BT-5

BT-5 stats at a glance

The BT-5 has 328 hit points , 15mm of frontal hull armor , and a top speed of 55 km/h. Its strongest gun configuration deals 50 damage per shot with 67mm of armor penetration , giving it a theoretical maximum DPM of 1500. The vehicle can equip 4 different gun configurations, allowing for varied playstyles.

Hull & survivability

The front-to-side armor ratio is 1.2:1. Side armor is relatively comparable to the front, meaning the BT-5 can absorb some side hits in close-quarters fighting.

Mobility

Forward-to-reverse speed ratio is 2.8:1. The BT-5 has solid reverse speed for repositioning after taking a shot.

Camouflage

Available guns (4)

With the top-tier gun, the BT-5 can theoretically output up to 1500 damage per minute at sustained fire (shot damage × rounds per minute). Lower-tier guns generally trade DPM for faster reload or better handling — see the full gun table above.

How BT-5 compares to its peers

There are 37 tier 3 light tanks in WoT, including the BT-5. Its 328 HP places it in the top 86% for hit points among same-tier light tanks (peer average: 343). Frontal hull armor of 15mm ranks in the top 94% for the class (peer average: 31mm). Top forward speed of 55 km/h is faster than 64% of peer vehicles in this tier and class. The strongest gun deals 50 damage per shot, higher than 69% of comparable vehicles. Best penetration of 67mm puts it in the top 28% for armor-piercing capability in its class.

Direct comparisons

• BT-5 vs M3 Stuart — tier 3 light tank from USA
• BT-5 vs MTLS-1G14 — tier 3 light tank from USA
• BT-5 vs Locust — tier 3 light tank from USA
• See full tier 3 light tank tier list — all 37 vehicles ranked

Related tier 3 light tanks

• 10TP — Poland
• A7E3 — UK, premium
• AMX 38 — France
• BT-7 artillery — USSR, premium
• BT-SV — USSR, premium
• Type 97 Chi-Ha — Japan
• Cruiser Mk. III — UK
• Type 98 Ke-Ni Otsu — Japan, premium
• All USSR tanks · Tier 3 premium tanks

Understand the stats

Want a deeper grasp of what these numbers actually mean in battle? Read the glossary:

• What is DPM — the most important offensive metric
• Alpha damage — single-shot damage and what it means for playstyle
• Penetration — and how it interacts with armor angling
• Hull-down position — the king of defensive plays
• View range — how spotting actually works

About this vehicle

A mass-produced tank in the BT vehicle series that was developed as an upgraded version of the BT-2 with improved gun armament, a Soviet engine, and slightly increased vehicle height and weight. The BT-5 was one of the Red Army's main tanks before the war. Vehicles of this modification were engaged in the Spanish Civil War as well as the Battle of Khalkhyn Gol, the Polish Campaign, the Winter War, and World War II. A total of 1,884 vehicles were manufactured.

Frequently asked