BAZ 69481M TEL
Motorized equipment originated, among other places, in Bryansk southwest of Moscow. It was home to BAZ (Bryanskii Automobilovy Zavod), which manufactured military vehicles. It originated as a ZiL offshoot in 1958 and military equipment is still produced today. Now under the walls of the factory, chassis with a capacity of up to 40 tons are produced, but in 1987 it assisted in the development and production of something much more exceptional.
Taking into account the existing experience of the KB Mashinostroeniya, the system "Volga" was planned to include several components for various purposes, designed to perform certain tasks. The main element of the complex was proposed to make a self-propelled launcher, built on the basis of a special wheeled chassis. Accompany this equipment and ensure its combat work had transport-loading machine and a number of other special equipment. Finally, it was necessary to develop a guided missile with the required characteristics. According to some data, the possibility of creating a whole family of rockets consisting of 14 differently designed products was considered.
The requirements for firing range led to the need to create a relatively large and heavy self-propelled launcher. For the construction of this machine required a self-propelled chassis with the appropriate characteristics. The development of the required technology was entrusted to the Bryansk Automobile Plant, which had considerable experience in creating special chassis, including for missile systems. The project of the perspective chassis for the Volga complex received the working designation “69481M”. Also in some documents appeared the name of the BAZ-6948. In addition to the four-axle prototype of the 14-ton chassis under the code 6948/69481, BAZ also designed the test piece of the original five-axle transporter BAZ 69481M 10x8 with a payload of 18.6 tonnes. In 1987, as part of work on the experimental four-axle land vehicles of the 6948/69481 series, at the Bryansk Automobile Plant, under the direction of Yu. I. Mosin, the five-axle vehicle BAZ-69481M (10x8) with a lifting capacity of 18.6 tons was built, unique in its concept, for installation new rocket system. It was also a member of the Osnova-1 family and received the Voshchina military index.
The version with the letter M at the end of the name has a very unusual arrangement with four driven axles out of five total. The construction resembled the amphibians of the earlier Soviet era, but the BAZ 69481M can not swim and the terrain does not like it either. In fact, the new version was almost identical to BAZ 69481, engineers additionally added one pair of wheels and its associated larger storage space.
The 21.5-tonne increase in the truck's deadweight was accompanied by two more powerful Kamaz 740.3 engines, 194 kW (263 hp) with onboard transmissions, reinforced subframes and chassis components. In the rest of the overall design of the chassis 69481M major changes occurred. In its original performance, the hull was low open, then it was converted into a higher body with a gentle roof bevel and a working compartment with a canvas top. The curb weight of the machine was 21.5 tons. The turning radius was 16.5 meters. The maximum speed remained at 70 km / h, the cruising range dropped to 900 km. The powertrain was able to handle a maximum permissible weight of 40.5 tons.
This machine combined two original search solutions for the Soviet and global automotive industry: an asymmetrical layout with five pairs of wheels and only four driving axles, as well as a fairly strong non-sealed load-bearing hull type that looked like floating machines. From its closest predecessor, the 69481, the new car was distinguished by a more capacious welded body and the installation of a third non-driven axle, which, together with two regular rear axles, formed a three-axle bogie that could withstand increased loads.
In 1987, BAZ-69481M passed acceptance tests but did not immediately receive the approval of the military. It had insufficient maneuverability and reliability associated with the installation of two additional non-leading wheels and the use of a scheme with an odd number of axles. When driving on a rough road, such original constructive solutions led to an uneven redistribution of shock loads on the wheels, suspension, transmission and frame of the car, and during overcoming even low obstacles, the entire load briefly accounted for only one medium axle. The main role of a wheeled military wagon was an expanded cargo area, featuring a missile launcher, which - unlike other mobile launch ramps - remained completely hidden, espionage satellites and the surrounding area. The 9K716 covered system, the Volga had a range of 500 kilometers, so much of Western Europe used it for Soviet satellites and nearly 1,000 km of land was easily accessible.
Probably, some units of the various elements of the missile complex in the form of prototypes reached the tests, but the full-fledged construction of prototypes suitable for conducting field tests did not begin. After the signing of the Intermediate and Short Range Missile Arrangement (which resulted in the end of the Cold War), these missiles were decommissioned before the end of the 1980s, and the 69481M headed into the cradle of history.
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