T-26 tank tanks
Forces operating on the front line need a constant supply of various supplies, including fuel. The use of trucks with tanks for such purposes may be associated with known risks that can be eliminated with the help of special protected transport vehicles. In the mid-thirties of the last century in our country it was proposed to solve this problem with the help of the so-called. tankstanks. Two machines of this class were developed and tested - T-26-Ts and TTs-26.
It must be recalled that in the 1932 year - shortly after the launch of mass production of light tanks T-26 - there was a proposal to create a number of new vehicles for this type of chassis. First of all, it was proposed to develop armored transporters for infantry and ammunition. A few years later, the development of these ideas led to the emergence of the concept of a tank-tank. As conceived by the authors of the idea, such a machine had to carry bulk containers for fuel and lubricants and ensure the supply of armored units. As in previous projects of auxiliary equipment, it was proposed to place the new equipment on the T-26 serial chassis.
Project T-26-C
The first tank-tank project based on the T-26 was developed by the Leningrad Pilot Plant of Spetsmashtrest them. CM. Kirov (future plant number XXUMX). The development work on the new topic started in 185, and as soon as possible a full-fledged project was developed for converting a light tank into a special machine. Pointing to the continuity of the design, the tank-tank was given the designation T-1934-C.
Tank T-26Ts. The sleeves are attached to the fittings, the fuel is dispensed.
Like the previous projects of the transporters, the new one provided for a minimal refinement of the base tank. In accordance with the T-26-C project, the light tank should have lost the tower and a significant part of the turret box. Instead, it was proposed to install a large wheelhouse with tanks for gasoline and oil. Also, the machine should be equipped with pumps for pumping liquids, a set of sleeves, etc. Finally, it was necessary to take safety measures and provide for fire fighting equipment.
The tank-tank could keep the existing chassis with a standard body, power plant and chassis. Thus, the T-26-C should have had a body assembled on rivets of armor plates up to 15 mm thick. At the same time, the same level of protection from all angles was maintained. A new cabin was proposed to be assembled from 10-mm armor. The layout of the tank changed in accordance with the new role. In front of the hull transmission units and separation control remained. The central compartment was now turned into liquid cargo tanks, while the engine compartment remained in the stern.
A tank-tank could use a GAZ-T-26 carburetor engine with 91 horsepower. Next to the engine in the stern were placed the cooling system, fuel tank, etc. With the help of a cardan shaft, which passed along the hull, the engine was connected to the transmission of the front location. It consisted of a five-speed gearbox, a turning mechanism based on multi-disc side clutches and single-stage side gears.
The design of the chassis is not recycled. On each side there were still eight rubber-coated small-diameter road wheels. The rollers were mounted in pairs on the yokes assembled in two carts. Depreciation was carried out using two leaf springs on each trolley. In front of the tank was a drive wheel, in the stern - guide. Four supporting rollers were used on board.
In the project T-26-C, the regular front part of the tacked box was retained. Under it should have been located two crew members. Driver's workplace is on the right. There was an access hatch in front of it with a lowered lid. At the left side was the commander responsible for the application weapons. A ball machine with a machine gun was placed at his workplace. The driver’s place was retained by a regular double hatch, and the commander was asked to use his own hatch in the roof of the wheelhouse.
For self-defense tank tank received a single machine gun DT. It was mounted on a ball mount and could fire only a certain sector of the front hemisphere. In the habitable compartment, it was designed for 10 magazines with 630 cartridges.
In the place of the former box tower, turret and fighting compartment in the project T-26-C, a new large-sized cabin was located. It had a rectangular shape and differed by a considerable width, as a result of which its side parts hung over the caterpillars. On the roof of the wheelhouse, hatches were provided for access to internal tanks and tanks. On the sides of the wheelhouse there were output connectors for connecting the sleeves.
T-26-C, side view
Most of the internal volumes of logging were given to a large tank for transportation of fuel. In it, a new transport vehicle could carry up to 1650 liters of gas. There was also a smaller tank for oil capacity 165 l. The containers for fuel and lubricants were completed with the necessary pipelines and other fittings. In case of fire, the car was equipped with several fire extinguishers.
According to the project of the Experimental Plant of Spetsmashrest, a promet-type pump with a capacity of 400 L per minute should be installed inside the wheelhouse. With it, liquids were supposed to be supplied to the onboard outlet fittings. To distribute fuel to consumers, the T-26-C had to carry several rubber-fabric hoses of sufficient length. If necessary, a tank-tank could simultaneously serve several army vehicles.
By the 1934, the serial light tanks T-26 began to be equipped with two fuel tanks on the 180 and 110 l. It is easy to calculate that one T-26-C tank could carry out a full refueling of at least five such combat vehicles. It could take less than a minute to pump gasoline into one tank, not counting the time for preparation.
In terms of size and weight, the tank-tank had to match the base sample. The length of the car slightly exceeded 4,6 m, the width was less than 2,5 m, the height was no more than 2,3 m. The combat weight with full filling with liquids was determined in 10,15 t. On road performance and cross-country ability T-28-C almost did not differ from T-120.
The development of the T-26-C project was completed in 1934, and at the start of 1935, Spetsmashrest Experimental Plant built a single prototype of a special machine. In April of the same year, the prototype, together with other prototype conveyors based on the T-26, went to the tests.
During the checks, it was found that 10-mm circular booking of the cabin with tanks provides an insufficient level of protection. This meant that tanks with flammable liquids that are particularly dangerous are less well protected than the chassis. In a combat situation, this could hit the survivability of equipment, and also almost completely excluded the possibility of a successful crew rescue.
All new transporters based on the T-26, equipped with a wheelhouse, did not perform well in terms of the operation of the power plant. Like the original tank, the engine experienced increased loads, which led to some problems. In addition, the installation of a large logging led to the processing of the design of an oil radiator. Its new location was unsuccessful, and as a result, the engines quickly overheated. The correction of this deficiency was connected with a new serious reworking of the structure.
View of the stern and starboard
T-26-C and other samples of transport equipment were tested, but did not receive the approval of the military. The army showed interest in tank tanks as the original class of equipment, but the proposed model did not suit her. As a result, an order was received to close the project. In addition, work on several other transporter projects based on the T-26 tank was stopped. The only self-propelled tank was soon dismantled as useless.
Project TC-26
In 1935, the army abandoned several developed auxiliary vehicles on a tank chassis, but work continued in this direction. Already in 1936, the project was developed by the Leningrad plant them. K.E. Voroshilov (later renamed the plant number XXUMX). Due to the use of some new ambiguous ideas, designers managed to significantly increase the transported stock of liquid goods. This option tank tank remained in stories under the name TC-26.
The project of the plant. Voroshilov also provided for the use of the finished tank chassis without major modifications. At the same time, the T-26 tank had to lose the turret box, from which only the front wheelhouse remained above the crew seats. Power plant, transmission, chassis, booking, etc. remained the same.
The crew, as before, was located in the front manned compartment and consisted of two people. The driver had a double hatch in front of him, which ensured the landing and observation of the road. The commander could get into the car through the hatch in the roof. He had at his disposal a frontal ball mount with a DT machine gun. The new project offered to transport more ammunition. Inside the case could place 17 shops with 1071 cartridge. As before, the machine gun could fire at targets only in a small sector of the front hemisphere.
On the roof of the hull, above the former fighting compartment, placed a frame with mounts for the main tank. It was proposed to transport gasoline in a spherical tank with a diameter of about 750-800 mm. This capacity had a volume 1900 l. It should be noted that this tank was proposed to be made of structural steel. In addition, she did not have any additional protection in the form of separate armor plates. For the transportation of oil tank tank received 11 individual tanks with a capacity of 15 l each - only 165 liters. Tanks were completed with the appropriate pipelines.
Before the tank on the roof of the hull it was proposed to mount a hand pump with the required capacity. With a set of valves and valves, he could dispense both fuel and oil. To dispense liquids on board a tank-tank, several rubber-fabric hoses should be transported. Bogatyr type fire extinguisher was placed behind the spherical tank.
According to known data, the tank-tank TC-26 from the plant. Voroshilov in its size and weight, in general, corresponded to other machines of the T-26 family. At the same time managed to get some weight advantage over the previous T-26-C. The refusal of armor felling allowed to ease the car, as well as to release part of the carrying capacity. As a result, the transporter could carry more gasoline than the predecessor on the 250, but its combat weight was reduced to 10 tons. The handling characteristics and maneuverability remained at the same level.
Tank-tank TTs-26 with an open placement of fuel and oil tanks
In 1936, the Leningrad plant them. K.E. Voroshilov rebuilt the serial tank T-26 into the tank-tank TC-26. Due to the simplicity of the project, the reworking of the machine did not take much time, and in the shortest possible time the prototype was submitted for testing. Soon the car was sent to the landfill, where it showed its capabilities. According to some information, and this time the self-propelled tank was tested simultaneously with the conveyors of other models intended for the carriage of other goods.
It is curious that even before the completion of inspections, the military decided on the future construction of new equipment. In June, the Red Army Armored Directorate of the Red Army decided to add 1936 transporters of several models and 210 tank tanks to the construction plan of armored vehicles. Apparently, in the latter case, it was about machines such as TC-90, since from the previous T-26-C by this time had time to refuse.
Tests of new samples on the basis of a light tank led to already known results. Relatively weak motor did not allow to obtain high performance, and an attempt to improve the cooling means from the experience of previous projects did not lead to the desired results. As for the new type of tank-tank, it had the most serious problem: the total weight of the machine was reduced due to the abandonment of the protection of the fuel tank. Thus, the vehicle on the tank chassis could not fully serve the armored units, since any bullet or fragment could have led to the most terrible consequences.
In 1937, the Armored Directorate ordered to stop all work on the subject of armored transporters based on the T-26 tank. Several projects have been closed. Part of the experimental equipment, according to known data, was rebuilt according to other projects, while some samples were sent to work in secondary roles in certain parts. However, over the next few years, the army got rid of them.
***
The idea of a tank-tank capable of carrying fuel and lubricants under the protection of armor seemed interesting and promising at one time. However, attempts to implement it in practice did not yield the expected result. The T-26-C and TC-26 machines had limited tactical and technical characteristics, and their combat survivability left much to be desired. As a result, they could not work at the forefront and maintain tanks without unacceptably high risks.
The main disadvantages of the two tank tanks built were associated with the characteristics of the base chassis. If they were built on the basis of another tank that has a more powerful engine and the corresponding characteristics, the results would be closer to the required ones. However, at that time it was believed that T-26 should be the basis for auxiliary machines. In addition, there could be no possibility of using other chassis.
The program of creating protected transporters, including fuel carriers, on the T-26 chassis was not crowned with success, and such ideas were abandoned. The Red Army never received specialized armored vehicles for the transportation of gasoline and oils. Such tasks still had to be solved with the help of tank trucks, barrels and other containers.
Based on:
http://ww2history.ru/
https://shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com/
http://aviarmor.net/
Solyankin A. G., Pavlov M. V., Pavlov I. V., Zheltov I. G. Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. - M .: Exprint, 2002. - T. 1. 1905 – 1941.
Kolomiets M.V. T-26. The fate of a light tank. - M .: Eksmo, Yauza, Strategy KM, 2007.
It must be recalled that in the 1932 year - shortly after the launch of mass production of light tanks T-26 - there was a proposal to create a number of new vehicles for this type of chassis. First of all, it was proposed to develop armored transporters for infantry and ammunition. A few years later, the development of these ideas led to the emergence of the concept of a tank-tank. As conceived by the authors of the idea, such a machine had to carry bulk containers for fuel and lubricants and ensure the supply of armored units. As in previous projects of auxiliary equipment, it was proposed to place the new equipment on the T-26 serial chassis.
Project T-26-C
The first tank-tank project based on the T-26 was developed by the Leningrad Pilot Plant of Spetsmashtrest them. CM. Kirov (future plant number XXUMX). The development work on the new topic started in 185, and as soon as possible a full-fledged project was developed for converting a light tank into a special machine. Pointing to the continuity of the design, the tank-tank was given the designation T-1934-C.
Tank T-26Ts. The sleeves are attached to the fittings, the fuel is dispensed.
Like the previous projects of the transporters, the new one provided for a minimal refinement of the base tank. In accordance with the T-26-C project, the light tank should have lost the tower and a significant part of the turret box. Instead, it was proposed to install a large wheelhouse with tanks for gasoline and oil. Also, the machine should be equipped with pumps for pumping liquids, a set of sleeves, etc. Finally, it was necessary to take safety measures and provide for fire fighting equipment.
The tank-tank could keep the existing chassis with a standard body, power plant and chassis. Thus, the T-26-C should have had a body assembled on rivets of armor plates up to 15 mm thick. At the same time, the same level of protection from all angles was maintained. A new cabin was proposed to be assembled from 10-mm armor. The layout of the tank changed in accordance with the new role. In front of the hull transmission units and separation control remained. The central compartment was now turned into liquid cargo tanks, while the engine compartment remained in the stern.
A tank-tank could use a GAZ-T-26 carburetor engine with 91 horsepower. Next to the engine in the stern were placed the cooling system, fuel tank, etc. With the help of a cardan shaft, which passed along the hull, the engine was connected to the transmission of the front location. It consisted of a five-speed gearbox, a turning mechanism based on multi-disc side clutches and single-stage side gears.
The design of the chassis is not recycled. On each side there were still eight rubber-coated small-diameter road wheels. The rollers were mounted in pairs on the yokes assembled in two carts. Depreciation was carried out using two leaf springs on each trolley. In front of the tank was a drive wheel, in the stern - guide. Four supporting rollers were used on board.
In the project T-26-C, the regular front part of the tacked box was retained. Under it should have been located two crew members. Driver's workplace is on the right. There was an access hatch in front of it with a lowered lid. At the left side was the commander responsible for the application weapons. A ball machine with a machine gun was placed at his workplace. The driver’s place was retained by a regular double hatch, and the commander was asked to use his own hatch in the roof of the wheelhouse.
For self-defense tank tank received a single machine gun DT. It was mounted on a ball mount and could fire only a certain sector of the front hemisphere. In the habitable compartment, it was designed for 10 magazines with 630 cartridges.
In the place of the former box tower, turret and fighting compartment in the project T-26-C, a new large-sized cabin was located. It had a rectangular shape and differed by a considerable width, as a result of which its side parts hung over the caterpillars. On the roof of the wheelhouse, hatches were provided for access to internal tanks and tanks. On the sides of the wheelhouse there were output connectors for connecting the sleeves.
T-26-C, side view
Most of the internal volumes of logging were given to a large tank for transportation of fuel. In it, a new transport vehicle could carry up to 1650 liters of gas. There was also a smaller tank for oil capacity 165 l. The containers for fuel and lubricants were completed with the necessary pipelines and other fittings. In case of fire, the car was equipped with several fire extinguishers.
According to the project of the Experimental Plant of Spetsmashrest, a promet-type pump with a capacity of 400 L per minute should be installed inside the wheelhouse. With it, liquids were supposed to be supplied to the onboard outlet fittings. To distribute fuel to consumers, the T-26-C had to carry several rubber-fabric hoses of sufficient length. If necessary, a tank-tank could simultaneously serve several army vehicles.
By the 1934, the serial light tanks T-26 began to be equipped with two fuel tanks on the 180 and 110 l. It is easy to calculate that one T-26-C tank could carry out a full refueling of at least five such combat vehicles. It could take less than a minute to pump gasoline into one tank, not counting the time for preparation.
In terms of size and weight, the tank-tank had to match the base sample. The length of the car slightly exceeded 4,6 m, the width was less than 2,5 m, the height was no more than 2,3 m. The combat weight with full filling with liquids was determined in 10,15 t. On road performance and cross-country ability T-28-C almost did not differ from T-120.
The development of the T-26-C project was completed in 1934, and at the start of 1935, Spetsmashrest Experimental Plant built a single prototype of a special machine. In April of the same year, the prototype, together with other prototype conveyors based on the T-26, went to the tests.
During the checks, it was found that 10-mm circular booking of the cabin with tanks provides an insufficient level of protection. This meant that tanks with flammable liquids that are particularly dangerous are less well protected than the chassis. In a combat situation, this could hit the survivability of equipment, and also almost completely excluded the possibility of a successful crew rescue.
All new transporters based on the T-26, equipped with a wheelhouse, did not perform well in terms of the operation of the power plant. Like the original tank, the engine experienced increased loads, which led to some problems. In addition, the installation of a large logging led to the processing of the design of an oil radiator. Its new location was unsuccessful, and as a result, the engines quickly overheated. The correction of this deficiency was connected with a new serious reworking of the structure.
View of the stern and starboard
T-26-C and other samples of transport equipment were tested, but did not receive the approval of the military. The army showed interest in tank tanks as the original class of equipment, but the proposed model did not suit her. As a result, an order was received to close the project. In addition, work on several other transporter projects based on the T-26 tank was stopped. The only self-propelled tank was soon dismantled as useless.
Project TC-26
In 1935, the army abandoned several developed auxiliary vehicles on a tank chassis, but work continued in this direction. Already in 1936, the project was developed by the Leningrad plant them. K.E. Voroshilov (later renamed the plant number XXUMX). Due to the use of some new ambiguous ideas, designers managed to significantly increase the transported stock of liquid goods. This option tank tank remained in stories under the name TC-26.
The project of the plant. Voroshilov also provided for the use of the finished tank chassis without major modifications. At the same time, the T-26 tank had to lose the turret box, from which only the front wheelhouse remained above the crew seats. Power plant, transmission, chassis, booking, etc. remained the same.
The crew, as before, was located in the front manned compartment and consisted of two people. The driver had a double hatch in front of him, which ensured the landing and observation of the road. The commander could get into the car through the hatch in the roof. He had at his disposal a frontal ball mount with a DT machine gun. The new project offered to transport more ammunition. Inside the case could place 17 shops with 1071 cartridge. As before, the machine gun could fire at targets only in a small sector of the front hemisphere.
On the roof of the hull, above the former fighting compartment, placed a frame with mounts for the main tank. It was proposed to transport gasoline in a spherical tank with a diameter of about 750-800 mm. This capacity had a volume 1900 l. It should be noted that this tank was proposed to be made of structural steel. In addition, she did not have any additional protection in the form of separate armor plates. For the transportation of oil tank tank received 11 individual tanks with a capacity of 15 l each - only 165 liters. Tanks were completed with the appropriate pipelines.
Before the tank on the roof of the hull it was proposed to mount a hand pump with the required capacity. With a set of valves and valves, he could dispense both fuel and oil. To dispense liquids on board a tank-tank, several rubber-fabric hoses should be transported. Bogatyr type fire extinguisher was placed behind the spherical tank.
According to known data, the tank-tank TC-26 from the plant. Voroshilov in its size and weight, in general, corresponded to other machines of the T-26 family. At the same time managed to get some weight advantage over the previous T-26-C. The refusal of armor felling allowed to ease the car, as well as to release part of the carrying capacity. As a result, the transporter could carry more gasoline than the predecessor on the 250, but its combat weight was reduced to 10 tons. The handling characteristics and maneuverability remained at the same level.
Tank-tank TTs-26 with an open placement of fuel and oil tanks
In 1936, the Leningrad plant them. K.E. Voroshilov rebuilt the serial tank T-26 into the tank-tank TC-26. Due to the simplicity of the project, the reworking of the machine did not take much time, and in the shortest possible time the prototype was submitted for testing. Soon the car was sent to the landfill, where it showed its capabilities. According to some information, and this time the self-propelled tank was tested simultaneously with the conveyors of other models intended for the carriage of other goods.
It is curious that even before the completion of inspections, the military decided on the future construction of new equipment. In June, the Red Army Armored Directorate of the Red Army decided to add 1936 transporters of several models and 210 tank tanks to the construction plan of armored vehicles. Apparently, in the latter case, it was about machines such as TC-90, since from the previous T-26-C by this time had time to refuse.
Tests of new samples on the basis of a light tank led to already known results. Relatively weak motor did not allow to obtain high performance, and an attempt to improve the cooling means from the experience of previous projects did not lead to the desired results. As for the new type of tank-tank, it had the most serious problem: the total weight of the machine was reduced due to the abandonment of the protection of the fuel tank. Thus, the vehicle on the tank chassis could not fully serve the armored units, since any bullet or fragment could have led to the most terrible consequences.
In 1937, the Armored Directorate ordered to stop all work on the subject of armored transporters based on the T-26 tank. Several projects have been closed. Part of the experimental equipment, according to known data, was rebuilt according to other projects, while some samples were sent to work in secondary roles in certain parts. However, over the next few years, the army got rid of them.
***
The idea of a tank-tank capable of carrying fuel and lubricants under the protection of armor seemed interesting and promising at one time. However, attempts to implement it in practice did not yield the expected result. The T-26-C and TC-26 machines had limited tactical and technical characteristics, and their combat survivability left much to be desired. As a result, they could not work at the forefront and maintain tanks without unacceptably high risks.
The main disadvantages of the two tank tanks built were associated with the characteristics of the base chassis. If they were built on the basis of another tank that has a more powerful engine and the corresponding characteristics, the results would be closer to the required ones. However, at that time it was believed that T-26 should be the basis for auxiliary machines. In addition, there could be no possibility of using other chassis.
The program of creating protected transporters, including fuel carriers, on the T-26 chassis was not crowned with success, and such ideas were abandoned. The Red Army never received specialized armored vehicles for the transportation of gasoline and oils. Such tasks still had to be solved with the help of tank trucks, barrels and other containers.
Based on:
http://ww2history.ru/
https://shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com/
http://aviarmor.net/
Solyankin A. G., Pavlov M. V., Pavlov I. V., Zheltov I. G. Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. - M .: Exprint, 2002. - T. 1. 1905 – 1941.
Kolomiets M.V. T-26. The fate of a light tank. - M .: Eksmo, Yauza, Strategy KM, 2007.
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