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Soviet Union's T-26C, T-26S¹, T-26 Model 1937 light tank

T-26 Model 1937 and Model 1933 light tanks near Moscow in November to December 1941

T-26 Model 1937 light tank in the occupation of Tabriz, Iran in September 1941

OT-133 flame thrower:

Design

Due to experiences in Spain, China, and Finland designers upgraded the T-26 to extend its life in service.¹

The amount of fuel carried was increased to give better range.¹

A few T-26S' received searchlights for use at night.¹

The front hull armor was increased and the turret had thicker and more sloping armor.¹

Variants

• 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 machine guns. Weight went up to 10.3 tons. Radios were also installed. Some T-26B-2 were upgraded with the new turret.⁹
• OT-133¹: Flamethrower version of T-26-S.^1,2 It carried a 1939 model flamethrower.² It weighed 9.5 tons and carried 400 liters of oil and 4 bottles of compressed air.² Fuel was stored in the turret.² Against Finland many of them had armor added to the upper hull and turret.²

	T-26 C	T-26 1937	T-26 S
Crew	34	32	33,9
Physical Characteristics
Weight	9.6 tons4	10.3 tons1,2, 10,465 kg1	10.3 tons3,5,9 10,460 kg3
Length w/gun	4.5 m4	15' 9"1 4.62 m2, 4.8 m1	15' 4"9, 15' 9"3 4.8m3
Length w/o gun
Height	2.65 m4	7.65', 7' 8"1 2.33-2.41 m2 , 2.33 m1	7' 10"3 , 7.65'5,9 2.39 m3
Width	2.45 m4	7' 10"1 2.44 m2 , 2.39 m1	7' 8"3, 8'9 2.33 m3
Ground clearance	0.37 m4	0.38 m2
Ground contact length
Ground pressure	0.66 (kg/cm2)4	0.65 kg/(cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	45 mm L/464	45 mm 19342, 45 mm1	45 mm Model 1938 L/463 45 mm5,6 45 mm L/46 A/TK9
OR
Secondary
MG	2: MGs4	1 - 3: 7.62 mm DT MG2 2: 7.62 mm1	2: 7.62 mm DT MG3 2: MG5,9
Side arms
Quantity
Main	1694	1652	1659
Secondary
MG	2,4054	3,6542	3,6549
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)			10 - 253,5
Hull Front, Upper	164	152	259
Hull Front, Lower		152
Hull Sides, Upper	164	152	169
Hull Sides, Lower		152
Hull Rear	164	152
Hull Top	7-114	102	109
Hull Bottom	104	62	109
Turret Front	164	152	10 - 259
Turret Sides	164	152
Turret Rear	164	152
Turret Top	104	102
Engine (Make / Model)	Air Cooled4	GAZ T-262,3	GAZ T-269
Bore / stroke		4 stroke2
Cylinders	44	42	89
Net HP	91@2,100 rpm4	91@2,200 rpm2	88 - 919
Power to weight ratio		8.7 HP/ton2
Transmission	5 forward4, 1 reverse4	5 forward, 1 reverse
Fuel type	Gasoline4	Gasoline2	Gasoline9
Octane
Capacity	285 liters4	292 liters2
Performance
Traverse		360°	360°
Max Speed	27.3 kph4	30 kph2, 28 kph1	17 mph9, 17.4 mph3 28 kph3
Cross country speed		12.4 mph	12.4 mph
Road radius	345 km4	150-225 km2 , 200 km1	124 miles3, 215 miles9 200 km3
Cross country radius	175 km4		109 miles9
Turning Radius	6.6 m4
Elevation Limits
Fording depth	0.76 m4	0.9 m2
Trench crossing		1.8 m2
Vertical Obstacle		0.75 m2
Climbing ability		32°2
Suspension (Type)	Leaf Springs4
Wheels each side	84
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width	260 mm4
Track centers/tread

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. -
8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
9. Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977

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