Difference between revisions of "T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.)"

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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.41#19.06.2014 - 1.41.27.12|Update 1.41.27]].  
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.41#19.06.2014 - 1.41.27.12|Update 1.41.27]].  
  
−
The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is a premium version of the [[T-26]], and is identical except in its special winter camo, of a T-26 of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade during the Battle of Moscow.
+
The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is a premium version of the [[T-26]] and is identical to it mechanically. Cosmetically, this vehicle features the unique winter camouflage of a T-26 of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade during the Battle of Moscow.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 20: Line 20:
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 
[[File:T-26 3.jpg|thumb]]
 
[[File:T-26 3.jpg|thumb]]
−
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 HMG and autocannons.
+
The armor of the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is flat and relatively thin on all sides of the vehicle. It is not recommended to expose yourself to enemy fire because there are a variety of weapons that are able to destroy the vehicle. Tank cannons, autocannons, heavy machine guns, high-explosive munitions and artillery are all threats to the vehicle. If the hull is penetrated by an enemy vehicle using armor-piercing, high explosive (APHE) ammunition, the entire crew could be knocked out in one shot due to the confined fighting compartment. It is recommended for players to be wary of aircraft as they will usually carry a combination of powerful weapons and can attack from unexpected positions.
 +
 
 +
Although the armor of the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is thin, enemy rounds could strike trickier components such as the road wheels, gun mantlet, or the hull's significantly angled front glacis. Highly angled armor has the potential of deflecting incoming rounds and preventing significant damage to the modules behind it. It is not recommended to rely on these relatively small sections of armor to protect the vehicle.
  
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
Line 30: Line 32:
 
! 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''
+
| 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 (12°) ''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
 
| Turret || 15 mm (13-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 15 mm (5-44°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 15 mm (17-19°) || 15 mm (17°) || 10 mm
Line 44: Line 46:
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
−
While being a light tank, its mobility is one of a medium tank. The top speed is very, 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.
+
While being a light tank, the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s mobility is similar to a medium tank. Its top speed is low for a light tank, and combined with its relatively low power to weight ratio, the vehicle has poor acceleration on most surfaces. The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s narrow tracks reduce its off-road mobility in muddy, sandy or snowy maps compared to vehicles with access to wide tracks like the [[Pz.III E]]. It can reach around 30 km/h but only on hard, flat surface, after a long, uninterrupted acceleration period. Speed will drop significantly if encountering obstactles such as walls and trees. To turn this vehicle while in a stopped position, it may be necessary to accelerate forward or backwards before attempting to turn because of the relatively slow hull traverse.
  
−
It will eventually take you where you want to be, provided that you are a very patient player, choose your route well, and avoid too many tricky turns.
+
Reverse speed is also relatively poor at -4 km/h. It is recommended to visually clear areas before entering them as the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) may not be able to reverse out of danger quickly enough to avoid destruction.
 +
 
 +
Overall, the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) will eventually take the player where they want to be, provided that they are patient and mindful about the route they are taking.
  
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=141|rbMinHp=80}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=141|rbMinHp=80}}
Line 61: Line 65:
 
{{main|20-K (45 mm)}}
 
{{main|20-K (45 mm)}}
  
−
The 45 mm 20-K is the typical Soviet rank I gun. Players should get used to it since it will be your main armament up until rank II. The APHEBC round has a good amount of HE filler, meaning penetrating shells will do good damage, sometimes even knocking out enemies with a single shot. 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 is a gun that will be familiar to players around Rank I of the Soviet tech tree. With decent velocity and power, this weapon is an excellent all-rounder gun against most targets the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) will face.
 +
 
 +
The APHEBC round has a decent amount of HE filler, meaning penetrating shells will do a decent amount of damage, sometimes even knocking the target out with a single shot. It is recommended to bring around 10-15 BR-240SP shells for heavier targets. These pure armor piercing rounds will be able to more easily penetrate vehicles with thicker armor. At longer ranges, shells will begin to lose penetration and accuracy due to their relatively small caliber. This may prevent the gun from defeating vehicles with a moderate amount of armor.
 +
 
 +
A significant advantage of the 45 mm 20-K cannon is its quick reloading rate. This can be very useful in dealing with larger targets that may not be destroyed in one, two, or even three rounds. Its reloading rate allows for quick follow-up shots to ensure destruction of the enemy.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:20-K (45 mm)/Ammunition|BR-240, BR-240SP}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | '''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 || AP || 73 || 70 || 60 || 50 || 41 || 34
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| BR-240 || APHEBC || 760 || 1.43 || 1.2 || 9 || 29.26 || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
−
|-
 
−
| BR-240SP || AP || 757 || 1.43 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
The 7.62 mm DT machine gun is mounted coaxially, located in the turret alongside the main cannon. This weapon can be used against unarmored targets such as trucks and other vehicles with exposed crewmembers. Due to its traverse and small caliber, this machine gun will not be very effective against enemy aircraft and ground vehicles with enclosed armor.
  
 
== 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 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).'' -->
 
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 
[[File:T-26 1.jpg|thumb]]
 
[[File:T-26 1.jpg|thumb]]
−
The T-26 is definitely best suited to a more 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 fair damage to enemy vehicles from short and long range and the fast reload allowing for quick adjustment of aim between shots, this allows the T-26 to be a highly effective flanking vehicle if a good camping spot is found, however, the limited gun depression (-6°) will affect which positions are usable, keeping long range is certainly an effective way to avoid taking damage. The T-26 is also usable at closer ranges 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 & powerplant (engine & transmission) at risk of taking damage, the mobility of the T-26 is also lesser than many of its counterparts which could potentially put it at risk in a brawling scenario, on the other hand the T-26's good reload (3.77 - 2.9s) will usually give it an upper hand if you can survive the first shots against an enemy vehicle.
+
A recommended strategy for the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is to play in the support role, flanking the battlefield and finding a good position to support teammates from. The 45 mm cannon is able to deal a fair amount of damage to enemy vehicles from most ranges and its fast reload allowing for quick adjustment of aim between shots. With its short hull and gun depression of -6°, the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) can position hull-down behind hills which can prevent enemy fire from hitting the center of the vehicle.  
  
−
Due to the top speed of the T-26 being less than many other vehicles at its BR (30 km/h), it will usually arrive to the battlefield after the fighting has already begun, this has the advantage of arriving after your team has already identified many targets, and also meaning that you will not be in the front line of attack, this will usually allow for you to last a bit longer than players who rushed the centre of the battlefield, alternatively it is also less likely that you will reach capture points before they are capped by your faster teammates although there are cases where you can help capture a contested point.
+
The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is also usable at closer ranges and can brawl with enemy vehicles, however the thin armour on the may leave vital modules of your vehicle at risk of taking damage from many weapons, even heavy machine guns. The mobility of the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is also lesser than many of its counterparts which could potentially put it at risk in a brawling scenario, especially if enemy vehicles are able to manoeuvre behind the tank.
  
−
The lack of armour is really something to be kept in mind, even some machine guns (8 mm, 12.7 mm) will be able to go through you thickest pieces of armour (15 mm), due to this you want to be trying your best to avoid enemy vehicles getting the first shot, driving in cover is advisable to avoid being spotted and if you spot an enemy vehicle it would be best to engage and destroy them as soon as possible to avoid them becoming a threat, due to the lack of effective armour, aircraft can also be a risk, again, staying in cover will make it more difficult for enemy vehicles to spot and engage your T-26.
+
The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s relatively low engine power means that it will often arrive to the battlefield after the fighting has already begun. Although usually a disadvantage, teammates will have spread out and identified many enemy targets for the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) to shoot at. Upon reaching capture points, it is recommended to be on the lookout for enemy vehicles that may be in the point or watching over it from a distance.  
  
−
In terms of the T-26's gun there are 2 round options, the APHEBC round has 70 mm best effective penetration as well as an explosive filler, this will allow for this round to penetrate most armour at this BR and also have good post-penetration damage if the fuse is set off. Second round type is an AP round, this has 73 mm best effective penetration but lacks any explosive filler, this makes its post-penetration damage less effective than the APHEBC round. Moreinfo on both these rounds can be found in the Ammunition section above.
+
In any situation, it is highly advised to be the vehicle that engages first as the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s firepower is greater than its survivability.
−
 
 
−
It is also worth keeping in mind that the reverse speed is only -3 km/h, so you will have to be careful when driving out into potential enemy fire.
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Great firepower; the stock shell has 69 mm maximum penetration and 32 g TNT which can frontally penetrate many tanks
+
* Beginner-friendly main gun with decent performance and accuracy at most ranges
−
* Even in an up-tier situation it can still effectively penetrate tanks like the B1
+
* Good ammunition choices with high penetration and high-explosive filler
−
* Massive ammo capacity and fast reload time is good for new players who are learning to aim
+
* Fast reloading rate allows for quick follow-up shots
−
* Premium bonuses thanks to its premium status
+
* Massive ammo capacity
 +
* Premium bonuses for researching other vehicles
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Very low survivability; the armour is thin, not angled and is only 15 mm max. Can get frontally penetrated by anything like the Pz.II, Pz.III and even heavy MG.
+
* Low survivability with thin armor and tightly packed crew
−
* The three crew members are packed tightly together significantly reduces survivability
+
* Poor overall mobility due to relatively low engine power
−
* Poor mobility overall; has low top speed limited manoeuvrability around the battlefield, the weak engine doesn't allow it to climb hills
+
* Slow reverse speed
−
* The narrow tracks slow it in desert maps like Sinai or snowy maps like Frozen Pass
+
* Suggish hull traverse
−
* The slow reverse speed of only -3 km/h is very fatal as it cannot back away from danger in time
+
* Ammunition storage located inside the turret may detonate when hit
−
* Average turret rotation combined with the sluggish hull traverse prevents it from responding to flanks quickly
 
−
* Average -5° gun depression limits its potential in hilly terrains
 
−
* Some ammo is stored inside turret which tends to explode when hit
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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===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 the Soviet Union 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.
+
A Soviet derivative of the British Vickers 6-ton light tank, the T-26 first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War where it showed its superiority over tanks fielded by Italy and Germany during that period. The T-26 then saw combat against the Japanese in the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts at Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, which exposed some design defects of the vehicle such as poor armour welding and the disadvantages of riveted construction (the rivet could break off if impacted 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 had could easily 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 the German's [[Pz.III F|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]]. Air supremacy established by the Luftwaffe also ensured that many tanks were lost in the opening stages of the engagement.
 +
 
 +
At this point, T-26s were breaking down often and the lack of spare parts made repairs diffiucult, resulting in many lightly-damaged units being knocked out for being unrepairable. The T-26 was gradually phased from service by the new, venerable [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] medium tanks in 1941 which itself caused some of the previously dominant German tank designs to become obsolete.  
  
−
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. Some T-26 even saw action in the '''1st Guards Tank Brigade''' (1st Gv.T.Br.), but these were quickly replaced by the more venerable T-34.
+
The T-26 would still see service during the rest of the war as a second-line unit, fighting during the Battle of Moscow in 1941, the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, and the Invasion of Manchuria in 1945. Some T-26 saw action with the '''1st Guards Tank Brigade''' (1st Gv.T.Br.), but these were quickly replaced by T-34s as they became available.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 209: Line 186:
  
 
;Skins
 
;Skins
 +
 
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_26_1940_1st_GvTBr Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_26_1940_1st_GvTBr Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
;Images
 
;Images
−
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
+
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
 
File:T-26_(1st_Gv.T.Br.) Side.jpg|<small>Right side of the T-26, which shows the insignia of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade</small>
 
File:T-26_(1st_Gv.T.Br.) Side.jpg|<small>Right side of the T-26, which shows the insignia of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade</small>
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
Line 222: Line 200:
  
 
;Related development
 
;Related development
 +
 
* [[T-26 (Family)]]
 
* [[T-26 (Family)]]
 +
** [[T-26-4]]
 +
** [[SU-5-1]]
  
 
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
 
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
−
* [[M13/40 (Family)]]
+
;* [[Vickers Mk.E]]
 +
;* [[M13/40 (I)]]
 +
 
 +
Vehicles with similar weapon systems
 +
 
 +
* [[BT-7]]
 +
* [[BA-11]]
  
 
== 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;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''

Latest revision as of 16:22, 23 February 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
This page is about the Soviet light tank T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.). For other versions, see T-26 (Family).
T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.)
ussr_t_26_1940_1st_gvtbr.png
GarageImage T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.).jpg
T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.)
USSR flag.png USSR
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:250 Specs-Card-Eagle.png

Description

The T-26 mod. 1939 (1st Gv.T.Br.) is a premium rank I Soviet light tank with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.41.27.

The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is a premium version of the T-26 and is identical to it mechanically. Cosmetically, this vehicle features the unique winter camouflage of a T-26 of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade during the Battle of Moscow.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull15 / 15 / 15
Turret15 / 15 / 15
Crew3 people
Visibility75 %
T-26 3.jpg

The armor of the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is flat and relatively thin on all sides of the vehicle. It is not recommended to expose yourself to enemy fire because there are a variety of weapons that are able to destroy the vehicle. Tank cannons, autocannons, heavy machine guns, high-explosive munitions and artillery are all threats to the vehicle. If the hull is penetrated by an enemy vehicle using armor-piercing, high explosive (APHE) ammunition, the entire crew could be knocked out in one shot due to the confined fighting compartment. It is recommended for players to be wary of aircraft as they will usually carry a combination of powerful weapons and can attack from unexpected positions.

Although the armor of the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is thin, enemy rounds could strike trickier components such as the road wheels, gun mantlet, or the hull's significantly angled front glacis. Highly angled armor has the potential of deflecting incoming rounds and preventing significant damage to the modules behind it. It is not recommended to rely on these relatively small sections of armor to protect the vehicle.

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 (12°) 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 are 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

While being a light tank, the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s mobility is similar to a medium tank. Its top speed is low for a light tank, and combined with its relatively low power to weight ratio, the vehicle has poor acceleration on most surfaces. The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s narrow tracks reduce its off-road mobility in muddy, sandy or snowy maps compared to vehicles with access to wide tracks like the Pz.III E. It can reach around 30 km/h but only on hard, flat surface, after a long, uninterrupted acceleration period. Speed will drop significantly if encountering obstactles such as walls and trees. To turn this vehicle while in a stopped position, it may be necessary to accelerate forward or backwards before attempting to turn because of the relatively slow hull traverse.

Reverse speed is also relatively poor at -4 km/h. It is recommended to visually clear areas before entering them as the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) may not be able to reverse out of danger quickly enough to avoid destruction.

Overall, the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) will eventually take the player where they want to be, provided that they are patient and mindful about the route they are taking.

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

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB322 Sl icon.png
RB280 Sl icon.png
SB422 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications5 020 Rp icon.png
500 Sl icon.png
Crew training150 Sl icon.png
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces20 Ge icon.png
Research Aces145 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 20 / 20 / 30 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 75 / 75 / 75 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
450 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
50 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
960 Rp icon.png
Cost:
95 Sl icon.png
85 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:
450 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
45mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack
Research:
450 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
50 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
960 Rp icon.png
Cost:
95 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

45 mm 20-K cannon
Ammunition205 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.8 → 2.9 s
Vertical guidance-6° / 22°
T-26 2.jpg
Main article: 20-K (45 mm)

The 45 mm 20-K is a gun that will be familiar to players around Rank I of the Soviet tech tree. With decent velocity and power, this weapon is an excellent all-rounder gun against most targets the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) will face.

The APHEBC round has a decent amount of HE filler, meaning penetrating shells will do a decent amount of damage, sometimes even knocking the target out with a single shot. It is recommended to bring around 10-15 BR-240SP shells for heavier targets. These pure armor piercing rounds will be able to more easily penetrate vehicles with thicker armor. At longer ranges, shells will begin to lose penetration and accuracy due to their relatively small caliber. This may prevent the gun from defeating vehicles with a moderate amount of armor.

A significant advantage of the 45 mm 20-K cannon is its quick reloading rate. This can be very useful in dealing with larger targets that may not be destroyed in one, two, or even three rounds. Its reloading rate allows for quick follow-up shots to ensure destruction of the enemy.

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

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 (1st Gv.T.Br.)
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) 1 (+204) No

Note:

  • Turret empty: 157 (+48) shells.

Machine guns

7.62 mm DT machine gun (coaxial)
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

The 7.62 mm DT machine gun is mounted coaxially, located in the turret alongside the main cannon. This weapon can be used against unarmored targets such as trucks and other vehicles with exposed crewmembers. Due to its traverse and small caliber, this machine gun will not be very effective against enemy aircraft and ground vehicles with enclosed armor.

Usage in battles

T-26 1.jpg

A recommended strategy for the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is to play in the support role, flanking the battlefield and finding a good position to support teammates from. The 45 mm cannon is able to deal a fair amount of damage to enemy vehicles from most ranges and its fast reload allowing for quick adjustment of aim between shots. With its short hull and gun depression of -6°, the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) can position hull-down behind hills which can prevent enemy fire from hitting the center of the vehicle.

The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is also usable at closer ranges and can brawl with enemy vehicles, however the thin armour on the may leave vital modules of your vehicle at risk of taking damage from many weapons, even heavy machine guns. The mobility of the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) is also lesser than many of its counterparts which could potentially put it at risk in a brawling scenario, especially if enemy vehicles are able to manoeuvre behind the tank.

The T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s relatively low engine power means that it will often arrive to the battlefield after the fighting has already begun. Although usually a disadvantage, teammates will have spread out and identified many enemy targets for the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br) to shoot at. Upon reaching capture points, it is recommended to be on the lookout for enemy vehicles that may be in the point or watching over it from a distance.

In any situation, it is highly advised to be the vehicle that engages first as the T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br)'s firepower is greater than its survivability.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly main gun with decent performance and accuracy at most ranges
  • Good ammunition choices with high penetration and high-explosive filler
  • Fast reloading rate allows for quick follow-up shots
  • Massive ammo capacity
  • Premium bonuses for researching other vehicles

Cons:

  • Low survivability with thin armor and tightly packed crew
  • Poor overall mobility due to relatively low engine power
  • Slow reverse speed
  • Suggish hull traverse
  • Ammunition storage located inside the turret may detonate when hit

History

Main article: History of the T-26

Combat usage

A Soviet derivative of the British Vickers 6-ton light tank, the T-26 first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War where it showed its superiority over tanks fielded by Italy and Germany during that period. The T-26 then saw combat against the Japanese in the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts at Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, which exposed some design defects of the vehicle such as poor armour welding and the disadvantages of riveted construction (the rivet could break off if impacted 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 had could easily 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 the German's Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. Air supremacy established by the Luftwaffe also ensured that many tanks were lost in the opening stages of the engagement.

At this point, T-26s were breaking down often and the lack of spare parts made repairs diffiucult, resulting in many lightly-damaged units being knocked out for being unrepairable. The T-26 was gradually phased from service by the new, venerable T-34 medium tanks in 1941 which itself caused some of the previously dominant German tank designs to become obsolete.

The T-26 would still see service during the rest of the war as a second-line unit, fighting during the Battle of Moscow in 1941, the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, and the Invasion of Manchuria in 1945. Some T-26 saw action with the 1st Guards Tank Brigade (1st Gv.T.Br.), but these were quickly replaced by T-34s as they became available.

Media

Skins
Images

  • Right side of the T-26, which shows the insignia of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade

See also

Related development
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

Vehicles with similar weapon systems

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


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

USSR premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  BA-11 · RBT-5 · BT-7A (F-32) · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26E · T-126 · PT-76-57 · 2S38
Medium tanks  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34E · T-34-57 (1943) · T-34-85E · T-34-100 · T-44-122 · TO-55 · T-55AM-1 · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-80UD · Т-80U-Е1
  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2 · ▂T-III · ▂T-V · ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
Heavy tanks  SMK · T-35 · ▂MK-II "Matilda" · KV-1E · KV-2 (1940) · KV-2 (ZiS-6) · KV-122 · KV-220 · IS-2 "Revenge" · Object 248 · IS-6 · T-10A
Tank destroyers  BM-8-24 · BM-13N · BM-31-12
  SU-57 · SU-76D · SU-76M (5th Gv.Kav.Corps) · SU-85A · SU-100Y · SU-122P · Object 120
SPAA  ▂Phòng không T-34 · ZUT-37

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