|
During the late 1920s Red Army plannersinaugurated a programme to reequipthe tank elements of the Sovietarmed forces. In common with manyother nations they decided upon aninfantry support tank for their noncavalryunits and after attempting todevelop a new design of their own decidedon the mass production of a Britishcommercial model, the 6-ton VickersType E light tank. This was namedthe T-26 and the first examples of theBritish model arrived in the Soviet Unionduring 1930, being designated T-26 A-1.Soviet production of the T-26 startedduring 1931. The earliest models useda twin-turret arrangement mountingtwo machine-guns (two 7.62-mm/0.3-inweapons in the T-26A-2, and one 12.7-mm/O.S-in and one 7,62-mm/0.3-in gunin the T-26A-3), but some models had amachine-gun in one turret and a gun(27-mm in the T.26A-4 and 37-mm T-26A-5); this arrangement did not survivefor long and later T-26B modelshad a single turret mounting only a gun(37-mm in the T-26B-1, though a 45-mmgun was used later).The early T-26 tanks were straightforwardcopies of the British original,and were simple, robust vehicles ofmainly riveted construction. The firstmodel was the T-36 Model 1931 (T-26A), replaced by the T-26 Model 1933(T-26B) which had some design improvements.Before 1941 the Model1933 was the most widely produced ofall Soviet tanks, about 5,500 being builtby the time production of that particularversion ceased in 1936. A new model,the T-26S Model 1937, was thenplaced in production and this serieshad several changes compared withthe earlier versions, The T-26S carriedthe 45-mm (1.77-in) main gun fitted tolater versions of the Model 1933, butallied this to an improved turret designand all-welded construction as introducedon the T-26B-3.The welding was introduced followingoperational experiences in theborder clashes with Japan that tookplace along the Mongolian and Manchurianboundaries in 1934 and 1935.Experience showed that a T-26 whichencountered hostile fire was likely tohave its rivets knocked out to flyaround the interior. Welding was introducedwith the later Model 1933 tanksbut was standard on the T-26S.Throughout their lives the T-26 tanksunderwent many production and inservicechanges, most of them aimed at improving armour protection (minimumof 6 mm/0.24 in and maximum of25 mm/0.98 in) and armament. Therewere also many special versions.Perhaps the most numerous of thesewere the flame-throwing tanks prefixedby the designation OT. Againthere were several of these, the earliestbeing the OT-26 and the last theOT-133. Most of these had the flamethrowingprojector in the turret andcarried no main gun, but later modelsdid carry a gun in addition to the projector,There were also bridgecarryingversions (the ST-26) andattempts were made to mount 76.2-mm(3-in) guns for increased infantry firesupport. The type was also developedas a command vehicle, variants beingthe T-26A-4(U) and T-26B-2(U),Production of the T-26 series ceasedentirely in 1941 when the Germansoverran most of the production facilities.New production centres set up inthe Soviet hinterlands launched theproduction of later tank designs, but by1941 well over 12,000 T-26 tanks of allkinds had been made. Consequentlythey were among the most numerousof the AFVs used during the earlystages of the 'Great Patriotic War', andwere also used in the 1939-1940 campaignin Finland. Some had been usedduring the Spanish Civil War.After 1941 huge numbers of T-26tanks were destroyed or passed intoGerman hands. Many were later convertedto artillery tractors or selfpropelledgun carriers, usually by theGermans who always had a need forsuch vehicles.Overall the T-26 was an unremarkablelittle tank that was unable to standup to the demands of 1941, but it enabledthe Soviet Union to establish itsown mass production facilities andknow-how, and these stood them ingood stead after 1941.SpecificationT-26BCrew: 3Weight: 9,4 tonnesPowerplant: one GAZ T-26 8-cylinderpetrol engine developing 68 kW(91 hp)Dimensions: length4.88 m (16 ft);width3.41 m(l 1 ft 2,25 in); height2.41 m (7 ft 11 in)Performance: maximum road speed28 km/h (17.4 mph); maximum roadrange 175 km (108.7 miles); fording notknown; gradient 40°; vertical obstacle0.79 m (2 ft 7 in); trench 1.90 m (6 ft2.8 in)One of the many variants of the T-26light infantry tank was the Model1931, which had dual turrets, usuallymounting two 7.62-mm (0.30-in)machine-guns, but sometimeshaving one of the machine-gunsreplaced by a 37-mm (1.46-in) shortinfantry support gun. ThelaterT-26 Model 1933 had a single turret.
|
