ATS-59: history, description, technical characteristics

In 1954, the Kurgan plant, the main production of which was directed to the production of heavy cranes, was being reorganized. Now its task was the development of a new industry in machine building. Namely, the plant's management was instructed to develop and establish a serial production of artillery tractors of the middle class on caterpillar tracks. In this connection, KZTK is renamed into KMZ (Kurgan Machine Building Plant).

The first medium artyagyaguchi

Since there was no experience in the manufacture of such machines in the Kurgan region yet, experts of the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant (Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant), who in fact developed the machine, were involved in the development of the first tractor. The project was led by I. S. Kavyarov, who earlier worked as Deputy Chief Designer of ChTZ, and since 1954 appointed as Chief Designer at KMZ.

The first automatic telephone exchanges, assembled with the use of tractor units, left the production shop just a couple of months after the start of work on the project. The machine turned out to be quite successful, and on its base the plant produced several modifications of the transporter, both military and civilian.

The next car was completely released by KB KMZ, it was a art-tying machine ATS-59 (factory code - "650").

Description of the new artyagyagcha

The development of a tractor unit began in 1956. The machine was designed primarily for towing artillery systems and trailers, as well as transporting in the body of ammunition, hiking equipment and combat crew, serving the towed gun.

In front of the ATS-59, directly above the main clutch and gearbox, there was a metal welded cabin, designed for two people (driver and senior car).

The cabin of the tractor was very tight, even for two people, with small uncomfortable entrance doors. In the center of the cabin was arranged a large casing, which opens access to the transmission units and the main clutch.

In the CATV ATC-59, the designers have provided an input that allows connecting the power take-off drive in the case of attaching attachments.

The body of the machine was a carrier of very strong construction, welded from thick sheet steel.

Power plant designers are located between the cabin and the platform for cargo.

The undercarriage included a torsion-independent suspension with five support twin rollers for each side. On the first (being leading) and the last wheels are mounted hydraulic shock absorbers of the lever type. The rollers themselves were a double rubberized construction of a rather large diameter.

On the cargo platform located at the rear of the tractor, folding benches are provided, on which 12-14 persons can fit. Under the benches it is possible to install additional fuel tanks if necessary. From above, for protection from the weather, the body was covered with a waterproof tent with windows.

Also ATV-59 is equipped with a reversible traction winch located at the rear of the car.

Thanks to the elaborate arrangement, the machine turned out to be highly resistant to tipping when driving on steep slopes. A high patency ATC-59 allowed it to operate in almost any off-road conditions.

The path from the experienced cars to the series

The first experienced ATVs were built in 1958, after which a series of comprehensive factory tests of the machine began, after which the next stage of inspections commenced for the tractor. This time the tractor was tested by the military, who on the whole appreciated the car positively and took it into service by changing the factory marking to ATS-59.

Further refinement of the machine was carried out already in the course of production. The first pilot batch of 10 vehicles left the plant's workshops by the end of the spring of 1961. A year later the output of the all-terrain vehicle reached 120 copies a month. In addition, work was in progress on the creation of various modifications of the tractor. As a result, the plant on the basis of the 59th started to produce cable and railway trackers, as well as bulldozers.

Also, the tractor ATS-59 with a boom lift was specially commissioned by the military. It has found its application in anti-aircraft missile forces.

ATS-59: specifications

1. Dimensions of the all-terrain vehicle - 6m 28 cm x 2 m 78 cm x 2 m 30 cm (height at the upper level of the cabin).

2. The ground clearance is 42.5 cm.

3. The road gauge is 2 m 20 cm.

4. Base - 3 m 28 cm.

5. The curb weight is 13 tons 200 kg.

6. Power plant - W650G with a capacity of 300 l / s.

7. Maximum speed with full load, while driving on the highway - 39 km / h.

8. Power reserve under full load with trailer:

• On the highway - 730 km;
• On the ground - 500 km.

9. The permissible steepness of the slope to be overcome when driving without a trailer is 35 degrees.

10. Carrying capacity:

• Permissible weight of cargo for transportation in the body - 3 tons;
• The maximum weight of the trailer is 14 tons.

Evaluation of machine

For all the time of operation the ATV-59 all-terrain vehicle has proved itself to be a very reliable and, what is important, unpretentious machine. Due to this, it was widely used in the army as a tractor and a basic chassis for special installations. On a civilian, the car was used in the basic configuration for the development of new impassable areas of the country.

Old tractor with new cab

The only significant drawback of the tractor - a close cabin - was eliminated with the advent of ATS-59G. In fact, it was the same ATS-59, the characteristics of which remained unchanged in the new model, but with an entirely different, completely redesigned and spacious six-seater cabin equipped with a more powerful heating system. Such processing added popularity and increased demand for the car.

Moreover, after the KMZ stopped the production of caterpillar tractors in connection with the need to redesign production lines for the production of infantry fighting vehicles, production of all-terrain vehicles did not stop, but was transferred to Poland, which at the time was a member of the Warsaw Pact countries.