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125mm 2A26


D-81T


Overview


125mm 2A26

Close-up of the 2A26 series 125mm main gun on an old T-64A main battle tank. Note the lack of a thermal sleeve.
Source: Bandanschik - © CC BY-SA 3.0

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Cannon
Entered service
1969
Status
Obsolete
Development
1966
Developer
Soviet Union - OKB-9 Spetstekhnika
Production
1967 - 1970's
Producer
Soviet Union - No.9 plant in Ekaterinburg
Soviet Union - Motovilikha plant in Perm
Number produced
Several thousand
Designations
D-81T (factory index)
2A26 (GRAU index)
Notable users
Soviet Union

Variants


Variants of the 2A26

2A26
First production model of the 2A26 entering service on the T-64A. This gun had various production issues and a service life of less than 350 rounds fired.
2A26M and M1
Improved models of the 2A26 improving the recoil mechanism and improving barrel life to about 600 rounds. Both models were used on models of the T-64A produced before 1974.
2A26M2
Variant of the 2A26M1 modified for use with the T-72 style of autoloader. Developed in 1969 and introduced on the T-72 Ural in 1973.

125mm 2A26

Early model T-64A main battle tank on display at the Kubinka tank museum. Note the 125mm 2A26 main gun without thermal sleeve.
Source: Alan Wilson - © CC BY-SA 2.0

Details


Facts 125mm 2A26
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Cannon
Caliber
Caliber
125mm L/51
Feed system
T-64 style autoloader for 2A26, 2A26M, 2A26M1
T-72 style autoloader for 2A26M2
Ammunition type
Two part separate loading ammunition
Semi-combustible propellant case
Barrel
Barrel length
6.35 m
Rifling
Smoothbore
Fume extractor
Yes
Thermal sleeve
No
Muzzle brake
No
Barrel life
350 EFC for 2A26
600 EFC HEAT/HE-Frag for 2A26M1 and M2
150 EFC for APFSDS
Operation
Chamber pressure
5.100 bar
Recoil force
98.000 N
Recoil assembly
2 asymmetrical buffers
Recoil stroke
0.26 to 0.30 m
Dimensions
Weight
2.5 t
Length
7 m

Media


Platforms


Note: incomplete list

T-72 Ural

Early models of the T-72 were fitted with the 2A26M2 cannon before the introduction of the 2A46.

Related articles


125mm 2A46

The 2A26 was replaced by the more capable 2A46 that was produced in far greater numbers.

115mm U-5TS

The 2A26 was developed to have more firepower than the 115m U-5TS, the first smoothbore gun in Soviet service that was used on the T-62 main battle tank.