A question of scale

I have often received the question as to why I use 1/87 scale tanks instead of the 1/100 that are sold by the Battlefront gaming company. My answer is simple. Appearance.
15mm men are not 1/100 scale but are closer to 1/87 scale than anything else available.
The 1/87 scale tanks are close enough to use together with either if wanted but the 1/100 scale tanks can not be used along with the 1/72 scale very well. They don’t even look close. I have been active in the past with different groups and gaming systems in both scales and this scale works with both.
With that in mind all gaming miniatures are usable if the players agree to it and it is just a preference of mine to have the men and tanks look like they are in scale to each other.
If you look at the above photo you will see some 15mm men as sold by Battlefront along with the same version of T-26 tank in three different miniature gaming scales. The one on the left is by Battlefront and is sold along with the men to play Flames of War. The one in the middle is in 1/87 scale and is what I use. The one on the right is by a eastern European company and is in 1/72 scale. The crew to this tank is three, one driver and two in the turret. Looking at the size of the people versus the tank model you can’t fit two scale people on the turret of the 1/100 scale model and the 1/72 scale model is way to big to look right on a gaming table.
If you look at the larger tanks the difference is even more pronounced.
This is why I use a combination of 15mm and 1/87 scale in my miniatures. I use the people, smaller vehicles, crew served weapons and artillery from battlefront and other companies in 15mm and larger tanks and vehicles in 1/87 scale.

Thank you and I will now get off my soap box.

An interesting side note

I found an interesting picture that demonstrates how tank sizes have changed over the years. This will lead into a post I hope to add in this weekend if I can finish them this Friday. Come back again to see it.

Answer #5:

Re: T-26 Assault Gun Variants question
Posted by: "fiumusofchester" profpate@btopenworld.com fiumusofchester

Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:52 am (PST)
--- In TOandEs@yahoogroups.com, David L Ong wrote:
>Concerningrespective armaments, the Soviet 45 mm gun which equipped the majorityof theT-26s produced was superior to the low velocity, short-barrelled, 47mm gunwhich equipped the Vickers Six-Ton B.
> > Yes the gun was better, however reports from SCW sources suggest that the AP capability was not better that the German 37 due to the poor quality of the metals used.
An important fatcor to bear in mind?

Fimius

Answer #4:

Re: T-26 Assault Gun Variants question
Posted by: "Bob Mackenzie" bob_mackenzie@ntlworld.com bob_david_mackenzie

Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:22 am (PST)

Bob Mckenzie's "Comrades in Arms" lists tank strengths for the various Russian tank units in '41. Zaloga comments that most of thelight tanks were in poor repair and broke down during movement to the front.

So it does :) I have a great deal more info now.
From memory here were a handful of SU-5 with various tank corps.Some corps list T-26A artillery tanks, but not manyIf you use Google's translator I recommend the following sitehttp://mechcorps.rkka.ru/ (click the button with the KV2 on it)

* * *

I followed this recomendation and found a 47 page document in Russian. Since I can't read Russian I did feed it through Googles translator which I've been using on and off for over a year. I found their translator is limited in the amount it can translate in any given job. It averaged eight pages per job and it took seven passes to translate it all. I just finished re-assembling it into one document so I haven't finished reviewing its contents yet.

Answer #3:

Re: T-26 Assault Gun Variants question
Posted by: "David L Ong" davlong64@yahoo.com davlong64

Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:43 pm (PST)

T-26 Model 1931 twin-turreted tankThe Soviets did not simply replicate the Vickers Six-Ton:[11] Like its British counterpart, the T-26 Model 1931 had a twin-turret configuration and was designed to carry two machine guns—one in each turret. The major differences between the Soviet T-26 and the British Six-Ton were the rectangular firing ports for Degtyarev machine guns, as opposed to the round ports used by the original design.[12] After problems experienced with precipitation and snow getting into the engine compartment, a special bonnet was installed after March 1932, and was later made integral with the design of the air intake unit. The tank was also fitted with a higher turret with an observation slit, while the driver was given a vision port.[12] Around 1,627 T-26 tanks with twin turrets were produced between 1931 and 1933, and 450 were armed with the 37 mm PS-1.[13] However, in 1933 the Soviets unveiled the T-26 Model 1933, with a single cylindrical turret which carried asingle 37 mm cannon and a single 7.62 mm machine gun.[14] Ultimately, this 37 mm primary cannon was replaced by the better known 45 mm, which was based on the German Pak 35/36 cannon acquired in 1930.[14] The 45 mm gun would be improved when the original 45 mm 19K anti-tank gun,[15] developed at Plant No. 8, was replaced in 1935 by the 45 mm model 1934. The semiautomatic mechanism of the 19K was exchanged by an inertial operating mechanism.[16] The T-26 could carry up to three secondary Degtyarev 7.62 mm machine guns, in coaxial, rear, and antiaircraft mounts. The majority of T-26 built were of the T-26 Model 1933 model. The original purpose of the upgraded firepower was to increase lethal range to defeat dedicated anti-tank teams, as the original machine gun ordnance was found insufficient.[17]

The T-26 Model 1933 carried 122 rounds of 45 mm ammunition, firing armour-piercing 45 mm rounds with a muzzle velocity of 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s), or lower-velocity high-explosive munitions.[3] The tank was powered by a GAZ 91 horsepower (68 kW) gasoline engine which gave it a top speed of almost 30 km/h (19 mph). The hull had a maximum steel thickness of 16 mm, which was sufficient to stop artillery HE fragments and light machine gun ammunition, including German 7.92 mm armour-piercing rounds but would later prove to be too light against newer German anti-tank weapons in 1941. There would be subsequent attempts to thicken the front plate, but ultimately T-26 production would end in favour of newer and superior tank designs, such as the T-34. In 1937 there was an effort to equip many tanks with anti-aircraft machine guns, as well as the addition of two searchlights, a new VKU-3 command system and a TPU-3 intercom. Ammunition stowage was alsoimproved, from 122 rounds to 147 for the main gun.[19] In 1938 the cylindrical turret was replaced with a conical shaped turret, with the same 45 mm model 1934 gun.[20]

When compared to the Vickers Six-Ton tank, the T-26 had superior maximum armour protection - 15 mm (0.59 in) as compared to 13 mm (0.51 in). Although the Vickers Six-Ton B would have its armour increased to a maximum of 17 mm (0.67 in), this was not much superior to the 16 mm (0.63 in) of the T-26 Model 1933. Furthermore, the T-26 would later see its armour improved. Concerning respective armaments, the Soviet 45 mm gun which equipped the majority of the T-26s produced was superior to the low velocity, short-barrelled, 47 mm gun which equipped the Vickers Six-Ton B. However, the Vickers Six-Ton was slightly lighter and slightly faster than the T-26.[21]The T-26 saw wide service during the Spanish Civil War. Even as WW2 began, the T-26 continued to be the backbone of the Red Army's tank corps. Plans were made to replace the T-26 and BT tanks with a new generation of tanks such as the T-34 and T-50, but these plans were just beginning to be executed on the eve of Operation Barbarossa. Production of the T-26 was halted; readiness and maintenance standards fell, which put the Red Army at a disadvantage during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

Answer #2:

Re: T-26 Assault Gun Variants question
Posted by: "mage@macconnect.com" mage@macconnect.com magegames

Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:43 pm (PST):
Bob Mckenzie's "Comrades in Arms" lists tank strengths for the various Russian tank units in '41. Zaloga comments that most of the light tanks were in poor repair and broke down during movement to the front.

Michael

Answer 1:

I have received 5 replies so far. I will post each of them in a separate entry here for reference. Here is the first of them:

Re: T-26 Assault Gun Variants question
Posted by: "Eero Juhola" ejuhola@sci.fi ejuhola
Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:09 am (PST)

On Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:27:42 -0000, sdean_796 wrote:
According to Google Red Hammers is from 1998 or thereabouts. T-26 nomenclature has changed recently. We used to have, for example, the T-26 model 1933 which are now called "T-26 of 1934 or 1935 manufacture", depending on the features of the tank in question... and what used to be a T-26 model 1939 is now a "T-26-1 of 1939 manufacture". It is possible that the models not mentioned in Red Hammers were called something else back when Sharp's book was researched.

Best regards, EJ

Newsgroup Question

During my absence here I have not been idle. I posted a question on a newsgroup that focuses on Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) of any period and place. Many members of it are very knowledgeable have references at hand that I don’t have available. Some of my last newsgroup questions were answered from this group. In my last post and in some other research of their archives I found references to the “Red Army Handbook 1939-1945”. I have not been able to find a copy to reference; it costs over $100.00 new and is out of print. I have it back ordered as a used book but don’t expect to see it any time soon. Here is what I asked on the Newsgroup:

T-26 Assault Gun Variants question
Posted by: "sdean_796" steve@clan-dean.com
Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:13 am (PST)

I'm looking for T&E information on Soviet T-26 Assault Guns for 1940 time frame. How many were made and how many were in a company or battery. I am trying to build a historical force of T-26 tanks and variants for operation Barbarossa.
I did pick up a couple of books by Charles C Sharp one of them is called Red Hammers Self Propelled Artillery and Lend Lease Armor 1941-1945 which lists many of the T-26 variants from the 1930s and how many were made down to the number being 1 for testing/developement but it doesn't even list the T-26A or T-26-4.
According to another reference there were "a few" T-26-4's made and another states the T-26A was the most famous of the pre-war assault tanks.
I have seen references to a book called the "Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J Zaloga but it is out of print and I have had it back ordered from Amazon for some time now.
Has anyone got a copy of the Red Army Handbook that can see if these questions are answered in it for me? Or have you another source that has this information?
Thanks
Steve

I placed this on TOandEs newsgroup on Yahoo.com

Request for information on T-26A T&E

I’m looking for T&E information on Soviet T-26 Assault Guns for 1940 time frame. How many were made and how many were in a company or battery. I am trying to build a historical force of T-26 tanks and variants for operation Barbarossa.
I did pick up a couple of books by Charles C Sharp one of them is called Red Hammers Self Propelled Artillery and Lend Lease Armor 1941-1945 which lists many of the T-26 variants from the 1930s and how many were made down to the number being 1 for testing/developement but it doesn’t even list the T-26A or T-26-4.
According to another reference there were “a few” T-26-4’s made and another states the T-26A was the most famous of the pre-war assault tanks.
I have seen references to a book called the “Red Army Handbook 1939-1945” by Steven J Zaloga but it is out of print and I have it back ordered from Amazon.
Has anyone got a copy of the Red Army Handbook that can see if these questions are answered in it for me? Or have you another source that has this information?
Thanks
Steve

Bug River Crossing Recap

This map and recap of Fridays game were posted in the newsgroup by Harlow Stevens who ran the game:
Posted by: "Harlow Stevens" on Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:22 pm (PST)

January ended up on a very good note with the playing of a scenario that represented Day #1 of Operation Barbarossa, in this case the storming of the Bug River just north of the city of Brest-Litovsk. I've just uploaded the map so having that in front of you or at least on another screen will help with the narrative. It's in the Files section (inserted above).
The map looks west to east as laid out. Russians had 2 Strelkovy COs, one of which had to start in the town of Matykaly. The other was just east of the Russian starting line spreading from one small forest section all the way to the other. A Platoon of Flame T-26's (4) were hiding behind the small ridge between the pillbox and corn field. Two 3-gun batteries of Russian 76.2mm were positioned on the road just east of the town. There was an NKVD snipper and 1 HMG stand in ambush.
The German river assault Platoons were allowed to set up in any of the three forest sections just west of the Bug River. The 209th Engineer Co & Bridging Column were allowed to start behind any of the three forest areas west of the River. There was also a platoon of 3 Tauchpanzers (Mk III amphibious) allowed to start on the table as well as the 2 batteries of artillery. The remainder came on board turn #1 along the track near the village of Patulin.
German strategy called for the building of the pontoon bridge just to the north of the northern most forest area, thus being out of range from the pillbox and T-26 Turret. The Tauchpanzers and 1 platoon of the 52nd motorised grenadiers forced their way across on either side of where the bridge was being constructed. Almost all of the action took place north of the main E/W road with the Germans keeping the Russian HMG fire and FO spotting limited to heavy smoke bombardment.German infantry and the TPs inched their way up their left flank, passed the hill and in the end came crashing towards the town of Matykaly along with other panzers that had made it across the now completed pontoon bridge. Russian armored rolled 'late' and when they did arrive, were greeted with two attacks by the Luftwaffe.The game went 11 of the 12 scheduled turns. The Objectives for the Germans were to A - Build a pontoon bridge over the Bug River, B -- Capture the town of Matykaly, and C -- Capture the bridge leading over the Ljashaja River. Russians were trying to deny them the objectives. The Germans took few casualties, but needed to be more aggressive on the left flank and eventually up the middle in order to have any chance of achieving at least OBJ B and an outside chance of C.

If players from either side would like to add their comments, they are more than welcome. I will be uploading the pics momentarily.

First chance to use my OT-26's

This past Friday I had a chance to use my OT-26's for the first time.
A game was held at Games plus in Mt Prospect that represented the first day(s) of Barbarossa. I ran a company of Russian infantry along with 4 x OT-26 tanks. Behind me were additional Russian forces defending other objectives.
Attacking were the main invasion forces of the German army.
The German Objectives were to
- 1 Build a bridge across the Bug river
- 2 Take full control of the town (3 buildings)
- 3 take the bridge crossing a second river
My objective was to delay the attacking force and if possible stop them from taking any of their three objectives.
I was rather disappointed in my tanks performance. Three of the four died without ever getting in range to shoot and the crew of the fourth was forced to abandon their tank. They did make the invading army slow down and be cautious in their attack but never got to shoot at the attackers at all.
The Germans made their first objective of crossing the river but didn't have the time required to take their second objective.
Overall it was a Russian victory for the game.

I saw a full after action report on the game in the groups newsgroup and will paste that here when time permits.

Russian Copyright Law

I found several sites over the weekend with comments to the effect of:
"Right now Russian copyright law changed and libraries refuse to make digital copies of the sources published later than in 1938."
You can click on the link and read about it yourself as it is in english but it is not the law itself. It is however effecting what is being posted on the web though today and how people are sharing things from Russia.

Blogging notes

This is a new thread just for the purpose of Blogging and documenting the FX competence in the class at DePaul University I am working this blog in.

In the Blogger Buzz I found a "new" note (dated Dec 10th) that should be used by everyone that has a blog whether in my class or not. The ability to back up your blog to your local hard drive. Everyone knows you should back up your data in case of problems so you don't loose everything but often it is not done because of the famous "it'll never happen to me" syndrome. Well here is an article that explains how to import articles from an other blog, export to another blog or backup your blog to your local hard drive. I suggest everyone read this article and backs up their work before anything is lost.
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?hl=en-au&answer=97416

If anyone else finds good ideas to post please feel free to add any nifty tips, tricks and tools to be shared.

Thanks
Steve

Newsgroup Reply #3

Re: [TOandEs] Request for information on T-26 tank and its variants
Posted Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 5:45 am

Odd bits of data here you might find useful http://gva.freeweb.hu/weapons/soviet_turret2.html

Ian

Newsgroup Reply #2

Re: [TOandEs] Request for information on T-26 tank and its variants
Posted Tuesday Jan 20, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Engines of the Red Army http://o5m6.de/ is currently experiencing difficulties, but when it gets fixed, it has a pretty comprehensive listing of T-26's including the unarmed versions used as artillery tractors.

Wyatt
Corrected URL = http://www.o5m6.de/

Newsgroup Reply #1

RE: [TOandEs] Request for information on T-26 tank and its variants
Posted on Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:08 pm

Have you seen <http://www.battlefield.ru/content/category/5/26/33/lang,en/> check the entire site for details on guns, etc.

Henry Sirotin

Blog Announcements Results to date

Since starting this blog I have announced it on five (5) newsgroups and sent an email to a Russian web site inviting reviews and comments. So far I have seen two (2) blog entries from outside our class and three (3) newsgroup entries about its content. My next three (3) blog entries will be taken straight from the newsgroup comments. All the newsgroup comments came from one newsgroup: "TOandEs · WW1 , WW2 and Modern TO&Es". I thank the people that have commented and will be researching their recommendations for posting as well.

Youtube links for T-26 tanks

T-26 Captured by the Finnish Army during the Winter War
Russian WWII captured T-26 tank in action at Parola tank museum, Hattula
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS8RUNTT8pw

T-26 pictures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz_fEPjsRNM

Battlefield:Finland 1939
Crimson Tide and Final Charge
Shows a Russian attack with T-26 and OT-26 tanks and Infantry against Finland in 1939 Winter War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDnvnPnyaiM

Talvisota -- The Winter War
Russian attack with an OT-26 flame tank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUbV7VTiJ8s

T-26 Armor Values - Change Recomendation

Armor class change for T-26 tanks
According to the Intelligence Briefing on the Early War Soviet Army (1939-41) Update v2.1 28/08/08 from Battlefront the armor recommendation for the T-26 1931 is Front armor = 0, Side armor = 0, and Top armor = 1. The later two models are 1 on all three arias. I have changed my armor to 1 for all three models. Here is why.
According to wwiivehicles.com the armor on the T26 and T26A (both were twin turret models) had 1 mm more armor than the later models. An official German report on the T-26 tanks that were captured in Spain stated that the Armor quality was “good”.

Here is a comparison of armor thicknesses and their values in Flames of War:

Yes, that is a top value of 1 and 0 on the front and sides for the T-26 1931 model
Yes that it a side value of 0 and top and front of 1 on the Pzkw I Lt tank

These values for the T-26 and Pzkw I came from the early war Intelligence Briefings from battlefront and are not yet official.
I argue that the armor on all three T-26 models should be the same value and have made my game values the same (1) for Front, sides and top values instead of what the advanced early war intelligence sheets recommend.

References: http://www. wwiivehicles.com/ussr/tanks-light/t-26.asp
Ostfront Intelligence Handbook, Battlefront Miniatures LTD
Intelligence Briefing on the Early War Soviet Army (1939-41) Update v2.1 28/08/08
Intelligence Briefing on the Early War German Army (1939-41) Version 2.1 06/11/08

T-26 FOW Battle Sheet - Special Rolls

Special Rolls:
Mission Tactics: Hen and Chicks rule. If any Soviet Tank or Transport team (including assault guns and armored transporters) in a company moved more than 6”/15cm in the Movement Step, none of the Tank or Transport teams in the company can shoot in the Shooting Step. (Rule does not include Tankodesantniki) (P-159 of Fortress Europe, P-29 of Stalingrad)

Wave Attacks: Light Tankovaya Companies equipped with T-26 or BT light tanks and Strelkovaya Companies can undertake wave attacks with new companies replacing ones as they are destroyed.
Mark a point within 6”/15cm of the command team when the company is deployed. This will be the location where the next company in the wave will form up to continue the assault. A Soviet hammer and sickle flag make a great marker.
When the company is destroyed, check that there are no enemy teams within 8”/20cm of the company form up point and form up point is concealed or hidden from all enemy teams. If this is the case, roll a die. On a score of 4+ the company is replaced with the new company from the next wave. In any other case or a lesser roll, the company is not replaced and is permanently destroyed.
The new company starts at the original strength of the destroyed company. Only teams that are actually part of the company return to the new company. All attachments are permanently lost.
Deploy the new company within 6”/15cm of the form up point at the start of your next Movement step. The company can not take any action in the turn it deploys. It can not prevent the enemy from holding an objective until the beginning of the following Soviet turn.
The new company counts as a totally new company arriving from reserve. The old company still counts as being destroyed for Company Moral checks. In effect the size of your force increases each time a company is destroyed, e.g. A Battalion with three Strelkovaya Companies and a Machine-Gun Company has already lost and replaced three Strelkovaya Companies (in true Soviet style!). At this point it has three companies destroyed, but with four companies still on the table, it doesn’t need to take a Company Morale check yet. If it lost one more Strelkovaya Company, it would have four companies destroyed, but only three companies on the table at the start of the turn(the new company not arriving until the movement step), and would be below half-strength therefore triggering a Company Morale Check for the Battalion.
In your movement step, you may elect to destroy any or all companies that are below half strength. If the company can make a wave attack, roll at the start of your next turn to see if it will be replaced with a new company from the next wave.
The Wave Attacks rule only applies to light Tankovaya Companies equipped with T-26 or BT light tanks and Strelkovaya Companies. It does not apply to Motostrelkovaya Companies or any other type of company.

T-26 FOW Battle Sheet - Special Notes

Special Notes:
Light tank: The Model 1932 = upgrade 1 x MG to 37 mm PS-1 gun for 10 points per tank. Upgrade to model 1933 & 1939 for 25 points per tank.

Slow tank: Slow tanks are designed for slow but steady progress, not for speed. Slow Fully-tracked vehicles can only move 16”/20cm normally and 16”/40cm At the Double. (P-47 of main rule book)

Unreliable: If an unreliable vehicle gets bogged down and rolls a 1 when attempting to free itself it breaks down.
If an unreliable tank moves at the double, roll a die. On a 1, it breaks down.
A broken down vehicle counts as a Bogged Down until it is repaired by a Recovery Vehicle.
Regardless of how it broke down, a Recovery Vehicle can try to repair a broken down vehicle and get it moving again by moving adjacent to it. In the Shooting Step, roll a die instead of shooting.
On a score of 2+ the vehicle is repaired at the end of the Shooting Step.
On a roll of 1, a critical component is broken, and can not be fixed, so the vehicle is permanently Bogged Down and totally unrepairable.
In any case neither vehicle may shoot or assault this turn. (P-47 of main rule book)

Ammunition Shortage: Having predicted that new German heavy tanks would be invulnerable to existing weapons, the Soviet armaments ministry cancelled production of 45mm and 76mm guns in favor of 57mm and 107mm anti-tank guns and 122mm field guns. When war broke out, there was a serious shortage of these guns and 76mm ammunition.
Any time a player scores a 1 when rolling to hit with a 45mm or 76mm gun, the gun may be out of ammunition. Roll again. On a roll of 4+, the ammunition supply is adequate. On a lesser roll, the gun is out of ammunition and cannot shoot again during the
game.
When firing artillery barrages with 76mm guns, roll to range as normal. Once the firing is completed roll one die again. On a roll
of 4+, the ammunition supply is adequate. On a lesser roll, one gun in the battery is out of ammunition and cannot shoot again during the game.

Ramming: A tank that is out of ammunition for its main gun may attempt to ram an enemy tank in the Movement step. Roll a Motivation test for the tank. If the test is passed, the tank can move into contact with an enemy tank and attempt to ram. If the test is failed, the tank crew think better of the idea and just move as normal.
If the tank contacts an enemy tank while attempting to ram it, roll a Skill test for the ramming tank. If the test is passed, both tanks are destroyed. If it fails, only the ramming tank is destroyed.
Note: Ramming is deliberately difficult and expensive to the ramming side to discourage its overuse.

Turret Rear Machine Gun: Against tanks with a turret rear machine-gun. Attackers re-roll successful Skill tests to hit a tank with a turret rear machine-gun in an assault. If they pass the re-roll, the assaulting team gets past the machine-gunner to hit the tank and the tank must make an armor save roll as normal. If the attacker fails the re-roll, the assaulting team fails to score a hit. The machine-gunner manages to keep the infantry at bay and protect the tank

T-26 FOW Battle Sheet

Here is the FOW Combat Information for the three main T-26 models:

Flames Of War Reference Sheet
Advanced Early War Charts: T-26

From: Intelligence Briefing on the Early War Soviet Army (1939-41) Update v2.1 28/08/08 and Fortress Europe

T/O & E

Table of Organization and Equipment:

According to Battlefronts early war advanced reference sheets (www.flamesofwar.com) a full strength tank company before Germany invaded was 17 tanks. This was often not possible do to the wear and tear on the vehicles and need for maintenance. After Germany invaded a full company was reduced to three platoons of three tanks plus one for the company commander to make a 10 tank company. Again this strength was often not possible to reach and only found on paper.
A medium tank battalion would normally have one medium tank company and two to three fast tank companies. Or just three to four light or fast tank companies.
A tank Regiment would normally have one medium tank battalion, containing one medium tank company with the remaining being light or fast tank companies. One Light tank battalion, and one Chemical tank battalion.
A Chemical Tank battalion consisted of three to four tank companies consisting of nine chemical tanks and one gun tank of the same model for the company commander. Chemical tanks could be used as flame throwers, Smoke Screens, poison gas, or water.
According to Fleischer T-26 tanks were used in tank and mechanized brigades were to have 201 or 267 T-26 tanks each. Tank battalions of infantry divisions in 1940 had 38 tanks in each.
According to Myers a Soviet Mechanized or Tank Brigade had three tank battalions, each with three light and medium tank companies plus one amphibious tank company.

References: Fleischer, Wolfgang "Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945" Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA, 34
and http://www.flamesofwar.com - Battlefronts early war advanced reference sheets
and Myers, David, "Unit Organizations of World War II", Z&M Enterprises (1977) 73

T-26-4 (Artillery tank)

No photo available
(I haven’t built a 1/87th scale version yet)

Technical Data T-26-4 Artillery Tank (1932 +)
The T-26-4 was the most famous artillery tank with a rotating turret, developed on the basis of the T-26 tank.

Crew:……….….3 men
Armament:…..7.62mm KT-28 gun
………………..…2 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun
Armor plate:
Hull:
Front:………….15mm
Sides:…...……..15mm
Rear:………..….15mm
Top:…..………..10mm?
Bottom:……....6mm?
Turret:
Front:…………..15mm?
Sides: ………....15mm?
Rear: …………..15mm?
Top: …………...10mm?
Top Speed: .…15 km/h off road, 35 km/h on road?
Range: ………..170 km?
Built: …………..10?

References: UM models No.315 instructions, History
and http://www.rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/tree.htm

T-26A (Artillery tank)

No photo available
(I haven’t built a 1/87th scale version yet)

Technical Data T-26A Artillery Tank (1932 +)
Crew:......................3 men
Armament:..............7.62mm KT-28 gun
……………………………2 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine guns
Armor plate:
Hull:
Front:......................15mm
Sides:......................15mm
Rear:.......................15mm
Top:........................10mm?
Bottom:...................6mm?
Turret:
Front:......................15mm
Sides:.......................15mm
Rear:........................15mm
Top:.........................10mm?
Top Speed:...............15 km/h off road, 35 km/h on road
Range:.....................170 km
Built:........................65

References: Mirage Hobby Cat # 72610, History
and http://www.rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/tree.htm

AT-1 (Artillery tank)

No photo available
(I haven’t built a 1/87th scale version yet)

Technical Data AT-1 Artillery Tank (1935 +)
Many historians of the combat vehicle development consider the AT-1 the predecessor of the German Sdkfz 142 (Stug III) assault guns built on the chassis of the PzKpfw III. Production was stopped after 10 models in favor of the turreted T-26A, T-26-4, and BT-7A models.

Crew:.............3 men
Armament:.....7.62mm PS-3 gun
……………………2 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun?
Armor plate:
Hull:
Front:............15mm
Sides:.............15mm
Rear:..............15mm
Top:...............10mm?
Bottom:..........6mm?
Turret:
Front:.............15mm
Sides:..............15mm
Rear:...............15mm
Top:................10mm?
Top Speed:......15 km/h off road, 35 km/h on road
Range:.............160 km?
Built:...............10

Compiled from: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, P45
and Mirage Hobby Cat # 72605, History

T-26TN (Observation and Command)

Technical Data T-26TN (1937 +)
This was used as an Artillery Observation vehicle on the front line or in special observation posts. It was planned that each platoon of long range artillery would have one artillery reconnaissance vehicle. No data is available as to the operational use of these vehicles.

Crew: ..............3 men
Armament: ......1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun

Armor plate:

Hull: Front:.....15mm?

Sides:..............15mm?

Rear:...............15mm?

Top:................10mm?

Bottom:...........6mm?

Crew Compartment:

Front:.............15mm?

Sides:..............15mm?

Rear:...............15mm?

Top:................10mm?

Top Speed:......30-32 kph?

Range:............170 km?

Built:..............__?__

References: Mirage Hobby Cat # 72606, History
and http://www.rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/tree.htm

T-26-T/T2 (Prime Mover)

T-26-T (Canvas top) - T-26-T2 (Armored crew compartment)

Technical Data T-26-T/T2 Prime Mover (T = 1933-1936, T2 = 1934-1936)
Made to pull divisional guns

Crew:………..…. 2 men?
Armament:…... 1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun?
Armor plate:
Hull: Front..... 15mm?
Sides:….....….. 15mm?
Rear:…….….... 15mm?
Top:...…….….. 10mm?
Bottom:…....... 6mm?
Turret:

Front:.............0/15mm?
Sides:.....……...0/15mm?
Rear:…........….0/15mm?
Top:……..........0/10mm?
Top Speed:….. 30-32 kph?
Range: .....…… __?__ km
Built: …….....… T = 163, T2 = Limited numbers

Reference: http://www.rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/tree.htm

TP-26 (Personnel Carrier)

Technical Data TP-26 Personnel Carrier
This model was rejected by the Soviet Army (RKKA) but used by the NKVD Boarder troops in limited numbers.

Crew:................2 men

Armament:......1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun
…………………….2 x Infantry Squads (14 men)

Armor plate:

Hull: Front:.....15mm

Sides:..............15mm

Rear:...............15mm

Top:................10mm

Bottom:...........6mm

Passenger Compartment:

Front:.............6-7mm

Sides:..............6-7mm

Rear:...............6-7mm

Top:................6-7mm

Top Speed:......15 km/h off road – 45 km/h on road

Range:............__?___ km

Built:..............Limited numbers

References: Light Tanks T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T40, T-50, T-60, T-70 Volume 2, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, p35
and Mirage Hobby Cat # 72608 instructions, History

OT-133 (Chemical tank)

No photo yet available
(I haven't built miniature in 1/87th scale yet)

Technical Data OT-133 (1939 +)
Crew:..............3 men
Armament:......1 x 1938 model Flamethrower (Model KC-25, 100m range)
.......................1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun front turret
.......................1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun rear turret
Armor plate:
Hull: Front:.....15mm
Sides:..............15mm
Rear:...............15mm
Top:................10mm
Bottom:...........6mm
Turret: Front:..15mm
Sides:..............15mm
Rear:...............15mm
Top:................10mm
Top Speed:......30-32 kph
Range:............170 km
Built:..............(apx 836 OT-130 & OT-133 models combined)
References: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, p39
and Light Tanks T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T40, T-50, T-60, T-70 Volume 2, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, p23
and UM models No.220 Instructions, OT-133 History

OT-130 (Chemical tank)

Technical Data OT-130 (1938 +)
Crew:....................2 men
Armament:............1 x 1938 model Flamethrower (up to 70 bursts out to 50 m)
.............................1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun front turret
.............................1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun rear turret
Amor plate:
Hull: Front:...........15mm
Sides:....................15mm
Rear:.....................15mm
Top:......................10mm
Bottom:.................6mm
Turret: Front:........15mm
Sides:....................15mm
Rear:.....................15mm
Top:......................10mm
Top Speed:............30-32 kph
Range:...................160 km
Built:.....................(apx 836 OT-130 & OT-133 models combined)
References: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, p39
and Light Tanks T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T40, T-50, T-60, T-70 Volume 2, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, p23

and UM models No.219 Instructions, OT-130 History

OT-26 (Chemical tank)

Technical Data OT-26 (1933 +)
Crew: 2 men
Armament: .......1 x model 1933 Flamethrower – Right turret (up to 70 bursts out to 35 m)
............................1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun – Right turret
Armor plate:
Hull: Front: .......15mm
Sides: .................15mm
Rear: ..................15mm
Top: ....................10mm
Bottom: ..............6mm
Turret: Front: ...15mm
Sides: ..................15mm
Rear: ...................15mm
Top: ....................10mm
Top Speed: ........30-32 kph
Range: ................160 km
Built: ...................apx 500 (602 according to UM’s No. 324 history)
References: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, p39
and Light Tanks T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T40, T-50, T-60, T-70 Volume 2, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, p23
and UM Models No.324 Instructions, HT-26 History

T-26 (Model 1937)

Technical Data T-26, 1937 model
Crew:................3 men
Armament:........1 x 45 mm caliber 1934 tank gun
.........................1 to 3 x 7.62 mm caliber DT machine guns
Armor plate:
Hull: Front:......15mm
Sides:...............15mm
Rear:................15mm
Top:.................10mm
Bottom:............6mm
Turret: Front:...15mm
Sides:...............15mm
Rear:................15mm
Top:.................10mm
Top Speed:.......30 kph
Range:.............150-225 km
Built:................?

Compiled from: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, p40

T-26 (Model 1933)

Technical Data T-26, 1933 model
Crew: ...............3 men
Armament: .......1 x 45 mm caliber 1932 tank gun
.........................1 or 2 x 7.62 mm caliber DT machine guns
Armor plate:
Hull: Front: ......15mm
Sides: ...............15mm
Rear: ................15mm
Top: .................10mm
Bottom: ............6mm
Turret: Front: ...15mm
Sides: ...............15mm
Rear: ................15mm
Top: .................10mm
Top Speed: .......28 kph
Range: ..............375 km
Built: ................8,136

Compiled from: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, p40

and Light Tanks T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T40, T-50, T-60, T-70 Volume 2, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, p23

T-26 (Model 1931/2)

Technical Data T-26, 1931/2 model
Crew: ...............3 men
Armament: .....2 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun turrets (model 1931)
or
Armament: .....1 x 37mm SP-1 gun (a.k.a. Gochkis-PS) – Right turret (model 1932)
.......................1 x 7.62mm caliber DT machine gun – Left turret
Armor plate:
Hull: Front: ......15mm
Sides: ...............15mm
Rear: ................15mm
Top: .................10mm
Bottom: ............6mm
Turret: Front: ...15mm
Sides: ...............15mm
Rear: ................15mm
Top: .................10mm
Top Speed:........30-32 kph
Range: .............160 km
Built: ................1,627

Compiled from: Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, p39
and Light Tanks T-27, T-38, BT, T-26, T40, T-50, T-60, T-70 Volume 2, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, p23

My T-26 Forces

For my T-26 battalion I have already finished two seventeen Tank Company’s of model 1931 and model 1933 respectively and plan on building one of model 1937, when I can find the miniatures.
I have custom made, and am building now, a chemical battalion of T-26 variants. I am currently working on two companies consisting of nine flame tanks and one gun tank in each. I have custom made one company of OT-26’s (model 1931) and one company of OT-130’s (model 1933) already and just need to finish painting them. I plan, eventually to custom make one company of OT-133’s (model 1937) for a full three company chemical battalion.
For support I have already custom built:
Two different models of T-26-T Armored artillery tractors
TP-26 Personnel carriers
TN-26 Armored Observation vehicles

For additional supporting forces, in time, I will be customizing:
Assault tanks modified from the T-26 in two different configurations
TB-26 Ammunition transport vehicles
T-26-Ts Fuel transportation vehicles
ST-26 Engineer vehicles

The hardest one right now for me will be the ST-26 engineer vehicles because I will have to find blue prints or scale drawing from the different views in order to see what I need to build for the bridging it carries.

I will add further (and briefer) information as well as photos of my models in later posts. Please comment on any errors you see in my posts and offer any further missing information. As I said earlier I want to keep this as an academic reference worthy blog so please include any sources you may find and also please keep postings clean of offensive language.

Thank you and hope you find this blog useful.

My Sister Forces

My initial force is based on a three company battalion and three battalion regiment.
I have built already an Independent Heavy Tank company of ten T-35 heavy tanks (models 1933 and 1938).
I then have a battalion containing a company of T-28 medium tanks (models 1935, 1938, and 1940) along with a company of BT-7 fast tanks (model 1936) and will be building a company of BT-2 fast tanks (models 1931 and 1933).

My desires

What I want to do with this blog is gather information and verify the information I have on the T-26 series of tanks that I am going to use as the base for my force. I will explain as I build this blog what I have to build my force structure and the various models of the tank and hopefully others will add to it with more information that I don’t have available, verify what I have entered and correct any mistakes I have made or are making. I want to make this a valid academic work so will enter my sources and ask if you have additional or contradicting information you do so as well.

Historical background

In my gaming experience many people try to build the most powerful army possible so they can always have a good chance of winning the game. I try to build different armies that I don’t see on the gaming table. I try to choose historical forces that would be seen on the battlefield and try to win with the forces that would have been available at the time. This provides a challenge as miniatures makers make the miniatures that other people will want to buy so in many cases I have to custom make my miniatures myself for my forces. Another issue is scale. I am currently playing a game called Flames of War (FOW). It is a Company level WW-II game that uses 1 man to represent 1 man and 1 vehicle to represent 1 vehicle. Men are mounted as teams but the miniatures represent a one to one ratio. The miniatures scale that are sold for FOW are marketed as 15mm and the men and smaller vehicles are 15mm but when you get into the larger vehicles they switch to 1/100 scale which is a little smaller. For gaming it works but I don’t think it looks right. 15mm is actually 1/87 scale the same as an HO scale train layout so I use those vehicles for my armies.
My current project is building an army for the invasion of Russia by Germany on June 22nd, 1941 – Operation Barbarossa.
Since the Russian Army used massive numbers and a higher level of control they use a Battalion size unit in the game while everyone else uses a Company size force. I built an Infantry Battalion for them already so now I am building a tank army.
The German army started the operation with 3300 fighting vehicles and faced 23,000 fighting vehicles (The Eastern Front, Duncan Anderson, Loyd Clark and Stephen Walsh, MBI Publishing, page 22). The Russian Army lost ¾ of their tanks in the first few months of the war (Ivan’s War, Catherine Merridale, page 183). Many of these were older models of tanks from the 1930’s (and earlier) some of which were used in Spain and the earlier war with Finland.
These are the tanks I am going to build for my new tank army.

Purpose of this blog

The purpose of this blog is two fold.
First: I am learning how to create and use a blog. I am taking a course in school that is using them and this one is my first attempt at creating a blog.
Second: I have an interest in historical gaming and in building miniatures. I use the miniatures in the gaming of course. I want to use this blog to gather and verify historical information on the T-26 tank and its variants.