Yesterday I posted picture of T-18 light Soviet tank. No one guessed what model was on picture so here goes brief info on T-18.
T-18 light tank was first Soviet designed and produced tank. This tank is also known as MS1 ('Maliy Soprovozhdeniya-perviy' - first small support vehicle).
Development started in 1924, and first prototype T-16 was result. Design was based on French Renault FT tank. In testing period many problems were detected so almost every part of the tank was improved.
Production of T-18 started in 1928. T-18 featured French 37mm Puteaux SA 18 Model 28 cannon fitted to a Hotchkiss-system mantle in the turret and double-barrelled 6.5 mm Fyodorov machine gun.
Compared to French Renault FT this was improved tank, but by the end of production it was no match for competition. Small number od T-18 went to defend Far Eastern Railway system against Manchurian forces in 1929, but rest of them were removed from service in 1932 and they were used for training.