FAI armoured car
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| FAI armoured car | |
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| Type | Armoured car |
| Place of origin |  Soviet Union |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 2 tons |
| Crew | 3 |
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| Armor | 4–6 mm |
| Primary armament |
7.62 mm DT machine gun |
| Engine | GAZ-A 4-cylinder 42 hp |
| Suspension | wheeled |
| Operational range |
200 km |
| Speed | 80 km/h |
The FAI (Ford-A Izhorskiy) armored car was a replacement for the D-8 armored car, used by the Soviet Union from the early 1930s to early 1940s.
The FAI was built on the chassis of the GAZ A car, a licenced copy of the US Ford A. This chassis was the major weakness of the FAI. Car chassis were not powerful enough to move a useful amount of armor or fire power on the battlefield. Armored cars based on car chassis were roadbound, thinly-armored and lightly armed. The FAI was a typical example of this class of vehicle with a single 7.62 mm DT machinegun in a revolving turret. The armor was sufficient to stop most shell fragments and small arms fire, but could not withstand any kind of cannon or heavy machinegun fire. It was also very vulnerable to mines.
The FAI was built in relatively small numbers before being replaced by the very similar BA-20. The early BA-20 had the same vertically-sided turret as the FAI. FAIs were employed in the early days of fighting on the Eastern Front in World War II.
The FAI and BA-20 series had a few advanced features. They were of all-welded construction in an era when very few AFVs were welded. Also, they had cork-filled tires to enable them to retain mobility even if the tires were penetrated.
The FAI and BA-20 are often mistaken for each other. The main recognition feature of the FAI is the two dome-shaped armored covers over the driver and co-driver's stations. The BA-20 had a flat armored roof in this area instead.
