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MAZ-537: one of the few tractors of the national economy

MAZ-537: one of the few tractors of the national economy
During the Second World War, the Soviet T-34 tanks had only one serious problem. There was no special transportation equipment capable of transporting them. But at that time the country was not up to resolving such an issue. After the war, they took him seriously. Already in the 50s, several models were tried at once as special tractors.


For example, YaAZ-210 became the first choice. The production of the car began at the Yaroslavl plant in 1951. And although the production of a large-capacity vehicle continued for another 7 years, the army leadership rejected it. It turned out that the three-axle truck did not have the necessary traction performance and power reserve to use it in this capacity.

МАЗ-537: один из немногих тягачей народного хозяйстваMilitary models were "awarded" with a red star. Photo: youtube.com

The final choice fell on the MAZ-537, which appeared at the beginning of the next decade. It turned out to be in demand not only in our country, but also among the then allied states. After all, it was used in several qualities at once:

✅ transportation of tanks
✅ missile carrier
✅ aircraft tug

This sequence extended its "life" on the factory assembly line for three decades, almost until the collapse of the USSR. It turned out to be much longer than the predecessor model.

The long history of the MAZ-537 tractor


The order for the development of a suitable tractor at the Minsk plant was received back in 1954. Among the main requirements for such special equipment were: the presence of four drive axles, separate tires with pressure control, a hydrodynamic automatic transmission and power steering. Well, and of course, the corresponding power characteristics.

The touchstone was the MAZ-535 model, prototypes of which appeared in 1956. Already on its basis, the final version of the tractor was developed - the MAZ-537 model. Serial production started in 1960.


Not even four years had passed when the Minsk page of the history of the new tractor was turned over. By decision from above, the production of special vehicles was transferred to Uralselmash in the city of Kurgan. And three years later, the production was renamed the Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant (KZKT).

Complete with MAZ-537 platform trailers ChMZAP worked. It was on them that the giant truck could carry goods weighing up to 50 tons. Another use of the tractor was also used. On its basis, KET-T evacuation vehicles were sometimes produced.

Technical characteristics of the tractor


The car is equipped with a 4-seater, two-door cab. It has independent heating. Frontal optics is represented by simple round headlights. In the modification with the index "G" there was additional equipment in the form of a winch. Its 100-meter cable provided the car with autonomy during the process of loading / unloading heavy tracked vehicles.

Such a hulk has no place on busy streets. Photo: youtube.com

Under the hood, more precisely behind the cab, there is an engine similar to those installed on tanks: a 12-cylinder diesel engine with preheating. Gearbox - 3-speed planetary, drive - to the front pair of axles. MAZ-573 has the following characteristics:

✅ maximum trailer weight - up to 65 tons
✅ total mass of the train - 86,6 tons
✅ engine displacement - 38,88 l
✅ power - 525 liters. With.
✅ maximum slope - no more than 15 degrees
✅ width of the overcome trench - up to 1,3 m
✅ speed - 55 km / h
✅ fuel reserve - 840 l
✅ number of seats in the cabin - 4
✅ length - 9,13 m

During its 30 years of production, the car has gone through several minor updates. The main one can be considered the replacement of the power unit with a more modern YaMZ-240, which occurred in the mid-80s. Of course, such transport was also used for peaceful purposes.

Civil use of MAZ-537


In many farms of the Soviet and post-Soviet period, reliable tractors have found their worthy application. For example, one of the Belarusian mechanized columns has been using this since the country's independence for 15 years. During this time, the giant has moved a lot of agricultural tracked vehicles and much more. He also survived the replacement of the power unit. But the breakdown of the checkpoint was a tragedy. It turned out that this special equipment has a sophisticated and exclusive gearbox. There is, in fact, nothing to replace it. After all, the release of the tractor was discontinued in Soviet times.

Variant of a civilian tractor. Photo: youtube.com

Often these powerful machines can be found in the vast expanses of the Arctic. Their power and cross-country ability have repeatedly helped the workers of logging and other enterprises in this harsh region. We can say that the MAZ-537 helped not only people, but also their less powerful "colleagues" who fell into the harsh clutches of the cold elements.

Given all these merits, powerful tractors are still in price. Moreover, not only among the workers of the Arctic or special mekhkolonn. They are also sold in other countries. For example, in the Czech Republic (formerly part of the Warsaw Pact) they offer to buy such a truck at a price of almost 600 thousand crowns (about 1,45 million rubles). So it is too early to consider the history of MAZ-537 completed.

Author:

Photos used: youtube.com

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