During the early to mid 1950s, ex-Soviet BA-64s were shipped to a number of Soviet client states in Eastern Europe and Asia, including Bulgaria, East Germany, Romania, Albania, North Korea, and the People's Republic of China.[2] Small quantities were later also supplied to Yugoslavia.[1] In North Korean service, the BA-64 engaged ground forces of the United Nations Command during the Korean War, where it received the nickname "Bobby" from American soldiers.[4] This was a likely play on the armoured car's Russian nickname, "Bobik".[1]