In accordance with the specifications of the Tank Plan, Soviet designers began with the 185 Im. Kirov to work in 1932 on the development of escort vehicles for tanks T-26 on their chassis. These were transporters for transporting infantry, ammunition and fuel, and special superstructures.
TR-1
The first prototype was a machine designated as the TR-1. The hull and chassis remained the same as the T-26-1931, but the engine and transmission were moved to the front left. The crew consisted of two men who sat right in front of the tank in the order of driver-mechanic and commander. They were protected by 10 mm armour. At the rear of the vehicle was a welded roller superstructure with rounded side upper edges, made of 6 mm thick sheet metal (sides) and 4 mm thick sheet metal (ceiling). The 14-man landing party entered the vehicle through the rear door and could use two lockable gun ports on each side and one at the front to fire from the vehicle. The total weight of the vehicle was 9 500 kg. The speed of the vehicle without the landing party was 24 km/h on the road, and 20 km/h when fully loaded. The vehicle was without organic armament.
Tests at NIBT, during which the vehicle covered about 550 km in the field and on the road, were carried out in August-October 1933 with unflattering results - poor access to the engine, overloaded chassis - belts falling off during sharp turns, poor driver's vision and overheating of the engine. The vehicle was not accepted and further development was recommended.
Source
KOLOMIJEC, M: T-26-ťažolaja suďba legkogo tanka, Eksmo, Moscow 2007
BARJATINSKY, M: Legkij Tank T-26,Bronekollekcija spec.no.2, Modelist-Konstruktor, Moscow 2003
KOLOMIJEC, M., SVIRIN, M.: T-26-maashiny na jego baze, Strategy KM, Moscow 1999
TR-1
The first prototype was a machine designated as the TR-1. The hull and chassis remained the same as the T-26-1931, but the engine and transmission were moved to the front left. The crew consisted of two men who sat right in front of the tank in the order of driver-mechanic and commander. They were protected by 10 mm armour. At the rear of the vehicle was a welded roller superstructure with rounded side upper edges, made of 6 mm thick sheet metal (sides) and 4 mm thick sheet metal (ceiling). The 14-man landing party entered the vehicle through the rear door and could use two lockable gun ports on each side and one at the front to fire from the vehicle. The total weight of the vehicle was 9 500 kg. The speed of the vehicle without the landing party was 24 km/h on the road, and 20 km/h when fully loaded. The vehicle was without organic armament.
Tests at NIBT, during which the vehicle covered about 550 km in the field and on the road, were carried out in August-October 1933 with unflattering results - poor access to the engine, overloaded chassis - belts falling off during sharp turns, poor driver's vision and overheating of the engine. The vehicle was not accepted and further development was recommended.
Source
KOLOMIJEC, M: T-26-ťažolaja suďba legkogo tanka, Eksmo, Moscow 2007
BARJATINSKY, M: Legkij Tank T-26,Bronekollekcija spec.no.2, Modelist-Konstruktor, Moscow 2003
KOLOMIJEC, M., SVIRIN, M.: T-26-maashiny na jego baze, Strategy KM, Moscow 1999