This release sees the introduction of some new light armoured vehicles for the Soviets, as well as a couple of new model for existing vehicles. The new additions are the T-26 and T-38 light tanks, the OT-133 flamethrower tank and the BA-10 and D-12 armoured cars. Also, as part of our goal of always improving options, we have a new model out for the BA-20.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
T-26 Light Tank
The T-26 tank was a Soviet light tank used during many conflicts of the Interwar period and in World War II. It was a development of the British Vickers 6-Ton tank and was one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s until its light armour became vulnerable to newer anti-tank guns. The T-26 was produced in greater numbers than any other tank of the period, with more than 11,000 units manufactured. It was also the most important tank of the Spanish Civil War and played a significant role during the Battle of Lake Khasan in 1938, as well as in the Winter War in 1939–40.
The T-26 was based on the Vickers 6-ton Model A, which had two turrets with machine guns. The Soviets modified the design by replacing one of the turrets with a larger one that mounted a 45 mm gun. This gave the tank better firepower than most of its contemporaries. It also had a reliable engine and transmission, and a good suspension system. The T-26 was easy to produce and maintain, and was ideally suited for mass-production.
However, it also had some drawbacks. It had a thin armour that could not withstand modern anti-tank weapons. It also had a high silhouette that made it an easy target. The T-26 was slow and had a poor cross-country performance. Moreover, it suffered from poor communication and coordination, as it lacked radios and intercoms. T-26 crews were often poorly trained and inexperienced, and suffered heavy losses in combat.
Despite these limitations, it was the mainstay of the Red Army’s armoured force during the first years of World War II. The T-26 fought the Germans and their allies during the Battle of Moscow in 1941–42, the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of the Caucasus in 1942–1943; some tank units of the Leningrad Front used them until 1944. The T-26 also fought against the Japanese in Manchuria in August 1945. It was gradually replaced by more advanced tanks, such as the T-34 and the KV series, but it remained in service until the end of the war
D-12 Armoured Car
The Soviet D-12 armoured car was a light vehicle designed for reconnaissance and anti-aircraft purposes during World War 2. It was based on the GAZ-A automobile, which was a licensed copy of the Ford Model A. The D-12 was a modified version of the earlier D-8 armoured car, which was created by engineer N.I. Dyrenkov in 1931.
The main difference between the two models was the open roof of the D-12, which allowed for a ring-mounted 7.62mm machine gun to be used against low-flying aircraft. The D-12 had a crew of three and a maximum speed of 70 km/h. It was lightly armoured, with only 4 to 6 mm of steel protection. The D-12 was produced in small numbers, around 60 units, and saw limited service with the Red Army until 1941.
T-38 Amphibious Light Tank
The T-38 was a Soviet amphibious light tank, developed as a modernized version of the earlier T-37 tank, that saw service in World War II. Based on the British Vickers amphibious tank, the T-38 was designed for reconnaissance and infantry support roles, and had the advantages of a low silhouette and good long-range mobility through its ability to swim.
The redesign of the Vickers proved to be extensive, and included shifting the turret and driver positions, improving the buoyancy and suspension, and adding friction couplings to prevent track loss. The T-38 also had a slightly wider and lower profile than its predecessor, providing better stability in water.
The primary armament was a 7.62mm DT machine gun in a hand-operated turret. The initial prototype also had a 20mm ShVAK cannon mounted on the driver’s position, but this was removed after it impaired the driver’s ability to control the tank. The tank had a crew of two, and was powered by a GAZ-AA engine that gave it a speed of 40 km/h on land and 6 km/h in water. The T-38 had a range of 170 km on land and 120 km in water.
It was intended to be air-portable, and was tested with Tupolev TB-3 bombers in 1936. The tanks were mounted under the fuselage of the bombers, and could be dropped by parachute or landed on water. However, this method proved impractical and risky, and was rarely used in combat.
The T-38 saw action in World War II, mainly in the early stages of the war. It was used by Soviet airborne units, infantry battalions, and border guards. The T-38 participated in the Winter War against Finland, the invasion of Poland, the Baltic states, and Romania, and the defense of Moscow. However, the T-38 soon became obsolete due to its weak armor and firepower, and its poor performance on rough terrain. The T-38 was vulnerable to anti-tank weapons, artillery fire, and even small arms fire. Many T-38s were captured or destroyed by the enemy forces.
The T-40, which had better armour, armament, and communication equipment, replaced the T-38 in 1940. However, some T-38s remained in service until 1943, mostly in rear areas or as training vehicles.
The T-38 tank was an innovative amphibious scout tank that had some advantages over its predecessor, but also many flaws that limited its effectiveness in combat. It remains one of the first amphibious tanks in history, but also one of the last.
BA-10 Armoured Car
Developed in 1938 and produced until 1941, over 3300 BA-10 armoured cars saw action with the Red Army. Based on the GAZ-AAA six-wheeled truck chassis, which copied the American Ford Timken design, it featured a sloped armour layout that improved protection while saving weight. It featured a turret mounted 45 mm gun and two machine guns – one in the turret and one in the hull.
It saw service in various military operations and campaigns of the Soviet Union in 1939-1940, such as the Battle of Khalkhin Gol against Japan, the Winter War against Finland, and the invasion of Poland. The BA-10 proved to be a reliable and sophisticated fighting vehicle, even by international standards. However, there were also some drawbacks, such as poor off-road performance and vulnerability to anti-tank weapons. Auxiliary tracks fitted to the rear wheels when necessary improved traction on snow or soft ground. Stowage boxes and body mounted clips provided storage for the tracks when not in use.
The outbreak of World War II prevented the production of the BA-11, which would have been the successor to the BA-10, and so the BA-10 remained in service until 1945. Later in the war, light tanks such as the T-60 and T-70 took on the armoured scout role and the BA-10 rarely saw action after the winter of 1941-42. Capture BA-10s also saw use by Finland, Germany, and other Axis powers in Europe.
Overall, the BA-10 played an important role in the pre-war Soviet military. It remains an impressive armoured car for its time. It was also one of the first vehicles to use sloped armour, which became a common feature in later Soviet tank designs.
OT-133 Light Flamethrower Tank
The OT-133 was a Soviet flame-throwing tank that was used in World War 2. It was based on the T-26 light tank, which was one of the most produced tanks in the world. The OT-133 had a single turret with a flame-thrower, with a secondary armament of a hull-mounted machine gun for self-defense.
The OT-133 was developed in 1939 as a variant of the T-26 model 1939. It had a crew of three: a driver, a commander and a flame-thrower operator. The flame-thrower had a range of about 40 meters and could carry 400 liters of fuel. The tank could also carry other chemicals for smoke screens or contamination.
Originally designed for close combat and urban warfare, It could destroy enemy fortifications, vehicles and personnel with its fire. However, it also had many drawbacks. It was vulnerable to enemy fire, especially anti-tank weapons; it had poor mobility and reliability and it had limited visibility and communication.
The OT-133 saw action in the Winter War against Finland, the Soviet-Finnish War of 1941-1944, and the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany. It was mostly used by the Soviet chemical troops, but also by some tank brigades and divisions. It was often deployed in groups of three or four tanks, supported by infantry and other tanks.
The OT-133 was a fearsome weapon that could cause panic and terror among the enemy ranks. However, it was also an obsolete and ineffective tank that suffered heavy losses. It was gradually replaced by more modern flame-throwing tanks, such as the OT-34 and the OT-54.
Further updates are also available via our Facebook page.
We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your Soviet armies – Ura!