BT-63

The BT-63 is an early second-generation main battle tank developed by the Raditian Socialist Republic in the late 50s and early 60s. The first prototype of this vehicle was built in 1958 at the Krktovo National Armament Factory. The BT-63 eventually became the main tank for armoured units of the newly established Raditian Land Force and replaced the obsolete ST-42 medium tanks.

Following the fall of communism in Raditia, most of the tanks were sold to third world countries.

Background and development history

Pre-1959

The armoured units of the Raditian People's Army found themselves in a difficult situation following The 1948 Socialist takeover. The attempted central-planning oriented economic reforms of the new socialist government plunged the armament industry into chaos, and many of the experienced engineers left the country. The Army's leadership was also in disarray. Many experienced military officers were either imprisoned or tortured and executed due to their sympathies with the old regime. The Ministry of War was even forced to mitigate his problem by commissioning a large number of politically left-oriented NCOs. The situation regarding the political leadership was not much better, as many previously co-operating factions now competed for leadership positions.

The situation stabilized only in 1953 when President Jaromír Mališenko was also appointed to the post of the General Secretary of the Union of Revolutionary Socialists. It was also during this year when Major General Andrej Richter became the Inspector of the Armoured Troops. His primary plan was to re-structuralize the armorued divisions into what he called 'Motor-Rifle Divisions'. These would be composed of two motor-rifle brigades, single tank brigade and a single self-propelled artillery brigade. He hoped that around 40% of the combat divisions could be upgraded into Motor-Rifle formations.

Richter's plan faced one major obstacle, lack of proper equipment. Only available vehicles were the ST-42 medium tanks and OT-40 armoured half-tracks, both developed during the early 1940s. Though heavily upgraded over time, both vehicles were considered obsolete by this point. While persuading the War Ministry into funding the APC project relatively easy (which then lead to the OT-55 tracked APC), the same couldn't be said about the proposed MBT. Many officials even proposed procuring a foreign tank. Nonetheless, Richter remained stubborn in his proposal of developing a domestic MBT and funding was finally approved in late 1956.

His efforts lead to the first prototype (Objekt 198) being produced in October of 1958. Unfortunately, the program was put on hold following the events of January 1959.

Post-1959

Following the events of the January Coup, in which the pro-WSO faction of the URS was ousted by the anti-WSO faction led by Klement Kučera. The Army remained 'neutral' in this struggle, mainly due to the even split of pro-WSO and anti-WSO officers in the upper leadership. In the aftermath, another series of purges swept through the ranks and the Army was broken up into two seperate branches: the Raditian People's Army Land Forces and the Raditian Air Force. All of this of course lead to a temporary pause of the Objket 198's development.

The situation changed with the appointment Andrej Richter into office of the Commander of Land Forces. Richter, who continued to be the main proponent of the new tank, allied himself early with the anti-WSO politicians, make him the obvious candidate to become the chief of the new military branch.