ZIS-30

The ZIS-30 was a Soviet light tank destroyer from the Second World War. The first prototypes of the vehicle were built in 1941, and serial production probably continued in the period 1941-1942, ending with the production of about 100 cars. The ZIS-30 was powered by a single engine GAZ-M with 50 HP . It was armed with a 57mm ZIS-2 anti-tank gun. Due to the huge losses in armored weapons suffered by the Red Army in the first phase of the war with the Third Reich (June-December 1941), its command decided to develop a new tank destroyer during the course of the war. As time played a huge role, it was decided to mount the proven ZIS-2 gun on the chassis of the T-20 Komsomolets artillery tractor. The task was entrusted to the plants in the city of Gorky, which carried out the task at lightning speed. The result was the not very successful ZIS-30 - a tank destroyer with a great anti-tank gun as in 1941, but with poor maneuverability and not providing its crew with any cover against enemy fire. The ZIS-30 vehicles were used on a larger scale during the retreat in 1941 and during the counteroffensive from Moscow at the turn of 1941-1942. Most likely, at the beginning of 1942, the production of the ZIS-30 was discontinued in favor of the T-34 tanks.