SKhTZ 15-30

SKhTZ-15/30 is one of the most important milestones in the history of domestic engineering. The Stalingrad and Kharkov Tractor Plants that produced it were the first specialized enterprises of this kind in the USSR. Previously, the automotive industry was limited to small-scale or at best large-scale production of cars. The CXT3-15/30 was used to refine tractor mass production technologies. Despite many obstacles, this first experience ended successfully and advanced the domestic engineering industry far ahead.

This tractor also influenced the development of engineering. The machines produced in the USSR before that were exact copies of foreign models. The design of the SKhTZ-15/30 was also based on the Western model - the American International 15/30. This tractor was distinguished by high reliability and versatility: it could work with a wide variety of mounted and stationary plows. However, the foreign model was intended for American farms. To adapt the tractor to domestic conditions, the engineers who designed the SKhTZ-15/30 made a number of improvements to its design.

The series production of the SKhTZ began at the Stalingrad Tractor Zavod (Plant. the »S« and »TZ« in the name) on June 17, 1930 and at the Kharkov Tractor Plant (the »Kh« in the name) on October 1, 1931. By 1941, two plants prepared 217 000 tractors SKhTZ-15/30. Since the beginning of the war the plants were evacuated to the east, but the production continued at the Altai Tractor Plant. Officially, the tractor SKhTZ-15/30 didn't enter into military service, but due to the immense losses of artillery tractors after the invasion it was necessary to mobilize the collective farm tractors as well. Furthermore, the SKhTZ 15-30 was a welcome trophy with the Wehrmacht as it frequently remained the only means for overcoming the yearly mud season.