Having told in the first part about the T-26 tank of the 1933 model, we smoothly move on to the second instance, which we managed to touch and see in action.
Just like the first T-26, this tank is on display at the Museum of Russian Military History in the village of Padikovo, Moscow Region.
It is noticeable that in 6 years (from 1933 to 1939) the tank went through a certain development path.
In the first article, we stopped at the fact that the T-26 single-turret layout went into mass production in 1933. But by 1939 it was already a slightly different car. We will focus on the most significant moments from our point of view.
At that time, the commanders' tanks were equipped with radio stations. It was wonderful. The radio stations were equipped with hand-held antennas. It was a minus, and a huge one.
Not only that, due to the placement of the radio in the rear of the tower, the ammunition load had to be reduced from 136 to 96 shells. The experience of battles in Spain and near Lake Hassan showed that the enemy usually concentrates fire on tanks, with a characteristic rim around the tower. The hand-held antenna was replaced with a less visible whip antenna. From the experience of combat use, the tanks acquired headlights: above the cannon for firing at night and for the driver.
Since 1935, the armor plates of the hull and turrets began to be connected using electric welding instead of rivets, the gun ammunition was reduced to 122 shots (82 for a tank with a radio station), but the capacity of the gas tanks was increased.
Since 1937, an internal intercom of the TPU-3 type appeared on the T-26, the engine was boosted to 95 hp.
Conical turrets welded from 15 mm armor plates appeared on the tanks. Such turrets were better able to withstand hits from conventional, non-armor-piercing bullets.
1938 was a landmark year in terms of innovations for the T-26. The tanks began to install the stabilizer of the gun aiming line in the vertical plane. An emergency hatch appeared in the bottom. In the cannons of the 1937 and 1938 release, an electric shutter appeared, which ensured the production of a shot both by a shock method and by means of an electric current. The cannons with an electric lock were equipped with a TOP-1 telescopic sight (from 1938 - TOS).
If you think about it well - for a "completely outdated" tank - very, very good.
The tanks, produced since February 1939, had a turret box with inclined armor plates, the rear turret machine gun was removed and the gun's ammunition was increased to 205 rounds (on vehicles with a radio station to 165).
Periscopes for commander and gunner
Once again we tried to increase the engine power and brought it to 97 hp. with.
Since 1940, the turret platform has been made of 20 mm homogeneous steel instead of case hardened steel.
The production of the T-26 was stopped in the first half of 1941, but in July-August 1941, about a hundred vehicles were completed in Leningrad from the unused backlog of hulls. In total, the Red Army received more than 11,000 light T-26 tanks of twenty-three modifications, including flamethrower (then called "chemical") and sapper (bridge).
This is the kind of tank that met the war in the bulk of Soviet armored vehicles.
On personal feelings. A small, but convenient car for all crew members. Quite a lot of space, you can move around in the tank quite well. Compared to the T-34, which itself will be larger, but more cramped. Comfortable car, that's nothing more to say. English roots are felt.
TTX light tank T-26 model 1939
Curb weight: 10 250 kg
Crew: 3 people
Reservation:
Body forehead / tilt angle: 15 mm / 28-80 °
Tower / Tilt Angle: 15-10mm / 72 °
Board / tilt angle: 15 mm / 90 °
Feed / tilt angle: 15mm / 81 °
Armament:
45-mm cannon sample 1934-1938, two 7, 62-mm DT machine guns
Ammunition:
205 shots, 3654 rounds (for a tank with a walkie-talkie 165 and 3087, respectively)
Engine:
T-26, 4-cylinder, carburetor, air-cooled
Engine power: 97 hp with. at 2200 rpm
Number of gears: 5 forward, 1 reverse
Fuel tank capacity: 292 l.
Highway speed: 30 km / h.
Cruising on the highway: 240 km
Overcoming obstacles:
Ascent: 35 degrees.
Moat width: 1.8 m
Wall height: 0.55 m
Fording depth: 0.8 m
How good the T-26 was in combat, how outdated it actually is, we will talk about in the next part.
