T-38 tank
| T-38 amphibious scout tank | |
|---|---|
T-38 tank | |
| Type | Amphibious light tank |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1937–1943 |
| Used by | Soviet Union Romania (captured) |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Nicholay Astrov & N. Kozyrev, Factory No. 37, Moscow |
| Designed | 1934–1936 |
| Manufacturer | Factory No. 37 |
| Produced | 1937–1939 |
| No. built | 1,340 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.3 tonnes |
| Length | 3.78 m |
| Width | 3.33 m |
| Height | 1.63 m |
| Crew | 2 |
| Armour | 3–9 mm |
Main armament | 7.62mm DT machine gun |
| Engine | GAZ-AA 4-cylinder inline gasoline engine 40 hp (30 kW) |
| Power/weight | 12 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | horizontally sprung scissor bogie |
Operational range | 170 km |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h |
The T-38 amphibious scout tank was a Soviet amphibious and reconnaissance light tank that saw service in World War II. Developed as a modernized version of the earlier T-37A light tank, which had roots in the British Vickers amphibious tank, it also took design ideas from the French AMR 33, the T-38 proved to be only a moderate improvement over its predecessor. Its relative light weight allowed Soviet aircraft to strap the tank on bomber fuselages, and deliver them to front lines. Deeply flawed, reluctance or inability to upgrade the tank's drivetrain, weapons, and radio led to its eventual replacement in 1940, by the T-40.