GAZ-66 explained

The GAZ-66 is a Soviet and later Russian 4x4 all-road (off-road) military truck produced by GAZ. It was one of the main cargo vehicles for motorized infantry of the Soviet Army and is still employed in former Soviet Union countries.^[1] It is nicknamed shishiga (шишига), shisharik (шишарик)/shehsherik (шешерик), trueman (in Siberia).

History

After tests and trials, in 1969 GAZ-66 received the state quality mark of the USSR. It was the first USSR truck to receive such an award.^[2]

Almost one million vehicles of this type were built for both military and civilian use. The GAZ-66 has gained legendary status in many countries due to its reliability, simplicity and off-road capability.^[3] Since the 1960s, the GAZ-66 has been popular with armed forces and off-road enthusiasts.^[4] Production ceased in 1999, with the GAZ-3308 being produced instead.

Basic versions

• GAZ-66-1 (1964-1968) - the first model with no centralized system for adjusting the air pressure in the tires
• GAZ-66A (1964-1968) - with a winch
• GAZ-34 - a 6×6 prototype
• GAZ-66B (1966) - Paratrooper version with telescopic steering column, folding roof and folding windshield frame
  • BM-21V "Grad-V" (Vozdushnodesantiy – 'airborne') (NATO designation M1975): Developed for airborne troops in 1969. A GAZ-66B 4x4 truck chassis is fitted with a 12-round 122 mm rocket launcher. The vehicle is sturdy enough to be air-dropped. Parts of the vehicle such as the canvas cab roof can be taken off or folded down to reduce its size during transit. Like the BM-21, the BM-21V has stabilizing jacks on the rear of the vehicle for support when firing. The launch vehicle has the industrial index of 9P125.
• GAZ-66D (1964-1968) - the chassis with a power take-off
• GAZ-66P - tractor (experimental)
• GAZ-66E (1964-1968) - with shielded electrical equipment
• GAZ-66-01 (1968-1985) - the base model with a centralized control system for tire pressure
• GAZ-66-02 (1968-1985) - with a winch
• GAZ-66-03 (1964-1968) - with shielded electrical equipment
• GAZ-66-04 (1968-1985) - the chassis with shielded electrical equipment
• GAZ-66-05 (1968-1985) - with shielded electrical equipment and a winch
• GAZ-66-11 (1985-1996) - upgraded base model
• GAZ-66-12 (1985-1996) - with a winch
• GAZ-66-14 (1985-1996) - the chassis with shielded electrical equipment and a power take-off

Military versions

• GAZ-66-15 (1985-1996) - with shielded electrical equipment and a winch
• GAZ-66-16 (1991-1993) - modernized version with ZMZ-513.10, reinforced tires (wheels - lean), completed the brakes, the platform without intruding wheel niches (also installed on GAZ-66-11 and GAZ-66-40), load capacity 2.3 tons
• GAZ-66-21 (1993-1995) - the national-economic modification with the dual tires and rear axle wooden platform GAZ-53, load capacity 3.5 tons
• GAZ-66-31 - chassis for trucks
• GAZ-66-41 (1992-1995) - a naturally aspirated GAZ-544 diesel engine
• GAZ-66-40 (1995-1999) - with a GAZ-5441 turbodiesel
• GAZ-66-92 (1987-1995) - for use in the far north
• GAZ-66-96 - chassis for shift buses

Export versions

• GAZ-66-51 (1968-1985)
• GAZ-66-52 (1968-1985) - with a winch
• GAZ-66-81 (1985-1995) - for countries with a temperate climate
• GAZ-66-91 (1985-1995) - for countries with a tropical climate

Specialised versions

• AP-2 - aid station, the main transport unit regimental aid station.
• AS-66 - ambulance, designed to evacuate the wounded.
• DDA-2 - disinfecting shower installation, is used in the military (sometimes civil) sanitary-epidemiological units.
• GZSA-731, 983A, 947, 3713, 3714 - Vans "Mail", "bread" and "Medicine"
• MZ-66 - Lube.
• 3902, 3903, 39021, 39031 - mobile workshops to provide technical assistance to agricultural machinery.
• 2001, 2002, 3718, 3719, 3716, 3924, 39521 - mobile clinics
• NZAS-3964, Volgar-39461 - watch buses
• GAZ-SAZ-3511 - tipper for agricultural purposes on the GAZ-66-31 (build - Saransk).
• GAZ-KAZ-3511 - tipper for agricultural purposes on GAZ-66-31 (build - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)

Operators

• • ^[5]
• - Armed Forces of Belarus^[6]
• ^[7]
• China
  • • • Guinea-Bissau
• Hungary
  • Iraq^[8]
  • - Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova^[9]
    • Poland: Only specialized variants in use.
  • Romania - Romanian Armed Forces
• ^[10]
• Transnistria
• Ukraine - Ukrainian Armed Forces^[11]

Former operators

• / / - Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan^[12]
  • • • • Federation of Arab Republics (1972-1984) Finland – purchased 200 regular GAZ-66 trucks and 100 special versions for Finnish defence forces 1972–1975. Another round (140 units) in year 1986–1989.
• – passed on to Germany after reunification; retired.
• Republic of Georgia (1991–2004)
  • • • • Russian Federation (flag 1991–1993)
      • – passed on to successor states.

Specifications

Specifications for GAZ-66-11^{[13] [14]}

Design

• Cab-forward design, 2-seat cab + 21 passengers in the back.
• Payload: 2000kg (4,000lb) plus the same weight trailer
• Suspension: Solid axles with leaf springs

Engine

• Type- ZMZ-66-06 V8 petrol (carburetor) OHV engine; heavy duty version of the ZMZ-53^{[15] [16] [17]}
• Displacement: 4,254 cc (Bore 923NaN3, Stroke 803NaN3)
• Compression ratio: 7.6:1
• Output: 120hp @ 3,200 rpm
• Torque: 284.5N.m @ 2,000-2200 rpm
• Max. speed- 90km/h(speed governed)

Brakes

• Type: Drums, with hydraulic control, single circuit, servo assisted
• Stopping distance from 20 mph: 27'

Measurements

• L×W×H: 58050NaN0 x 23220NaN0 x 24900NaN0(cab) / 25200NaN0(tent)
• Wheelbase: 33002NaN2
• Track front/rear: 18202NaN2/17502NaN2
• Curb weight: 3440kg (7,580lb)
• Fuel tanks: 2 x 105L
• Fuel economy: 31.5L/100km

Maneuverability

• Turning circle: 9.50NaN0
• Approach angle: 41°
• Departure angle: 32°
• Max. ascent angle: 31–37° (fully loaded)
• Ground clearance: 3150NaN0
• Fording depth: 10NaN0

Tires

• Size: 12–18"
• Pressure: Adjustable with central tyre inflation system from cab

Popular culture

• In the 2010 game , the GAZ-66 is used as a transport for guards in the level "Vorkuta".
• It is mentioned in the 1991 Tom Clancy novel The Sum Of All Fears.
• In the Russian version of the TV show Top Gear, a test was conducted on the vehicle's strengths: the body had building rubble dropped on it, it was set on fire and submerged in water. After all these tests, it kept going.
• The GAZ-66 was featured in the movie The Expendables 2 with Jean-Claude Van Damme.
• The GAZ-66 is a truck in the game MudRunner with the name of B-66 due to copyright claims.
• In the 2019 HBO TV miniseries Chernobyl, the truck is used by Gen. Col. Vladimir Pikalov, commander of the Soviet Chemical Troops, to carry out a radiation measuring at the damaged power plant, with high-range dosimeter placed at the front and lead sheets covering the cabin.
• In the 2020 film Wonder Woman 1984. Appears in the Middle Eastern convoy scene.

Bibliography

• Book: Foss . Christopher F. . Gander . Terry J. . Christopher F. Foss . Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics 1991-92 . 1991 . Jane's Information Group . 978-0-7106-0950-2 . 12 . English.

External links

• English website for Russian Military Trucks
• The UK home of the Gaz 66
• GAZ-66 enthusiast group
• The German home of the GAZ-66
• German blog with GAZ-66 restoration and travel info
• GAZ-66 enthusiast website
• Polish GAZ-66 site
• GAZ-66 expedition site
• GAZ-66 blog
• GAZ-66 Video
• GAZ-66 Video
• GAZ-66 Video
• History of the predecessor of GAZ-66 - GAZ-62 (rus)
• GAZ-66 3d model
• GAZ-66 3d 360-view

Notes and References

1. Web site: GAZ-66 Light Utility Truck Military-Today.com. www.military-today.com. 2019-04-24.
2. Л. Д. Гоголев. Автомобили в боевом строю. М., "Молодая гвардия", 1981.
3. Web site: Maybe the best Soviet truck, Legend of Soviet Union – GAZ-66 English Russia. 8 November 2016 . 2019-04-24.
4. Web site: Russian 4wd truck GAZ-66 for hunters and off-road travelers . Auto Market USA: Auto Classifieds . en-US. 2019-04-24. 2019-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424143204/https://auto-market-usa.com/auto-classified-ads/russian-4wd-truck-gaz-66-for-hunters-and-off-road-travelers/. dead.
5. Web site: Janovsky . Jakub . Dan . Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Kemal . The Fight For Nagorno-Karabakh: Documenting Losses On The Sides Of Armenia And Azerbaijan . Oryx . 5 January 2024 . 27 September 2020.
6. https://vayar.mil.by/news/172477/ Подразделения войск связи Вооруженных Сил получили новую и модернизированную технику
7. Book: Nuciari . Marina . Olivetta . Eraldo . Leaders for Tomorrow: Challenges for Military Leadership in the Age of Asymmetric Warfare . 9 May 2021 . Springer Nature . 978-3-030-71714-8 . 202 . en.
8. Book: Iraq Country Handbook . Marine Corps Intelligence Activity . 156 . 28 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050528131010/http://www.sabrizain.org/iraq/Marines.pdf . 28 May 2005.
9. Testarea nu cunoaşte clipe de respiro // "Oastea Moldovei", № 11, 2020. стр.6-7
10. Web site: Janovsky . Jakub . naalsio26 . Aloha . Dan . Kemal . Black . Alexander . Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine . Oryx . 15 April 2024 . 24 February 2022.
11. Web site: B. . Volodymyr . Unified truck platform for the Ukrainian Defense Forces: KrAZ, MAZ, or Tatra? . Militarnyi . 28 January 2024 . 29 July 2023.
12. Afghanistan along a peace road // "Soviet Military Review", No. 8, August 1988. pages 40-41
13. Web site: GAZ-66 Weaponsystems.net. weaponsystems.net. 2019-04-24.
14. Web site: Основные ТТХ серийного ГАЗ-66-11 (1985–1996).
15. https://tractorreview.ru/dvigateli/zmz/zmz-511-tehnicheskie-harakteristiki.html ЗМЗ-511: технические характеристики
16. https://avtomobilgaz.ru/gruzovye/gaz3307/dvigatel.html Двигатели на ГАЗ 3307
17. https://gaz24.info/wp/dvygately-v8-zmz-konstrukcyja-harakterystyky-ystoryja-razrabotky/ Двигатели V8 ЗМЗ конструкция, характеристики, история разработки