Light tank BT-5. Flying tank of the Red Army

"The caterpillars of our tanks, when they returned from the battle, were literally scored by shreds of ammunition, the remnants of physically exterminated fascist geeks ..." - this is how the BT -5 combat use during the battle for Moscow. This swift wheel-gosenic combat combat vehicle, which has become an important stage in the development of domestic tank building and loved by tankers, had excellent combat qualities for its time, and its maneuverability met the most modern requirements. So, on the exercises, the BT-5 crews made mass jumping on their cars through various obstacles of 15-20 m, and individual cars could jump as much as 40 m (!) The foreign military attache was shocked by the actions of the Flying Tanks during the Kyiv maneuvers of 1935. There were attempts to adapt the BT-5 and to overcome water barriers. One such "Batkeshka" even sailed the Tatar Strait.
Baptism of the "Five" took place in 1937 during the Civil War in Spain. Then the BT-5 were used in battles with the Japanese on Hassan and Khalkhin-Gol, participated in the "liberation campaign" and the Soviet-Finnish war. In 1942-1943 They could still be found in tank parts. So, they fought on the Leningrad Front, where they took part in the withdrawal of the blockade and the defeat of the Finnish troops on the Karelian Isthmus. The last time "five" went into battle in August of the 45th against the Kwantun Army.
A new book of the leading historian of armored vehicles, candidate of historical sciences M.V. The Kolomiyz based on archival materials in all details tells about the history of the creation, design, production, modifications, service and combat use of the "Flying Tank" BT-5.
The publication is illustrated by unique drawings and photographs