Difference between revisions of "T-26"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_t_26_1940}}
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{{About
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| about = Soviet light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = T-26 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=ussr_t_26_1940
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
[[File:GarageImage_T-26.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The T-26 was based in the British Vickers 6 ton tank. Developed during the 1930s, the T-26 soon became the primary light tank of the Soviet Red Army. It saw combat during the Spanish Civil War and the Winter War, with mixed results due to poor leadership and tactics. Even though it was outclassed by the start of World War 2, it saw extensive use in the first year alongside the BT cavalry tanks, with heavy losses against the far superior Panzer III and Panzer IV. It was produced between 1931 and 1941, with different variants, command tanks, artillery variants, flamethrower tanks and many others, with a total sum of 12,000 units produced.
{{break}}
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a reserve rank {{specs|rank}} Soviet light tank {{Battle-rating|1}}. It was introduced in during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41. It is a tiny tank with rather thin armour, but with a heavy hitting [[20-K (45 mm)|45 mm cannon]] that can devastate most enemies at its battle rating.
 
  
This is one of the Soviet starter tanks. Unlike its German counterpart, the [[Pz.II C|PzKpfw II Ausf.C]], it has a single-shot cannon that makes it more suitable for ranged engagements. With its poor armour, it is recommended to stay at distance from autocannons and Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) since they can shred the T-26 pretty easily at any angle. With light armour, average mobility, and a good gun for its rank, the T-26 is a frontline support. While these qualities may not be representative of later Soviet tanks, it is a good trainer nevertheless, given that it is forgiving and harder to play than later tanks.
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Introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]], the T-26 is a small vehicle with thin armour but a heavy-hitting 45 mm cannon that can devastate most enemies at its battle rating thanks to its APHE ammunition, with enough penetration and explosive filler to one shot most opponents. It has very poor armour like most light tanks, but it also has very poor mobility, being outmatched by tanks like the Panzer II and all BT models. It also suffers from the poor gun depression that characterizes all soviet tanks.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
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The armour of the T-26 is thin, thus making the vehicle's survivability low. Armour is nearly flat on all sides, so it is recommended to not expose yourself to enemy fire. The crew members are not lined up behind each other from the front, meaning that enemies using AP solid shots may have to take up to 2-3 shots before knocking out all of your crew. Beware of heavy machine guns (common on American tanks) and autocannons (common on German and Italian tanks), since they will be able to both penetrate your armour and shred your crew/modules.
This is definitively the worst characteristic of this vehicle; armour is flat and thin on all sides. Do not expose yourself to enemy fire. Crew placement is not lined up from the front, meaning shells without HE filler can take up to 3 shots before being destroyed. Beware of HMGs and autocannons, since they will be able to penetrate your armour.
 
  
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
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! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
| Hull || 15 mm (22°) ''Front plate'' <br> 7 mm (64-80°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 15 mm (6-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 15 mm (21-23°) ''Top'' <br> 15 mm (0°) ''Bottom'' || 15 mm (0°) ''Top'' <br> 15 mm (12°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm ''Hull'' <br> 6 mm ''Rear''  
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| Hull || 15 mm (22°) ''Front plate'' <br> 7 mm (64-80°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 15 mm (6-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 15 mm (21-23°) ''Top'' <br> 15 mm ''Bottom'' || 15 mm ''Top'' <br> 15 mm (11°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm ''Hull'' <br> 6 mm ''Rear''
 
|-
 
|-
| Turret || 15 mm (13-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 15 mm (5-44°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 15 mm (17-19°) || 15 mm (17°) || 10 mm  
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| Turret || 15 mm (13-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 15 mm (5-44°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 15 mm (17-19°) || 15 mm (17°) || 10 mm
 
|}
 
|}
 
'''Notes'''
 
'''Notes'''
  
* Suspension wheel are 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
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* Suspension wheel is 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
 
* Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
 
* Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
While being a light tank, its mobility is one of a medium. It will take you where you want to be, provided you choose your route well and avoid tricky manoeuvres. Reverse speed, while not great (-6 km/h), can save you from some bad situations, provided cover is not too far behind.
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=141|rbMinHp=80}}
|-
+
 
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
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While being a light tank, its mobility is one of a medium/heavy tank. The top speed is very low for a light tank, combined with the low power to weight ratio given by its weak engine. The T-26 has poor acceleration and speed on most surfaces. It can reach around 30 km/h only on hard, flat surface, after a long, uninterrupted acceleration period. With even a small turn the speed will drop significantly. The narrow tracks significantly reduce its off-road mobility in muddy, sandy or snowy maps. Despite the tracks being short and far apart, the T-26 still has slow hull traverse and often needs a forward/backward jerk to start turning properly. Reverse speed is also very poor (-4 km/h), which cannot save you from most bad situations.
|-
+
 
! Weight (tons)
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For new tankers, it is advised to choose between the T-26 and [[BT-5]] wisely. Since they have very similar aspects (reserve light tanks with thin armour, the same gun, and a similar turret) they are good vehicles to compare and contrast opposing playstyles. The T-26 represents slow, patient, hunting and hiding while the BT-5 represents fast flanking and daring advances).
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
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! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
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=== Modifications and economy ===
|-
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{{Specs-Economy}}
| rowspan="2" | 9.8 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 33 (AB)
 
|-
 
|30 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
! colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|141
 
|174
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|80
 
|91
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
! colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|14.39
 
|17.75
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|8.16
 
|9.28
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
{{main|20-К (45 mm)}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
[[File:T-26 screenshot 2.jpg|thumb|The T-26 firing its 45 mm 20-K cannon.]]
 +
{{main|20-K (45 mm)}}
  
The [[20-K (45 mm)|20-K]] is the typical Soviet rank 1 gun. Players should get used to it since it will be your main armament up until rank 2. This gun has a good amount of HE filler, meaning penetrating shells will do good damage, sometimes even one-shotting enemies. In longer ranges, shells begin to lose penetration and accuracy; it is not made for sniping. Try to bring ~10-15 BR-240SP (pure AP shells) for heavier targets. This gun is very forgiving to beginners, with its very fast reload speed and turret traverse.
+
The 45 mm 20-K cannon is the typical Soviet gun at rank I. Players should get used to it since it will be their main light tank armament up until rank II. This gun is very forgiving to beginners, with its very fast reload speed, decent damage, and traverse speed.
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
 
! colspan="6" | [[20-К (45 mm)|45 mm 20-K]]
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 
|-
 
| colspan="3" | 205 || -5°/+28° || ±180° || N/A
 
|-
 
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 
|-
 
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| ''Arcade'' || 9.50 || 13.20 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
 
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 9.50 || 11.20 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
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! colspan="5" | [[20-K (45 mm)|45 mm 20-K]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
+
! ''Arcade''
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
+
| rowspan="2" | 205 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+22° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.34 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
 
|-
 
|-
| 3.80 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
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! ''Realistic''
 +
| 9.52 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== Ammunition =====
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==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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The APHEBC round has a good amount of HE filler, meaning penetrating shells will do good damage, sometimes even taking out enemies with a single shot. At longer ranges, shells begin to lose penetration and accuracy; it is not made for sniping. It is recommended to bring ~10-15 BR-240SP (armour-piercing shells without explosive filler) for heavier targets as they have more penetration.
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
+
 
|-
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{{:20-K (45 mm)/Ammunition|BR-240, BR-240SP}}
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
+
 
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
|-
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! 10m
 
! 100m
 
! 500m
 
! 1000m
 
! 1500m
 
! 2000m
 
|-
 
| BR-240 || APHEBC ||69||68||59||50||42||35
 
|-
 
| BR-240SP || AP || 73 ||71||62||52||44||37
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 
 
|-
 
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
+
! Full<br>ammo
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
+
! 1st<br>rack empty
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
+
! 2nd<br>rack empty
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
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! 4th<br>rack empty
''in m:''
+
! 5th<br>rack empty
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
+
! 6th<br>rack empty
''in mm:''
+
! 7th<br>rack empty
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 
 
|-
 
|-
! 0%
+
| '''205''' || 202&nbsp;''(+3)'' || 197&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 187&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 177&nbsp;''(+28)'' || 167&nbsp;''(+38)'' || 157&nbsp;''(+48)'' || 139&nbsp;''(+66)''
! 50%
 
! 100%
 
 
|-
 
|-
| BR-240 || APHEBC || 760 || 1.4 || 1.2 || 15 || 32.3 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
+
! 8th<br>rack empty
 +
! 9th<br>rack empty
 +
! 10th<br>rack empty
 +
! 11th<br>rack empty
 +
! 12th<br>rack empty
 +
! 13th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
!
 
|-
 
|-
| BR-240SP || AP || 757 || 1.4 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
+
| 121&nbsp;''(+84)'' || 103&nbsp;''(+102)'' || 79&nbsp;''(+126)'' || 61&nbsp;''(+144)'' || 29&nbsp;''(+176)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+204)'' || No
 +
!
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Note''':
  
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
+
* Turret empty: 157&nbsp;''(+48)'' shells.
[[File:Ammoracks_T-26.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the T-26.]]
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
|-
 
|| '''205''' || 165&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 124&nbsp;''(+81)'' || 83&nbsp;''(+122)'' || 42&nbsp;''(+163)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+204)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
 
|-
 
|}
 
 
 
Turret empty: 124&nbsp;''(+81)''
 
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
 
! colspan="7" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
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! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" | 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
+
| Coaxial || 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
It is recommended to play the T-26 in a support role, flanking the battlefield and finding a good position to support your teammates from. The 45 mm cannon has very good characteristics with its rounds (APHEBC, AP) being able to deal a fair amount of damage to enemy vehicles from both short and long-range. The fast reload allows for quick adjustment of aim between shots, meaning the T-26 can be a highly effective flanking vehicle if a good camping spot is found. The limited gun depression, however, will affect which positions are usable. Keeping back at long-range is certainly an effective way to avoid taking damage.
 +
 
 +
The T-26 can also be used for brawling with enemy vehicles, but it should be kept in mind that the thin armour on the T-26 (≤15 mm) will leave the vital modules of your vehicle such as your crew, gun and powerplant (engine & transmission) at risk of taking damage. The mobility of the T-26 is also poorer than many of its counterparts, which could potentially put it at risk in a brawling scenario. On the other hand, the T-26's short reload time will usually give it an upper hand if you can survive the first shot.
 +
 
 +
Due to the top speed of the T-26 being slower than many other vehicles at its BR (30 km/h), it will usually arrive in the battlefield after the fighting has already begun. This can be an advantage in that you arrive after your team has already identified many targets. This also means that you will most likely not be on the front line of attack will usually allows for you to last a bit longer than players who rushed the center of the battlefield. On the other hand, it is also less likely that you will reach capture points before they are captured by your teammates, who will be faster than you.
 +
 
 +
The lack of armour is really something to be kept in mind, even some tank machine guns like the 12.7 mm M2HB and 13.2 mm Breda Model 31 will be able to go through your thickest plates of armour. Because of this, it is recommended to try your best to avoid enemy vehicles getting the first shot. Driving under cover is advisable to avoid being spotted.
 +
 
 +
In terms of the T-26's gun, there are 2 round options. The APHEBC round will penetrate most armour at the BR and also do a good amount of post-penetration damage if the fuse is set off. The second round type is an AP round with effective penetration but lacking any explosive filler, making its damage output inerior to the APHEBC round.
 +
 
 +
It is also worth keeping in mind that the T-26 only has a reverse speed of 3 km/h. This is important to remember when driving into potential enemy fire. It is recommended to be aware of enemy positions and cover, as a retreat will be a lot slower than an advance.
 +
 
 +
Be aware that enemy aircraft with bombs or powerful guns can easily take out the T-26. It is advised to stick to the treeline to avoid being spotted and attacked. The T-26 has little anti-aircraft capabilities so it is also advised to let the friendly SPAAs deal with aircraft.
 +
 
 +
; '''Specific enemies worth noting:'''
 +
 
 +
[[Pz.II (Family)|Pz.II]] - These speedy German tanks can be extremely dangerous. Their fast firing 20 mm autocannons can shred your armour and the modules behind it. Pz.IIs have better mobility than the T-26 to boot. Generally, it is advised not to engage head on but if you are forced to, then make sure you get off the first shot before they start spraying. These concerns are also shared with the [[Sd.Kfz. 140/1]]. The good thing about facing the Panzer II is that it doesn't have much armour, like most Rank I vehicles, so you can easily penetrate and knock it out with a single shot. Another tactic is to have a teammate with you, preferably a mobile light tank like the [[M22]] or the BT-5. Your ally can distract the Panzer II while you line up your shot to take it out. Pz.IIs also have poor turret traverse speed, so getting behind it and shooting its engine can prevent it from bringing its gun to bear on you.
 +
 
 +
[[AB 41]] and [[L6/40]] - Italian counterparts to the German Pz.II series, these vehicles both feature 20 mm autocannons which present the same concerns and counters as the Pz.IIs. The difference is that the L6/40 is slightly slower than the Pz.IIs, while the AB 41 is significantly faster. Generally, if your round penetrates either vehicle, it will most likely do significant damage.
 +
 
 +
[[M2A2]] - This unassuming and unusual American vehicle relies on a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun, located in its left-hand turret. The M2A2 shouldn't be dismissed as a threat however, as despite its odd layout, relatively small armament, and light armour, it is one of the fastest light tanks at Rank I. Given the T-26's relatively slow speed, the M2A2 will outflank you easily. Its .50 cal machine gun isn't always able to do a lot of damage to heavily armoured vehicles, but the T-26's is among the vehicles that the M2HB can consistently penetrate. When facing an M2A2, it is recommended to shoot first and stop it from closing the distance. If you are on its right side, it will have to turn towards you to bring its .50 cal to bear. Its 7.62 mm machine gun, located in its right turret, will not do any significant damage to the T-26.
 +
 
 +
[[M8 Scott]] and [[LVT(A)(4)]] - This American howitzer carrier takes the speedy hull of the M5 Stuart and mates it with a turret containing a 75 mm howitzer and a .50 cal M2HB. Being very fast, this tank can flank the T-26 very easily. It does not often need to do this however, since its HEAT round can annihilate the T-26 in one shot. It doesn't even need to do that however, since it could opt to just spraying your vehicle down with the .50 cal. By comparative principle, it is an M2A2 with a 75 mm. The LVT(A)(4) presents similar concerns, as it is marries the M8 Scott's turret to the hull of an LVT. Because of this, the LVT(A)(4) is able to swim. It is recommended to be watching the waterways, as most players do not expect an attack to come from areas that normal tanks cannot traverse.
 +
 
 +
[[Ka-Chi]] - This Japanese medium tank is often underestimated for its nation of origin, but it is not to be ignored. Its massive size may prevent your shells from doing significant damage in one shot, and some may occasionally be completely absorbed by the front pontoon or deflected if angled. Its height can allow it to see over your cover and spot you. It won't be able to lower its gun too far however, especially with floats attached, and if the T-26 is able to sneak around the Ka-Chi, you can potentially rush into the deadzone right alongside the vehicle and shoot into its flank, without chance of retaliation. It is recommended to be watching the waterways, as most players do not expect an attack to come from areas that normal tanks cannot traverse.
 +
 
 +
[[B1 bis]] and [[B1 ter]] - Nearly any Rank I vehicle unfortunate enough to come face-to-face with a B1 is in for a rough time. If the recommended tactic for the T-26 is being a support vehicle, it should be especially employed when a B1 is encountered. The B1 bis has thick armour that can absorb or deflect your 45 mm shells. The B1 ter presents the same issue for you, but even worse. There is little a T-26 can do when facing one of these heavy tanks head on, except for shooting the infamous "mail-slot" weak spot located on the turret ring, or damaging the tracks in hopes of immobilizing it. Calling in for friendly ground and air assistance is highly advised when encountering such beasts.
 +
 
 +
[[He 112 A-0]] - This German plane is essentially a flying Panzer II. With a powerful rapid-firing 20 mm autocannon, it can use API-T rounds have enough penetration to go through the T-26 at nearly every angle. Experienced pilots can wreak havoc on your team until their ammo is expended. It is recommended to find solid roof cover when enemy aircraft are overhead.
 +
 
 +
[[:Category:Anti-aircraft vehicles|SPAAs]] - Nearly every anti-aircraft vehicle at the tier, save for the British [[Light AA Mk I]], will be able to penetrate and destroy the T-26 with ease. Not to mention that SPAAs guns have high rates of fire. As with any other vehicles, it is advised to shoot first. Certain SPAAs which are commonly underestimated like the French [[P.7.T AA]], and [[CCKW 353 AA]] and the American [[M15 CGMC]], and should be especially noted, as despite not having 20 mm autocannons like their Axis counterparts, they all have weapons capable of efficiently knocking out a T-26.
 +
 
 +
[[File:T-26 Screenshot 1.jpg|thumb]]
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* Good penetration even at distance.
+
* Great firepower; the stock APHE shell can frontally penetrate and take out almost any tank with a single shot
* Post penetration damage is excellent.
+
* Very short reload time
* Decent reload time.
+
* Fairly accurate gun at short to medium ranges
* Fast turret rotation speed.
+
* Massive ammo capacity and fast reload time which is good for new players learning how to manoeuvre and fire
* Good gun depression.
 
* The ammo rack is difficult to destroy.
 
* Can carry huge amount of ammo (over 200 shells).
 
* Free repairs and main ammo
 
* Forgiving tank for new players
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
* Thin armour compared to the [[Pz.II C|PzKpfw II Ausf.C]].
+
* Low survivability due to the thin, nearly unsloped armour
* Tall profile compared to the [[Pz.II C|PzKpfw II Ausf.C]].
+
* The crew members are packed tightly together, significantly reducing survivability
* Very weak roof armour, vulnerable to machine gun fire from airplanes.
+
* Poor overall mobility: ​low top speed, very slow reverse speed, slow hull traverse, and difficulty in climbing steep slopes
* Poor top speed, woeful reverse.
+
* Average -5° gun depression limits its potential in hilly terrains
* .50 cal is enough to penetrate this vehicle.
+
* Some ammo is stored inside turret which tends to explode when hit
* Very slow at scaling hills due to weak engine power.
 
* Only 3 crew members.
 
* One shot from the side can easily knock out all the crew.
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
The '''T-26''' light tank design is derived from the British Vickers 6-ton tank. In early 1930s, a Soviet buying committee traveled to Britain and purchased tanks, tractors, and cars for use in the Soviet Union, of which the Vickers tank was chosen. Fifteen Twin-turreted Vickers tank arrived into the Soviet Union in May 1930, equipped with only machine guns. Four more Vickers were delivered at the end of 1930, these being the single-turret variants with a 47 mm gun, and the deliveries were finished by 1932. The Vickers-produced tanks were designated as the ''V-26''.
+
The '''T-26''' light tank design is derived from the British Vickers 6-ton tank. In the early 1930s, a Soviet buying committee travelled to Britain and purchased tanks, tractors, and cars for use in the Soviet Union, of which the Vickers tank was chosen. Fifteen Twin-turreted Vickers tanks arrived in the Soviet Union in May 1930, equipped with only machine guns. Four more Vickers were delivered at the end of 1930, these being the single-turret variants with a 47 mm gun, and the deliveries were finished by 1932. The Vickers-produced tanks were designated as the V-26.
  
The Vickers 6-ton tank competed with several Soviet designs for the "most suitable" tank design for Soviet use. One such competitor was the Soviet ''T-19'' light tank, which had advantages over the Vickers design, but also disadvantages. The T-19 designer, S. Ginzburg, suggested for a "hybrid" tank to be built off the features of the T-19 and the Vickers tank. But in January 1931, intelligence picked up that Poland bought up many foreign tanks from Britain and France with license to mass-produce them. This information pressured the Soviet military council to adopt the foreign tanks into Soviet usage, thus the Vickers 6-ton tank, under the designation as the '''T-26''', was accepted into service in February 13, 1931 as the main-stay of the Red Army's armoured forces.
+
The Vickers 6-ton tank competed with several Soviet designs for the "most suitable" tank design for Soviet use. One such competitor was the Soviet T-19 light tank, which had advantages over the Vickers design, but also disadvantages. The T-19 designer, S. Ginzburg, suggested for a "hybrid" tank to be built off the features of the T-19 and the Vickers tank. But in January 1931, intelligence picked up that Poland bought up many foreign tanks from Britain and France with a license to mass-produce them. This information pressured the Soviet military council to adopt the foreign tanks into Soviet usage, thus the Vickers 6-ton tank, under the designation as the '''T-26''', was accepted into service on February 13, 1931, as the mainstay of the Red Army's armoured forces.
 
+
[[File:T-26 screenshot 3.jpg|thumb]]
Although outclassed later in the war, it was considered one of the more successful and widely produced tank model in the 1930s. It, along with the [[BT-7|BT]] light tanks, composed of the majority of Russia's armoured forces in late 1930s. It weighed just a little under 10 tons, had 15 mm thick armour in front, with a 45 mm 20K gun, and had a crew of three people. The Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad was the first factory to start producing the T-26 from June 1931, and production of the tank lasted from then until 1941.
+
Although outclassed later in the war, it was considered one of the more successful and widely produced tank models in the 1930s. It, along with the [[BT-7|BT]] light tanks, composed the majority of Soviet armoured forces in the late 1930s. It weighed just a little under 10 tons, had 15 mm thick armour in front, with a 45 mm 20K gun, and had a crew of three people. The Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad was the first factory to start producing the T-26 from June 1931, and production of the tank lasted from then until 1941.
  
 
===Variants===
 
===Variants===
During its production life, many variants of it was made for different purposes, up to '''53''' different ones to fit different roles, though only 23 would see service in production. Such designs included changes like a twin-turreted version (some with only machine guns and some with cannons), command tanks, added armour, artillery tanks (such as the [[T-26-4]]), flamethrower tanks, remote-controlled tanks, or just armoured carriers to tow artillery and such. Others were simply modified variants of the normal variants such as the [[T-26E]], which was the base single-turreted T-26 design with 30-40 mm applique armour made during the Winter War, which made them more resilient to the Finnish anti-tank weapons.
+
During its production life, many variants of it were made for different purposes, up to 53 different ones to fit different roles, though only 23 would see service in production. Such designs included changes like a twin-turreted version (some with only machine guns and some with cannons), command tanks, added armour, artillery tanks (such as the [[T-26-4]]), flamethrower tanks, remote-controlled tanks, or just armoured carriers to tow artillery and such. Others were simply modified variants of the normal variants such as the [[T-26E]], which was the base single-turreted T-26 design with 30-40 mm applique armour made during the Winter War, which made them more resilient to the Finnish anti-tank weapons.
  
All these tanks produced in the span of 1931 to 1941 made up a total 10,300 tanks, and 1,701 other variants of it, for a total of 12,001 units produced.
+
All these tanks produced in the span of 1931 to 1941 made up a total of 10,300 tanks, and 1,701 other variants of it, for a total of 12,001 units produced.
  
 
===Combat usage===
 
===Combat usage===
The T-26 first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, where it showed its superiority over the current tanks of the period fielded by Italy and Germany. Then it saw combat against the Japanese in the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts at Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, which exposed some of the design defects such as poor armour welding and the disadvantages of riveted constructions (the rivet would break off and could harm the crew inside). After that, the T-26 saw service in the Invasion of Poland and the Winter War against Finland. The Winter War effectively showed the Soviets that the T-26 was obsolete, as the 37 mm guns and anti-tank rifles and Finnish have could penetrate the light armour of the T-26. When World War II for Russia finally broke out in Operation Barbarossa, the T-26 proved inferior to the German's [[Pz.III F|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]], plus the air supremacy of the Luftwaffe ensured many tanks were lost in the opening stages of Barbarossa.
+
The T-26 first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, where it showed its superiority over the current tanks of the period fielded by Italy and Germany. Then it saw combat against the Japanese in the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts at Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, which exposed some of the design defects such as poor armour welding and the disadvantages of riveted constructions (the rivet would break off and could harm the crew inside). After that, the T-26 saw service in the Invasion of Poland and the Winter War against Finland. The Winter War effectively showed the Soviets that the T-26 was obsolete, as the 37 mm guns and anti-tank rifles and Finnish have could penetrate the light armour of the T-26. When World War II for the Soviet Union finally broke out in Operation Barbarossa, the T-26 proved inferior to Germany's [[Panzer III]] and [[Panzer IV]], plus the air supremacy of the Luftwaffe ensured many tanks were lost in the opening stages of Barbarossa.
  
The T-26 at this point also were breaking down and the lack of spare parts made repairs hard, resulting in multiple T-26 units also being knocked out for being irrecoverable. The T-26 was gradually phased from service by the new, venerable [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] medium tanks, which gave Germany a run for their money. The T-26 still saw service in the war as a second-line unit, as it was still fighting in the Battle of Moscow of 1941, Stalingrad of 1942, and in Manchuria in 1945.
+
The T-26 at this point also was breaking down and the lack of spare parts made repairs hard, resulting in multiple T-26 units also being knocked out for being irrecoverable. The T-26 was gradually phased from service by the new, venerable [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] medium tanks, which gave Germany a run for their money. The T-26 still saw service in the war as a second-line unit, as it was still fighting in the Battle of Moscow of 1941, Stalingrad of 1942, and in Manchuria in 1945.
  
 
===Survivors===
 
===Survivors===
 
A number of survivors exist today in different museums, about 45 of them are still intact. A majority of them are in Russia, Spain, and Finland, where they saw most of their services.
 
A number of survivors exist today in different museums, about 45 of them are still intact. A majority of them are in Russia, Spain, and Finland, where they saw most of their services.
 +
 +
{{break}}
 +
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
 +
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 +
In 1940, the T-26 light tank was modernised for the last time. The vehicle's underturret boxes were equipped with homogeneous armour with sloping plates and its thickness was increased to 15 mm. The frontal section of the turret was welded. A distinctive feature of the tank was the special defensive cover over its radiator grille. An extra DT machine gun was mounted on the turret's roof and was used as an anti-aircraft gun.
 +
 +
All these changes led to the T-26's mass exceeding 10 tonnes. In spite of its strengthened construction, its undercarriage was pushed to the limit. Often, particularly when turning, the tank started losing its tracks. Test results showed that the tank's armour did not meet modern requirements, and there was no weight allowance for increasing its armament. Other flaws in the tank's design included its low speed, poor weight distribution and low reliability.
 +
 +
However, the tank was easy to control, simple to service and did not require much effort in the field. Although the tank had an engine with horizontally placed cylinders, the tank's profile remained low, which made it harder to hit. Many technical solutions applied to the T-26 were used later on other tanks. When used correctly and in the hands of an experienced crew, the light tank could cause serious damage to the enemy forces. The T-26 made a significant contribution to routing the enemy at Moscow and took part in practically all combat operations right up to 1944.
 +
 +
A significant number of these tanks, after being captured and modified in various ways, served in the German and Finnish armies. Some of them were used by Finland until the beginning of the 50s.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
{{Youtube-gallery|2agFDeZ7mEI|T-26 - The Soviet Deathbox}}
+
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_26_1940 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|2agFDeZ7mEI|'''T-26 - The Soviet Deathbox''' - ''ShareTheLight''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''-->
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
* [[T-26-4]] - Artillery version of the vehicle with a 76 mm howitzer
+
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
* [[BT-5]] - Other reserve vehicle for the USSR
+
 
* [[Pz.II C]] - Comparable vehicle in German tech tree
+
* [[SU-5-1]]
* [[M2A4]] - Comparable vehicle in USA tech tree.
+
 
 +
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
 +
 
 +
* [[M13/40 (Family)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''other literature.''-->
  
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [[wikipedia:T-26|[Wikipedia] T-26]]
* ''encyclopedia page on tank;''
+
* [[wikipedia:Vickers 6-Ton|[Wikipedia] Vickers 6-Ton]]
* ''other literature.''
+
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_T26.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> T-26 Light tank]
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer OKMO}}
 
{{USSR light tanks}}
 
{{USSR light tanks}}

Latest revision as of 13:16, 5 December 2023

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the Soviet light tank T-26. For other versions, see T-26 (Family).
ussr_t_26_1940.png
GarageImage T-26.jpg
ArtImage T-26.png
T-26
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:Free
Purchase:Free
Show in game

Description

The T-26 was based in the British Vickers 6 ton tank. Developed during the 1930s, the T-26 soon became the primary light tank of the Soviet Red Army. It saw combat during the Spanish Civil War and the Winter War, with mixed results due to poor leadership and tactics. Even though it was outclassed by the start of World War 2, it saw extensive use in the first year alongside the BT cavalry tanks, with heavy losses against the far superior Panzer III and Panzer IV. It was produced between 1931 and 1941, with different variants, command tanks, artillery variants, flamethrower tanks and many others, with a total sum of 12,000 units produced.

Introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the T-26 is a small vehicle with thin armour but a heavy-hitting 45 mm cannon that can devastate most enemies at its battle rating thanks to its APHE ammunition, with enough penetration and explosive filler to one shot most opponents. It has very poor armour like most light tanks, but it also has very poor mobility, being outmatched by tanks like the Panzer II and all BT models. It also suffers from the poor gun depression that characterizes all soviet tanks.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull15 / 15 / 15
Turret15 / 15 / 15
Crew3 people
Visibility75 %

The armour of the T-26 is thin, thus making the vehicle's survivability low. Armour is nearly flat on all sides, so it is recommended to not expose yourself to enemy fire. The crew members are not lined up behind each other from the front, meaning that enemies using AP solid shots may have to take up to 2-3 shots before knocking out all of your crew. Beware of heavy machine guns (common on American tanks) and autocannons (common on German and Italian tanks), since they will be able to both penetrate your armour and shred your crew/modules.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 15 mm (22°) Front plate
7 mm (64-80°) Front glacis
15 mm (6-52°) Lower glacis
15 mm (21-23°) Top
15 mm Bottom
15 mm Top
15 mm (11°) Bottom
10 mm Hull
6 mm Rear
Turret 15 mm (13-15°) Turret front
15 mm (5-44°) Gun mantlet
15 mm (17-19°) 15 mm (17°) 10 mm

Notes

  • Suspension wheel is 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 6 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB34 / 4 km/h
RB and SB31 / 4 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight9.8 t
Engine power
AB174 hp
RB and SB91 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB17.8 hp/t
RB and SB9.3 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 34 4 9.8 141 174 14.39 17.76
Realistic 31 4 80 91 8.16 9.29

While being a light tank, its mobility is one of a medium/heavy tank. The top speed is very low for a light tank, combined with the low power to weight ratio given by its weak engine. The T-26 has poor acceleration and speed on most surfaces. It can reach around 30 km/h only on hard, flat surface, after a long, uninterrupted acceleration period. With even a small turn the speed will drop significantly. The narrow tracks significantly reduce its off-road mobility in muddy, sandy or snowy maps. Despite the tracks being short and far apart, the T-26 still has slow hull traverse and often needs a forward/backward jerk to start turning properly. Reverse speed is also very poor (-4 km/h), which cannot save you from most bad situations.

For new tankers, it is advised to choose between the T-26 and BT-5 wisely. Since they have very similar aspects (reserve light tanks with thin armour, the same gun, and a similar turret) they are good vehicles to compare and contrast opposing playstyles. The T-26 represents slow, patient, hunting and hiding while the BT-5 represents fast flanking and daring advances).

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
ABfree
RBfree
SBfree
Total cost of modifications3 730 Rp icon.png
174 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew trainingfree
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces10 Ge icon.png
Research Aces80 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 10 / 10 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
45mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
540 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition205 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.8 → 2.9 s
Vertical guidance-6° / 22°
The T-26 firing its 45 mm 20-K cannon.
Main article: 20-K (45 mm)

The 45 mm 20-K cannon is the typical Soviet gun at rank I. Players should get used to it since it will be their main light tank armament up until rank II. This gun is very forgiving to beginners, with its very fast reload speed, decent damage, and traverse speed.

45 mm 20-K Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 205 -6°/+22° ±180° N/A 15.23 21.08 25.60 28.31 30.12 3.77 3.34 3.07 2.90
Realistic 9.52 11.20 13.60 15.04 16.00

Ammunition

The APHEBC round has a good amount of HE filler, meaning penetrating shells will do good damage, sometimes even taking out enemies with a single shot. At longer ranges, shells begin to lose penetration and accuracy; it is not made for sniping. It is recommended to bring ~10-15 BR-240SP (armour-piercing shells without explosive filler) for heavier targets as they have more penetration.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
BR-240 APHEBC 70 67 58 47 39 32
BR-240SP APBC 73 70 60 50 41 34
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
BR-240 APHEBC 760 1.43 1.2 9 29.26 48° 63° 71°
BR-240SP APBC 757 1.43 - - - 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-26
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
7th
rack empty
205 202 (+3) 197 (+8) 187 (+18) 177 (+28) 167 (+38) 157 (+48) 139 (+66)
8th
rack empty
9th
rack empty
10th
rack empty
11th
rack empty
12th
rack empty
13th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
121 (+84) 103 (+102) 79 (+126) 61 (+144) 29 (+176) (+204) No

Note:

  • Turret empty: 157 (+48) shells.

Machine guns

Ammunition1 890 rounds
Belt capacity63 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: DT (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm DT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 1,890 (63) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

It is recommended to play the T-26 in a support role, flanking the battlefield and finding a good position to support your teammates from. The 45 mm cannon has very good characteristics with its rounds (APHEBC, AP) being able to deal a fair amount of damage to enemy vehicles from both short and long-range. The fast reload allows for quick adjustment of aim between shots, meaning the T-26 can be a highly effective flanking vehicle if a good camping spot is found. The limited gun depression, however, will affect which positions are usable. Keeping back at long-range is certainly an effective way to avoid taking damage.

The T-26 can also be used for brawling with enemy vehicles, but it should be kept in mind that the thin armour on the T-26 (≤15 mm) will leave the vital modules of your vehicle such as your crew, gun and powerplant (engine & transmission) at risk of taking damage. The mobility of the T-26 is also poorer than many of its counterparts, which could potentially put it at risk in a brawling scenario. On the other hand, the T-26's short reload time will usually give it an upper hand if you can survive the first shot.

Due to the top speed of the T-26 being slower than many other vehicles at its BR (30 km/h), it will usually arrive in the battlefield after the fighting has already begun. This can be an advantage in that you arrive after your team has already identified many targets. This also means that you will most likely not be on the front line of attack will usually allows for you to last a bit longer than players who rushed the center of the battlefield. On the other hand, it is also less likely that you will reach capture points before they are captured by your teammates, who will be faster than you.

The lack of armour is really something to be kept in mind, even some tank machine guns like the 12.7 mm M2HB and 13.2 mm Breda Model 31 will be able to go through your thickest plates of armour. Because of this, it is recommended to try your best to avoid enemy vehicles getting the first shot. Driving under cover is advisable to avoid being spotted.

In terms of the T-26's gun, there are 2 round options. The APHEBC round will penetrate most armour at the BR and also do a good amount of post-penetration damage if the fuse is set off. The second round type is an AP round with effective penetration but lacking any explosive filler, making its damage output inerior to the APHEBC round.

It is also worth keeping in mind that the T-26 only has a reverse speed of 3 km/h. This is important to remember when driving into potential enemy fire. It is recommended to be aware of enemy positions and cover, as a retreat will be a lot slower than an advance.

Be aware that enemy aircraft with bombs or powerful guns can easily take out the T-26. It is advised to stick to the treeline to avoid being spotted and attacked. The T-26 has little anti-aircraft capabilities so it is also advised to let the friendly SPAAs deal with aircraft.

Specific enemies worth noting:

Pz.II - These speedy German tanks can be extremely dangerous. Their fast firing 20 mm autocannons can shred your armour and the modules behind it. Pz.IIs have better mobility than the T-26 to boot. Generally, it is advised not to engage head on but if you are forced to, then make sure you get off the first shot before they start spraying. These concerns are also shared with the Sd.Kfz. 140/1. The good thing about facing the Panzer II is that it doesn't have much armour, like most Rank I vehicles, so you can easily penetrate and knock it out with a single shot. Another tactic is to have a teammate with you, preferably a mobile light tank like the M22 or the BT-5. Your ally can distract the Panzer II while you line up your shot to take it out. Pz.IIs also have poor turret traverse speed, so getting behind it and shooting its engine can prevent it from bringing its gun to bear on you.

AB 41 and L6/40 - Italian counterparts to the German Pz.II series, these vehicles both feature 20 mm autocannons which present the same concerns and counters as the Pz.IIs. The difference is that the L6/40 is slightly slower than the Pz.IIs, while the AB 41 is significantly faster. Generally, if your round penetrates either vehicle, it will most likely do significant damage.

M2A2 - This unassuming and unusual American vehicle relies on a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun, located in its left-hand turret. The M2A2 shouldn't be dismissed as a threat however, as despite its odd layout, relatively small armament, and light armour, it is one of the fastest light tanks at Rank I. Given the T-26's relatively slow speed, the M2A2 will outflank you easily. Its .50 cal machine gun isn't always able to do a lot of damage to heavily armoured vehicles, but the T-26's is among the vehicles that the M2HB can consistently penetrate. When facing an M2A2, it is recommended to shoot first and stop it from closing the distance. If you are on its right side, it will have to turn towards you to bring its .50 cal to bear. Its 7.62 mm machine gun, located in its right turret, will not do any significant damage to the T-26.

M8 Scott and LVT(A)(4) - This American howitzer carrier takes the speedy hull of the M5 Stuart and mates it with a turret containing a 75 mm howitzer and a .50 cal M2HB. Being very fast, this tank can flank the T-26 very easily. It does not often need to do this however, since its HEAT round can annihilate the T-26 in one shot. It doesn't even need to do that however, since it could opt to just spraying your vehicle down with the .50 cal. By comparative principle, it is an M2A2 with a 75 mm. The LVT(A)(4) presents similar concerns, as it is marries the M8 Scott's turret to the hull of an LVT. Because of this, the LVT(A)(4) is able to swim. It is recommended to be watching the waterways, as most players do not expect an attack to come from areas that normal tanks cannot traverse.

Ka-Chi - This Japanese medium tank is often underestimated for its nation of origin, but it is not to be ignored. Its massive size may prevent your shells from doing significant damage in one shot, and some may occasionally be completely absorbed by the front pontoon or deflected if angled. Its height can allow it to see over your cover and spot you. It won't be able to lower its gun too far however, especially with floats attached, and if the T-26 is able to sneak around the Ka-Chi, you can potentially rush into the deadzone right alongside the vehicle and shoot into its flank, without chance of retaliation. It is recommended to be watching the waterways, as most players do not expect an attack to come from areas that normal tanks cannot traverse.

B1 bis and B1 ter - Nearly any Rank I vehicle unfortunate enough to come face-to-face with a B1 is in for a rough time. If the recommended tactic for the T-26 is being a support vehicle, it should be especially employed when a B1 is encountered. The B1 bis has thick armour that can absorb or deflect your 45 mm shells. The B1 ter presents the same issue for you, but even worse. There is little a T-26 can do when facing one of these heavy tanks head on, except for shooting the infamous "mail-slot" weak spot located on the turret ring, or damaging the tracks in hopes of immobilizing it. Calling in for friendly ground and air assistance is highly advised when encountering such beasts.

He 112 A-0 - This German plane is essentially a flying Panzer II. With a powerful rapid-firing 20 mm autocannon, it can use API-T rounds have enough penetration to go through the T-26 at nearly every angle. Experienced pilots can wreak havoc on your team until their ammo is expended. It is recommended to find solid roof cover when enemy aircraft are overhead.

SPAAs - Nearly every anti-aircraft vehicle at the tier, save for the British Light AA Mk I, will be able to penetrate and destroy the T-26 with ease. Not to mention that SPAAs guns have high rates of fire. As with any other vehicles, it is advised to shoot first. Certain SPAAs which are commonly underestimated like the French P.7.T AA, and CCKW 353 AA and the American M15 CGMC, and should be especially noted, as despite not having 20 mm autocannons like their Axis counterparts, they all have weapons capable of efficiently knocking out a T-26.

T-26 Screenshot 1.jpg

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great firepower; the stock APHE shell can frontally penetrate and take out almost any tank with a single shot
  • Very short reload time
  • Fairly accurate gun at short to medium ranges
  • Massive ammo capacity and fast reload time which is good for new players learning how to manoeuvre and fire

Cons:

  • Low survivability due to the thin, nearly unsloped armour
  • The crew members are packed tightly together, significantly reducing survivability
  • Poor overall mobility: ​low top speed, very slow reverse speed, slow hull traverse, and difficulty in climbing steep slopes
  • Average -5° gun depression limits its potential in hilly terrains
  • Some ammo is stored inside turret which tends to explode when hit

History

Development

The T-26 light tank design is derived from the British Vickers 6-ton tank. In the early 1930s, a Soviet buying committee travelled to Britain and purchased tanks, tractors, and cars for use in the Soviet Union, of which the Vickers tank was chosen. Fifteen Twin-turreted Vickers tanks arrived in the Soviet Union in May 1930, equipped with only machine guns. Four more Vickers were delivered at the end of 1930, these being the single-turret variants with a 47 mm gun, and the deliveries were finished by 1932. The Vickers-produced tanks were designated as the V-26.

The Vickers 6-ton tank competed with several Soviet designs for the "most suitable" tank design for Soviet use. One such competitor was the Soviet T-19 light tank, which had advantages over the Vickers design, but also disadvantages. The T-19 designer, S. Ginzburg, suggested for a "hybrid" tank to be built off the features of the T-19 and the Vickers tank. But in January 1931, intelligence picked up that Poland bought up many foreign tanks from Britain and France with a license to mass-produce them. This information pressured the Soviet military council to adopt the foreign tanks into Soviet usage, thus the Vickers 6-ton tank, under the designation as the T-26, was accepted into service on February 13, 1931, as the mainstay of the Red Army's armoured forces.

T-26 screenshot 3.jpg

Although outclassed later in the war, it was considered one of the more successful and widely produced tank models in the 1930s. It, along with the BT light tanks, composed the majority of Soviet armoured forces in the late 1930s. It weighed just a little under 10 tons, had 15 mm thick armour in front, with a 45 mm 20K gun, and had a crew of three people. The Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad was the first factory to start producing the T-26 from June 1931, and production of the tank lasted from then until 1941.

Variants

During its production life, many variants of it were made for different purposes, up to 53 different ones to fit different roles, though only 23 would see service in production. Such designs included changes like a twin-turreted version (some with only machine guns and some with cannons), command tanks, added armour, artillery tanks (such as the T-26-4), flamethrower tanks, remote-controlled tanks, or just armoured carriers to tow artillery and such. Others were simply modified variants of the normal variants such as the T-26E, which was the base single-turreted T-26 design with 30-40 mm applique armour made during the Winter War, which made them more resilient to the Finnish anti-tank weapons.

All these tanks produced in the span of 1931 to 1941 made up a total of 10,300 tanks, and 1,701 other variants of it, for a total of 12,001 units produced.

Combat usage

The T-26 first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, where it showed its superiority over the current tanks of the period fielded by Italy and Germany. Then it saw combat against the Japanese in the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts at Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, which exposed some of the design defects such as poor armour welding and the disadvantages of riveted constructions (the rivet would break off and could harm the crew inside). After that, the T-26 saw service in the Invasion of Poland and the Winter War against Finland. The Winter War effectively showed the Soviets that the T-26 was obsolete, as the 37 mm guns and anti-tank rifles and Finnish have could penetrate the light armour of the T-26. When World War II for the Soviet Union finally broke out in Operation Barbarossa, the T-26 proved inferior to Germany's Panzer III and Panzer IV, plus the air supremacy of the Luftwaffe ensured many tanks were lost in the opening stages of Barbarossa.

The T-26 at this point also was breaking down and the lack of spare parts made repairs hard, resulting in multiple T-26 units also being knocked out for being irrecoverable. The T-26 was gradually phased from service by the new, venerable T-34 medium tanks, which gave Germany a run for their money. The T-26 still saw service in the war as a second-line unit, as it was still fighting in the Battle of Moscow of 1941, Stalingrad of 1942, and in Manchuria in 1945.

Survivors

A number of survivors exist today in different museums, about 45 of them are still intact. A majority of them are in Russia, Spain, and Finland, where they saw most of their services.


Archive of the in-game description

In 1940, the T-26 light tank was modernised for the last time. The vehicle's underturret boxes were equipped with homogeneous armour with sloping plates and its thickness was increased to 15 mm. The frontal section of the turret was welded. A distinctive feature of the tank was the special defensive cover over its radiator grille. An extra DT machine gun was mounted on the turret's roof and was used as an anti-aircraft gun.

All these changes led to the T-26's mass exceeding 10 tonnes. In spite of its strengthened construction, its undercarriage was pushed to the limit. Often, particularly when turning, the tank started losing its tracks. Test results showed that the tank's armour did not meet modern requirements, and there was no weight allowance for increasing its armament. Other flaws in the tank's design included its low speed, poor weight distribution and low reliability.

However, the tank was easy to control, simple to service and did not require much effort in the field. Although the tank had an engine with horizontally placed cylinders, the tank's profile remained low, which made it harder to hit. Many technical solutions applied to the T-26 were used later on other tanks. When used correctly and in the hands of an experienced crew, the light tank could cause serious damage to the enemy forces. The T-26 made a significant contribution to routing the enemy at Moscow and took part in practically all combat operations right up to 1944.

A significant number of these tanks, after being captured and modified in various ways, served in the German and Finnish armies. Some of them were used by Finland until the beginning of the 50s.


Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


Experimental Design and Mechanical Engineering Department
Light Tanks 
T-26  T-26 · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26E · T-26-4
T-50  T-50 · T-126
Heavy Tanks  T-35
Tank Destroyers  SU-5-1 · SU-100Y
Export 
T-26  ␗T-26 · T-26 No.531
See Also  Omsk Transport Engineering Plant

USSR light tanks
T-26  T-26 · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26-4 · T-26E
BT  BT-5 · RBT-5 · BT-7 · BT-7 TD · BT-7M · BT-7A (F-32)
T-50  T-126 · T-50
T-70  T-70 · T-80
PT-76  PT-76B · PT-76-57 · Object 906
BMP  BMP-1 · BMP-2 · BMP-2M · BMP-3
BMD  BMD-4
2S25  2S25 · 2S25M
Wheeled  BA-11 · BTR-80A
Other  T-60 · Object 685 · 2S38
China  ▂Type 62