Triton
If Ichthyander was a floating amphibious vehicle, then Dmitry Kudryachkov’s no less famous Triton is a driving boat, or rather a glider. The car reached 60 km/h (!) on water, and 100 km/h on the highway. The body of the unique glider is load-bearing and sealed, on a beech frame made of bakelite plywood covered with fiberglass.
Boat on wheels Triton designed by Dmitry Kudryachkov.
Boat on wheels Triton designed by Dmitry Kudryachkov.
Big and small
In addition to amphibians, which had the more usual dimensions of a passenger car, others were developed, both more compact and very large. In 1939, DAF released its own amphibious military vehicle, the MS-139. It was equipped with a 48-horsepower Citroen-7CV engine, and passengers were seated in two rows of seats with their backs facing each other. Moreover, the amphibian could travel in both directions.
In turn, the British company Thornycroft introduced the 4-ton Terrapin Mk-I amphibian in 1943. It was a heavy four-axle vehicle with all-wheel drive. It was powered by two Ford V8 engines producing 85 horsepower each. The front and rear axles were slightly raised compared to the others. They helped in moving over rough terrain and on the shore, and on a flat road the amphibian rode on four middle wheels. The manufacturer Morris-Commercial, to which the project was given for further development, built only one amphibian. She was released in 1944.
Having created an amphibian, engineers realized their own dream by creating a car that can swim. Currently, there are a huge number of species .
Popular models
Common modifications of army all-terrain vehicles in Russia include:
- "Vodnik";
- "Otter";
- DT-3PB;
- "Trekol-39294";
- "Typhoon".
"Vodnik"
The Vodnik wheeled vehicle (or GAZ-3937) has been produced since 2005. The vehicle has a curb weight of 7,500 kg and is equipped with a 175-horsepower diesel engine with a supercharging system. Armament includes a KPVT heavy machine gun, or "Kord", and an additional rifle-caliber PKT machine gun is provided. In addition to the driver, it is possible to transport up to 10 people or additional equipment.
"Otter"
The experimental Otter vehicle with a front-mounted power unit was developed by the Russian KamAZ plant in 2006. One prototype without weapons was built, designed for a driver and 5 landing personnel. An 8-cylinder V-shaped diesel engine is used as the power plant, and an all-wheel drive system is provided. The all-terrain vehicle belongs to the class of amphibians capable of overcoming water obstacles without prior preparation.
DT-3PB
The DT-3PB tracked all-terrain vehicle consists of 2 sections connected by a hinge. The equipment has been produced since 2013, the Swedish armored transporter BvS 10 was used as a prototype. The head section contains a 300-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine (a modification of the YaMZ-238 engine), weapons include a Kord or Utes heavy machine gun. A shaft is installed in the hinge, allowing torque to be transmitted to the tracks of the rear (cargo) section. The maximum speed on paved roads reaches 55 km/h, and the range is up to 500 km.
"Trekol-39294"
The floating snow and swamp-going vehicle "Trekol-39294" is built on a 3-axle wheeled chassis equipped with ultra-low pressure tires.
The body is made of fiberglass, which allows the machine to be operated at ambient temperatures from -60°C.
Movement on water is carried out due to the rowing effect created by rotating tires; the possibility of installing a propeller is provided. The cabin is designed to carry 8 people, there is no armor or defensive weapons, and the speed on the highway reaches 70 km/h.
"Typhoon"
The Typhoon wheeled all-terrain vehicle is built on the basis of a 3-axle Ural truck chassis equipped with an all-wheel drive system. The design retains a hooded cabin designed for a driver and 2 passengers. An armored capsule with loopholes for firing from small arms is installed at the rear; the compartment is designed to carry up to 10 troops. The all-terrain vehicle uses a 290 hp diesel engine; the transmission includes a gearbox and a transfer gearbox with a low gear.
