T-26

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require copy-editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (November 2009)

T-26 T-26 mod. 1933 at the museum "Breaching of the Leningrad Blockade" near Kirovsk, Leningrad Oblast. This tank was raised from a river bottom at Nevsky Pyatachok in May 2003. Type Light infantry tank Place of origin  Soviet Union Service history In service 1931–45 in USSR, –1953 in Spain, –1961 in Finland Used by Soviet Union, Spain, Finland, China, Turkey, Nazi Germany, Romania, Hungary, Afghanistan Wars Spanish Civil War, Second Sino-Japanese War, Soviet–Japanese Border Wars, Soviet invasion of Poland, Winter War, Great Patriotic War, Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, Soviet-Japanese War 1945, Chinese Civil War Production history Designer Vickers-Armstrongs, OKMO of Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad Designed 1928–1931 Manufacturer Factory No. 174 named after K.E. Voroshilov in Leningrad, Stalingrad Tractor Factory Produced 1931–41 Number built 10,300 tanks and 1,701 other vehicles[1] Specifications (T-26 mod. 1933[2]) Weight 9.6 tonnes (10.6 short tons) Length 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in) Width 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in) Height 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) Crew 3 (commander, gunner, driver) Armour 6 mm (0.24 in) bottom, 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) roof, 15 mm (0.59 in) hull (front, rear, sides) and turret Primary armament 45 mm 20K mod. 1932/34 tank gun (122 rds.) Secondary armament 7.62 mm DT tank machine gun (2,961 rds.) Engine 4-cylinder gasoline inline horizontal air-cooled T-26 (Armstrong Siddeley type); engine volume 6,600 cc 90 hp (67 kW) at 2,100 rpm Power/weight 9.38 hp/t Transmission single-disk main dry clutch, drive shaft, gearbox with five gears, steering clutches, final drives Suspension leaf quarter-elliptic springs Ground clearance 380 mm (15 in) Fuel capacity 290 L (64 imp gal; 77 U.S. gal) [with additional 110-L fuel tank] Operational range 220–240 km (140–150 mi) - high-road; 130–140 km (81–87 mi) - off-road; Speed 31.1 km/h (19.3 mph) - high-road; 22 km/h (14 mph) - by-road; 16 km/h (9.9 mph) - off-road

v • d • e Interwar tanks List · Category Tankettes AMR 33 · AMR 35 · L3/33 · L3/35 · Carden Loyd · T-27 · TKS · Type 94 Te-Ke · Type 97 Te-Ke · Tančík vz. 33 · AH-IV Light H35 · R35 · Fiat 3000 · Light Tanks Mk I–IV · Light Tank Mk VI · M1 Combat Car · M2 Light Tank · Panzer I · Panzer II · LT vz. 34 · LT vz. 35 · T-18 · T-26 · T-37 · T-38 · 7TP · Type 92 Jyu-Sokosha  · Vickers 6-Ton Medium Char D1 · Char D2 · Medium Mk I · Medium Mk II · Medium Mk III · Panzer III · T-19 · T-24 · T-28 Cavalry, Cruiser or Fast AMC 34 · AMC 35 · AMR 33 · AMR 35 · BT tank · Cruiser Mk I · Cruiser Mk II · Cruiser Mk III · M1 Combat Car · Somua S35 Infantry FCM 36 · Hotchkiss H35 · Renault R35 · T-26 · Matilda Mk I Heavy Char B1 · Char 2C · SMK · T-35 · T-100 · Vickers A1E1 Independent Armoured Carriers UE Chenillette History · WWI · Interwar · WWII · Cold War · Tank v • d • e World War II tanks List · Category Light Fiat L6/40 · M3/M5 Stuart · M22 Locust · M24 Chaffee · Marmon-Herrington CTLS · Panzer 38(t) · Renault R40 · T-26 · T-40 · T-60 · T-70 · Tetrarch · Toldi Medium 40 M Turan I · Fiat M11/39 · M2 Medium · M3 Lee · M4 Sherman · Panzer III · Panzer IV · Panzer V Panther · T-34 · T-43 Cruiser Mk IV · Mk V Covenanter · Mk VI Crusader · Mk VII Cavalier · Mk VIII Cromwell · Mk VIII Challenger · Comet · Ram · Sentinel · Sherman Firefly Infantry Churchill · T-26 · T-50 · Valentine Heavy Carro Armato P 40 · IS tank · KV tank · M26 Pershing · Tiger I · Tiger II History · WWI · Interwar · WWII · Cold War · Tank

For other uses, see T26

For armoured combat vehicles based on the T-26 chassis, see T-26 variants

The T-26 was a Soviet light infantry tank used during many conflicts of the 1930s as well as during World War II. It was a development of the British Vickers 6-Ton tank and is widely considered one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s.^[3]

It was produced in greater numbers than any other tank of the period, with more than 11,000 produced.^[4] During the 1930s, the USSR developed approximately 50 variants of the T-26, including other combat vehicles based on its chassis. Twenty-three of these were mass-produced.^[5]

The T-26 was used extensively in the armies of Spain, China and Turkey. In addition, captured T-26 light tanks were used by the Finnish, German, Romanian and Hungarian armies.^[6]

Though nearly obsolete by the beginning of World War II, the T-26 was the most important tank of the Spanish Civil War and played a significant role during the Battle of Lake Khasan in 1938 as well as in the Winter War. The T-26 was the most numerous tank in the Red Army's armoured force during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.^[7] The T-26 last saw use in August 1945, in Manchuria.^[8]

The T-26 was reliable and simple to maintain, and its design was continually modernized between 1931 and 1941. However, no new models of the T-26 were developed after 1940.

[edit] British origin

The T-26 was a Soviet development of the British Vickers Mk.E light tank, which was designed by Vickers-Armstrongs company in 1928-1929. The simple and easy to maintain Vickers 6-Ton was intended especially for export to less technically advanced countries: the Soviet Union, Poland, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Thailand, China and many others. Vickers advertised the tank in military publications, and both the Soviet Union and Poland expressed interest in the Vickers design.

In spring 1930, the Soviet buying committee, under the direction of S. Ginzburg, arrived in Great Britain to select tanks, tractors, and cars to be used in the Red Army. The Vickers 6-Ton was among four models of tanks selected by Soviet representatives during the visit to Vickers-Armstrongs company. According to the contract signed on 28 May 1930, the company delivered to the USSR 15 twin-turreted Vickers Mk.E (Type A armed with two 7.71 mm water-cooled Vickers machine guns) tanks together with full technical documentation to enable series production of this tank in the USSR. The ability of Type A to turn the two turrets independently made it possible to fire to both the left and right at once, which was considered advantageous for breakthroughs of field entrenchments.^[9] Several Soviet engineers participated in assembly of those tanks at the Vickers Factory in 1930.^[10]

The first four Vickers 6-ton tanks arrived in the USSR at the end of 1930. The last tanks arrived only in 1932, when series production of the T-26 was already in progress. The British tanks were issued to Soviet factories for study in preparation for series production and to military educational institutions and training units. Later, some tanks were given to military supply depots and proving grounds.

The Vickers-built 6-Ton tanks had the designator V-26 in the USSR. Three British tanks were successfully tested for cross-country ability at the small proving ground near Moscow on Poklonnaya Hill in January 1931, also one tank hull was tested for gunfire resistance in August 1931. The "Special Commission for the RKKA new tanks" under the direction of S. Ginzburg was created according to the order of K. Voroshilov to define the tank type suitable for the Red Army. The T-19 8-ton light infantry tank, developed that time by S. Ginzburg at the Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad, was a theoretical competitor to British Vickers 6-Ton, although the first prototype of the complex and expensive T-19 was not finished until August 1931. Because both tanks had advantages and disadvantages, S. Ginzburg suggested developing a more powerful, hybrid tank (so called "improved" T-19) with the hull, engine and armament from the T-19, and the transmission and chassis from the Vickers 6-ton.^[9][11]

However, on 26 January 1931, I. Khalepsky (chief of the Department of Mechanization and Motorization of the RKKA) wrote a letter to S. Ginzburg with information obtained via the intelligence service that the Polish government had decided to purchase Vickers 6-Ton infantry tanks as well as Christie cavalry tanks and to mass produce them with the assistance of both the British and French. Because Poland was then considered, in Soviet military doctrine, to be the USSR's main enemy, the Soviet Revolutionary Military Council took this erroneous information into consideration and decided to pass the aforementioned foreign tanks into Red Army service immediately in order to counter possible aggression. At that time, the RKKA had only several dozen outdated Mk.V, Mk.A and Renault FT-17 tanks, captured during the Russian Civil War, together with various armoured cars and obsolescent domestic MS-1 (T-18) light infantry tanks. On 13 February 1931, the Vickers 6-Ton light infantry tank, under the designator T-26, officially entered service in the Red Army as the "main tank for close support of combined arms units and tank units of High Command reserve".^[9][11]

The prototype of TMM-1 light infantry tank during tests. Spring 1932.

At the same time, the Faculty of Mechanization and Motorization of the Military Technical Academy named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky developed two tank models (TMM-1 and TMM-2) based on the purchased Vickers 6-Ton tank design but with an American Hercules 95 hp (71 kW) six-cylinder, water-cooled engine, improved front armour (to 15–20 mm) and a driver's position on the left side. TMM stands for tank maloy moshchnosti or "tank of low power". The TMM-1 was equipped with transmission details from the Ya-5 truck and a ball mount for the DT tank machine gun in front of the hull, whereas the TMM-2 was equipped with an improved gear box, a steering device without clutches and a 37 mm Hotchkiss gun in the right turret. However, representatives from the main Soviet tank manufacturers together with officials from the RKKA Mobilization Department, considered the Hercules engine to be too difficult to produce, and the engine tended to overheat inside the engine compartment. Furthermore, tests of TMM-1 and TMM-2 prototypes performed in the beginning of 1932 demonstrated no advantage over the Vickers 6-Ton and the T-26 (the TMM-2's maneuverability was found to be even worse).^[12][13]

[edit] Design

Rear view of T-26 mod. 1933 with a welded hull and turret. Note the rear turret hatch for gun removal, the mounting of exhaust muffler, the cover over the air outlet window and louvers of oil cooler. Museum "Breaching of the Blockade of the Leningrad" near Kirovsk, Leningrad Oblast, 2007.

The T-26 was designed to replace the obsolete MS-1 (T-18) light infantry tank, which was itself a Soviet development of a Fiat 3000 design.

The Soviets did not simply replicate the Vickers Six-Ton.^[14] Like its British counterpart, the T-26 Model 1931 had a twin-turret configuration and was designed to carry two machine guns, mounting one in each turret. A major difference between the Soviet T-26 and the British Six-Ton was the rectangular firing ports for Degtyarev machine guns, as opposed to the round ports used by the original design.^[15]

After experiencing problems with precipitation and snow entering the engine compartment, a special bonnet was installed after March 1932. This was later built into the design of the air intake unit. The tank was also fitted with a higher turret, complete with observation slit, and a vision port was added for the driver.^[15] Around 1,627 T-26 tanks with twin turrets were produced between 1931 and 1933; of these, 450 were armed with the 37 mm PS-1 in one of the turrets.^[16]

In 1933, the Soviets unveiled the T-26 Model 1933. The Model 1933, with a single cylindrical turret carrying one 37 mm cannon and one 7.62 mm machine gun,^[17] would become the most common T-26 variant. The 37 mm primary cannon would utlimately be replaced by the better known 45 mm, which was based on the German Pak 35/36 cannon acquired in 1930.^[17] The T-26 could carry up to three secondary DT 7.62 mm machine guns in coaxial, rear, and antiaircraft mounts. This increased firepower was intended to aid crews in defeating dedicated anti-tank teams, as the original machine gun armament had been found insufficient.^[18] The turret rear ball mounting for the additional DT tank machine gun was installed on the T-26 tanks since the end 1935 till 1939.

Interior of T-26 mod. 1933 turret. Left-side ammunition stowage. Note also the side observation device and the porthole for revolver closed with the plug.^[19] Parola Tank Museum in Finland.

Interior of T-26 mod. 1933 turret, looking forward at the 45 mm 20K tank gun breech. Note the TOP-1 telescopic sight to the left, coaxial DT tank machine gun and PT-K commander panoramic sight to the right.^[19] Parola Tank Museum in Finland.

The T-26 Model 1933 carried 122 rounds of 45 mm ammunition, firing armour-piercing 45 mm rounds with a muzzle velocity of 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s), or lower-velocity high-explosive munitions.^[4] The tank was powered by a T-26 90 horsepower (67 kW) air cooled, 4-cylinder gasoline engine which gave it a top speed of almost 31 km/h (19 mph).

The T-26 could cross 0.75 m high vertical obstacles and 2.1 m wide trenches, ford 0.80 m deep water obstacles, cut 33 cm thick trees and climb 25-40° gradients^[2]

The hull had a maximum armor thickness of 15 mm, which was sufficient to stop artillery fragments and light machine gun fire, including German 7.92 mm armour-piercing rounds, but would later prove too light against newer German anti-tank weapons in 1941. In 1938, the T-26 was upgraded to the model 1938 version which had a conical turret but the same welded hull as the T-26 mod. 1933 produced in 1935-1936.^[20] This still proved insufficient, and the tank was upgraded once more in the middle of 1939 (after the Battle of Lake Khasan took place in 1938) to have a turret box with sloped (23^O) 20 mm side armoured plates. The turret featured an increase to 20 mm at 18 degrees sloping.^[21] This time it was designated T-26-1 (known as the T-26 mod. 1939 in modern sources). There would be subsequent attempts to thicken the front plate, but T-26 production soon ended in favor of other designs, such as the T-34.

Beginning in 1937, there was an effort to equip many tanks with anti-aircraft machine guns, as well as the addition of two searchlights, a new VKU-3 command system, and a TPU-3 intercom. Ammunition stowage for the main gun was improved from 122 rounds to 147.^[22] In 1938, the cylindrical turret was replaced with a conical turret, with the same 45 mm model 1934 gun.^[23]

When compared to the Vickers Six-Ton tank, the T-26 had superior maximum armour protection: 15 mm (0.59 in) as compared to 13 mm (0.51 in), though the Vickers Six-Ton B would have its armour increased to a maximum of 17 mm (0.67 in), which was slightly thicker than the T-26 mod. 1933's 16 mm (0.63 in) armor. Later versions of the T-26 would also have heavier armour.

Concerning respective armaments, the Soviet 45 mm gun mounted on most T-26 tanks was superior to the short-barrelled, low velocity 47 mm gun which equipped the Vickers Six-Ton B. However, the Vickers Six-Ton was slightly lighter and faster than the T-26.^[24]

Based on experience in the Spanish Civil War, the Red Army planned to replace the T-26 and BT tanks with a new generation of tanks such as the T-34 and T-50. These plans were only just beginning on the eve of Operation Barbarossa. Production of the T-26 was halted and readiness and maintenance standards fell, putting the Red Army at a disadvantage during the German invasion in 1941.

[edit] Series production

[edit] Production in Stalingrad

The Stalingrad Tractor Factory (STZ) was considered as one of the factories for a production of the T-26 from the very beginning, but the production began in the end of 1933 only. This process went very slow, with great difficulties because of delays with deliveries of machining equipment and press-tools for the new factory. Besides, in 1936-1939 the Design Office of the STZ developed several tanks (6 TK, 4 TG, STZ-25, STZ-35) based on the T-26 tank and the STZ-5 transport tractor. Needless to say that factory managers tried to promote their own tanks instead of the T-26. Actually, the STZ failed to organize the series production of the T-26 but this experience helped to bring the T-34 into production in Stalingrad in 1941. The T-26s produced by STZ had no visual differences from other T-26s, but Stalingrad tanks were less reliable and more expensive.^[26]

[edit] Modernization and repair

T-26 mod. 1931 (with welded turrets) after repair and modernization. The Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization named after I. Stalin, 1940.

Some number of early T-26 tanks were repaired in tank units or at factories with the use of later production details. This meant replacing all-rubber road wheels (except front wheels) and track idlers with new strengthened ones. In addition, armour was added for the headlight, the driver's hatch lower door of twin-turreted tanks was increased in thickness from 6 to 10 mm and armoured PT-1 or PT-K observation devices were installed. Furthermore, a common hatch above the engine, oil tank, and fuel tank was mounted. In 1940, 255 T-26s were modernized in this way and in the first half of 1941 - about 85 tanks. A central factory responsible for the T-26 modernization was the Factory of Carrying-and-Conveying Machines named after S. Kirov in Leningrad, and since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War - the Factory No. 105 in Khabarovsk.

[edit] Production in 1941

Factory No. 174 produced its last T-26 tanks in the beginning of February 1941. After that, the factory began retooling to produce the new and much more complex T-50 light tank. This work was slowed by delays in the delivery of new equipment and series production of the T-50 did not begin on schedule (planned for 1 June 1941). As a result, factory management decided to resume the production of the T-26, using T-26 hulls, turrets, and other parts already in stock. About 47 T-26 tanks were assembled and 77 were repaired in such a way in July-August 1941 before the factory was relocated from Leningrad to Chelyabinsk and then to Chkalov in September 1941. In addition, Factory No. 174 produced engines and spare parts for the T-26, installed additional armour plates on some T-26s, replaced flame-throwers with 45 mm tank guns in turrets of 133 KhT-133 flame-throwing tanks, repaired tanks in army units (846 T-26s since the beginning of 1941) and mounted about 75 turrets from the T-26 and the T-50 as bunkers for the defense of Leningrad.^[27]

[edit] Service and combat history

T-26 mod. 1931 light tanks in pre-war Soviet markings (colours of lines stand for corresponding tank unit numbers). The 1^st Mechanized Brigade on tactical exercises. The Moscow Military District, 1933.

The first unit equipped with the T-26 was the 1^st Mechanized Brigade named after K.B. Kalinovsky (the Moscow Military District). Tanks delivered to the Red Army through the end of 1931 were unarmed and intended for training, and the T-26 entered active service in 1932 only. New mechanized brigades, each equipped with 178 T-26 tanks, were also organized at that time.^[28] The RKKA Staff decided to form larger tank units based on experience gained in military exercises of 1931-1932: so mechanized corps were created in the Moscow Military District, the Ukrainian Military District and the Leningrad Military District in autumn 1932. Each mechanized corps consisted of two mechanized brigades (one equipped with the T-26 and another - with the BT).

When series production of the T-26 mod. 1933 started, each tank platoon consisted of three vehicles (one single-turreted mod. 1933 and two twin-turreted mod. 1931 tanks). Later twin-turreted T-26 tanks were given to combat training depots and to tank battalions of rifle divisions (in the beginning of 1935 tank battalion of rifle division consisted of 3 companies, 15 T-26 tanks in each).

In August 1938 mechanized corps, brigades and regiments were reorganized into corresponding tank units. In the end of 1938 the Red Army had 17 light tank brigades (267 T-26 tanks in each) and 3 chemical tank brigades (equipped with flame-throwing tanks based on the T-26 chassis).^[29]

[edit] Spanish Civil War

Republican T-26 mod. 1933 in the street of Madrid. Note a welded hull and a turret, a pressed gun mask, a new audible warning device near a hinged headlight armoured cover, road wheels with removable bands and an anti-aircraft DT tank machine gun on P-40 ring mounting. These are altogether features of tanks produced in the end of 1936-1937.

The Spanish Civil War was the first conflict in which the T-26 participated. At the request of the Spanish Republican government, the Soviet government sold weapons and military equipment to Spain and provided military advisers (including tankers). The first shipment of 50 T-26 tanks and around 80 volunteers under the command of colonel Semyon Krivoshein was delivered on 13 October 1936, at the Spanish port city of Cartagena. Those tanks were intended for Republican tankers training in the Archena training center, but the situation around Madrid became complicated and 15 tanks formed a tank company under the command of Soviet captain Paul Arman.

Arman's company engaged in battle on 29 October 1936 near Seseña, 30 km south-west of Madrid. Twelve T-26s advanced 35 km during the ten-hour raid and inflicted significant losses to Francoists with the loss of 3 T-26 tanks to gasoline bombs and artillery fire. The first known instance of ramming in tank warfare was made that day when the T-26 tank of platoon commander Lt. Semyon Osadchy encountered two Italian CV-33 tankettes from the Nationalist 1^st Tank Company near Esquivias village and overturned one of them into a small gorge, the second tankette was destroyed and two more were damaged soon by Arman's tanks. The day before (28 October 1936) Francoist cavalry and Panzer IA tanks from the 88^th Tank Battalion met with Rebublican T-26 tanks. The Pz.IA proved to have insufficient armament when pitted against the T-26.^[30]

The Krivoshein's tank group, consisting of 23 T-26 tanks and 9 armoured cars, attacked Francoists on 1 November 1936, supporting the main Republican column retreating to Madrid.^[31] The Krivoshein's tank group took part in the fighting for Torrejón de Velasco and Valdemoro on 4–5 November 1936, a counter-attack in the suburb of Cerro de los Ángeles on 13 November 1936, and in continuous fighting inside Madrid itself through the middle of December 1936.^[2][32]

T-26 mod. 1933 of the 11^th International Brigade advancing during the Battle of Belchite. September 1937.

The 1^st Republican Tank Brigade initially consisted of a tank battalion, a Spanish motorcycle company and a transport battalion. It was created in December 1936 on the delivery of about 100 Soviet tanks and military personnel under the command of Soviet brigade commander Dmitry Pavlov at the Archena training center. The Soviet volunteer tank commanders and drivers sent to Spain were from the best tank units of the Red Army. The tank gunners were usually Spanish. The 1^st Republican Tank Brigade (1.^a Brigada Blindada) first saw action near Las Rosas and Majadahonda (north-west of Madrid) in the beginning of January 1937, supporting the 12^th and 14^th International Brigades. This action broke up the second Nationalist assault on Madrid.

There were around 70 T-26s in the Republican Army in the beginning of 1937. In February 1937, company-sized detachments of the Tank Brigade participated in the Battle of Jarama. On 14 February 1937 the Tank Brigade, together with the 24^th Infantry Brigade, took part in a counterattack and overcame a major Nationalist force, causing about 1000 Nationalist casualties. On 27 February 1937, the Tank Brigade launched five attacks on Nationalist positions without infantry support, but took heavy losses from anti-tank guns (35 to 40 percent of its tanks in some attacks). Nevertheless, the T-26 was used with great success during the Battle of Guadalajara in March 1937 after the 1^st Tank Brigade was finally formed. For example, a platoon of two T-26 tanks under the command of Spaniard, E. Ferrera destroyed or damaged twenty-five Italian tankettes on 10 March 1937. In September/October 1937 the Republican 1^st Tank Brigade was disbanded. Some volunteers returned to the USSR, while others joined with the International Tank Regiment under the command of Soviet major S.A. Kondratiev.^[32][33]

From autumn 1937, all T-26 tank crews were Spanish. In summer 1938, the Republican Army had two armoured divisions, formed with Soviet help.^[34] It should be noted that Republican armour and infantry often suffered from cooperation problems throughout the war. T-26 tanks often attacked enemy trenches or defense positions in the narrow streets of Spanish towns without support, where they met strong resistance. Nationalist infantry defended courageously despite heavy casualties, throwing hand grenades and gasoline bombs, which are dangerous to tank engines.^[31][35][36]

Ultimately, the Soviet Union provided a total of 281 T-26 mod. 1933 tanks. Many sources state that a total of 297 T-26s were delivered to Spain but this probably includes the first planned delivery of 15 T-26s on 26 September 1936.^[37]

Approximately 40 percent of T-26s fell into Nationalist hands by the end of the war, mostly after the defeat of the Republicans. In March 1937, a tank company of captured T-26 tanks was included into Panzergruppe Drohne, a tank unit of the German Condor Legion in Spain. The Nationalists prized the Soviet tanks, even offering a bounty of 500 pesetas for each tank captured intact. In August 1937, a reorganization of the Drohne Group into Spanish control started, which resulted in the formation of Bandera de Carros de Combate de la Legion, a part of the Spanish Foreign Legion, in March 1938. The Bandera consisted of two battalions (1. and 2. Agrupacione de Carros). One was equipped with Panzer I tanks and the second with captured T-26 tanks. Approaching 1939, both battalions had similar organization, their third companies equipped with T-26 tanks. The Nationalists used captured T-26 tanks in the Battle of Teruel, Battle of Brunete, Battle of Bilbao, Battle of the Ebro and the Catalonia Offensive. Later, T-26s formed the base of the Spanish Brunete Armoured Division, serving until 1953.^[38]

Despite the T-26's superiority over the German Panzer I light tanks and Italian CV-33 tankettes (armed only with machine guns), the Spanish Civil War uncovered a vulnerability of the T-26: weak armour. Even the frontal armour of the T-26 was easily penetrated by German and Italian anti-tank guns.^[35][39]. Not all Soviet military commanders recognized the T-26 light infantry tank's obsolescence in the mid-1930s. Work to design tanks with antiprojectile armour was slow in the USSR at that time.

[edit] Soviet-Japanese border wars 1938-1939

The first military operation of the RKKA in which T-26 light tanks participated was the Soviet-Japanese border conflict, the Battle of Lake Khasan in July 1938. The Soviet tank force consisted of the 2^nd Mechanized Brigade and two separate tank battalions (the 32^nd and the 40^th). These included 257 T-26 tanks (with 10 KhT-26 flame-throwing tanks), 3 ST-26 bridge-laying tanks, 81 BT-7 light tanks, and 13 SU-5-2 self-propelled guns. The 2^nd Mechanized Brigade had new command staff as 99% of its previous command staff (including brigade commander A.P. Panfilov) were arrested as "enemies of the nation" three days before marching off. That had an adverse effect on brigade actions during the conflict (for example, its tanks spent 11 hours to finish 45-km march because of ignorance of the route). During the assault of the Japanese-held Bezymyannaya and Zaozernaya bald mountains, Soviet tanks met with a well organized antitank defense. As a result, 76 T-26 tanks were damaged and 9 burnt. After the end of combat operations, 39 of these tanks were restored in tank units and others were repaired in workshop conditions.^[40]

There were only 33 T-26s, 18 KhT-26 flame-throwing tanks and 6 T-26T artillery tractors in tank units of the 57^th Special Corps on 1 February 1939. For comparison, the corps had 219 BT tanks. The situation with the T-26 remained as before in July 1939: the 1^st Army Group, which participated in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in Mongolia, had only 14 T-26s (in the 82^nd Rifle Division) and 10 KhT-26 flame-throwing tanks (in the 11^th Tank Brigade). The amount of T-26 tanks (flame-throwing variants mainly) increased somewhat in time for combat actions in August, but they always remained a small fraction of all tanks that participated in the conflict. Nevertheless, the T-26s were used extensively in action. The T-26 proved to be a very good tank during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol according to army reports: its cross-country capability in desert conditions was excellent and, despite thin armour (which was easily penetrated by Japanese 37 mm guns ^[41]), the T-26 exhibited high survivability. Some T-26 tanks continued to fight after several 37 mm hits and did not catch fire, as happened more frequently with BT tanks.^[42]

[edit] Second World War

[edit] Soviet invasion of Poland

Soviet T-26 light tanks (mod. 1931 and mod. 1933) on the march in Poland. 17 September 1939.

On the eve of World War II, the Red Army had around 8,500 T-26s of all variants. These served mainly in separate light tank brigades (each brigade had 256–267 T-26s in four battalions, including 10–11 flame-throwing tanks) and in separate tank battalions of some rifle divisions (one company of T-26 – 10–15 tanks). Such types of tank units participated in the Soviet invasion of Poland (or, as it is called in Russian historiography, "the liberation march" to West Ukraine and West Belarus), sixteen days after the beginning of the German Invasion of Poland (1939).^[43]

On 17 September 1939, 878 T-26 tanks of the Belorussian Front (the 22^nd, the 25^th, the 29^th and the 32^nd Tank Brigades) and 797 T-26 tanks of the Ukrainian Front (the 26^th, the 36^th and the 38^th Tank Brigades) crossed the Polish border. Combat losses in Poland amounted to 15 T-26 tanks only. However, 302 T-26s suffered technical failures on the march.^[44]

[edit] The Winter War

Soviet T-26 light tanks (mod. 1939 and mod. 1933), GAZ-M1 car and GAZ-AA trucks of the 7^th Army during its advance on the Karelian Isthmus. 2 December 1939.

The following tank units, equipped mainly with the T-26, participated in the war with Finland: the 35^th, the 39^th and the 40^th light tank brigades, several separate tank battalions (OTB) of rifle divisions of the 8^th Army, and the 14^th Army. In the course of the war, 29^th light tank brigade, tank units of 28^th rifle corps (4 tank regiments, several OTBs of rifle divisions), and several OTBs included into the 9^th Army arrived to the front. Light tank brigades in the winter war were equipped a variety of T-26 tanks, including both twin- and single-turreted tanks produced from 1931 to 1939. Separate tank battalions of rifle divisions had old tanks mainly, produced in 1931-1936, but some were equipped with new tanks. A total of 848 T-26s were in tank units of Leningrad Military District by the beginning of the war. Together with the BT and T-28, the T-26 was part of the main strike force during the breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line, in which tanks shelled antitank teeth, Finnish pillboxes, machine-gun nests, and other fortifications. ^[45]

Finnish soldiers inspecting an abandoned Soviet T-26 mod. 1933 at Raate. January 1940.

Soviet T-26 mod. 1939 of the 40^th Light Tank Brigade in winter camouflage on the way to battlefront. Note a small fascine for trench crossing, a canvas stowage and a tactical marking "00" on turret side. Karelian Isthmus. February 1940.

The war experience forced change in the structure of Soviet tank units. T-37 and T-38 amphibious tanks, which formed the majority of rifle division's tanks, proved to be useless under the conditions found in the northern theatre of operations. In accordance to the letter order of the General Military Council of the RKKA from 1 January 1940, each rifle division should have a tank battalion consisting of 54 T-26 tanks (including 15 flame-throwing tanks) and a rifle regiment should have a tank company of 17 T-26 tanks (24 such companies were formed during the war). The organization of seven tank regiments (164 T-26 tanks in each) for motor rifle and light motorized divisions began at that time also, but only two light motorized (motor cavalry) divisions were formed - 24^th and 25^th.^[46][47]

Old, twin-turreted T-26 tanks were also used during the Winter War, mainly in separate tank battalions (OTB) of rifle divisions. These tanks did not participate in active combat operations but were suitable for protecting communication lines and used in signal service.^[48] Nevertheless, some T-26 mod. 1931 tanks were used in combat on the Karelian Isthmus. For instance, 377^th OTB of 97^th rifle division arrived at the front on 28 January 1940 with 31 T-26s (including 11 twin-turreted) and 6 KhT-26 flame-throwing tanks; the combat losses of the battalion during the war were 5 T-26 and 2 KhT-26, with non-combat losses of 13 T-26 and 4 KhT-26.^[49]

At the Battle of Tolvajärvi, the Finnish managed to capture or destroy nearly 16 T-26 tanks during the defeat of the 75^th rifle division.^[50][51] At the battles of Suomussalmi and Raate, the Soviet 44^th rifle division was encircled and lost all armour of its 312^th OTB, including 14 T-26 tanks.^[52][53] At Pelkosenniemi and Ilomantsi the Finns captured a further 10 tanks.^[54] Altogether, the Finns would capture almost 70 damaged T-26 tanks of different models, including KhT-26 and KhT-130 flame-throwing tanks, during the Winter War, a number equal to the entire pre-war Finnish armoured force.^[55]

In the polar Murmansk region, the 14^th Army had the following tank units: the 411^th OTB, equipped with 15 T-26 and 15 T-38 tanks from the Belorussian Military District, and the 349^th OTB, equipped with 12 T-26 and 19 T-37/T-38 tanks from the Training Regiment of the Leningrad Armour Technical School. The narrow terrain only allowed the use of two or three T-26 tanks in co-operation with a rifle company or battalion. Tanks of 411^th OTB attached to the 52^nd rifle division were used the most actively. The 349^th OTB concentrated in Petsamo on 13 December 1940 where it joined the 104^th rifle division. The 14^th Army lost three tanks to artillery fire, two to landmines, and two drowned.^[56]

The combat and technical losses of the 7^th Army in action on the Karelian Isthmus from 30 November 1939 to 13 March 1940 were 930 T-26 tanks of all variants, with 463 of these repaired during the war. The combat losses of the 8^th Army (which fought north of Lake Ladoga) included 65 T-26 tanks. The 9^th Army (Repola, Kandalaksha and Suomussalmi area) lost 30 T-26 tanks.^[57] All told, losses of T-26 tanks exceeded the number in inventory at the beginning of the war, but the number of T-26s at the front did not decrease due to reinforcements received from factory and tank workshops and new tank units arriving at the front. There were 1,331 T-26, BT and T-28 tanks at the Northwest Front in the beginning of February 1940, which increased to 1,740 tanks on 28 February 1940 when the breakthrough of the second Finnish line of defense began.^[58] For example, 29^th light tank brigade with 256 T-26 tanks was redeployed from Brest to the Karelian Isthmus in February 1940.^[59]

In the end, the Winter War proved that the T-26 was obsolete and its design reserve was totally depleted. Finnish anti-tank guns easily penetrated T-26's thin antibullet armour, and its cross-country ability in the snowy winter terrain was mediocre. It was decided to withdraw the outdated T-26 from production in 1940 and replace it with a completely new model, the T-50 light tank.

[edit] The Great Patriotic War

The T-26 formed the backbone of the Red Army's armoured forces during the first months of the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. On June 1, the Red Army had 10,268 T-26 tanks of all models, including armoured combat vehicles based on the T-26 chassis. The T-26 made up 39.5 percent of the tank strength, by number. T-26s composed a majority of fighting vehicles in Soviet mechanized corps of border military districts. For example, the Western Special Military District had 1,136 T-26 tanks on June 22, 1941 (52% of all tanks in the district). Mechanized corps of the Southwestern Front (formed from units of Odessa Special Military District and some units of Kiev Special Military District after the beginning of the war) were equipped with 1,316 T-26 tanks, making up 35% of all tanks on the front.^[60] All in all there were 4,875 T-26 tanks in western military districts on June 1, 1941. However, some T-26 tanks were not operationally ready because of shortages of parts like batteries, tracks, and road wheels. Such shortages left around 30% of available T-26 tanks disabled. Additionally, about 30% of the available T-26 tanks had been produced in 1931-1934 and had limited service life. Thus five Soviet western military districts had about 3,100–3,200 T-26s of all models in good order (approximately 40% of all tanks in the districts in question), which was only slightly less than the number of German tanks intended for invasion of the USSR.^[61]

The planned replacement for the T-26 was the T-50 light tank, adopted for the Red Army in February 1941. The sophisticated T-50 was developed keeping in mind the experience gained in the Winter War and Soviet tests of the German Panzer III tank. However, the new and complicated T-50 and its diesel engine encountered production problems and the new tank had not entered series production before the Great Patriotic War.^[62]

A T-26 mod. 1933 crewmember surrenders to advancing German forces. Army Group Centre, August 1941.

Knocked out Soviet T-26 mod. 1933 light tank and abandoned KV-1 heavy tank with additional appliqué armour in the background. Summer 1941.

The majority of the Red Army's T-26 tanks in European military districts were lost in the first months of the Great Patriotic War, mainly to enemy artillery and air strikes.

In addition, the limited availability of recovery vehicles and spare parts meant that broken down tanks and other non-combat losses often could not be repaired. Tanks with even insignificant technical failures had to be blown up or burned by their crews upon retreat. The 12^th Mechanized Corps, deployed in Baltic Special Military District, had 449 T-26 tanks, 2 flame-throwing tanks and 4 T-26T artillery tractors on June 22, 1941. The corps lost 201 T-26 tanks and all flame-throwing tanks and artillery tractors by July 7, 1941. A further 186 T-26 tanks were lost to technical failures. ^[63]

However, many T-26 crews did their best to combat the enemy's advance. For example, a composite battalion of the 55^th Tank Division (made up of 18 single-turreted T-26 tanks and 18 twin-turreted T-26 tanks) supported the retreating 117^th Infantry Division near Zhlobin. Single-turreted T-26 tanks destroyed 17 German tanks. Nine tanks of the battalion crossed the Dnieper River but eleven remained in enemy territory after the bridge was destroyed, with the remainder having been lost in combat.

The T-26 light tank was inferior to the German Panzer III and Panzer IV medium tanks in gun calibre, speed, manoeuvrability, armour but the T-26's armament was superior in comparison with the Panzer I, Panzer II, Panzer 35(t) and Panzer 38(t), which formed about 50% of the German panzer forces in June 1941. The Soviet 45 mm 20K tank gun could also penetrate the armour of Panzer III and Panzer IV at combat distances. The main reasons for the high loss rate of Soviet light tanks in June-July 1941 were the low production quality of 45 mm armour-piercing shells (which were themselves in short supply in tank units), the insufficient power of 45 mm 20K tank guns produced in 1932-1934, and poor coordination between different units of the Red Army. German air superiority and frequent technical problems with older tanks also plagued Soviet forces.

The column of T-26 mod. 1939 and T-26 mod. 1933 light tanks from the 20^th Tank Brigade moved towards a front line. The Western Front, Battle of Moscow. December 1941. The 20^th Tank Brigade was equipped with 20 T-26 tanks.

Despite high losses, T-26 tanks still formed a significant part of the Red Army's armoured forces in autumn 1941 (many tanks arrived from inner military districts - Central Asia, Ural, Siberia, partially from the Far East). Tank units of the Western Front were equipped with 298 T-26 tanks on October 1, 1941, equivalent to 62% of total tank forces. However, many old T-26 tanks received by tank brigades from repair workshops were in poor condition and as the result there were only 50 T-26 tanks (14 of them under repair) available during the German advance in the Battle of Moscow. T-26 tanks participated in the Liberation of Rostov in December 1941 also.^[64]

T-26 tanks participated in combat at the Leningrad Front in 1941. For example, the 86^th Separate Tank Battalion, equipped with the T-26, supported attacks of Soviet infantry from Kolpino towards Krasny Bor and Tosno on December 20-26, 1941. One case of T-26's use there is well-documented: during six days of continuous attacks and counterattacks, platoon commander Lt. M.I. Yakovlev's T-26 destroyed two pillboxes, three anti-tank guns, four machine-gun nests, three mortars and an ammunition depot in Krasny Bor, in addition to killing about 200 enemy soldiers. Yakovlev’s T-26 was penetrated by nine shells, but was never taken out of action. Junior lieutenant Yakovlev received Hero of the Soviet Union award.^[65]

T-26 mod. 1938 and its crew before combat. Probably 1942.

T-26 tanks continued to be used in combat throughout the Soviet-German front from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea (Battle of the Crimea) in 1942, but in lesser numbers than in 1941. During the Second Battle of Kharkov some tank units of the 22^nd Tank Corps of the Southwestern Front were equipped with the T-26 (for example, the 13^th Tank Brigade had six T-26 tanks on May 9, 1942). On May 13, 1942, German forces counterattacked the flank of the Soviet 38^th Army, then on the offensive. Every available tank unit engaged the German battle group. Soviet tank brigades lost all of their tanks, but inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.^[66]

The last major operations of the Great Patriotic War which involved substantial numbers of T-26 tanks were the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of the Caucasus in 1942.

Though the T-26 saw no active action on the Soviet-German front in 1943, the T-26 still equipped some rearward units. Thus T-26 tanks of the 151^st Tank Brigade (the 45^th Army, Transcaucasian Front), equipped with 24 T-26s and 19 British Mk VII Tetrarch light tanks, guarded the Soviet-Iranian border. This tank brigade was redeployed to Tuapse (47^th Army) in January 1943.^[67]

Some tank units of Leningrad Front used their T-26 tanks till the beginning of 1944 when the breaking of Leningrade Blockade began (for example, the 1^st and the 220^th Tank Brigades each had 32 T-26 tanks on January 1, 1944). In Karelia and Murmansk area (another stabilized part of the Soviet-German front) T-26s served even longer, until the summer of 1944.^[68]

[edit] Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran

T-26 tanks from the 6^th and the 54^th Tank Divisions of the 28^th Mechanized Corps (which had 717 T-26 and BT light tanks on 1 May 1941) participated in Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in August-September 1941.^[69]

[edit] Soviet-Japanese War 1945

The Soviet invasion of Manchuria (1945) was the last military operation in which Soviet T-26 was used. The Red Army had 1,461 T-26s in the far east on 5 August 1945 (1,272 of these were in operable condition).^[70] There were many old tanks (mainly T-26 and BT-7 tanks) in far eastern separate tank brigades; these had remained on the Manchurian border during the entire Great Patriotic War. To increase the combat effectiveness of these tank units, 670 new T-34-85 tanks were issued to one battalion of each brigade in summer 1945, leaving the other two battalions with their T-26 or BT-7 light tanks as before. For example, the 1^st Far Eastern Front had 11 separate tank brigades (80-85 tanks in each, half T-26 or BT) at that time. There were some number of T-26s in 2 tank divisions and 5 tank brigades of the Transbaikal Front. Such tank units participated in the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in August 1945.^[71] T-26s often demonstrated better cross-country ability in the far eastern theater of operation than much heavier T-34-85 and Lend-Lease M4 Sherman medium tanks. Also, the T-26's performance was still sufficient to fight against Japanese armoured vehicles. T-26 tanks participated in the victory over Japan parade in Harbin in September 1945.

[edit] Outside the Red Army

After the end of the Spanish Civil War and the capture of Spanish Rebublican military equipment, Franco's Spain received some additional T-26 tanks from France which had been taken from retreating Republican forces and interned in French warehouses. In 1942, the Spanish Army had 139 T-26 mod. 1933 light tanks in service.^[72] After the end of World War II, Spain had at least 116 T-26 tanks in active service.^[73] These tanks were organized into two battalions of 30 tanks. Each battalion was also equipped with a single Panzer I command tank, six other Panzer I Ausf. A light tanks, and a CV-33 tankette for reconnaissance. The T-26 tanks would not be replaced until 1953, when Spain and the United States signed an agreement for open shipments of new military materiel to Spain. The first twelve M47 Patton tanks, dedicated to replace the old T-26 tanks, arrived at Cartagena in February 1954.^[74]

T-26 mod. 1933 displayed in Parola Tank Museum. This captured tank was used by the Finns during the Continuation War. The vehicle has been restored to drivable condition. Note the construction of driver's hatch.

The Finnish captured and evacuated nearly 70 T-26 tanks of different models (including KhT-26 and KhT-130 flame-throwing tanks) during the Winter War. Of these, 10 T-26 mod. 1931, 20 T-26 mod. 1933, 2 T-26 mod. 1938/1939, 2 KhT-26 and 4 KhT-130 were repaired at the Varkaus tank workshop and put into service until June 1941. The Finns also rearmed their Vickers 6-Ton tanks with the Soviet 45 mm 20K tank guns and DT tank machine guns; these modified tanks were designated the T-26E and used by the Finnish Army during the Continuation War. Seventy-five T-26s and 19 rebuilt Vickers tanks continued in service after the end of the World War II.^[75] During the offensive phase of the Continuation War in summer and autumn of 1941, the Finns captured more than 100 T-26 tanks of different types.

Of these, 35 were fully repaired and sent to armoured units, 21 were stored for later refurbishment, and the remainder were scrapped. There were 102 T-26 tanks in the Finnish Army on January 1, 1942 (twin-turreted and flame-throwing tanks were used mainly as training vehicles). The T-26 remained the main tank of the Finnish Armoured Division throughout the war, although the German StuG III began to replace it in 1943. As noted above, 94 T-26 tanks remained in service with the Finnish Army by 1945. Peak numbers in Finnish service occurred during the summer of 1944, when the Finns kept up to 126 various T-26 tanks, including 22 T-26E, 2 T-26 mod. 1931, 1 KhT-26, 63 T-26 mod. 1933, 32 T-26 mod. 1938/1939, and 1 T-26T. Some of these tanks were kept as training tanks until 1959, when they were finally phased out and replaced by newer British and Soviet tanks (the last Finnish T-26 was retired officially in 1961).^[76][77]

Chinese NRA T-26 mod. 1933 light tanks at Hunan.

In August 1937, the Chiang Kai-shek's government negotiated with the Soviet government for military aid for the War of China's Resistance Against Japan (1937-1945) during a signing of a Treaty of Non-Aggression between the Republic of China and the Soviet Union. The USSR sold 82 T-26 mod. 1933 tanks to China. These tanks were shipped to Guangzhou harbour in the spring of 1938, and used to set up the 200^th Infantry Division of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army. The 200^th Infantry Division was actually a Chinese mechanized division consisting of four regiments, including a tank regiment equipped with 70 or 80 T-26s, an armoured car regiment, a mechanized infantry regiment, and an artillery regiment.

Chinese tank crews were trained under the supervision of Soviet specialists. T-26 tanks of the 200^th Infantry Division were used in the Battle of Lanfeng in 1938, the Battle of Kunlun Pass in 1939, the Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road in the Burma campaign in 1942 and some other combat against the Japanese until 1944.^[78] After World War II, the remaining Chinese T-26 tanks equipped the First Armoured Regiment of the Army of the Chinese Kuomingtang government, which saw service in East China during the Chinese Civil War (1946-1950). Finally, several T-26 tanks were destroyed or captured by the People's Liberation Army during the Huaihai Campaign in 1949.^[79]

Turkey purchased 60 T-26 mod. 1933 light tanks in 1935 (also two twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 was presented to Turkish government in 1933-1934), along with about 60 BA-6 armoured cars to form the 1^st Tank Battalion of the 2^nd Cavalry Division at Lüleburgaz.^[80] The Armoured Brigade of the Turkish Army consisted of the 102^nd and the 103^rd Companies armed with the T-26 mod. 1933 tanks (four platoons in a company, five tanks in platoon) in the end of 1937. The reserve group of the brigade had 21 T-26 tanks also. In the beginning of 1940, the Turkish Army had the Armoured Brigade in Istanbul, which belonged to the 1^st Army, and the 1^st Tank Battalion, which belonged to the 3^rd Army. Turkish T-26 tanks were taken out of service in 1942.^[81][82]

The German Wehrmacht used around 40 captured T-26 tanks of different models under the designation Panzerkampfwagen T-26 737(r), 738(r), or 740(r), depending of the model. OT-130 light flame-throwing tanks had the German designation Flammenwerfer Panzerkampfwagen T-26B 739(r). Only a very small number of captured T-26 tanks were repaired by German army workshops by the end of 1941; hundreds of Soviet tanks abandoned in 1941-1942 during the Soviet retreat were badly damaged in combat or had technical failures which were impossible to repair because of the absence of spare parts, and Germany's own tanks were a higher maintenance priority. A small number of German T-26 tanks participated in the Battle of Smolensk (1941), the Battle of Moscow, Battles of Rzhev, combat near Leningrad, Bryansk, Minsk, Warsaw even.

In autumn 1943, ten T-26 tanks were rearmed as self-propelled guns (the turrets were removed and ex-French 7.5 cm guns Pak 97/38(f) with shields were installed instead). Those 7,5 cm Pak 97/98(f) auf Pz.740(r) self-propelled guns served in the 3^rd company of 563^rd anti-tank battalion (3 Kp. Pz.Jg.Abt. 563) but all of them were replaced soon with the Marder III on March 1, 1944.^[83] Also German police tank companies (Polizei-Panzer-Kompanien) used some captured T-26s, including twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 tanks, in Soviet and Polish occupied territories (for example, 1 T-26 served in 9 Pol.Pz.Ko and at least 1 T-26 - in 12 Pol.Pz.Ko).^[84]

The Royal Romanian Army had 33 captured T-26s of different models as of 1 November 1942, mainly donated by Germany. However, the Romanians could not repair most of the captured vehicles and so not all were used in combat. For example, the 1^st Tank Division had only 2 T-26 tanks in September 1942.^[85] The Hungarian Army also used a few captured T-26s.

It is probable that 2 or 6 twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 light tanks were sold to Afghanistan in 1935, but this information is unconfirmed.^[60][86]

[edit] Variants

For armoured combat vehicles (flame-throwing tanks, artillery tractors, radio-controlled tanks, combat engineering vehicles, self-propelled guns, armoured transport vehicles, etc.) based on the T-26 chassis, see the main article: T-26 variants.

• T-26 model 1931 — twin-turreted version armed with two DT tank machine guns. The first series-produced variant of the T-26. Tanks produced from 1931 to the beginning of 1932 had riveted hull ans turrets, a muffler affixed with two clamps, and lacked any cover over the air outlet window. About 1,177 T-26 mod. 1931 tanks armed with machine guns were accepted by the Red Army, which had 1,015 such twin-turreted tanks on 1 April 1933.
• T-26 model 1931 with gun plus machine gun armament^[87][88] — twin-turreted version with a 37 mm gun in the right turret (some modern sources mention this tank as T-26 model 1932). There were two models of 37 mm guns in the USSR suitable for mounting in light tanks that time - the Hotchkiss gun (or its Soviet improved variant PS-1), and the more powerful PS-2 gun developed by P. Syachentov. The latter was superior, but only experimental models existed. Therefore, the first 10 pre-production T-26s were equipped with the Hotchkiss gun in the right turret to increase fire power compared to the machine gun armed Vickers 6-Ton design. The experimental PS-2 gun was mounted on three T-26 tanks only, the right turrets of which were replaced with small gun turrets from the T-35-1 (prototype of the T-35 heavy tank).

Twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 with riveted hull and turrets, armed with the 37 mm Hotchkiss gun (PS-1) in the right turret. Battle of Tolvajärvi. December 1939.

As the series production of the PS-2 gun was delayed, the Main Artillery Agency of the RKKA gave preference to a new gun. That was a development of the Artillery Design Office of the Bolshevik Factory constructed from parts taken from the previously purchased German 37 mm anti-tank gun developed by Rheinmetall and the PS-2 gun. This system was successfully tested and the Artillery Factory No. 8 named after M. Kalinin started its series production under the designator B-3 (5K). The B-3 gun had less recoil and smaller breech compared to the PS-2, so it could be easily mounted in the normal machine gun turret of the T-26. The first twin-turreted T-26 was armed with the B-3 gun in the right turret in autumn 1931. Unfortunately, series production of the B-3 gun proceeded slowly due to poor production standards (none of 225 guns produced in 1931 were accepted by army representatives; it took until 1933 to complete the original order for 300 guns placed in August of 1931). In addition, completed B-3 guns would be mounted on BT-2 light tanks after summer 1932. This meant that twin-turreted T-26 tanks would continue to be equipped with old 37 mm Hotchkiss (PS-1) guns. As production of the PS-1 gun had ended, some guns were taken from military supply depots and scrapped MS-1(T-18) tanks.

The initial plan was to arm every fifth T-26 with the 37 mm gun in the right turret, but the final proportion was somewhat higher. About 450 twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 tanks mounting the 37 mm gun in the right turret were produced in 1931–1933 (including only 20-30 tanks with the B-3 gun). There were 392 T-26 mod. 1931 tanks with gun plus machine gun armament in the Red Army on 1 April 1933.

Twin-turreted T-26 armed with the 76.2 mm recoilless gun designed by L.V. Kurchevsky in the right turret. 1934.

• T-26 (BPK)^[89][90] (BPK stands for batal'onnaya pushka Kurchevskogo or "battalion gun by Kurchevsky") - twin-turreted version with a 76.2 mm recoilless gun (or "dynamic reaction gun", as it was called at the time) in the right turret. At the end of 1933 M. Tukhachevsky suggested equipping some T-26 mod. 1931 tanks with the 76.2 mm BPK recoilless gun designed by L.V. Kurchevsky in a right turret to increase a fire power. One prototype of such a tank was built in 1934. BPK had a muzzle velocity of 500 m/s (1,640 ft/s) and a range of 4 km (2.5 mi). The tank was able to carry 62 4-kg rounds. The test performed on 9 March 1934 demonstrated a significant increase in firepower, but the recoilless gun proved difficult to reload on the move and the powerful jet blast projected behind the weapon when fired would be dangerous to infantrymen behind the tank. Shortcomings were also observed in the design of the gun itself, and so the planned rearmament of twin-turreted T-26 tanks with recoilless guns did not take place.

Twin-turreted T-26 (with the 37 mm Hotchkiss gun (PS-1) in the right turret), equipped with the radio station No. 7N and the hand-rail frame antenna on the hull. Military exercises, 1934.

• T-26TU^[91] (TU stands for tank upravleniya or "command tank") - twin-turreted version with a simplex radio station No. 7N (communication range - 10 km) and a hand-rail frame antenna on the hull, antenna lead located in front part of underturret box roof between turrets. The vehicle was intended for platoon (and higher) commanders. Three such tanks were successfully tested in September 1932 and seven more radio stations were delivered to the Factory named for K.E. Voroshilov, but it is unknown whether they were mounted on twin-turreted T-26 tanks or not. Series production of twin-turreted command radio tanks was scheduled to begin on 1 January 1933, but this did not occur because the necessary radio equipment was in short supply.

Additionally, one twin-turreted T-26 was given to the Research Institute of Communication in March 1932 to develop special tank communication devices. The plan was to equip each tank with a keyphone, while a platoon commander's tank would be equipped with a telephone switch for 6 subscribers (4 tanks in platoon, communication lines with infantry and higher headquarters). A special terminal block was mounted on the rear of the tank so that communication wires could be connected. The work remained experimental.

• T-26 model 1933 — single turret version armed with 45 mm 20K tank gun and DT tank machine gun. A new cylindrical turret with a large rear niche. Some tanks were equipped with 71-TK-1 radio station with a hand-rail antenna around the turret. Upgraded in 1935 with a welded hull and turret, and again in 1936 with a rear DT tank machine gun in the turret. In 1937, some tanks were equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun and a searchlight. The model 1933 was the most numerous variant.
• T-26 model 1938 — new conical turret, small changes in hull parts, increased volume of fuel tanks. Tank gun mod. 1937 and mod. 1938 were equipped with an electric breechblock and a vertically stabilized TOP-1 telescopic sight (or a TOS telescopic sight on the 1938 model).
• T-26 model 1939 (T-26-1) — underturret box with sloped armoured plates, rear machine gun removed on some tanks, 97 hp engine. Tanks built after 1940 were equipped with 20 mm homogeneous armour on the underturret box, a unified observation device, and a new turret ring. Some tanks were equipped with armoured screens. About 1,975 T-26 tanks with conical turret (T-26 mod. 1938, T-26 mod. 1939) were produced.
• T-26A artillery support tank — mounting enlarged turret with 76.2 mm howitzer Model 27/32. The chassis was overloaded, and few were built.
• T-26E — during the Interim Peace (1940–41), the Finns rearmed their remaining Vickers 6-Ton tanks with captured Soviet long 45 mm guns and the coaxial machine guns of the T-26s. The new tanks were renamed T-26E. They were used in combat in 1941–44 and remained in service until 1959.

[edit] Survivors

There are about 45 T-26 tanks preserved in different museums and military schools (Russian, Spanish and Finnish mainly).^[92][93] The most notable of them are:

T-26 mod. 1931 with riveted hull and turrets. Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia. 2008.

• Twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow (Russia) - this tank from the 115^th Rifle Division with shell holes was raised from a river bottom on the site of river crossing at Nevsky Pyatachok in July 1989 by Katran diving club. The vehicle was restored in the Pyarnu Training Tank Regiment of the Leningrad Military District, it was donated to the museum in February 1998. Only two such vehicles are preserved at the moment.
• Twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 with gun plus machine gun armament and riveted hull in the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow Oblast (Russia). The single survived twin-turreted T-26 armed with the 37 mm gun.
• T-26 mod. 1933 in the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow (Russia) - this tank of late production variant was transferred from Kubinka Tank Museum in 1980s.
• T-26 mod. 1933 in the Museum-Diorama "Breaching of the Blockade of the Leningrad" in Mar'ino village near Kirovsk, Leningrad Oblast (Russia) - this tank with a large shell hole on the right side of the hull and without turret was raised from a river bottom at Nevsky Pyatachok in May 2003.
• T-26 mod. 1933 in the Museum of the Northwestern Front in Staraya Russa, Novgorod Oblast (Russia) - this tank was raised from the Lovat River in 1981 and became a monument to Soviet tankers in Korovitchino village (Novgorod Oblast). The vehicle was given to the museum in May 2004. The tank has inauthentic tracks.

T-26 mod. 1933. El Goloso Museum in Madrid, Spain. 2007.

• T-26 mod. 1933 in the El Goloso Baracks Museum in Madrid (Spain) - the tank (Spanish tactical number 135) in Nationalist Spanish markings with pressed gun mask is armed with Hotchkiss machine gun instead of DT tank machine gun. Produced in 1936. The anti-aircraft machine gun and the hand-rail radio antenna are late dummies.

T-26 mod. 1933. Parola Tank Museum, Finland. 2006.

• T-26 mod. 1933 in the Parola Tank Museum (Finland) - Finnish tactical number Ps 163-33, in drivable condition.
• T-26 mod. 1933 in the Parola Tank Museum (Finland) - this tank is described in many sources as early version of the T-26 mod. 1933. But in reality this is the Finnish war-time modernization (Finnish tactical number Ps 163-16) of a hull from KhT-26 flame-throwing tank (which can be identified by rivets for a burning mixture tank, rivets for hinges of a filling hatch on the left side and a welded drain port on the right side behind a front track bogie) with a mounted riveted turret with a small rear niche from the early BT-5 light tank.^[77]
• T-26 mod. 1933 in the Parola Tank Museum (Finland) - the Finnish war-time modernization (Finnish tactical number Ps 163-28) of a hull from KhT-26 flame-throwing tank with a mounted turret from the BT-7 light tank.
• T-26 mod. 1939 in the Kubinka Tank Museum, Moscow Oblast (Russia) - this tank with pressed gun mask is in drivable condition (the GAZ-41 engine from the BRDM-2 was installed in 2005). The tank has combat damages taken during the Great Patriotic War (many marks from armour-piercing bullets and a welded hole on the right side of the turret from 50 mm shell).
• T-26 mod. 1939 in the Parola Tank Museum, (Finland) - the Finnish war-time modernization (Finnish tactical number Ps 164-7): a hull from KhT-133 flame-throwing tank with a mounted turret from the T-26 mod. 1938/1939 and a ball mount for the DT tank machine gun in a hull front armoured plate.
• KhT-130 flame-throwing tank in the Kubinka Tank Museum, Moscow Oblast (Russia) - in reality this is the TU-26 teletank control vehicle with a dummy flame-thrower.
• KhT-130 flame-throwing tank in the Military Unit No. 05776 in Borzya, Chita Oblast (Russia) - monument (since 1995) with an incomplete chassis (one track bogie is lacking, tracks and driving wheels were taken from the M3 Stuart American light tank). Before 1990 the vehicle stood in the territory of one of military units of the Soviet 39^th Army (located in Mongolia) of the Transbaikal Military District. The single preserved KhT-130 at the moment.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] Published sources

[edit] Websites

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: T-26

• T-26 histrical photos
• T-26 mod. 1931,photos of twin-turreted T-26
• T-26 mod. 1933, photos of T-26 mod. 1933
• T-26 mod. 1938/39, photos of T-26 mod. 1938 and mod. 1939
• Light tank T-26, combat use of T-26 (in Russian), many photos of T-26
• T-26 light tank, a lot of information (in Russian) and photos of T-26
• Foreign tanks in Finnish service, Axis History Factbook, Axis History
• Russia's T-26 Light Tanks, WWII Vehicles.com
• T-26: Development History and combat employment, short info about T-26
• Ferris, Dave (2000–2003). "Russian/Soviet Section I (1915 to 1944) Russian/Soviet Section I (1915 to 1944)", in The Book of Tanks: A Wargamer's Portable Guide to Tanks, Self-Propelled Guns, Armoured Cars, and Personnel Carriers from World War I through the 1990s. Self-published, URL accessed 2006-11-10.
• T-26 tanks, T-26 tanks in museums and monuments