Almost 70 years ago, the Antarctic all-terrain vehicle “Kharkovchanka” was created in the Soviet Union, which still has no analogues in the world.
This machine was used to explore Antarctica and travel to the South Pole, and subsequently to solve many other scientific missions and tasks.
“Kharkovchanka” demonstrated to the whole world the mechanical engineering capabilities of the USSR, but today almost nothing is known about it, and many people know absolutely nothing that there once was such an all-terrain vehicle. Let’s fix this now.
Brief description
Why her building
The main features of “Kharkovchanka”
What are the disadvantages of “Kharkovchanka”
What has changed in “Kharkovchanka-2”
What happened to “Kharkovites”
There will be no analogues to all-terrain vehicles
Why her building
AT-T
In 1955, the Soviet Antarctic Expedition (SAE) began, during which polar explorers had to create research stations and gain a foothold on the then unexplored continent.
One of the main directions of expeditions has always been transport. The first expedition included trucks and tractors on tracks.
Trucks showed their uselessness in Antarctica, while tractors, on the contrary, demonstrated the effectiveness of tracks in the snow.
It immediately became clear that Antarctica needed special transport. In 1958, as part of the 4th SAE, the first AT-T all-terrain vehicles (heavy artillery tractor) were delivered to Antarctica.
AT-T
Their appearance occurred in 1950, and they were intended for exploring hard-to-reach areas of the USSR. The track, engine, gearbox and drive were taken from the T-54 tank, and the cab was an extended version of the ZIS-150 truck cab.
AT-Ts were very effective, but still had a number of disadvantages, due to which it was impossible to reach the South Pole using AT-Ts alone.
The closer you get to the South Pole, the lower the temperature becomes. She can achieve -70-80℃, and at this temperature the fuel froze.. The crew goes outside and makes a fire under the car to heat up the diesel. In addition to the fact that this is long and difficult, you need to take into account that for the human body, being outside for a long time at this temperature is a serious test.
In addition, the AT-T body was not suitable for long expeditions in harsh conditions. Therefore, the polar explorers urgently needed a replacement.
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The main features of “Kharkovchanka”
“Kharkovchanka”
In 1957, the USSR government ordered the creation of a new all-terrain vehicle by Kharkov enterprises: the machine-building plant for the body, the aviation plant for the Kharkovchanka body. The all-terrain vehicle took three months to createa record time even in modern times.
The “Kharkovchanka” is based on units from the T-54 tank, but with an extended dual-reel chassis and a meter-long track to improve traction with snow.
Located in the salon. The main disadvantage of AT-T was turned into an advantage in “Kharkovchanka”. If necessary, the crew can repair the engine without going outside.
The design of the tracks and engine was simple and already well known. It made sense because the easier it is to build, the easier it is to repair. There was no service station in Antarctica, so polar explorers will have to do everything on their own.
A pressurized cabin was installed on top of the chassis in which the crew could live and work. The cabin had 6-8 sleeping places, a toilet, a small kitchen, a workshop and a laboratory.
The cover was fitted with an appearance. At that time there was no GPS or GLONS, so polar explorers focus on the stars and plot a route using a sextant and chronometer.
“Kharkovchanka” had a length of 8.5 meters, a height of 3.5 meters and a height of 4 meters. Its uprated supercharged diesel engine produced 995 hp, but its top speed was limited to 30 km/h, and in reality it moved even slower.
Unloading the “Kharkovchanka” from the diesel-electric ship “Ob” in Antarctica.
This is due to the fact that the weight of the “Kharkovchanka” is 35 tonsshe also dragged a trailer with fuel weighing 70 tons.
December 26, 1959, a convoy of two Kharkovchankas and one AT-T communication of the South Pole through the east of Antarctica. The expedition lasted 98 days (from September 27, 1959 to January 8, 1960). During this time, “Kharkovchanki” and AT-T covered 4000 km from Mirny station to the South Pole and back.
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What are the disadvantages of “Kharkovchanka”
It was not in vain that the Kharkov women carried fuel with them. The fact is that they had a huge consumption, which explained the great importance of all-terrain vehicles and the transportation of light trailers with fuel.
At a speed of 6 km/h “Kharkovites” consume up to 12 liters of diesel per 1 km..
By November 6, the sledge-caterpillar train (three Kharkovchanka snowmobiles and two tractors) was fully prepared for movement in the central regions of the mainland. At 15 o’clock. 10 min. According to Moscow time, he announced from the Komsomolskaya station, including 11 sleigh-trailers in tow with a total load (including the sleigh) of about 250 tons. Fuel alone was about 110 tons.
Alexander Dralkin, leader of the 1959 South Pole expedition
The larger tracks also had a problem because they often broke and the severe cold made repairs difficult.
Repair of tracks at Kharkovchanka
During the transition from Mirny to Komsomolskaya station, 220 steel fingers and 20 tracks had to be replaced.
But when the steel fingers connecting the track tracks broke, driver mechanics in 50° cold weather and snowstorms had to arm themselves with sledgehammers. With such a high altitude above sea level and a constant lack of oxygen, it was enough to make two or three blows with a sledgehammer, and the light became difficult, and rest was required. Then other participants in the haul replaced the outdated one.
Alexander Dralkin, leader of the 1959 South Pole expedition
The problems with the tracks were so severe that already in the middle of the expedition it was decided to shorten the extensions instead of one meter to 75 cm.
The cabin insulation turned out to be much worse than expected. Engineers calculated that the temperature in the cabin would drop by 1-2 degrees overnight. But in reality, it could drop from 30 to 0 degrees overnight, so periodically start the engine to maintain heat.
The air temperature apparently dropped to -60°, and even in the snowmobile cabins it was -15-20° at times. Sleeping bags with down inserts came to the rescue.
Alexander Dralkin, leader of the 1959 South Pole expedition
At one of the Kharkovchanok exits, the gearbox failed. But the polar explorers had a spare box with them. In 5 days, mechanics replaced the box, which weighed more than 600 kg.
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What has changed in “Kharkovchanka-2”
Unloading “Kharkovchanka-2” to Antarctica
For 20 years, three “first-generation Kharkov women” worked in Antarctica. In the mid-70s, Kharkov factories presented three modified Kharkovchanka-2 all-terrain vehicles.
Its main difference from the first version was that the engine was moved from the body under the hood. The front part is taken from the AT-T.
At first, the engine in the first Kharkovchanka was placed inside for ease of repair, but subsequent operation showed that some of its parts were inconvenient to access, so placement under the hood became preferable. In addition, this arrangement solved another unpleasant problem, namely, soot from engine operation stopped entering the cabin. The reliability of the tracks and gearbox has also been improved.
The body of the second “Kharkovchanka” has undergone many changes. First of all, it became much more airtight, so the cold penetrated much more slowly.
The new all-terrain vehicle received an auxiliary generator, allowing the main engine to remain switched off while power and heat continued to flow into the habitation module.
The second “Kharkovchanka” quickly gained the status of a reliable and more comfortable model compared to the first stage.
In the 80s, the USSR was developing the Kharkovchanka-3, which was supposed to be the most important update of the all-terrain vehicle to change the account on the MT-T tractor platform. But after the USSR made a decision, the idea was continued.
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What happened to “Kharkovites”
“Kharkovchanka” at Vostok station in 2015
“Kharkovites” turned out to be very reliable. They have been able to drive in conditions for over 60 years, and that’s without proper maintenance.
Currently, there is almost no team of “Kharkovites” left in Antarctica.. It is known that in 2015 the second Kharkovchanka operated at Vostok station. It was used for rolling the runway tape.
And it’s just a nightmare to drive, the diesel engine is under the seat, many of the gaskets are burned out, you can’t breathe, so you drive around with the doors open.
One of the polar explorers at Vostok station
There was also information that at Vostok station in 2017 there were two Kharkovchanka-2.
“Kharkovchanki-2” at Vostok station in 2017
AT-T for rolling the runway at Vostok station
In the foreground is the first “Kharkovchanka” in the summer of 2013
The first “Kharkovchanka” was put into operation in 2013. It was repainted green, but continued to work.
One of the “Kharkovites” is installed in sight of the monument at Progress station. Interestingly, anyone can get inside, sit in the cabin and study the residential module. Of course, to do this you must first get to Antarctica.
The fate of the original “Kharkovchanka” is unknown. Perhaps it was written and used as spare parts for other “Kharkovites”.
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There will be no analogues to all-terrain vehicles
PistenBully 300 Polar
There is no information about whether a replacement for “Kharkovites” is planned. Most likely not, and there are several reasons for this.
“Kharkovites” were originally created for research expeditions, which have become fewer over the years. As for, use a short distance (by the standards of Antarctica) and in a more relaxed mode.
While at the station, polar explorers have everything within walking distance, so such durable and passable equipment has become irrelevant. Even “Kharkovchanki” were mainly used as tractors and for delivering goods.
Burlak
As the tasks changed, new equipment was also required. Giant all-terrain vehicles were replaced by more compact ones, but also passable. Among them are the DT-30PM (Ishimbay), as well as the PistenBully 300 Polar tractors and the latest Burlak all-terrain vehicles.
Also, some of the tasks of delivering cargo and passengers were taken over by aircraft that regularly fly to and within Antarctica.
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Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
