Editing BT-7 (section)

==IRL== 
[[File:BT-7 Cavalry Tank.webp|thumb|left|Stalin's sportscar.]]

The BT-7 originated as a desire by the Soviet Army to have a 45mm or 76mm Cannon in a cavalry tank. Using the Christie suspension and a 45mm Cannon, the resulting vehicle was a speedy vehicle with an (at the time) very powerful armament. A DT Machine gun was also added to give some additional co-axial anti-infantry firepower.

For all intents and purposes, the BT performed well in its role. It suffered enormous losses in the opening stages of Barbarossa but saw service throughout the war. It was particularly lethal against Japanese armor, whose tanks were little more than metal that was strapped to a pair of treads. The Finns also used them, since apparently the Soviets just left weapons lying around all over the battlefield for some reason. It was largely replaced by the T-34, due to the concept of light tanks largely falling out of practicality by 1945. As of this writing, a single BT-7 is said to still be operational.

In spite of the positives, the BT had some serious flaws. The Christie suspension, while great for raw speed, could be a pain to repair. The BT also had a crew of three: A driver, a loader, and a commander who also was the gunner and the MG operator. This divided the commander's attention and decreased the effectiveness of the vehicle in combat, (suffering from the same issues as early T-34s and the M22 Locust). In addition, it was an early 30s design that was woefully outdated by Barbarossa unless fighting tanks inferior to the Panzer IV.

The BT-7 has several sub-variants, one of which was called the BT-7M. It used Diesel fuel as opposed to petrol and was slightly up-armored compared to the baseline variant. Soviet troops seem to have thought fondly of the vehicle, giving it the nickname "Betka"

{{Soviet Forces in Flames of War}}