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Soviet Union's T-26A, T-26 Model 1931 light tank
T-26 Model 1931 light tank: |
Variants
- 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-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-261,2,9: (Ognemetnig Tank "flamethrower tank") Flame-thrower placed in right-hand turret with left-hand turret being removed.1,2 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 251 / 35 meters.2 Approximately 500 were built from 1933 on.2
- ST-261,2: (Saperskiy Tank "engineer tank"2) Bridge carrying1 version converted from the 1931 model T-26.2 Carried a seven meter wheel channel bridge and its weight limit was 14 tons.2 Another version was intended to be driven into a ditch and it would extend its 3.5 meter bridge.2 It had to be followed by another tank to tow it out of the ditch.2 These were built in Leningrad in 1934.2
| T-26 A | T-26 1931 | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 39 |
32 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Weight | 7 - 8.5 tons9 | 8.6 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 15.76'9 | 4.88 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | ||
| Height | 6' 9"9 | 2.08 m2 |
| Width | 7.85'9 | 2.41 m2 |
| Ground clearance | 0.38 m2 | |
| Ground contact length | 9' 9"9 | |
| Ground pressure | 0.55 kg/(cm2)2 | |
| Turret ring diameter | ||
| Armament | ||
| Main | 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 |
2: 7.62 mm DT MG2,7 |
| OR | ||
| Secondary | ||
| MG | ||
| Side arms | ||
| Quantity | ||
| Main | 6,0002 | |
| Secondary | ||
| MG | ||
| Side arms | ||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 159 | 152 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 152 | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 159 | 152 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 152 | |
| Hull Rear | 152 | |
| Hull Top | 6 - 109 | 102 |
| Hull Bottom | 6 - 109 | 62 |
| Turret Front | 6 - 159 | 152 |
| Turret Sides | 152 | |
| Turret Rear | 152 | |
| Turret Top | 102 | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | GAZ T-269 | GAZ T-262,3 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke2 | |
| Cylinders | 89 | 42 |
| Net HP | 88 - 919 | 91@2,200 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | 10.4 HP/ton2 | |
| Transmission | 5 forward, 1 reverse | |
| Fuel type | Gasoline9 | Gasoline2 |
| Octane | ||
| Capacity | 182 liters2 | |
| Performance | ||
| Traverse | 360° | 360° |
| Max Speed | 22 mph9 | 30 - 32 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 12.4 mph | 12.4 mph |
| Road radius | 87 miles9 | 160 km2 |
| Cross country radius | 60 miles9 | |
| Turning Radius | ||
| Elevation Limits | ||
| Fording depth | 0.9 m2 | |
| Trench crossing | 1.8 - 2 m2 | |
| Vertical Obstacle | 0.75 m2 | |
| Climbing ability | 32°2 | |
| Suspension (Type) | ||
| Wheels each side | ||
| Return rollers each side | ||
| Track length | ||
| Tires | ||
| Track width | 10.2"9 | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
- Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
- 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
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
