Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30
Built: 1931–1937 · Series: SHTZ15-30
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STZ-15/30 from Kharkov and Stalingrad – four-cylinder kerosene tractor with 30.5 hp, 6.3-litre displacement and a top speed of 7.4 km/h (1931–1937).
The STZ-15/30 was built from 1931 simultaneously at the Kharkov Tractor Plant and the Stalingrad Tractor Plant, two of the most important farm-machinery works of the early Soviet Union. The design was based on a licence from the American manufacturer International Harvester (Wikipedia) and was one of the first wheeled tractors made in the country in large numbers.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The four-cylinder engine, with a displacement of 6,315 cm³, ran on kerosene instead of diesel or petrol and delivered 30.5 hp, or around 23 kW, at 1,000 rpm. At a weight of 3,011 kg, a wheelbase of 2,175 mm and a width of 1,585 mm, the tractor reached a length of 3,485 mm and a height of 2,450 mm; the top speed was 7.4 km/h.
Kerosene engines of this type usually needed a warm-up stage because of the fuel's poorer ignition properties, for example using a small petrol tank for cold starting before switching to cheaper kerosene operation. The STZ-15/30 was used in large numbers on the newly formed large-scale farms during the onset of agricultural collectivisation, where simple, robust technology mattered more than speed.
Surviving STZ-15/30 tractors are today collector's pieces of technical history. When acquiring one, the carburettor and warm-up system for kerosene operation should be checked, since these components are in most surviving vehicles no longer originally functional. The cooling system and cylinder head should be checked especially carefully because of the higher risk of coking with kerosene compared with diesel.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells STZ-15/30, International Harvester (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Kerosincorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 30.5 hp (23 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,000 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 6,315 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,485 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,585 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,450 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,175 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 267 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 3,011 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | 4×2correct |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 3/1correct |
| Top speed | 7.4 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Units built | 397,000correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 7.6 kW/t (23 kW / 3 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 18% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30 have?
The Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30 delivers 30.5 hp.
How much does the Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30 weigh?
The unladen weight is 3,011 kg.
What engine does the Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30 have?
4 cylinders, 6,315 cm³ displacement, Kerosin.
How fast does the Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30 go?
Top speed is 7.4 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30?
3,485 mm × 1,585 mm × 2,450 mm.
When was the Kharkov / Stalingrad SHTZ15-30 built?
Production years: 1931–1937.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 17 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Values adopted and presented in our own form; changes from the source are possible. · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
