The Russian AT-1

[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