GSP-55

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Half ferry in driving condition
Half ferry with partially opened pontoon
Fully assembled ferry

The GSP-55 ( Russian Гусеничный самоходный паром ; transcription : Gussenitschny samochodny parom , translated: self-propelled ferry with caterpillar ) is a Soviet amphibious ferry for the transfer of heavy military vehicles. The ferry was introduced into the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact and other states from 1959 .

construction

The system consists of two (left and right part) independent land mobile semi-ferries. When driving, the hinged pontoon is folded up on the vehicle. Each semi-ferry has folding loading ramps so that loading and unloading is possible from both sides.

As a caterpillar vehicle , the semi-ferries have excellent off-road mobility. The roller drive is similar to that of the floating tank PT-76 and consists of 7 rollers. The guide wheels are at the front, the drive wheels at the rear of the vehicle.

The shell of the pontoons is made of welded steel and is filled with foam. The foam should prevent sinking after damage to the shell. Newer versions have a surge board . When traveling by water, the semi-ferries are driven by two propellers each. The GSP can be used up to flow velocities of 2 m / s. Loading and unloading can take place on embankments up to half a meter high.

The maximum loading capacity is 52 t . This means that all Soviet / Russian main battle tanks can be transferred.

tactics

The mission profile envisages the transfer of heavy combat units across standing or flowing water to a bridgehead , while a pontoon bridge is being built in the meantime and floating tanks and floating self-propelled artillery as well as infantry are transferring to floating vehicles , armored personnel carriers and armored personnel carriers.

The semi-ferries drive parallel to the water hazard and water. During the watering, the flow drive is switched on and the chain drive switched off. The ferry commander orders the coupling maneuver - both semi-ferries turn upstream and approach one another until they are rigidly coupled to one another with the two locking bolts. Then the pontoons are folded out 180 ° into the swimming position. The process takes about 5 minutes. Then the ferry drives to the bank, unfolds the ramps and can pick up the first combat vehicle.

The semi-ferries are unarmed, but charged combat vehicles can use their weapons during the translation process.

commitment

The ferries were used by Egypt in the Yom Kippur War to cross the Suez Canal in October 1973 .

Technical specifications

  • Crew: 3 (per half ferry)
  • Weight: 17 t (per half ferry)
  • Loading capacity: 52 t (double ferry)
  • Draft: 1.20 m
  • Drive: 2 × diesel engine 8D6, 200 PS (147 kW)
  • Top speed: 45 km / h land (semi-ferry), 7.7 km / h water loaded, 10.8 km / h water unloaded
  • Range: 500 km land, 10 hours water
  • Length: 12.63 m
  • Width:
    • 3.54 m (half ferry in driving condition)
    • 12.63 m (ferries coupled, pontoons folded down)
    • 21.54 m (double ferry with unfolded ramps)

Web links

Commons : GSP 55  - collection of images, videos and audio files