An authoritative history of the Red Army's armored cars, the quick and
maneuverable vehicles which were used in conflicts ranging from the
Spanish Civil War to the occupation of Poland.
The armored car has an important place in the early history of Soviet
armored fighting vehicles (AFVs)--they were the most important AFV
during the Russian Civil War and figured prominently in the
mechanization of the Red Army that began in late 1929. The 1930s saw the
development and production of a wide variety of armored cars, which were
used extensively in Soviet conflicts from then on. They saw service in
the Spanish Civil War, in the 1939 Manchurian conflict with Japan, in
the occupation of the Baltic states, and the invasion of Poland and
Finland. Although many of its armored cars were lost in the early months
following the German invasion in June 1941, Russia continued with its
armored car development program, and the final model, the BA-64, was
accepted for service in 1942 with over 9,000 built before production
ended in 1946.
This detailed book provides a survey of Russian armored cars from 1936
to 1945, focusing on the history, design, and specifications of the
wheeled armored cars that entered series production, including the rail
variants and tracked BA-30. Packed with photographs, cross-sections, and
stunning battleplates, this is a comprehensive guide to some of the Red
Army's fastest AFVs.
