Jakob Lotz is quickly becoming a regular contributor with his fantastic conversions and he’s at it again with the SU-76P – aka. SU-26, SU-T-26 or Leningrad self-propelled gun.
Jakob: The SU-76P (sometimes referred to as the SU-26, SU-T-26 or the Leningrad self-propelled gun) was based on the T-26 chassis. It was built in Leningrad during the Siege of Leningrad and involved removing the turret from the T-26 and mounting a 76 mm regimental gun M1927 on the engine deck together with a gunshield to protect the rather exposed gun-crew.
This modification of the T-26 tank was done because there was a lack of high explosive 45mm ammunition inside Leningrad due to the siege and because there was a more reliable source of 76mm ammunition available. The vehicles served until 1944, when the siege was broken. They were originally called SU-76, until the SU-76 came into service, at which point they were renamed SU-76P (“polkovaya” – regimental).
Please note that pictures of – and information on – this tank is scarce. Due to this I chose to base my SU-76P off of a modeling kit I found online going by the name of Self-propelled gun 76,2mm “Leningrad”.
WHAT YOU NEED
– One T-26
– Plasticard, tools etc.
– Some bits and pieces from Warlord Games Soviet Infantry Box Set
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN
As always clean the resin parts before use, and remove any excess flash – if you’re unsure, take a look at Warlord’s handy guide!
I started by cutting off the uppermost part of the T-26 hull as indicated in the picture below.
Next up I made a platform using a large piece of 1 mm thick plasticard.
I then built the gun using plasticard rods (2 mm and 3 mm in diameter) as well as some 1 mm thick plasticard cut to the desired shape.
After that I built the gunshield again using 1 mm thick pieces of plasticard.
I then glued the gunshield to the gun…
… and mounted it on the chassis.
Finally I made two crewmen with bits from the plastic Soviet infantry kit and gave the whole thing a suitable paintjob.
HOW TO USE IT
Rules for the SU-76P can be found under the SU-76 entry on pages 50 and 51 in the Armies of the Soviet Union book. I think that it is worth noting in regards to the rules entry that the ”versatile” special rule is not applicable to the SU-76P but also that the gun on the SU-76P unlike the SU-76 was traversable and as such can be treated as a turret-mounted gun (if your opponent agrees to it).
Do you have an article within you? Are you itching to show your collection to the world of Bolt Action? Then drop us a line with a couple of pictures to info@warlordgames.com
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
Craig Nixon