ARMOURED VEHICLES

OF THE FINNISH DEFENCE FORCES 1939 - 1945

.

Winter War

Armoured Vehicles in Finland

Finnish tank situation was bad in 1939. 26 Vickers 6 Ton tanks bought from Great Britain in 1938 were not combat-ready when the war broke out because they were obtained without weapons and communications, aiming and observing devices. A handful of Vickers tanks were armed with short 37 mm Puteaux tank gun for training purposes. The remaining six tanks out of a total of 32 ordered ones were delivered after the Winter War.

At the beginning of Winter War Finnish Army had only one operational Swedish Landsverk 182 armoured car bought for trials in the late 1930's and 20 Renault F.T. Modèle 17 tanks which were already too obsolete for combat. Most of them were dug in along Mannerheim line in Karelian Isthmus - only four of them survived the war.
.

Soviet Armoured Vehicles in Finland - Supplement for the Finnish Armoured Troops

During the Winter War Soviet Union used about 5.800 tanks against Finland. Soviet tanks were organized to separate armoured brigades and divisional units. All Soviet infantry (rifle) divisions had an organic armoured battalion. Cavalry divisions had tank regiment which was about the size of the armoured battalion. All divisions had also armoured cars and light tanks for scouting. Finns captured hundreds of Soviet tanks and armoured cars including nearly all their main models but most of them were not used in combat during Winter War.

Soviet Light Scouting Tanks and Armoured Cars

In Winter War Soviet troops used three light scouting tank types armed with MG. All of them were unsuitable to Finnish terrain. T-27 was a redevelopment of British Vickers-Garden-Lloyd Mk VI but none were captured during Winter War. But Finns captured lots of amphibious T-37 and T-38 tanks and repaired 30 T-37s and 19 T-38s by 1942.

Soviet Light Tanks

Soviets' main light tank type T-26 was a redevelopment of British Vickers 6 Ton tank - the same Finns used - but its reliability was not as good as of Vickers'. Model 1931 had either two MGs (T-26A-2) or a short 37 mm gun in the right turret and MG in the left turret (T-26A-3). In Finland all of them were armed with two MGs and called just T-26A. Other models were armed with a good 45 mm 20K tank gun modified from German 37 mm design. Model 1933 (T-26B) was the most numerous version used during Winter War. Later development model 1937 (T-26B-2) had sloped turret armour and was called T-26C in Finland like all further models with sloped armour.

T-26 tanks were typically issued to divisional armoured battalions. Finns captured much more than one hundred T-26 tanks of various models but by summer 1941 only 34 tanks and six flame-thrower variants T-26Lh (OT-26 and OT- 130) had been repaired. Finnish Vickers tanks were later up-gunned with Soviet 45 mm 20K guns and called T-26E (E = English) and should not be confused with the Soviet designation E (= reinforced/uparmoured or equipped with gun stabilizer).

Fast BT tanks were developed from American Christie tank were to be driven both with wheels and tracks. In practice tracked drive was the only reasonable way to move but tank suffered also from other severe reliability problems and its tracks slipped easily away in a bad terrain. They were usually issued to separate light armoured brigades.

Turret and weapons of BT-5 (model 1933) and BT-7 (model 1935) were similar to T-26B (model 1933). Certain tanks had the second MG in the back of the turret. Newer type BT-7 (model 1937) had same turret model as T-26S (model 38). Finns destroyed hundreds of BT tanks and captured at least one BT-2 and numerous BT-5 and -7 models in Suomussalmi and especially north from Lake Ladoga.

Soviet Heavy Tanks

T-28 and T-35 were heavy and clumsy tanks with a complex structure. They were used only in Karelian Isthmus. Both of them were better armoured than lighter models but Finnish 37 mm Bofors AT guns could penetrate their armour. Finns destroyed a total of 92 T-28 and captured several of them. Also several T-35s were destroyed. All heavy tanks belonged to separate heavy armoured units.

Soviet Prototypes and Trials in Karelian Isthmus

The heaviest "monster tank prototypes" SMK, T-100 and KV-1 were used at least on 17.12.1940 at Summa, Karelian Isthmus where all Soviets' breakthrough attempts were repulsed. One SMK was driven inside the Finnish positions and was captured after a technical failure but Finns had no means to evacuate it away from the front. KV-1s managed better and their mass production started two days later while other models were abandoned.

Also two heavy assult gun prototypes SU-14Br2 (on the chassis of T-35 tank) armed with 152 mm Br2 model 1935 gun and SU-100U (on the chassis of T-100 experimental prototype tank) armed with 130 mm Br3 gun were tested in Karelian Isthmus during Winter War. Both types were developed for bunker busting but were not accepted for serial production. They were used individually.

On 10.2.1940 also three new heavy KV-2 bunker busting tanks were tested at Summa as well where Soviets' massive attack finally broke through the Mannerheim line after numerous failed attempts. Finnish troops had little by little vanished in heavy artillery fire and the remaining ones were mainly disabled and without any support because all connections to rear had destroyed. After the Winter War a small batch of KV-2s were produced.

Aftermath of Winter War

Although Finnish troops initially didn't have large number of AT rifles and guns simple combustion bottles (Molotov's Cocktail) developed in the late 30's in Finland were effectively used against Soviet tanks which caught fire easily. Soviet losses in Winter War exceeded to 2.800 tanks. Soviets noticed that T-26 and BT tanks were obsolete types which had to be replaced by more advanced designs. One new prototype had just about to be ready for trials when Winter War ended on 13.3.1940: T-34 model 40.
.
.

Continuation War

Armoured Vehicles in Finland 1941 - 1943

Finnish armoured units were far better equipped in 1941 than ever before. Actually Finns had captured so many Soviet tanks during Winter War that only the best ones were repaired and overhauled and the majority of them were left as spare tanks and sources of spare parts.

Stronger armoured cars were issued to separate army corps level Armoured Car Platoons which initially had three or four captured BAF armoured cars (BA-3, -6 and -10) equipped with 45 mm gun and two MGs. Smaller more lightly armoured BAB types (FAI and BA-20) armed with single MG were issued to staffs of jäger and armoured battalion(s).

Light captured T-37 and T-38 tanks were used in independent Amphibious Tank Platoons which were subordinated to certain divisions. Their importance in combat was although very small and they were mainly used as tractors. In 1942 platoons were suspended and tanks were moved away from the front for modification to moving "miniature training/target tanks" looking either T-34 or KV-1.

All about 60 Vickers (T-26E) and T-26 tanks and initially two heavy T-28s (in Heavy Armoured Platoon) were issued to Armoured Battalion. By 1942 the number of working T-26 tanks had grown to about 90 and in winter 1942 battalion was expanded to Armoured Brigade which had two armoured battalions. In June 1942 it was further attached to a new Armoured Division.

T-28 and BT-5/-7.
.

New Soviet Armoured Vehicles to Finland

When the Continuation War started on 25.6.1941 all earlier armoured vehicle models were still in use in addition to new much improved heavy tank models T-34 , KV-1 and KV-2 with a variety of light scouting tanks T-30, T-40, T-50 and T-60.

Soviet main efforts were naturally directed against Germans but tanks were also used against Finns. Soviet divisions were although smaller and weaker than they had been during the Winter War. Infantry divisions didn't have organic armoured battalions anymore but retained a small armoured reconnaissance detachment which consisted on armoured cars and light tanks. Soviets used now their tanks and armoured cars in small groups.

In 1941 Finnish troops destroyed or captured at least about:
- 160 tanks and seven armoured cars in Karelian Isthmus and Sortavala area
- 155 tanks and about 15 armoured cars in North from Lake Ladoga and East Karelia
- 60 tanks and two armoured cars in Northern Finland
The total number of destroyed or captured tanks in 1941 has been around 430 tanks, armoured cars and armoured tractors (Komsomolets) in addition to three armoured trains.

The most typically used and also destroyed models in 1941 were still T-26 and BT-7 but also newer models were encountered. At Svir Finns destroyed about ten new T-34s and captured a brand new vehicle. Also about a few KV-1 heavy tanks were destroyed and one captured. At Alakurtti Finns exploded a single KV-2 tank. During 1941 and summer 1942 Finns repaired four T-38, one T-50, three BT and 35 T-26 light tanks and two T-28, two T-34 and one KV-1 heavy tanks.

In 1942 tanks were not used so widely and later in the summer all larger battles ceased. During 1942 Finns destroyed or captured only 22 or 23 tanks:
- on 3.1.1942 at Seesjärvi (sunk to swamp)
- on 10.1.1942 at Gora five or six tanks were destroyed
- on 7.2.1942 at Kriv one KV-1 was captured
- on 18.4.1942 near the powerplant of Svir one T-34 was captured
- in April - May 1942 at Kiestinki troops of III AK destroyed 13 T-34 and KV-1 tanks

In 1943 Finns didn't destroy or capture any Soviet tanks. In June 1944 fierce battles started again. During the two and a half month period about 950 Soviet tanks were destroyed. Most of them were new T-34-85, JS-2 (IS-2) tanks or JSU-152 (ISU-152) assault guns but also T-70, KV-85, JSU-122 and older T-34 and KV-1 models were met and destroyed. Finns captured 15 tanks and assult guns.
.

German Armoured Vehicles in Finland 1943 - 1944

In 1943 Finland bought 30 Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G (Sturmkanone 40) assault guns from Germany. They were modern and their gun was one of the best AT guns developed during the WW II. They gun could penetrate all known Soviet tanks in 1943. In the summer Finns rated StuGs even better than T-34s mainly because of their superior optics and far better observing and communications devices. All Soviet tanks were relatively blind compared to German ones and didn't usually have well working radios.

StuGs fought effectively in the summer 1944 knocking out 87 Soviet tanks and assault guns while losing only eight own vehicles. 29 new StuGs were delivered before the end of the Continuation War. These mainly had "Saukopf" mantlet and all metal idler wheels.

Germany also delivered 15 PzKw IV Ausf. J tanks for another re-equipping armoured battalion which didn't became combat-ready before September 1944. Finns didn't like them a lot because of their bad suspension. The whole tank tended to jolt a lot which made aiming very difficult when moving even at slow speed. In Finland the nickname of PzKw IV was "shaker".

Germany promised also to deliver captured T-34 tanks but eventually only three T-34-76 models were shipped.
.

.

Vehicle Designation
in Finland

(Alternative Name):
.
Ps
Code:
Weight:
[tons]
Number:
[pcs
39/41/6.44
(9.44)]
Country
of
Origin:
Armament in Finland
Notes:
           
Armoured Tractors (Panssarivetovaunut):
.
Komsomolets (STZ-3)
(T-20 m 1937),
(T-20 m 1938, m 1939)
.
.
755
756
4,1 -/56/182 SU 7.62 mm DT LMG; war booty, used
during Continuation War as AT gun
tractors.
Armoured Cars (Panssariautot):
.
Landsverk 182
.
.

BAB A (FAI),
BAB B (FAI-M)

BAB B (BA-20),
BAB B (BA-20M)

BAF A (BA-3),
BAF B (BA-6),
BAF C (BA-10)
.

-
.
.

5
.

6
.

25
26
27

5,6
.
.

2
.

2,5
.

6
5,1
5,1

1/1/-
.
.

-/10/21
.

(incl. sum
above)

-/10/24

Swe
.
.

SU
.

SU
.

SU

13.2 mm Lahti L-35/36 HMG,
2 - 7.62 mm Lahti L-33/36 MG;
was taken out of service in 1942.

7.62 mm DT LMG; war booty,
were mainly used in jäger battalions.

7.62 mm DT LMG; war booty,
were mainly used in jäger battalions.

45 mm 20K, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG;
war booty, in 1941 were used in
separate armoured car platoons.

Tanks (Panssarivaunut):
.
Renault F.T. Modèle 17

T-37 (T-37A)
.
.

T-38 (T-38M-2)
.
.

Vickers-Armstrongs
6 Ton Tank
(41-) -> T-26E

T-26A (T-26 m 1931)
T-26B (T-26 m 1933)
T-26C (T-26 m 1937,
T-26S m 1938)
.
T-26C
+

T-26Lh (OT-26)
T-26Lh (OT-130) +
T-26Lh (OT-133) +
.

BT-5 (m 1933)
.
BT-7 (m 1935,
m 1937)

T-28 (m 1938)
T-28E

T-50

T-34A (m 1940 HPZ)
T-34B (m 1941 STZ,
m 1942)

T-34C (m 1943)

T-34-85

KV-1E (m 1941)
KV-1B (m 1942)

PzKw IV (Ausf. J)
.

-

355
.
.

356
.
.

161
.
.

162
163
164
165
.
164

-
163
164
.

-
.
-
-

241
.

183

231
.
.
,

245

272
271

221

6,5/6,7

3,2
.
.

3,3
.
.

8,4-8,8
.
.

8,4
9,4-9,8
10,2
10,3
.
.

9
10
10,5
.

11,5
.
13,8
13,9

27,8
32

14,5 

28,5
?
30,9
31

32

46
47,5

25

20/-/-

-/29/-
.
.

-/13/19
.
.

20/27/22
.
.

-/10/2
-/20/63
-/4/36
-/=/=
.
-/-/=

-/2/-
-/4/-
-/(3)/-
.

-/(=)/-
.
-/(53)/-
.

-/2/7
.

-/-/1

-/(1)/1,(1)
-/-/1,(8)
.

-/-/(1),(=)
.

-/-/-,(9)

-/-/1
-/-/1

-/-/-,(15)

Fra

SU
.
.

SU
.
.

UK/Fin
.
UK/Fin/SU

SU/(Fin)
.
.
.
.

SU/Fin

SU
.
.
.

SU
.
SU
.

SU
SU/(Fin)

SU

SU
SU/(Ger)
.
SU/(Ger)

SU

SU
.

Ger

7.62 mm Maxim MG or 37 mm Puteaux

7.62 mm DT LMG; war booty, in 1941
were used in separate "Amphibious
Platoons", later training vehicles.

7.62 mm DT LMG; war booty, in 1941
were used in separate "Amphibious
Platoons", since 1942 training vehicles.

37 mm Puteaux (39), 37 mm Bofors m/36
(40), 9.00 mm Suomi m/31 SMG (39-),
45 mm 20K (40-), 7.62 mm DT LMG (40-)

2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG
45 mm 20K, 7.62 mm DT LMG;
Up-armoured model with sloped turret.
Improved model with widened and
higher superstructure and sloped armour.
45 mm 20K, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG

flame-thrower, 7.62 mm DT LMG
flame-thrower, 7.62 mm DT LMG
flame-thrower, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG
+ rebuilt to gun tanks T-26C or B in 1943.

45 mm 20K, 7.62 mm DT LMG;
war booty of winter war and 1941.
Improved version.
With sloped turret armour.

76.2 mm L-10, 4 - 7.62 mm DT LMG;
E = up-armoured (also made in Finland)

45 mm 20K, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG

76.2 mm F-34, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG
76.2 mm L-11, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG
.
.

85 mm, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG

76.2 mm L-11, 3 - 7.62 mm DT LMG
.

75 mm KwK L/48, 2 - 7.62 mm DT LMG

Assault Guns (Rynnäkkötykit):
.
BT-42
.

StuG III [Ausf. G]
(Sturmkanone 40)

.

JSU-152 (ISU-152)
.
.

511
.

531
.
.

-

15
.

23,9
.
.

46

-/-/18
.

-/-/30,(46)
.
.

-/-/2

SU/UK/
Fin

Ger
.
.

SU

114 mm H/18; up-gunned BT-7, modified
turret, produced in 1942 - 1943 by VTT.

75 mm KwK L/48, 7.62 mm DT LMG,
30 bought in the late summer 1943 and
29 in the summer 1944.

152 mm, 7.62 mm DT LMG; war booty
of 1944, one was lost almost immediately.

Anti-Aircraft Tanks (Ilmatorjuntapanssarivaunut):
.
Landsverk Anti II
.
.
455 11,2 -/-/6 Swe 40 mm Bofors m/36 AA gun,
bought in winter 1942.

 

Sources: MUIPU1, MUIKU1, MUIES1, TAPWI1, MUIPU2, LIETA1, LARTA1, PALMA1, KANPE1, KANPE2,
KAKER1, KAKER2

.
.

© 2001 - 11.12.2003 Harri Anttonen

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