T-26 Light Tank

1931 Model

1933 Model

1939 Model

1939 Model

Was designed for infantry support and was based on the 15 British 6-Ton Vickers Type Es that were imported.⁸ One was tested at the F. E. Dzerchinskiy Academy of Artillery Weapons in Leningrad.

A license to build the tanks was obtained from Vickers-Armstrong Ltd. and prototypes were being manufactured at the Bolshevik factory in Leningrad. The Experimental Design department ( OKMO) headed up the design, under the leadership of N. V. Barikov and S. A. Ginzbury. The test vehicles were designated TMM-1 and TMM-2 and were very similar to the 6-Ton Vickers.

The Revolutionary War Department gave orders on February 13, 1931, to produce the T-26 even though development and testing hadn't concluded yet. These were to replace the obsolete MS-1 models. An engineer, Zigelya, made some minor modifications and production started.

The military wanted the 2 turrets improved so that they could be fired over a wider arc. Larger visors were added, the MGs were ball mounted, and the turning circles were limited to 265 degrees. The seats were fixed in place and didn't turn with the turret. The commander sat in the left turret.

The driver operated a multistep mechanical gearbox. The engine was based on the British Armstrong-Siddeley.

Tanks produced from 1931-1933 had their armor riveted on.

Production of the T-26A series was ended and the T-26B series became the main one produced.⁸ The T-26B series was to be used by the calvary.⁸

Production ceased in 1939 after some 4,500 were produced.⁸

Tanks battalions of infantry divisions were supposed to have 38 tanks each. Tank or mechanized brigades were to have 201 or 267 tanks each.

It first saw action at the Manchurian border (Khalkin Gol⁸) incidents against the Japanese in 1934-35/1938⁸. General Blyukher, commander of the Special Far-Eastern Army, published a report in 1938 that the riveted tanks were vulnerable to Japanese fire. A new model with welded armor was developed. Some of the earlier models had additional armor added to the turret.

The Spanish republic received 362 and it saw action in the Spanish Civil War⁸. It was superior to the German PzKpfw I and Italian L.3 tankettes on the opposing side. In the summer of 1937 2 T-26s were captured by the Spanish Nationalists and sent to Germany for thorough examination.

Based on the performance in the Spanish Civil War improvements were made (T-26-S). These involved fitting shot deflecting conical turrets, welded armor, and some had rolled mantlets for the turret.

In February 1938, 82 were delivered to the Chinese. All these vehicles had the rear turret and antiaircraft MG installed.

It was also used in Finland during the 1939-1940 Winter War.⁸ Some OT-26 were used in the Russo-Finnish war in 1939. It clear that the armor on the T-26 wasn't adequate against the antitank weapons used by the Finnish Army. After the combat in December 1939, on the Karelian isthmus, additional armor plates were added to tanks that had been made since 1937.

Most factories were overrun by the Germans during the early part of the invasion. After heavy losses in early part of German invasion most tanks were converted to artillery tractors and a few were even filled with explosives and used as radio controlled mines.

T-26 A:

First produced between 1931 and 1933.⁸ It was very close to the Vickers Type A.⁸

T-26A-1:

First British tank to arrive in Russia and was designated this.

T-26A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5:

Twin turret.

T-26A1:

There was a water cooled MG in each turret.⁸

T-26A2:

There was an air cooled MG in each turret.⁸

T-26A5:

Two turrets with a long 37 mm in the right turret and an air cooled MG in the left turret.⁸

T-26B:

Prototype was built with a 37 mm gun in the left turret and the right turret was removed. This proved unsatisfactory and a turret similar to the BT tanks was installed.

T-26B-1:

Initially had a cylindrical turret with a 37 mm gun. Later vehicles had a 45 mm gun in a cast mantlet.

One turret was installed as it was discovered that by putting the 37 mm gun in one of the 2 turreted models, one of the turrets could break from the stress. Early models had 37 mm. The seats of the commander and loader were still attached to the floor and didn't revolve with the turret. The hull was welded.

T-26B-2 (Model 1933):

Improved model with cast turret and 45 mm gun and coaxial MG. Some had a rear MG as well, and others had antiaircraft MGs installed. The turret had a overhang that had a gun counterweight in the turret.

During production improvements were made to the visor and pistol ports, storage chests were attached to the track aprons, and aluminum road wheels installed.

T-26B-1(V) & 2(V), T-26TU:

Commander's tank with a frame aerial around turret. The radio had a range of 2 km and a power of 15-20 watts.

T-26V-1:

Commander's version with 20 mm and 7.62 mm MG. Also had frame aerial around turret.

T-26TU:

For commanders with radio equipment. Had short barrel 37 mm gun in right turret and 7.62 mm DT MG in the left.

T-26TU (1933):

Had radio set installed in right turret. Had antenna attached to the hull by brackets. These were used by platoon and company leaders.

T-26V:

Main commander's version of A-4 or A-5. Originally had left turret removed. There was a frame aerial on the hull.

OT-26:

(Ognemetnig Tank "flamethrower tank") Flame-thrower placed in right-hand turret with left-hand turret being removed. Based on T-26A. Some later models kept main gun. The oil tanks and compressed air bottles were in the hull on the left. It could fire about 70 1-second bursts up to 35 meters. Approximately 500 were built from 1933 on.

OT-130:

Flame-thrower version of B-1 or B-2 that started production in 1938. It used the 1933 model of T-26 and had a 1938 model flamethrower installed instead of the 45 mm gun. It could reach targets up to 50 meters and could fire 70 1-second bursts. It carried between 135 and 400 liters of oil.

One change made during production was modifications to the mantlet. Some carried the 7.62 mm DT MG coaxially and one in the rear of the turret. Crew was 2 men and weighed around 9.3 tons.

It saw action in Manchuria against the Japanese and against Finland in Karelia in 1939-1940.

AT-26:

(Artilleriskiy Tank) Artillery version with 76.2 mm PS-3 gun and one MG. It was designed by S. Ginzburg in 1932 at the Kirov works in Leningrad. It had body armor of 15 mm, and the gun could traverse 20° and elevate from -1.5° to +43°. It was 1.95 m high, weighed 9.5 tons, and had a crew of 3-4.

ST-26:

(Saperskiy Tank "engineer tank") Bridge carrying version converted from the 1931 model T-26. Carried a 7 meter wheel channel bridge and its weight limit was 14 tons.

Another version was intended to be driven into a ditch and it would extend its 3.5 meter bridge. It had to be followed by another tank to tow it out of the ditch. These were built in Leningrad in 1934.

T-26-S (Model 1937), T-26C, T-26E:

First appeared in 1937.⁸ Had armor increased to 25 mm. New semi-conical turret was fitted. Construction was welded.⁸ Had 45 mm and 2 MGs. Weight went up to 10.3 tons. Radios were also installed. Some T-26B-2 were upgraded with the new turret.

OT-133:

Flamethrower version of T-26-S. It carried a 1939 model flamethrower. It weighed 9.5 tons and carried 400 liters of oil and 4 bottles of compressed air. Fuel was stored in the turret.

Against Finland many of them had armor added to the upper hull and turret.

AT-1:

Experimental version that added wings and twin boom tail mounting to turn it into a glider. It was a modified T-26 (1933). It was designed by the O. K. Antonov design bureau.

T-26 Pch:

An experimental wading vehicle that had a snorkel attached and could wade in 5 meters of water. It was a modified T-26 (1933), and water penetrated around the riveted armor.

DT-26:

(Dunimovaya Tank "foglaying tank") These had their armament removed and contained fog machines located in the right turret or in the rear of the tank.

T-46:

Improved version with Christie suspension. Only 70 built and was used against Finland in 1940.

Self Propelled Guns:

These weighed from 10.3 - 11 tons, the armor was 6 to 15 mm thick, and there were 3-4 crew members. Between 1935-1937 15 prototypes were built for testing.

SU-5-1:

Used the T-26 chassis. Designed at the Kirov works and had a 76.2 mm 1927 regimental cannon or a 76.2 mm 1902/30 divisional cannon. The gun had a traverse of 15° and could elevate from -3° to +60°. It could fire 8,500 - 10,000 meters.

SU-5-2:

Used the T-26 chassis. Designed at the Kirov works and had an 122 mm 1910/30 divisional howitzer. It could fire up to 8,875 meters.

SU-5-3:

Used the T-26 chassis. Designed at the Kirov works and had an 152.4 mm 1931 mortar installed. It could fire up to 5,000 meters.

	T-26	T-26 A	T-26 B	T-26 C	T-26 1931	T-26 1933	T-26 1937	T-26 S
Crew	31,5		36,8	34	32	32	32	33
Physical Characteristics
Weight	17,600 - 20,900 lb 8.5 tons5		9.4 tons6, 9.5 tons8	9.6 tons4	8.6 tons2	9.4 tons2,7	10.3 tons1,2, 10,465 kg1	10,460 kg3, 10.3 tons3,5
Length w/gun	15' 2" - 16' 15.76'5		16'6, 16' 3"8 4.88 m6	4.5 m4	4.88 m2	4.62 m7, 4.88 m2	4.62 m2, 4.8 m1, 15' 9"1	4.8m3, 15' 9"3
Length w/o gun
Height	6' 8.75" - 7' 7.75" 6.75'5		7' 11"6, 8'8 2.41 m6	2.65 m4	2.08 m2	2.247, 2.41 m2	7.65', 2.33-2.41 m2 , 2.33 m1 , 7' 8"1	2.39 m3, 7' 10"3 , 7.65'5
Width	7' 11" - 8' 7.85'5		8'8, 11' 2.25"6 3.41 m6	2.45 m4	2.41 m2	2.41 m2, 2.44 m7	2.44 m2 , 2.39 m1, 7' 10"1	2.33 m3, 7' 8"3
Ground clearance	1' 2" 1931, 1933, 1937: 0.38 m2			0.37 m4	0.38 m2	0.38 m2	0.38 m2
Ground contact length
Ground pressure	9.39 psi			0.66 (kg/cm2)4	0.55 kg/(cm2)2	0.65 kg/(cm2)2	0.65 kg/(cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	2: MG5	A-1: 2: Vickers MG5, 2: water cooled MG8 A-2: 2: 7.62 mm MG5, 2: air cooled MG8 A-3: 12.7 mm (right turret)5, 7.62 mm MG5 A-4: 27 mm (right turret)5, 7.62 mm MG5 A-5: 37 mm (right turret)5,8, 7.62 mm MG5, air cooled MG8	45 mm L/468	45 mm L/464	2: 7.62 mm DT MG2,7	45 mm 19322 45 mm Model 1932 20K7	45 mm 19342, 45 mm1	45 mm Model 1938 L/463 45 mm Model 19387 45 mm5,6
Secondary
MG			2 coaxial, bow	2: MGs4		2: 7.62 mm DT MG2 7.62 mm DT MG, coaxial7	1-3: 7.62 mm DT MG2 , 2: 7.62 mm1	2: 7.62 mm DT MG3 2: MG5
Side arms
Quantity
Main			169	1694	6,0002	1002	1652
Secondary
MG			2,405	2,4054		4,0002	3,6542
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	6 - 155		158			Front: 157 Side: 157		10 - 253,5
Hull Front, Upper	16			164	152	152	152
Hull Front, Lower					152	152	152
Hull Sides, Upper	16			164	152	152	152
Hull Sides, Lower					152	152	152
Hull Rear	16			164	152	152	152
Hull Top	7-11			7-114	102	102	102
Hull Bottom	10			104	62	62	62
Turret Front	16			164	152	152	152
Turret Sides	16			164	152	152	152
Turret Rear	16			164	152	152	152
Turret Top	10			104	102	102	102
Engine (Make / Model)			GAZ T-266	Air Cooled4	GAZ T-262,3	GAZ T-262,3	GAZ T-262,3
Cylinders			86	44
Net HP	885		816, 908	914 @ 2,100 rpm4		907
Transmission	5 forward, 1 reverse			5 forward4, 1 reverse4	5 forward, 1 reverse	5 forward, 1 reverse	5 forward, 1 reverse
Fuel type	Gasoline5		Gasoline6	Gasoline4
Octane
Capacity	75 gallons			285 liters4	182 liters2	285 liters2	292 liters2
Performance
Traverse	360°	360°	360°		360°	360°	360°	360°
Max Speed	17.4 - 20 mph, 22 mph5		17.4 mph6, 18 mph8 28 kph6	27.3 kph4	30-32 kph2	28 kph2, 35 kph7	30 kph2, 28 kph1	28 kph3 17.4 mph3
Cross Country	12.4 mph	12.4 mph	12.4 mph		12.4 mph	12.4 mph	12.4 mph	12.4 mph
Road radius	62 - 140 miles		108.7 miles6, 190 miles8 175 km6	345 km4 Cross country: 175 km4	160 km2	375 km2	150-225 km2 , 200 km1	200 km3 , 124 miles3
Turning Radius	21' 9"			6.6 m4
Elevation Limits
Fording depth	2' 6"			0.76 m4	0.9 m2	0.9 m2	0.9 m2
Trench crossing	6' 2.75"		6' 2.8"6 1.9 m6		1.8-2 m2	1.8 m2	1.8 m2
Vertical Obstacle	2' 7"		2' 7"6 0.79 m6		0.75 m2	0.75 m2	0.75 m2
Suspension (Type)	Leaf Springs			Leaf Springs4
Wheels each side	4			84
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width	10"			260 mm4
Track centers/tread
Production	1931-1941: 12,000 1931: 120 1940: 1,5492

Sources:

1. Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
2. Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
3. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
4. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
6. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
7. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979

Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle.

 

| | |

---

Web WWIIVehicles