The T-20 "Komsomolets" was a fully-tracked light artillery tractor. It was designed in 1936 at the Moscow Factory no. 37, based on the chassis of the T-38 amphibious tank. During its production from 1937 to 1941, 7780 T-20's were built at Moscow Factory No 37, Gorky Automobile Factory (GAZ) and Stalingrad Tractor Factory (STZ).
The T-20 carried the gun crew in an unprotected position at the rear of the vehicle (which would be covered by a tarp). The driver and commander were seated in a lightly armoured cabin, which also housed a machine gun.
While primarily used to tow light artillery pieces, it was also pressed into service as a tankette when Russia was attacked by Germany in 1941. To increase Soviet tank numbers, about 100 T-20's were converted into tank destroyers, and designated ZiS-30. A year after the beginning of Barbarossa, less than half of either vehicle remained, and only a few T-20's survive today.
Both Finland, Romania and Germany used captured T-20's. Finland had 184 T-20's in service in 1943, some of which remained in service until 1961. A total of 34 T-20's served in the Romanian army under the designation Ford rusesc de captura, and were used to tow the German 5 cm Pak 38. Germany used the T-20 both as an artillery tractor (with the designation leichter Artillerieschlepper STZ 3 630(r)) and to mount the 3,7 cm Pak 35/36.
| T-20 "Komsomolets" | |
|---|---|
| Crew | |
| Crew |
|
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 3.46 t |
| Length | 3.45 m |
| Width | 1.86 m |
| Height | 1.58 m |
| Armour | |
| Armour (range) | 7-10 mm |
| Performance | |
| Speed (max) | 50 km/h |
| Engine | |
| Engine | GAZ-M |
| Net h.p. | 50 |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Armament | |
| Primary weapon | 7.62 mm DT (1) |
