GAZ-3937 "Vodnik": technical characteristics and photos. GAZ-39371 "Vodnik"

All automotive plants in Russia, along with civil transport, produce equipment on the order of the Ministry of Defense. Gorky Automobile Plant was no exception. Its designers developed the GAZ-3937 "Vodnik", which by many parameters surpasses the famous Hummer all-terrain vehicle of the US Army and, unlike it, is floating.

History of creation

The first "Vodnik" was shown to the general public in 1994 at the exhibition "Rescue means-94" as a multi-purpose off-road vehicle (civilian version) under the number GAZ-3907.

The Ministry of Defense in the late eighties of the last century issued tactical and technical requirements for the project "Vodnik", which was to replace the wheeled armored reconnaissance and sabotage machine.

But the project was frozen, when two first prototypes had already been tested. Only in 1998 the technical documentation for this car was approved, and it was adopted in 2007.

Several cars participated in military operations in the Chechen Republic. By the end of 2007, two hundred and fifty combat vehicles were produced, and fifty by the RF Ministry of Defense were laid for the preservation of long-term storage.

Vehicle Construction

"Vodnik" is a modular car. It is based mainly on aggregates and nodes of cars of serial assembly, so the technological preparation for its serial production does not require large expenditures of neither funds nor time.

The basis of the design is a modular assembly scheme. It allows you to quickly change various modules, including in the field.

Two removable modules of the welded bearing shell have different functions. The front also includes two parts, separated by a sealed partition: the control compartment for the crew and the power section with the engine. For GAZ-3937 it is a double. Moreover, the commander's place is located behind the driver, hatches in the roof are designed for landing and disembarkation. GAZ-39371 "Vodnik" provides for a place for a radio operator with a hatch for landing and disembarkation, which is located behind the driver. The commander in this module sits next to the driver, for them in the module doors are made.

The rear module is a compartment for transporting people, various loads or installing special equipment.

Specifications

The machines of the Vodnik family use units and units that have been tested in real conditions on armored vehicles of previous developments. The undercarriage with high reliability provides a combination of increased cross-country terrain and smooth running. The displacement body allows to overcome water obstacles fording and on water, using wheels as a propulsor, however, with low speed, up to 5 km / h. The combination of the characteristics of a maneuverable high-speed car and an all-terrain vehicle allows, in combat conditions, to transfer military units for long distances and without preparation to engage in combat.

A powerful diesel engine, or a five-cylinder atmospheric Toyota brand, or a four-cylinder turbocharged from Daimler Chrysler, depending on the modification, allows the highway to accelerate from 112 to 130 km / h and overcome rises with an angle of up to 35 degrees.

Pneumatic tires, the pressure in which is regulated from the driver's cab, torsion independent suspension, a ground clearance of 500 mm and a large diameter of the wheels allow the GAZ-3937 to develop high speeds and in conditions of total impassability.

For the protection of personnel, a reservation is made in several variants, including with additional armor.

Plug-in modules

The task for which the GAZ-3937 "Vodnik" was created is the transportation of the crew in the first place in areas with poor traffic. Therefore, in the basic configuration, the rear module is designed to carry eight people. Seats, thanks to a special design, can be set back to back or face to face. Six doors, two at the back and at the sides, which rise to the top and are kept in the open position by gas shock absorbers, allow loading and unloading personnel in a short time.

In total, the GAZ-3937 can be equipped with twenty-six combat and economic interchangeable modules. That is, on a single chassis, a special army car, combat vehicles with various types of weapons, service cars can be equipped: with residential units or with stations of the fuel and energy complex or freight platforms.

Disadvantages of construction

Despite some successful technical solutions and high performance, Vodnik did not receive any spread in the troops.

Firstly, the sealed partition between the compartments interferes with the need to change from place to place, if necessary. In battle, the commander can not replace the retired shooter without leaving the car.

In addition, the exhaust gases go under the bottom of the car to increase stealth traffic. But the already loud sound of the exhaust, as there is no exhaust pipe, is significantly amplified, reflecting off the road surface and falling on a flat bottom. In the compartments, the noise is such that it is impossible to use the radio set on board.

The modularity of the GAZ-3937 did not allow the construction to be completely buoyant to overcome water obstacles.

And most importantly, the flat edges of the bottoms and sides greatly reduce the survivability of the GAZ-39371 Vodnik (photo above). The bottom completely takes over the shock wave from mines and landmines, and the sides completely eliminate the ricochet when hit from the flank.

Civilian variant

In the difficult economic conditions of the beginning of the century, the Arzamas machine-building plant jointly with Polax JSC (Odessa) started the issue of civilian variants of GAZ-39371 Vodnik under individual orders. The civilian all-terrain vehicle is equipped with four-cylinder diesel engine "Caterpillar-3114" and a capacity of 148 liters. With., Although on request you can install a more powerful engine up to 275 liters. from.

In the design firm Kushirtsa, the rear module was designed in several variants. Improved noise insulation of the cabin, it has installed heating, ventilation and air conditioning, intercom and audio system.

Weigh GAZ-39371 "Vodnik" slightly more than six tons, its maximum speed on a good road - 100 km / h, at one gas station, it can overcome a thousand kilometers.

At the request of the buyer, the transmission can be either mechanical or automatic, with three variants of gear changes, including "Tiptronic". It is also possible to install a bilge pump, an electric winch with a force of more than five tons and two mechanical water canisters, which allow a speed of up to 12 km / h on the water.

Such a car finds its buyer. After all, the shortcomings of GAZ-39371 are not important for him as a combat vehicle, the most important thing for private individuals is the increased cross-country capability.