Kharkovchanka

Kharkiv'yanka (Ukrainian: Харків'янка, "Woman of Kharkiv") or Kharkovchanka (Russian: Харьковчанка), code name: Manufacture 404S, is a model of Antarctic off-road vehicle made circa 1957–1958 in the Soviet Union, designed and built by the Kharkov Transport Engineering Plant,[1] and later manufactured by the Malyshev Factory.[2] Based on the AT-T tractor platform (itself based on the T-54 tank). In December 1959 two of them ("21" and "23") were delivered to Antarctica and reached the South Pole.[3] The massive off-road snow vehicle had a small galley, toilet, oven, and eight beds.[1]

Kharkivchanka close to the Zhongshan Station in Antarctica (2014)

History

Three Kharkovchankas were built in 1958, and shipped to Antarctica. They traversed from the ocean coast to the existing Soviet Vostok Station in February 1959. Two of these, and a third AT-T tractor, left Vostok station for the geographic South Pole in early December 1959, arriving at the pole on 26 December 1959, and surprising the US crew that had been airlifted into the Amundsen–Scott Station the previous summer.[1] Dozens of more exploratory missions into Antarctica were made with Kharkovchankas in subsequent years.[1]:20:15

In 1969 the second generation of Kharkivchanka was produced and delivered to Antarctica in 1975.

In 1974–1975, a second and final generation Kharkovchanka was designed and built for Antarctic service. The largest design difference was the movement of the cab and engine back out in front of the main massive rectangular body structure, as well as the addition of auxiliary power generation for electricity and heat when the main engine was not operating. Three gen2 Karkovchankas came off the production line in the fall of 1975.[1]:22:45–24:55

A potential third generation based on the MTT tractor was considered in the 1980s, but was put on permanent hold for budgetary reasons, and following the devolution of the Soviet Union, left the Kharkovchankas as the main transportation system for Antarctic cargo into the early 2010s as part of the Russian Antarctic operation.[1]:25:35–26:30

Technical Characteristics
  • Name: Kharkivchanka/Kharkovchanka
  • Assembly: Kharkiv (Kharkov Transport Engineering Plant), Ukrainian SSR[1]
  • Manufacturer: Malyshev Factory
  • Class: off-road snow vehicle
  • Size: 8.5 m × 3.5 m × 4 m (28 ft × 11 ft × 13 ft) (length x width x height)[1]
  • Platform: tractor AT-T, extended by two additional rollers[1]
  • Engine: 995 hp

Cruise speed: 30 km/h (19 mph)[1]

  • Max. speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)[1]
  • Max. grade: 30 degrees slope[1]
  • Weight: 35000 kg
  • Tow load: 60 tonnes[1]

See also

References
  1. "Kharkovchanka" - The Colossal Soviet Antarctic Cruisers (video). Calum. 27 June 2020. Event occurs at 8:14–15:46. Retrieved 20 July 2020 – via YouTube. The novelty and uniqueness of the task assigned to the enterprises required unusual approaches of which no one had experience. Teh body had to be a bus type, with reliable insulation. It was necessary to equip a working compartment, a galley, a control compartment, a bedroom for 6 people, and also an equipment room, a drying compartment and a vestibule. That is, a comfortable work and home complex all contained within one room. [with a deadline] of three months.—Dmitry Gladky
  2. "Antarctic Off-road Vehicles: USA vs. USSR"
  3. Russian South Pole Traverse
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