View source for BA-3/6

{{Infobox weapon
| name = BA-3 and BA-6
| image = Бронеавтомобиль БА-6 - МВСВ-2008 02.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = BA-6
| origin = {{flagcountry|Soviet Union|1936}}<br /> {{flagcountry|Mongolia|1924}}
| type = [[Armored car (military)|Armored car]]
| is_vehicle = yes
| used_by = {{flag|Soviet Union|1936}}<br /> {{flagdeco|Spain|1931}} [[Second Spanish Republic]]<br /> {{flag|Turkey}}<br /> {{flag|Finland}} (captured)
| length = {{convert|4.65|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|2.10|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|2.20|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| weight = BA-3: 5.82 t <br /> BA-6: 5.10 t
| suspension = wheeled 6x4
| speed = BA-3: {{convert|63|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
<br /> BA-6: {{convert|55|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| vehicle_range = BA-3: {{convert|260|km|mile|abbr=on}} <br /> BA-6: {{convert|200|km|mile|abbr=on}}
| primary_armament = [[45 mm anti-tank gun M1932 (20-K)|45 mm gun 20-K]] (60 rounds)
| secondary_armament = 2×7.62 mm [[DT machine gun|DT]]
| armour = 15 mm turret, 9 mm hull
| engine = 4-cylinder petrol [[GAZ]]-A
| crew = 4
| engine_power = 40 hp (30 kW)
| pw_ratio = 7-8 hp/tonne
| number = 221 BA-3 (including 1 BA-3ZhD, 431 BA-6 (including 21 BA-6ZhD)
}}

The '''BA-3''' ({{langx|ru|Broneavtomobil 3}}) was a heavy [[Armored car (military)|armored car]] developed in the [[Soviet Union]] in 1933, followed by a slightly changed model '''BA-6''' in 1936. Both were based mostly on [[BA-I]], the most important development being the new turret, same as in the [[T-26 m 1933]] and [[BT-5]] tanks, and also equipped with the 45&nbsp;mm main gun. 

221 BA-3 cars were built at the Izhorskij and Vyksunskij factories, until production ended in 1935. BA-6 followed with 386 cars produced between 1936 and 1938 in Izhorskij factory. Most BA-3 production was based on the [[Ford-Timken]] [[chassis]], a 6×4 modification of the US [[Ford AA]] 4×2 truck, but the last batch was built on the Russian version of the same chassis - [[GAZ-AAA]], and continued to be used in the BA-6. The biggest limitation of the BA-3 was the mobility, limited to roads or very hard ground, the result of unnecessarily<ref name="rb">{{Cite web |url=http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html |title=BA-3, BA-6, and BA-9 Armored Cars - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU |access-date=2011-10-24 |archive-date=2012-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130442/http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> large weight. The innovation that slightly improved mobility was the auxiliary ("Overall") [[caterpillar track|tracks]] that could be fitted onto the rear tandem wheels, converting the car to a [[half-track]].

The BA-3 is externally very similar to the BA-6; the BA-3 had a door in the rear of the hull that was not present in the BA-6.<ref name="rb" /> A more important improvement of the BA-6 was the new ''GK'' tires, filled with sponge ([[porous]] rubber), and thus much less vulnerable to small-caliber fire. On the downside, the tires reduced both the speed and range of the vehicle, despite it having somewhat thinner armor. BA-3/6 cars were superseded by the [[BA-10]] model. All cars of this series were very heavily armed for the era; they could knock out other vehicles with ease, including tanks. However, their thin armor made them vulnerable to heavy machine gun fire and small caliber cannon fire.

A prototype [[railway]] BA-3ZhD variant was created in 1936, but was not accepted for production. The BA-6ZhD was produced in limited numbers.

Some 60 BA-6 cars were delivered to [[Turkey]] in 1935.<ref name="B&B41">{{cite magazine|language=fr|title=Le Blindorama : La Turquie, 1935 - 1945|magazine=Batailles & Blindés|issue=41|date=February 2011|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|first=Yann|last=Mahé|pages=4–7}}</ref> The BA-3/6 were used in combat in the [[Spanish Civil War]], against the Japanese in the [[Battle of Khalkhyn Gol]], in the Finnish [[Winter War]], and against the Germans in the early stages of the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. The German Army used a few [[AAC-1937]], Spanish-built six-wheeled armored cars that were close copies of the BA-3/6 series.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} Later in the war, the BA-3/6/10 were replaced in the Red Army's heavy scout vehicle role by light tanks, such as the [[T-60]] and [[T-70]].

A few captured BA-3 cars were used by the [[Finnish army]] under the designation ''BAF A''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/ARMOURED_CARS4.htm|title = Finnish Army 1918 - 1945: Heavy Armoured Cars}}</ref> (sometimes also ''BA-32-1''), and captured BA-6 cars under the designation ''BAF B''.

==Variants==
The '''BA-3 ZhD''' and '''BA-6 ZhD''' were designations for BA-3 & BA-6 cars that had been fitted with a rail kit consisting of hydraulic jacks and six railroad wheels. Limited numbers were produced.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BA-3_BA-6.php | title=Soviet BA-3 and BA-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130442/http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html | archive-date=2012-01-11 | title=BA-3, BA-6, and BA-9 Armored Cars - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU }}</ref>

The '''BA-6M''', built in 1937-1938, weighed 4800 kg and featured a 10mm thick welded, conical turret. A 71-TK-1 radio and 50 hp GAZ-M engine were installed<ref>{{cite web | url=http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130442/http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html | archive-date=2012-01-11 | title=BA-3, BA-6, and BA-9 Armored Cars - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BA-3_BA-6.php | title=Soviet BA-3 and BA-6 }}</ref>

The '''BA-9''' was a lightened (4,300 kg) vehicle based on the BA-6M, built in 1936. The 20K gun was replaced by a 12.7mm DK machine gun (early version of the [[DShK]]) and a 7.62 [[Degtyaryov machine gun]] was installed in the hull. 100 were ordered, but production was dropped after two prototypes were completed due to the lack of DK machine guns. One prototype was sent to Moscow and the other to Leningrad.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130442/http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html< ref>{{cite web | url=http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130442/http://english.battlefield.ru/ba-3-ba-6-and-ba-9-armored-cars.html | archive-date=2012-01-11 | title=BA-3, BA-6, and BA-9 Armored Cars - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU - ENGLISH.BATTLEFIELD.RU }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BA-3_BA-6.php | title=Soviet BA-3 and BA-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/284028200973 | title=BA-9 Soviet Armored Car USSR WW2 1936 Year 1/72 Scale Plastic Model Kit UM 365 }}</ref> 

The '''BAZ''' was an experimental amphibious version of the BA-3. The welded hull was shaped like a boat and two sponsons were placed in the front. Two 389 cm brass screws were installed for use in water.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_BA-3_BA-6.php | title=Soviet BA-3 and BA-6 }}</ref>

== Operators ==

*{{flag|Turkey}} - 34 BA-3 66 BA-6 Armoured Cars [1934-194?].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=WWII’s Absentee: German and Allied Equipment Used By The Turkish Republic |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/03/wwiis-absentee-german-and-allied.html |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Oryx}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
*Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). ''Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two'', London: Arms and Armour Press. {{ISBN|0-85368-606-8}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.wwiivehicles.com/soviet-union/vehicle/armored-cars/ba-6-armored-car.asp BA-3, BA-6, and BA-9] at WWIIvehicles.com

{{WWIISovietAFVs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:BA-3 6}}
[[Category:Armoured cars of the interwar period]]
[[Category:World War II armoured fighting vehicles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance vehicles]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1930s]]