T-26 - The primary Communist tank of the Spanish Civil War

Developed from the British Vickers 6-ton tank, the Soviet T-26 was the USSR's standard light tank of the 1930s. More than 11,000 were built over a decade. 

The first two years' production were armed primarily with machine guns in twin turrets; about 450 were armed with a DT in the left turret and a 37mm L/22.7 “Gochkis” (Hotchkiss) cannon in the right turret. Three prototypes of a command version with a 7N radio (10 km range) were built, but did not enter production due to a shortage of radios and the introduction of the single-turret T-26. Tanks produced in 1931 have only a 182 liter fuel tank; the 290 liter tank is introduced in 1932.

Starting in 1933, a far more effective variant entered production, with a 45mm cannon. Command tanks had a 71-TK-1 radio with a 15 kilometer range and a rail antenna; in 1939 these were replaced with 71-TK-3 radios with a less visible whip antenna. The tank had relatively thin armor, with a maximum of 15mm on both hull and turret. In 1938, the original cylindrical turret was replaced with a conical turret carrying 20mm of armor. In 1939, a small number of T-26E (ekranirovanny or “screened”) tanks were modified with an extra 30mm of applique armor. Around 89 of these tanks were built. They weigh 12 tonnes, have Maint: 6, and run a risk of blowing their engine if they go above half speed.

281 T-26 model 1933 tanks would be sent to Spain during the Civil War. Another 82 were sent to China (taking part in the Sino-Japanese War) and 60 to Turkey. Captured tanks served with Finland, Germany, Romania, and Hungary. Soviet tanks were used through the Second World War, last seeing action in Machuria in 1945. The last tanks in use were Finnish vehicles that served until 1961. During the battles of 1941-42, tanks would have rough cut armor plate welded on them as improvised improvements, so a tank during that war could have armor values anywhere between 3 and 8.

T-26
Fire Control: 0
Armament: 45mm L/46 Tank Gun Model 1932, 1 to 3 DT Machine Guns (1 coaxial, 1 rear of turret [1935-1939 models], optional 1 AA mount on top of turret)

Ammo: 122x45mm (1933-1936) or 147x45mm (1937-1941) and 2961x7.62mm (63 pans of 47 rounds each)
Fuel Type: G, A
Veh Wt: 9.6 tonnes
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Mnt: 5
Night Vision: None
Tr Mov:37/19
Com Mov: 14/7
Fuel Cap: 290
Fuel Cons:28
Config: Veh
Susp: T:2
HF: 3, 8 (T-26E)
HS: 3, 8 (T-26E)
HR: 3, 8 (T-26E)
TF: 3 (1933-1937), 4 (1938-1941), 8 (T-26E)
TS: 3 (1933-1937), 4 (1938-1941), 8 (T-26E)

TR: 3 (1933-1937), 4 (1938-1941), 8 (T-26E)