |
| No. built | 1 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 11 tons |
| Length | 5.7m |
| Width | 2.1m |
| Height | 1.7m? |
| Crew | 2 - 10 |
| Armor | 6-15mm |
Main armament | none |
| Suspension | Christie |
Operational range | 155 km |
| Maximum speed | 53 km/h |
History
In May 1943, a request was made for an armored personnel carrier capable of carrying 20 men. It was decided to convert some BT series into BT-43 carriers. The prototype was not a great success and no further development took place. The BT-43 appeared clumsy and with a high profile, it did not look like a standard armored personnel carrier. The turret was removed, and a wooden platform was located on the modified hull. The result was more suited for the role of an armored supply carrier. It was not considered a front line type vehicle.