ST-26 (UST-26)
Engineer bridge tank with the possibility of connecting other devices
Based on Tankový plán, according to which for each type of tank should exist its engineering and flamethrower version, was developed from 1932 in the Military-Engineering Academy under the leadership of Ing. Gutman engineer tank on the platform of the T-26 tank.
The body and chassis were identical to the tank T-26-1931, however, two turrets were replaced by one machine gun with a range of + -105 degrees (1x DT 7.62 with 1,008 rounds). In addition, holders for other engineering equipment were added to the front of the hull. A 7,000 mm long steel bridge was placed on the tubular movable structure, which was manipulated by means of steel ropes on a pulley system driven by a gearbox. The two-member crew was to lay a bridge that allowed tanks weighing up to 15 tons (max. BT) to cross a moat 6.5 m wide or a wall 2 m high, within 40 seconds. Loading was to be done within 3 minutes with the help of the tank commander outside the vehicle. The bridges were also supplied with 2.5 m long steel supports, which made it possible to connect individual parts in series. The weight of the vehicle was 9,500 kg.
After testing three prototypes in the summer of 1933, the Defense Commission ordered the production of 100 of these vehicles during the following year. However, production was hampered and in 1934 only 44 vehicles were produced and in another only 20. However, innovations were worked on at the same time and by 1936 20 vehicles with a modified bridge structure were produced by Alexandrov (the crew did not have to leave the vehicle) and two UCT-26, in which the bridge was manipulated by a lever system.
It was also possible to mount an arrow blade, a knife deminer and a KMT-26 wheel deminer to the vehicles. A total of 75 ST-26 tanks (UST-26) were produced by 1939.
Source:
KOLOMIJEC, Maksim: T-26-téolaja suďba legkogo tanka, Eksmo, Moskva 2007
Engineer bridge tank with the possibility of connecting other devices
Based on Tankový plán, according to which for each type of tank should exist its engineering and flamethrower version, was developed from 1932 in the Military-Engineering Academy under the leadership of Ing. Gutman engineer tank on the platform of the T-26 tank.
The body and chassis were identical to the tank T-26-1931, however, two turrets were replaced by one machine gun with a range of + -105 degrees (1x DT 7.62 with 1,008 rounds). In addition, holders for other engineering equipment were added to the front of the hull. A 7,000 mm long steel bridge was placed on the tubular movable structure, which was manipulated by means of steel ropes on a pulley system driven by a gearbox. The two-member crew was to lay a bridge that allowed tanks weighing up to 15 tons (max. BT) to cross a moat 6.5 m wide or a wall 2 m high, within 40 seconds. Loading was to be done within 3 minutes with the help of the tank commander outside the vehicle. The bridges were also supplied with 2.5 m long steel supports, which made it possible to connect individual parts in series. The weight of the vehicle was 9,500 kg.
After testing three prototypes in the summer of 1933, the Defense Commission ordered the production of 100 of these vehicles during the following year. However, production was hampered and in 1934 only 44 vehicles were produced and in another only 20. However, innovations were worked on at the same time and by 1936 20 vehicles with a modified bridge structure were produced by Alexandrov (the crew did not have to leave the vehicle) and two UCT-26, in which the bridge was manipulated by a lever system.
It was also possible to mount an arrow blade, a knife deminer and a KMT-26 wheel deminer to the vehicles. A total of 75 ST-26 tanks (UST-26) were produced by 1939.
Source:
KOLOMIJEC, Maksim: T-26-téolaja suďba legkogo tanka, Eksmo, Moskva 2007