“Kharkovchanka”: what the legendary tracked all-terrain vehicle was like for Soviet polar explorers

The conquest of Antarctica has always been one of the main areas of research activity of polar explorers. Naturally, for such important and, at the same time, dangerous events, all the most advanced technologies were developed.

The all-terrain vehicle project for Soviet polar explorers was launched in 1958. The main requirements were high maneuverability, spaciousness and the ability to operate at temperatures down to -80 degrees Celsius.

This is how the all-terrain vehicle “Kharkovchanka” appeared. The vehicle was built in three months on the basis of a heavy A-TT tracked tractor, the chassis of which was extended by two road wheels to accommodate the installation of a large-sized body.

The power unit was a twelve-cylinder diesel engine with a power of 520 hp. with turbocharging. Using the above-mentioned unit, this diesel engine could produce power up to 990 hp.

The total weight of the vehicle was 35 tons. At the same time, she could pull a sled with a load of up to 70 tons. To increase the cross-country ability of the all-terrain vehicle in the snow, its tracks were expanded to 1 meter.

All-terrain vehicle "Kharkovchanka" built at the Kharkov plant named after. Without exaggeration, Malyshev can be called a polar station on caterpillars. The externally rectangular body was made of duralumin aluminum using eight-layer thermal insulation made of nylon wool. At the same time, the total area of ​​the internal space was 28 square meters.

It contained such compartments as a vehicle control room, a cockpit with eight folding berths, a radio station, a wardroom, a campus, and a heated latrine. There were three sealed doors for the crew to exit.

In December 1959, three Kharkovchanka all-terrain vehicles reached the South Pole. The machines showed high reliability and unpretentiousness. The only drawback of the all-terrain vehicle, which was noted by polar explorers, was the release of carbon monoxide from the engine into the living quarters.

The problem was completely solved in the second version of the car, developed in 1975, where the cabin and living quarters were separated.

Both machines were successfully operated by Soviet and Russian polar explorers until 2008.

Comments

[Arkadich]

There is a very interesting book “Newcomer in Antarctica” by V. Sanin. Interesting and permeated with light humor, it tells the life of polar explorers.

[Blacksmith 55]

I read Sanin, he describes it well. I recommend it to anyone who is interested.

[Lionnvrsk]

It contained such compartments as a vehicle control room, a cockpit with eight folding berths, a radio station, a wardroom, a campus, and a heated latrine.

What the fuck is this campus?! Is the journalist a follower of Western education?!

[solar]

I realized this when I watched the video. There is also a “campus” there, but logically there should be a “galley”.
Neither the author of the video nor the author of the article seems to know the difference between them.

[Dzungar]

Also “Antarctica is hard to let go” and “72 degrees below zero”

[fif21]

We are waiting for the "Restyling" of the all-terrain vehicle! Russia is again in the Arctic, and we still have our stations in Antarctica.

[Prisoner]

For what? What's bad about Burlak?

[fif21]

Quote: Captive

For what? What's bad about Burlak?

Are you against technological progress?

[fiv]

"72 degrees below zero." My brother and I read this novel-newspaper into the trash. Then he intertwined it.

[Donna_Rosa_dAlvadores]

Also, “Trapped” and “Antarctica is Hard to Let Go” are excellent books. Sanin always writes about “Kharkovchanka” with respect.

[Vitaly Koisin]

"Campus"...what are the landmen doing, what are they doing!!! A galley, not a campus :-)

[solar]

there was carbon monoxide leaking into the living quarters from the engine.
The problem was completely solved in the second version of the car, developed in 1975, where the cabin and living quarters were separated.

And it turns out that exhaust gases can get into the cabin?:((

[rotfuks]

I once read the memoirs of participants in the conquest of Antarctica on these all-terrain vehicles. There were big problems with diesel fuel. Despite the arctic index, the diesel fuel in the reserve tank on the sled froze to the point of margarine. One driver steered the all-terrain vehicle, and two people used axes to chop the frozen diesel fuel in the tank on the sled and drag the pieces into the all-terrain vehicle where the diesel fuel became liquid. It was hellish work chopping diesel fuel.

[ycuce234-san]

Quote: rotfuks

The diesel fuel in the reserve tank on the sleigh froze to the point of margarine.

They probably didn’t think of making a thermos tank and adding a powerful electric generator. Then you can heat the tank with a heating element or cable.
Well, or put the hot exhaust into the heat exchanger.
Perhaps we should abandon diesel engines altogether in Antarctica and use only jet fuel and so-called kerosene engines. At the same time, unification can be achieved with aviation.

[rotfuks]

There are some indications that you are not familiar with prolonged sub-zero temperatures. Already at minus 40, there is simply no thermal exhaust from the engine. And at minus 50, the heating element will not heat even a bucket of water, let alone a ten-ton tank of diesel fuel.

[ycuce234-san]

Quote: rotfuks

at minus 40 there is simply no thermal exhaust from the engine.

This heat also leaves the engine in other ways. But if the heat loss is so great, it is all the more necessary to make a thermos tank and a drip stove for the tank as a direct part of both the trailer and the main chassis. This is simpler than the same thermal insulation of residential volumes.

[ln_ln]

The Wiki has a link to Gogolev’s article (Autocenter 3/2009), that’s all there is to the point. And in the photo of the refueling process the axes are not visible.
Yes, and it says “galley”, probably the authors of the video have bad diction...
And the engine had drive superchargers.
It was noted that due to constant movement in first gear, its gears quickly failed. The same thing happened on Antarctic vehicles based on the BTR-50.
Later, articulated Ishimbay machines began to be used in Antarctica.

[ln_ln]

For those interested, look at Zakharov’s article in BTT Bulletin #3-1963.

[Igorash]

It didn’t harden... It was thick because... its freezing point was -70.. Pure acetone. with additives... So what about the axes.. This could have happened if the Arctic was flooded to -60....

[rotfuks]

Acetone in diesel fuel? Where does acetone come from? Did you go to school? Or when there was organic chemistry, did you run around the gates with beer? Any diesel fuel contains paraffin, and paraffin turns into a solid phase in the cold.

[singless]

Those were nice times to remember. impressive

[Doctor]

There was a series of articles in Science and Life about their use in Antarctica. I remember that it was very difficult to change the fingers in the tracks in the cold. The polar explorers took turns leaving the cabin, literally 10 times with a sledgehammer and back. There is also a height of the ice dome about 3000 above sea level.

[ycuce234-san]

Quote: Arzt

I remember that it was very difficult to change the fingers in the tracks in the cold.

Well, all this needs to be worked out for harsh conditions. For example, offer mounting and dismantling tools, such as mounting columns. And there is even solar energy there - technology does not stand still, and on a polar day you can even get energy. Maybe someday electric vehicles will appear.

[Eug]

For some reason, I always thought that the Kharkov Aviation Plant took a very significant part in the creation of the residential module... but here not a word about it...

[Jacques sekavar]

A good car but very power hungry.

[Frettaskyrandi]

made of duralumin-aluminium

The text, it seems, was not written by a Russian author.