Sunday 1 December 2013

T-26 Upgrades

The Red Army was very impressed with the Vickers 6-ton, and had very big plans for it. Aside from the plain copy with machine-gun turrets, the following were planned in 1931:


"Enumeration of artillery systems.


1. Artillery support weapons

37 mm AA guns: chassis: T-26, mass: 7-7.5 tons, speed: 30-35 kph, gun range, in degrees: vertical: -5 to +80, horizontal: 360, carries 200 shells. Crew: 3
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2. Reconnaissance support weapons

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76 mm SPG (direct support weapon). Chassis: T-26, mass: 6-7 tons, speed: 30-35 kph, armour: 10 mm, gun range, in degrees: vertical -5 to 30, carries 180, transports 40-50 shells. Crew: 3.

3. Infantry support guns.

45 mm anti-tank gun. Chassis: T-26, mass: 6-7 tons, speed: 30-35 kph, armour: 10 mm, gun range, in degrees: vertical -5 to 30, horizontal 360, carries 100 shells. Crew: 3.

122 mm mortar. Chassis: T-26, mass: 7-8 tons, speed: 30-35 kph, gun range, in degrees: vertical 0 to 75, horizontal 60, carries 20-30 shells. Crew: 3.

4. Tank unit guns.

45 mm semi-automatic SPG. Chassis: T-26, mass: 6-7 tons, speed: 50 kph, armour: 10 mm, gun range, in degrees: vertical -5 to 30, horizontal 360, carries 100 shells. Crew: 3. The gun is identical to that used by anti-tank infantry units.

76 mm SPG. Chassis: T-26, mass: 6-7 tons, speed: 30-35 kph, armour: 10 mm, gun range, in degrees: vertical -5 to 30, horizontal 360, carries 100 shells. Crew: 3. The gun is identical to that used by reconnaissance units, but with reduced armour."

In 1933, some more ideas.


"Report on experimental works at OKMO for January

TR-1: APC on the T-26 chassis. "Hercules" 90 hp engine. Project 100% completed, working blueprints 95% completed, copying 90% completed.
TR-4: APR on the T-26 chassis, with a new hull. Project 95% completed, working blueprints. 
Development of the second T-26 series: experimental blueprints completed 100%, replication of blueprints completed 75%.

Two 76 mm gun systems are being explored. The main, which the turret was designed for is the semi-automatic short PS-3 and, temporarily, the short regimental model 1927 cannon with shortened recoil."

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