Shortly after the German attack in 1941, Soviet headquarters realized a need for transport gliders and ordered the development of several designs. The biggest was a design of Dmitry Kolesnikov and Pavel Tsibin, although it was still a light glider.
Two prototypes were built in October 1941. It was ordered for production, under the designation KC-20 (or KTs-20) for designers' initials and the number of troopes carried. 68 were built in 1942-1943. They were produced in a wood industry works in Lopatino village near Kazan.
The KC-20 was the biggest, but least numerous of Soviet transport gliders. It could transport 20 troops or up to 2200 kg of cargo. It was quite successful, its major drawback was a lack of a big cargo hatch, therefore guns could by only carried in parts. It was initially planned to fit the glider with a back machine gun turret, hence double tailfin, but the plan was abandoned.
Operational historyedit
Like Antonov A-7 and Gribovski G-11, they were mainly used for supplying Soviet partisans with provisions, weapons, equipment and trained men, in night flights. The most intensive use was from April to November 1943 in Belarus, in the Polotsk-Begoml-Lepel area. After landing, gliders were destroyed and pilots were sometimes taken back by aircraft. They were also used to transport sabotage groups behind enemy lines. KC-20s were towed mainly by DB-3 bombers.
A less typical action was an air bridge from Moscow to the Stalingrad area in November 1942, in order to quickly deliver antifreeze cooling liquid for tanks, during the battle of Stalingrad.
Descriptionedit
High-wing, wooden construction glider, with a double tailfin. Slim fuselage, semi-monocoque, rectangular in cross-section. Pilot's cab in front, behind it, a transport compartment. There were double doors on both sides, and several small rectangular windows. Landing gear was manually retractable, in order to shorten landing, the glider could land on a skid under a fuselage.
^Mrazek, James E. (1 January 1977). Fighting Gliders of World War II (1st ed.). London: St. Martin's Press. pp. 167-169. ISBN978-0-312-28927-0.
External linksedit
KTs-20
Ugolok Neba (in Russian)
January 01, 1970
kolesnikov, tsibin, russian, КЦ, soviet, light, troop, military, glider, world, role, military, glider, designer, dmitry, kolesnikov, pavel, tsibin, first, flight, 1941, introduction, 1942, primary, user, ussr, produced, 1942, 1943, number, built, contents, de. The Kolesnikov Tsibin KC 20 or KTs 20 Russian KC 20 was a Soviet light troop military glider of World War II KC 20 Role Military glider Designer Dmitry Kolesnikov Pavel Tsibin First flight 1941 Introduction 1942 Primary user USSR Produced 1942 1943 Number built 68 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Description 4 Operators 5 Specifications 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDevelopment editShortly after the German attack in 1941 Soviet headquarters realized a need for transport gliders and ordered the development of several designs The biggest was a design of Dmitry Kolesnikov and Pavel Tsibin although it was still a light glider Two prototypes were built in October 1941 It was ordered for production under the designation KC 20 or KTs 20 for designers initials and the number of troopes carried 68 were built in 1942 1943 They were produced in a wood industry works in Lopatino village near Kazan The KC 20 was the biggest but least numerous of Soviet transport gliders It could transport 20 troops or up to 2200 kg of cargo It was quite successful its major drawback was a lack of a big cargo hatch therefore guns could by only carried in parts It was initially planned to fit the glider with a back machine gun turret hence double tailfin but the plan was abandoned Operational history editLike Antonov A 7 and Gribovski G 11 they were mainly used for supplying Soviet partisans with provisions weapons equipment and trained men in night flights The most intensive use was from April to November 1943 in Belarus in the Polotsk Begoml Lepel area After landing gliders were destroyed and pilots were sometimes taken back by aircraft They were also used to transport sabotage groups behind enemy lines KC 20s were towed mainly by DB 3 bombers A less typical action was an air bridge from Moscow to the Stalingrad area in November 1942 in order to quickly deliver antifreeze cooling liquid for tanks during the battle of Stalingrad Description editHigh wing wooden construction glider with a double tailfin Slim fuselage semi monocoque rectangular in cross section Pilot s cab in front behind it a transport compartment There were double doors on both sides and several small rectangular windows Landing gear was manually retractable in order to shorten landing the glider could land on a skid under a fuselage Operators edit nbsp Soviet Union Soviet Air ForceSpecifications editData from Fighting Gliders of World War II 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Capacity 24 troops 2 000 kg 4 410 lb Length 14 12 m 46 ft 4 in Wingspan 23 8 m 78 ft 1 in Height 2 84 m 9 ft 4 in citation needed Wing area 55 2 m2 594 sq ft citation needed Empty weight 2 050 kg 4 519 lb citation needed Performance Maximum glide ratio 16 1See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Gribovski G 11 Airspeed Horsa CG 4 Waco Slingsby Hengist Kokusai Ku 8 Related lists List of aircraft of World War IIReferences edit Mrazek James E 1 January 1977 Fighting Gliders of World War II 1st ed London St Martin s Press pp 167 169 ISBN 978 0 312 28927 0 External links editKTs 20 Ugolok Neba in Russian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kolesnikov Tsibin KC 20 amp oldid 931343707, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
