The Russian AT-1

[Taskforce]

Since I also play the online game World of Tanks and use the AT-1 as my mainstay there, I was surpriced to find that this vehicle also is available in the wonderful game of Steel Panther. From the information available in the online game this was a experimental vehicle, based on the T-26, with 8 test vehicles built in total, but no serial production was ever started.



Just a curios question of mine, since you game developers probably have done some extended research about this vehicle, was it intended to be a tank destroyer or was it intended to be an assault gun? And its 76,2 mm gun, was it a howitzer or an anti-tank gun? Do you know anything about its planned development, was it to be fitted with a 57 mm gun or something simular?

Also, thanks for a great game, it is a small but nice alternative to all the other online games available out there.

Cheers, Taskforce

[DRG]

No idea. It was years ago we added that as "prototype tank"

Don

[Pibwl]

Originally Posted by Taskforce

was it intended to be a tank destroyer or was it intended to be an assault gun? And its 76,2 mm gun, was it a howitzer or an anti-tank gun? Do you know anything about its planned development, was it to be fitted with a 57 mm gun or something simular?

In mid-30s there was no such vehicle, as "tank destroyer" - standard T-26s with 45mm guns were supposed (and were able) to destroy all contemporary tanks. Variant with 76mm gun was supposed to be a close support vehicle, firing mostly HE, against gun nests, small fortifications etc. Initially there was proposed T-26-4 (aka T-26A) with short 76mm KT gun in a turret, but it was abandoned, in a favour of AT-1, with slightly better gun PS-3 in a superstructure. A good drawing is here http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/BeforeWWII/mk9_93/

Only 2 prototypes were completed in 1935. A short evaluation series was ordered, and 8 hulls were made, but they weren't completed. It might seem strange, but the gun's designer P. Syachentov in 1937 became a victim of Stalinist repressions as a "nation's enemy", and therefore his designs were cancelled as well.

By the way, according to Russian sources, it had 34 gun rounds and only single DT BMG, crew was 4.
There is only a general info on armour: 6-15 mm, so front should be 2 (I expect the same hull armour, as T-26).

If you're interested, there was also another similar T-26-based SP-gun prototype SU-1 - it was first attempt to create a support vehicle, tested in 1931, armed with #34 76mm KT-28. It was abandoned in a favour of T-26-4.

Michal

[DRG]

Originally Posted by Pibwl

......By the way, according to Russian sources, it had 34 gun rounds and only single DT BMG, crew was 4.
Michal

Interesting....... it was "Russian sources" that provided all the info that's in the game now for that unit....... INCLUDING the double DT BMG as that unit is the ONLY one in the OOB that uses it so it's inclusion was not the result of an hallucination.

..and NO, I don't keep a record of every change made to the OOB's so I cannot say where that came from exactly but we don't create new weapons "for fun" so what are your "Russian sources" ??

Don

[Pibwl]

Well... either somebody made a mistake, or sources were poor. I'm using T-26 Tank by Maksim Kolomiets (2007). And look at photos and drawing on this page http://wartechnology.ru/?p=814 - there is only one DT on right side of gun.

I know, where this error might have originated. I didn't want to mess more in previous post, but AT-1 had in fact two machineguns. The other one was carried inside as a reserve, and it could be fired through open side and rear walls. I don't think it is useful, however.

Michal

[DRG]

Michal ..... the source you direct us to view the drawings clearly says the crew was three....not four so your own sources of information contradict one another....

:Translation
The crew consisted of a driver, which is housed in the department of management right on the fly, observer (who is also charging), located in the fighting compartment to the right of the gun, and the gunner to the left of it.

.........I go through something like this EVERY YEAR with someone.......no single source of information is infallible especially when it's info about an insignificant experimental vehicle like this where one example *may* have faced the Finns in 1940 for a brief time.

I'll go with the single DT MG but the crew stays at 3. I can't figure out where the fourth crew would be shoehorned into that hull



Don

[Pibwl]

Originally Posted by DRG

Michal ..... the source you direct us to view the drawings clearly says the crew was three....not four so your own sources of information contradict one another....

This page is not my source, I only used it for illustration. Kolomiets writes about 4, without details. I agree to keep 3 unless we find detailed info. This question is not that important anyway...
Some sources also give different info on ammo number, but 34 is at least given by a printed source.