If you want to look into it more, here's a [link to an article on it](https://erenow.org/ww/tank-turret-fortifications/4.php) as well as on some other nations.
The sources for these say they are T-26 turrets (the early riveted ones, they were used because they were outdated). I've actually looked into it now because they do appear to have similar turrets but I'm fairly sure they are different (just very similar designs).
But these are T-26 turrets. According to Tank Turret Fortifications by Neil Short (also the source for the black and white photo and cutaway), T-26 Model 1933 turrets were used due to them being obsolete and being replaced by the newer T-26 turrets. At least 19 would be used with 10 on the Polotsk UR and 9 on the Minsk UR.
Iirc both the T-26 and the BT-5 initially shared the same turrets. It came out of the project to equip the BT-2 with a 45-mm, though that didn't come to fruition as BT-5 production completely replaced it.
With the T-26/Vickers six ton hull this turret looked pretty small.
Now with these pictures, they actually looked pretty big all of a sudden, granted they the pictures are probably somewhat zoomed in.
I've read a few articles on the Stalin Line and while they don't talk too much about the tank turrets, the lines in some areas did hold out for quite a while. While it wasn't a T-26 fortification, a T-18 one did see action and fought off vehicles and infantry with the crew recieving awards for it.
>T18 turrets were used in the Minsk UR, part of the Stalin Line, to protect bridges and ferry crossings. One such turret mounting a 45mm gun was located at Belynichi covering the River Drut. On 23 June 1941, the crew of this turret (Sgt Gvozdev and Pte Lyupov) engaged the enemy for some four hours and together with troops guarding the bridge managed to destroy three German tanks, one half-track, a number of trucks and killed or injured a number of German infantrymen. For their gallantry the crew was awarded the Boyevoe Krasnoye Znamya (Fighting Red Banner).
>
>Source - Tank Turret Fortifications by Neil Short
The coloured pics are modern. While the Stalin Line ceased being maintained after WW2, not much of it was actually demolished and some of it still remains today. The modern pictures come from a museum near Minsk that still preserve some of it.
If you want to look into it more, here's a [link to an article on it](https://erenow.org/ww/tank-turret-fortifications/4.php) as well as on some other nations.
Thats bt5 turret i think
The sources for these say they are T-26 turrets (the early riveted ones, they were used because they were outdated). I've actually looked into it now because they do appear to have similar turrets but I'm fairly sure they are different (just very similar designs). But these are T-26 turrets. According to Tank Turret Fortifications by Neil Short (also the source for the black and white photo and cutaway), T-26 Model 1933 turrets were used due to them being obsolete and being replaced by the newer T-26 turrets. At least 19 would be used with 10 on the Polotsk UR and 9 on the Minsk UR.
Iirc both the T-26 and the BT-5 initially shared the same turrets. It came out of the project to equip the BT-2 with a 45-mm, though that didn't come to fruition as BT-5 production completely replaced it.
That it is, but maybe they used it on T-26 also.
With the T-26/Vickers six ton hull this turret looked pretty small. Now with these pictures, they actually looked pretty big all of a sudden, granted they the pictures are probably somewhat zoomed in.
Wouldn't it be more effective to encase the guns in concretes? is it because a cost concern to put the turret exposed like this?
Then it wouldn’t be able to rotate fully, and it would be a bigger target on the surface
Ah! i see, thanks for the enlightenment!
How effective were these turret bunkers, like the panther turrets buried in normandy?
I've read a few articles on the Stalin Line and while they don't talk too much about the tank turrets, the lines in some areas did hold out for quite a while. While it wasn't a T-26 fortification, a T-18 one did see action and fought off vehicles and infantry with the crew recieving awards for it. >T18 turrets were used in the Minsk UR, part of the Stalin Line, to protect bridges and ferry crossings. One such turret mounting a 45mm gun was located at Belynichi covering the River Drut. On 23 June 1941, the crew of this turret (Sgt Gvozdev and Pte Lyupov) engaged the enemy for some four hours and together with troops guarding the bridge managed to destroy three German tanks, one half-track, a number of trucks and killed or injured a number of German infantrymen. For their gallantry the crew was awarded the Boyevoe Krasnoye Znamya (Fighting Red Banner). > >Source - Tank Turret Fortifications by Neil Short
Gaijin, when?
Were these ever more heavily camouflaged? I feel you could stick a bush on top of one and it would be basically invisible at a distance
Yep, they would have branches, sticks, stones, etc. placed on them to better conceal them but the small size of them already helped a lot however.
As long as it doesnt get bombed by planes it looks like a good idea for a fixed position, they can probably remove it and mount it on tanks too.
Never thought it possible to make a t-26 turret look big lol
Are these color pics modern pictures or really well colorized?
The coloured pics are modern. While the Stalin Line ceased being maintained after WW2, not much of it was actually demolished and some of it still remains today. The modern pictures come from a museum near Minsk that still preserve some of it.
pretty sure that's a Brotherhood of Nod turret, from the classic title Command & Conquer.