GAZ-47 - a car that does not need roads

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

In 1954, the first caterpillar snow and swamp transporter rolled off the GAZ assembly line. The development of the project began in 1952, when the country felt an urgent need for such machines. The development of new territories, conducting geological surveys, laying oil and gas pipelines, laying power lines and telephone communications to remote settlements was impossible without all-terrain vehicles, since there was simply not enough cross-country ability of wheeled vehicles in some areas.

Gorky's experience in the production of T-60 and T-70 tanks, accumulated during the war years, helped to establish the production of a new type of transport - 12 thousand combat units of tracked vehicles that came off the assembly line of the plant made their theoretical contribution to the transporter being developed.

Snow and swamp vehicle passability

The time spent developing the machine was not wasted. In terms of its cross-country ability, the tracked conveyor, which received the GAZ-47 (GT-S) index, surpassed all types of equipment known at that time, and not only wheeled, but also tracked. The same T-60 tank got bogged down in the mud, which the new all-terrain vehicle overcame literally effortlessly.

The fact is that the designers of the conveyor increased the width of the tracks, thereby reducing the amount of specific pressure on the soil surface. Such an engineering move made it possible for the GAZ-47 to move not only through mud, but also through deep snow. The swamps were also not a serious obstacle for the car, if the speed on the ground was about 20 km / h, then in the swamps and deep snow it only decreased by half and varied within 8-10 km / h. This was the only problem in overcoming such obstacles. Also, the machine was able to overcome a 60 cm vertical wall and pits 1.3 m wide.

Floating car

In addition to the unique cross-country ability, the GT-S was taught to swim. At that time, no other domestic tracked vehicles could boast of such a feature. To overcome a water barrier up to 1.2 meters deep and up to one and a half kilometers long, the car did not require any additional training. The maximum speed of movement on water was small, only 3.5-4 km / h, and was regulated within these limits only by the rotation of the tracks.

However, swimming required certain conditions to be met:

1. Calm water. A strong side current could overturn the machine, the reason for this was the underwater side of the conveyor, the width of which reduced its stability.
2. Sloping shore when the GAZ-47 leaves the water.

Description of GAZ-47

The body of the GT-S was a solid metal structure, divided into:

• engine compartment;
• two-door cabin designed for two crew members;
• body, accommodating 10 troops.

Frombad weather, the body was closed with a folding awning. Above it, a removable open area was provided for placing cargo. In addition, the GAZ-47 could tow a trailer weighing up to 2 tons.

The power unit was presented by an automobile 4-stroke, gasoline engine (ZMZ-47), with 6 cylinders.

Gearbox - mechanical, with four steps for moving forward and one back.

The torsion undercarriage included: 5 single-type rollers (with a rubber-coated bearing part), drive wheel and caterpillars on the right and left sides of the machine. The rear (fifth) rollers were guides.

Technical characteristics of the snow and swamp vehicle

Main technical specifications GT-S GAZ-47:

• The weight of the filled but empty car is 3.65 tons.
• Carrying capacity without crew - 1 t.
• Overall dimensions of the conveyor - 4, 9x2, 435x1, 96 m (length, width and height according to the cab level).
• Clearance - 0.4 m.
• Engine power is - 74 hp
• Speed limit: 35 km/h on highways, 20 km/h on medium terrain, 10 km/h on virgin snow and wetlands.
• One-time refueling - 400 liters.

GAZ produced a transporter until 1964. For 10 years, the 47th has established itself as a transport with a high level of performance and reliability.

Modifications of the first caterpillar transporter

To replace the GAZ-47 in 1968, its modification, the GAZ-71, came off the assembly line of the plant. Improved pressure on the new caron the ground from 0.19 to 0.17 kg/sq.m. The car also received a new ZMZ-71 engine with a capacity of 115 hp. s., due to which the speed limit increased to 50 km / h. The height of the car in the cab was reduced by 25 cm. Other changes were insignificant or remained at the same level. Just like its predecessor, the GAZ-71 was manufactured taking into account garageless storage and operation in harsh climatic conditions with a temperature range from -40 to +50 degrees.

These changes and qualities were enough for the car to be produced unchanged until 1985.

The GAZ-47 was not deprived of its attention in the ZiL Design Bureau either. The modification they created received the GAZ-47 AMA index. The changes made by the ZiLovtsy affected only the chassis, but they turned out to be cardinal. The caterpillars were replaced by a roller-caterpillar mover, which was a chain with rotating rollers attached to them. The rollers rolled over special supports that were welded onto the body of the conveyor body.

But the changes made did not justify themselves. The only plus they have added to the car is the increase in speed on hard ground due to the increased grip. But there were no changes in the level of patency. In addition, when driving on a knurled road under the GT-S rollers, it was destroyed. All this was the reason for the closure of the project. However, the idea of rollers, which engineers eventually made pneumatic, was used on other experimental models of all-terrain vehicles.