The Vickers Six Ton Tank Mark E was highly influential and innovative for its time. Tank designs from the Soviet Union and the USA had incorporated elements of the Vickers export success. The T-26 was a direct derivative of the Vickers Six Ton Tank and was present in great numbers, easily over 12,000, during Operation Barbarossa in 1941. This was the most important type numercially that was available to the Soviets. The T-26, BT-5, BT-7 types formed the bulk of Soviet armour then and were lost in great numbers.
The presence of the T-26s in the Spanish Civil War made a deep impression on its enemies then due to its powerful gun. By 1941, it was obsolete.
The 1931 model of the T-26 was armed with a 37mm gun while the 1933 and 1937 models were armed with a 45mm gun. Armour was 15mm in most aspects. The virtues of the T-26 included easy maintenance and simple design. The shortcomings of the type included low speed and somewhat low technical reliability.
Note the track arrangements and suspension.
Tank Museum, Bovington: July 2006
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