The T-20 was designed in 1936 at the Ordzhonikidze Moscow Plant no.37. They were manufactured during 1937-1941 at Factory no. 37, as well as at STZ and GAZ. The tractor was designed to tow light artillery pieces such as the 45mm anti-tank gun and the 120mm heavy mortar. The tractor could tow the weapons themselves plus a small quantity of ammunition, usually towed in a limber, along with up to six crewmen. Occasionally, two limbers were towed to increase the ammunition supply. The forward compartment provided space for the driver and vehicle commander. It was fully armored and had a ball-mounted DT machinegun. The rear compartment held the gun crews, seated back-to-back in outward-facing bench seats. A canvas top could be erected for protection in poor weather. Approximately 4401 T-20 tractors were built between 1937 and 1941.
Combat use
Although the Komsomolets T-20 armored tractor was designed as a prime mover, some vehicles were used in combat during 1941. The tractor was employed as a tankette.
Operators
The T-20 tractor was used by the Red Army during the Winter War and during World War II. During Operation Barbarossa, some T-20 tractors were used as armored fighting vehicles, though after 1941 they were used only as artillery tractors. Both Finland and Nazi Germany used captured vehicles. Romania had captured 36 T-20 tractors by 1 November 1941. During the spring and summer of 1943, all but two of these were refurbished by the Romanians. Because these vehicles were based on an agricultural tractor of which very large numbers had been captured in Transnistria, and because their Ford-type engines were familiar to the Romanians and spares were available, the tractors' overhaul and maintenance were simple tasks. In early 1944 they were fitted with hooks which enabled them to tow the 50 mm Pak 38anti-tank gun. The 34 tractors were subsequently issued to the 5th and 14th Infantry Divisions, the 2ndArmoured Regiment and the 5th Cavalry Division. All were apparently lost during the subsequent battles or confiscated by the Soviets after the 23 August coup.
Variants
An expedient variant was built in 1941, the ZiS-30, mounting the ZIS-2 57mm anti-tank gun. The Germans also modified some captured examples by mounting a 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank gun on top.
