The T-26 tank was a Soviet light infantry tank used in the 1930s and World War II. It is widely considered one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s until its light armor became vulnerable to newer anti-tank guns. It was produced in greater numbers than any other tank of the period, with more than 11,000 manufactured, and it was used extensively in the armies of Spain, China and Turkey. Many variants were produced, including different combat vehicles based on its chassis such as flame-throwing tanks, remotely controlled tanks, and armoured carriers. The T-26 together with the BT was the Red Army's main tank in the interwar period. Though nearly obsolete by the beginning of World War II, it was the most important tank of the Spanish Civil War and played a significant role in the Battle of Lake Khasan in 1938 and the Winter War in 1939–40. The T-26 was the most numerous Soviet tank during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. The T-26 was used in the Battle of Moscow in winter 1941/42, the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of the Caucasus in 1942–43. The tanks last saw use in August 1945, during the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-26

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1460:

War of the Roses: Richard, Duke of York, was killed in the Battle of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, and his army was destroyed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wakefield

1853:

The United States purchased approximately 29,600 sq mi (77,000 km2) of land south of the Gila River and west of the Rio Grande (map pictured) from Mexico for $10 million. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_Purchase

1903:

In the deadliest single-building fire in United States history, the Iroquois Theatre fire claimed 602 lives in Chicago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois_Theatre_fire

2000:

A series of bombings occurred around Metro Manila in the Philippines within a span of a few hours, killing 22 people and injuring 100 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal_Day_bombings

2006:

Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein was executed after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_of_Saddam_Hussein

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

peckled: (now UK dialectal) Speckled, spotted. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/peckled

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivaled courage among religions with regard to the facts to be observed and the diverse hypotheses it has laid down for their coordination. Never having been hampered by a priestly order, each man has been entirely free to search wherever he pleased for the spiritual explanation of the spectacle of the universe.    --Romain Rolland https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Romain_Rolland