Hobby Boss 83865 Soviet T-38 Amphibious Light Tank

The T-38 is a Soviet tankette (light tank) from the interwar period and World War II. The drive was provided by a single GAZ-AA or GAZ-M1 carburetor engine with a capacity of 40 or 50 HP, respectively. The first prototypes of the vehicle were built in 1935, and serial production was carried out in 1936-1939. About 1,380 vehicles of this type were built in its course. The armament consisted of a single 7.62 mm DT machinegun mounted in a rotating turret.

The T-38 was developed as a far-reaching development of the T-37 floating tank. Compared to the original, the vehicle had an enlarged hull, significantly improved undercarriage, wider tracks and better water propulsion. Several development versions were created in the course of serial production, for example: the T-38M (a prototype vehicle with a different steering mechanism), the T-38M2 (a tank with a GAZ-M1 engine) or the SU-45 (a prototype of a self-propelled gun). The T-20 Komsomolets artillery tractor was also developed on the T-38 chassis. The T-38 vehicles replaced the T-37 vehicles in the reconnaissance units of the Soviet armored and motorized divisions. Tanks of this type took an active part in the first period of the war with Germany in 1941-1942, suffering considerable losses. A certain number of them were taken over by German, Romanian and Finnish troops.