ATS-59
| ATS-59 | |
|---|---|
ATS-59 in a Russian museum (2008) |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 2 + 18 |
| length | 6280 mm |
| width | 2780 mm |
| height | 2300 mm |
| Dimensions | 13 tons |
| agility | |
| drive |
Twelve-cylinder diesel engine A-650 300 PS (221 kW) |
| suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
| Top speed | 45 km / h |
| Power / weight | |
| Range | 350 km (road) |
ATS-59 is the name of a Soviet caterpillar tractor . From 1959 it replaced the AT-S as a chain hoist for medium-heavy trailer loads. ATS stands for Russian артиллерийский тягач средний Artilleritscheski Tjagatsch Sredni , German for 'Artilleriezugmittel Mittel' and 59 ( образца 59 года Obrasza 59 Goda , German 'Ausf. 1959' ) for the model year. From the ATS-59, the ATS-59G ( Russian артиллерийский тягач средний, образца 59 года, гусеничный Artilleritscheski Tjagatsch Sredni, obrasza '59 goda, gussenitschny ' 59 goda, cast iron vehicles ) was developed.
development
The AT-S had proven itself as a chain hoist for heavy artillery and radio measuring stations due to its good off-road mobility and high speed . It was revised at the end of the 1950s. While the diesel engine was given more power, the designers changed the chassis and superstructures. The vehicle was developed in the Kurgan Machine Factory ( Russian Курганский машиностроительный завод Kurganski Maschinostroitelny Sawod ), where series production began in 1959. When series production of the BMP-1 began in 1966, production of the ATS-59G was relocated to Gliwice , Poland .
construction
For the ATS-59, tried and tested assemblies from Soviet vehicle construction were used. The engine, power transmission and essential parts of the drive came from the T-54 tank . The well-known twelve-cylinder diesel engine was used in a throttled version. Now designated А-650 designated engine developed 300 hp (221 kW) at 2,600 min -1 . The drive is a roller drive with five torsion bar sprung rollers on each side. The drive wheels are at the front, the idlers, which also serve to tension the chain, at the rear. The tracks have a width of 525 mm. Because of the better weight distribution, the engine was installed behind the cab, underneath the loading area and partially protrudes into it, which makes access to the engine more difficult for maintenance and repair work and restricts the loading volume. Change gears and steering gears sit in front of the engine.
The maximum ground pressure is 0.52 kg / cm 2 . The climbing ability when loaded without a trailer is 35%, the ground clearance is 425 mm. Without any preparation, the vehicle can drive through bodies of water up to 1.5 m deep and overcome obstacles up to 1.1 m high. The payload is 4 t, the trailer load 14 t.
The ATS-59 has a cable winch driven directly by the motor with a tensile load of 15 t.
ATS-59G
The main disadvantage of the ATS-59 was that the cabin was too small, which normally made it necessary to transport people on the loading area. The further development ATS-59G received a larger cab with a total of seven seats arranged in two rows. To protect against radioactive, chemically or biologically (bacteriologically) contaminated outside air, the case was equipped with an overpressure filter ventilation system. The improved A-650-G was installed as the engine. Otherwise the vehicle remained unchanged.
commitment
The ATS-59 was mainly used as an artillery traction device. In the Soviet Army, he pulled the 130-mm M-46 cannon and 152 mm howitzers. In addition, they were also used as a towing vehicle for the launch pad of the S-75 anti - aircraft missile system or the P-37 radar station . The vehicle was also delivered to other armies that used the corresponding Soviet weapon systems. The National People's Army of the GDR also purchased ATS-59 and used it until the late 1970s as Artilleriezugmittel. Vehicles that were not needed were given to agriculture, where they could be used better than conventional farm tractors on difficult soils because of the high tensile load and low ground pressure.
variants
A rocket launcher on the chassis of the ATS-59G, developed in the People's Republic of China , is called Type 83 / WM-40 . The vehicle carries a launcher for 40 unguided 273 mm missiles.
A similar construction from Egypt is called the RL-21, here the starting device of the BM-21 is used on the chassis of the ATS-59G.
The company Minotor-Service from Minsk is converting the ATS-59G into a mobile workshop vehicle.
Web links
- ATS-59 Véhicule chenillé tracteur d'artillerie on armyrecognition.com (French)
- ATS-59 medium Tracked Artillery Tractor on Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics (English)
literature
- Steven J. Zaloga : Red SAM: The SA-2-Guidleine-Anti-Aircraft Missile. Osprey Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84603-062-8 .
