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The T-26 was developed by the OKMO special design bureau (later to become the SKB-2 bureau) in Leningrad. It was based on the Vickers 6 tonne tank of which several examples had been purchased from Great Britain. After several prototypes were evaluated, the T-26 was accepted for service with the Russian Army on 13 February 1931. The T-26 series was produced at the Bolshevik Plant, the Kirovsky plant and Zavod No 174, remaining in production in at least 23 series production modifications and a multitude of variants (53 according to Russian sources) until the end of the 1930’s. Some components for the T 26 were produced at other tank plants such as STZ in Stalingrad. The T-26 tank series was powered by a 90hp engine, giving it a maximum speed of 30km/hour and a range of 100-140km.
The T-26 served in Spain, Poland, the Baltic States and Finland prior to the outbreak of war with Germany in 1941. The Finnish Army captured 110 T-26’s, which were used in service with the Finnish Army. In 1941 there were over 11,000 T-26’s of all models in service with the Red Army.
Model 1931
The Model 1931 was the first series production model. Most Model 1931’s were armed with two 7.62mm DT machine guns in separate turrets, others were armed with a 37mm B-3 tank gun in the left turret and a 7.62mm DT machine gun in the other, each turret having 270 degree traverse.
1) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Soviet Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia
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Unique ID: |
505
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Collection number 303 painted on left turret side.
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Model 1933
The Model 1933 replaced the twin-turreted T-26 M-1931 series in 1933 and remained in production until 1937. It featured a single turret identical to that used on the BT-5 fast tank. The T 26 M-1933 (designated T-26B by the German Amy) gave the Russian army considerable combat experience in countries including Spain, Poland and Finland prior to the outbreak of war with Germany in 1941. Several were captured by German forces and returned to the Kummersdorf testing ground, however their fate is unknown. Many are believed to survive as wrecks to this day in remote forests, particularly in North Western European Russia.
2) Snegiri Museum of Military History, Lenino, Russia
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Unique ID: |
2358
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3) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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Unique ID: |
1935
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Ps165-8 (Finnish, source: Tank Museum Record).
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Painted with Finnish markings: “84” painted on nose, swastika painted on turret sides, and skull and crossbones painted on superstructure front.
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Model 1936 / 1937 / 1939
The T-26 Model 1933 was replaced in production by the T-26 Model 1936, which featured sloped turret armour but retained the M-1933 hull superstructure. The gun mantlet on the T-26 Model 1936 was made from sloped welded plates. Soon after, the T-26 M-1937 was introduced, which also featured a sloped hull superstructure. The final production version, which was designated T-26 M-1939, had a stamped gun mantlet. The German Army referred to both the T-26 M-1937 and M-1939 as the T-26C. After the "Winter War" the Russians produced an up-armoured variant, sometimes called the T-26 M1940, which had bolted/riveted 15mm steel plates added for additional protection.
4) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Soviet Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia
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here or on the image for this tank's profile page
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Unique ID: |
506
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Other Identification: |
Collection number 304 painted on left turret side.
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