Komsomoletz T-20 artillery tractor
GAS50110

Complete kit of the Komsomoletz T-20 artillery tractor in 1/48th scale

The kit contains:

• Resin parts
• Brass wire
• Assembly instructions with parts list and color photos: Download instructions

You can also contact us to have this model assembled and painted with the camouflage of your choice.

History of the Komsomoletz T-20 artillery tractor

The Soviet general staff, aware of the limitations of the "Pionneer" light artillery tractors, requested the study of a new machine at the end of 1936. Among the myriad of machines then proposed by Soviet engineers and design offices, only one of them perfectly suited the Soviet authorities, it was the machine designed by the engineer N. Astrov, which, once it entered production, would receive the name T-20.

Largely incorporating elements of the T-38 amphibious tank, as well as the Gas AA engine, the machine will pose no problem for the administration. The machine being an artillery tractor, it is lightly armored with a 7.62 mm DT machine gun and has 6 seats behind the driver's position. Production: 7780 machines in 3 distinct series, from 1937 to the end of 1941, corresponding to the three factories which produced this tankette with some differences between the series depending on the place of production.

The machine was used during the Finnish campaign and during Operation Barbarossa, its primary role being to tow the 45 and 76 mm cannons. The T-20 units quickly suffered very heavy losses (from 6700 machines in June 1941, there were only 1662 left in September 1942 in the ranks of the Soviet army and practically disappeared from inventories at the end of 1943 ), but often captured, the machine enjoyed a second life in the axis forces.

Germany, which will recover a few hundred before reusing them as a light artillery tractor, or by converting them into Pakwagen, equipped with a 37mm Pak 35/36 cannon. Finland, which recovered 184 of them, will use them until 1961! - Romania, which will capture 34 in total.