We already have a BT-7 model, personally I think the BT-7 or/and T-26 could replace the T-70 as a reward unit, BT-7a could replace the T-90.
What role would it actually take?We dont need a tank taking right the same role.. what i mean to say is that it needs something which differs it from the tank it replaces.. do you got any ideas yet about that?
Wow.....thats deep Cranial, very deep...........
T-26 could be comparable to a damaged engine upgunned Puma. Replacing the T-70... sure, the T-26 is less armoured and slower, but it would be cheaper, could be upgraded with Applique armour and could possibly have a KhT-133 Flamethrower upgrade. T-26 had 53 variations, its a useful tank when you look beyond its speed and armour.
You need to seriously consider balance in that case, its easier to give a replacement tank that is more or less similar in some ways to the Tank it replaces. You have stuff like GWagen and Stug, Hellcat and M10, T-17 and Greyhound... these are more or less the same, but then you have stuff like the Kangaroo and Cromwell which are very different, upsetting balance.
T-90 -> BA-64 (scout car)Becouse BA-64 is a not a tank it would be build in Tier II.Finally T-34 or even IS-2 wont be the first Soviet vechicle on the battlefield.BT-7 -> T-70Faster but less HP. It can have a 45mm or a 76,2mm stubby gun (low rate of fire or/and accuracy). It would be great for circle strafing PAKs and Marders. I find T-70 is too slow to do that (on rough terain).SU-85 -> KV-1 (same low accuracy gun as T-34, Churchills armor)SU-100 -> KV-8 (flame tank similar to British Croc)KV-1/KV-8 would be slower than T-34, even more expensive than SU-85/SU-100 and would have a flame tank upgrade for 300ammo so a flame wont apear early in the game.
It seems that the T-26 would be quite pointless due to its poor mobility. Still, as an early war unit for an early war campaign, it would be indispensable... the amount of improvements it could get are numerous... search light (increased range/reveal distance/vision field?), camouflage, improved engine, 75mm recoiless turret... fuck, it would be like playing with Lego XD