Since releasing our ‘Ostfront’ Bolt Action Theatre Book, the Soviet reinforcements have been pouring onto tabletop battlefields across the globe!
With the Winter-equipped Soviet Infantry and plastic T34/76 strengthening the Soviet resolve, it’s time to follow up with some more firepower in the form of the BT-7A Self-Propelled Gun! Finnish players will also have an eye on this new tank as the Finns captured these and repurposed them to face their former owners!
Designed as an infantry support gun, the BT-7A made good use of the successful BT-7 chassis and married it to the turret design from the T-28 so it could mount a 76.2mm howitzer. 154 BT-7As were produced between 1936 and 1938with many being further upgraded in 1939.
Soviet armoured units were usually accompanied by a battery of BT-7As to provide fire support – the BT-7s would tackle enemy tanks while the BT-7As would target enemy infantry and soft targets.
Due to the weight of the new turret and main gun the BT-7A wasn’t able to run on roadwheels alone, instead having to rely solely on it’s tracks – unlike its predecessors the BT-5 and BT-7.
The BT-7A is the latest in a line of Soviet reinforcements rolling-out to support our ‘Ostfront’ Bolt Action Theatre Book – which focuses on the Eastern Front battles of the Second World War – a must for all budding Soviet commanders!
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
Craig Nixon