GAZ-46: specifications and description

Gorky Automobile Plant has produced many cars worthy of the memory of generations. Interesting were the basic models, and the machines created on their basis for different purposes. Exotic called the GAZ-69 off-road vehicle GAZ-46 "Amphibia" released on the basis of GAZ-69.

Background

The experience of the Second World War showed the strengths and weaknesses of Soviet military equipment, as well as the gaps in its creation. There were no floating cars in the army.

The four-wheeled four-wheel amphibians Ford GPA and six-wheeled DUKW trucks obtained through lend-lease facilitated river crossings in Eastern Europe during the offensive of Soviet troops to fascist Germany.

Naturally, this technique was taken into account, and immediately after the war, both the passenger and cargo floating machines were included in the long-range rearmament plan, along with other types.

First of all, the military was interested in an easy command vehicle capable of forcing water obstacles and moving in the same group as armored cars.

Cargo DUKW became the first prototype of ZIS-485 - a large waterfowl car (BAS). The analogue of the floating off-road vehicle Ford GPA and became with time GAZ-46 MAV-small car waterfowl.

History of the creation of a floating machine

The military was so interested in such types of equipment that already in 1948 the Scientific Automotive Engine Institute (NAMI) began, on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Automotive and Tractor Industry, the development of an amphibian based on the developed platform of the GAZ-67 off-roader. The technical assignment referred to a technique designed to carry land and water crew and sabotage groups of six people or 500 kilograms of cargo, towing light trailers, pontoons and other watercraft used by the engineer troops.

The first models were named NAMI-011, passed interdepartmental tests and were recommended for admission to the troops, despite the fact that the structure was damp.

Amphibian manufacture was entrusted to Gorky residents. Specialists of the plant made many changes in the design, improving the characteristics of the machine, as far as the mechanics of the GAZ-67 allowed.

From 1951 to 1953, the installation batches began to arrive in the troops called GAZ-011 and were so organized by the military that serious difficulties arose in the development and implementation of the improved GAZ-46 machine, which took into account comments on the previous model and eliminated most of its shortcomings.

Serious intrigues were splashing, heads were flying, management was changing, but in the end, a new car based on the more modern GAZ-69 was released.

Unfortunately, the amphibian was not manufactured for long, until the end of the fifties, because not only equipment, but also tactics of military operations changed in the first post-war decades, and lightweight floating machines were not needed. In addition, the production of the base GAZ-69 was transferred to the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, where it was impossible to produce amphibians for purely production reasons.

Description of amphibians

The buoyancy of a waterfowl was provided by a steel welded body on a frame of box profiles. The chassis and transmission were from GAZ-69, and the engine was from the Pobeda GAZ-M20 passenger car.

In the transfer case, an additional shaft was attached to the propeller with three blades, protected from below by a powerful arc. The coil with cables, mounted on the steering column, connected it to the water wheel, which was placed in the jet of water created by the screw.

To increase the terrain on the silted area in the tires you could lower the pressure, not being afraid that the wheels will get water. All wiring is made with sealed electrical connectors, no additional protection and an ignition distributor, because it is completely sealed.

On the instrument panel an alarm light was installed to control the ingress of water into the hold. On the bow deck of GAZ-46 there is a muffler and an exhaust pipe. True, the noise from the muffler was so strong that it unmasked the car. On the other side of the bow deck there is a fuel filler neck, that is, if necessary, you can refuel the fuel tank directly on the water.

Floating machine body

The GAZ-46 hull of the pontoon type is made without doors, it is divided into three compartments by transverse partitions. The motor-transmission compartment is located in the nose compartment. The central compartment is the cockpit of the crew and passengers, behind is the luggage compartment.

On the nose there is a flapper, which rises in front of the entrance to the water. It prevents "burying" the nose in the water, protects the air intake for cooling the engine and the central compartment from the water.

Between the headlights is a bollard for mooring the amphibian on the water and a cable for the rescue buoy.

Outside the body are mounted shock absorbers. Spare wheels are placed on the rear upper platform.

Cabin of the car GAZ-46

Design cabin, if in this case is appropriate such a loud definition, according to Spartan is simple, since the amphibian was designed by the order of the military. Comfort for the crew or passengers was not provided. And in general, the design of the car GAZ-46 was, rather, like a boat. The instrument panel was completely borrowed from GAZ-69. The transmission control levers are located to the right of the driver. Brackets of pedals of unusual shape and are close to each other so that there are as few technological holes through which water can enter the hold. The frame of the windscreen fits on the hood, over the passenger compartment you can pull the tarpaulin.

The front row of seats consists of two seats: for the commander and the driver. Behind them there is a three-seater bench without adjustments.

The fuel filter is located in the cab for easy maintenance.

Amphibian engine

Gorkov residents used for GAZ-46 engines of the same family, produced at the plant after the Great Patriotic War. They are petrol (fuel can be used even with octane number 66), carburetor four-stroke, volume 2.1 liters.

The engines M-20 and GAZ-69 are almost identical in design and overall dimensions. GAZ-69, with a capacity of 55 liters. S., For a waterfowl it suited more because it is equipped with an oil cooler, which does not need air blowing at high speeds, inevitable when moving in water.

Engine power from the "Victory", which is basic, is not much lower - 52 liters. from.

Since air access was restricted to the engine, from the very beginning, heat exchangers in the cooling circuit for seawater were provided to cool the power plant.

The engines of the M20 group were so reliable and wear-resistant that they still work on older machines. They are simple in care, maintenance and repair, but here's a place for installation in a narrow and deep compartment that makes this dignity imperceptible in the GAZ-46.

Transmission of amphibians

The car was equipped with a three-speed manual gearbox with gear ratios for three transmissions 3,115, 1,772 and 1,0 respectively, and on the rear - 3,738. The dispenser box is two-stage, with gear ratios of 1.15 and 2.78. The gear ratio on the conical main gear with a spiral tooth is 5,125, on the steering gear, which was a globoidal worm with a double roller - 18.2.

Coupling is a dry single-disk. Brakes shoe, the worker - on all four wheels with a hydrodrive from a pedal, parking - on transmission with manual mechanical drive.

Characteristics of the GAZ-46

General data of SUV:

- number of seats: 5 or 2 + 500 kg of cargo;

- weight: 1.85 tons without load;

- dimensions, length × width × height (with raised tent): 5,06 × 1,735 × 2,04 m;

- wheelbase: 2.3 m;

- ground clearance under the axles (with full load): 210 mm;

- Turning radius for the most protruding part - 6.5 m.

By land, the GAZ-46 developed a maximum speed of 90 km / h, an average speed of 48 km / h, and a water speed of 9 km / h.

Fuel consumption on the highway is 17 liters per 100 kilometers, while driving on water, gasoline needs 16.5 liters for one hour, the power reserve on land - 500 km, afloat - 6 hours. Overcoming the ditch the car is not capable, the steepness of the slope, accessible to him, is 60%.

The new life of the old amphibian

Already more than half a century has passed since the last car was released, most of the rusted military vehicles on the outskirts went to the scrap, but thanks to fans of retro cars some of them were given a new life.

Today's view marks the beauty of the hull and its safety. In any case, it takes a little time and energy to restore it. But the engine is changed to a more powerful GAZ 24/31 from the Volga. The 46th GAZ with a cargo weighs more than two and a half tons, and the M20 engine is already considered to be weak for him. However, to cool the modern gasoline engine, there is not enough air in the hold, diesel works better in such conditions. Leave the specialists native MKPP, distributing, screw, bridges, cabling, pump for pumping water and appliances (!). Although the modern drivers do not perceive bridges without blocking, they are changed to military ones. Wheels, probably now also not found, so they establish a "distant relative" - UAZ.

Amphibian abroad

Fans of floating cars are everywhere. A striking example is the event in Treben-Trarbach (Germany) in August 2014, when the owners of amphibians gathered on the Moselle River on their vehicles. There were shows on the roads, and descent along the river.

During the week, this holiday of the triumph of technical thought lasted. It was attended by about sixty different machines, including unique homemade amphibians.

Interestingly, most of all there were those most floating off-road cars Ford GPA (there were fourteen of them), which served as a prototype for GAZ-46. The photo confirms this kinship even today. In the upper picture of Ford, and below the Russian floating SUV (there were five of them at the meeting). By the way, the same number of freight DUKW and Porsche Schwimmwagens, who participated in the Second World War in the army of the Wehrmacht, were also.

Amphibian models

GAZ-46 was honored under No. 100 to enter the collection of models of the Russian scientific-cognitive magazine about Soviet cars "Avtolegendy USSR." The edition devoted to one model was published twice a month, and a collector car-copy, made on a scale of 1: 43 in China by the Italian company DeAgostini, was attached to it. The declared circulation was 120 thousand copies. The dark green machine for this scale is detailed enough in detail, but experts say that the wheels in the model are not native, and the awning spoils the appearance. The model is divided into four parts: the body, the interior, the bottom and the most unsightly tent.

A model of the amphibian is produced in the same scale and the workshop "Ural Sokol" in Yekaterinburg, not only green, but also more decorative colors, for example, blue or red.

The GAZ-46 was mass-produced until the end of 1958 and had no modifications, and remained in service for more than thirty years, although BRDM was used as reconnaissance vehicles. Amphibians were in service with pontoon-bridge regiments and ferry-landing battalions not only in the Soviet Union, but also in the Warsaw Treaty countries. It is not known how many cars are on the move today, but they are, regularly carry caring owners for fishing or hunting and are the subject of their legitimate pride, participate in the displays of special equipment.