ZIL-135
The ZIL-135 is a large, eight-wheeled military transport and self-propelled artillery truck produced in the Cold War by the Soviet Union starting in 1959. Its purpose was to carry and launch an artillery missile, specifically a FROG-7, from surface-to-surface. The ZIL-135 was widely exported to other communist countries, most notably North Korea, where it is a common sight in films and military marches. It also served as the TEL for the BM-27 Uragan artillery rocket system.
ZIL-135 | |
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An East German ZIL-135 equipped with a FROG-7 missile | |
Overview | |
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Powertrain | |
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Dimensions | |
Length | 9,260 mm (364.6 in) |
Width | 3,130 mm (123.2 in) |
Height | 3,060 mm (120.5 in) |
Curb weight | 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) |
This vehicle has two gasoline engines that power its 20 tonnes to a maximum speed of 65 kilometers per hour. One engine drives the four wheels on the left of the truck, while the other engine drives the four wheels on the right. The ZIL-135 has eight wheel drive, but only the front and rear axles are used for steering. It has a maximum cruising range of 500 kilometers.
The cab of the ZIL-135 is NBC protected, allowing the rockets to be fired without exposing the crew to possible contaminants.[1][2] The six-man crew[3] can emplace or displace the system in three minutes.
Variants
ZiL
- ZIL-135 (9P113): launcher for FROG-7 (Luna-M) missile (1959)
- ZIL-135B: amphibious version of ZIL-135 (1959)
- ZIL-135e: non-amphibious version of ZIL-135B (1960)
- ZIL-135E: Diesel-electric transmission (1965)
- ZIL-135K: launcher for C-5 missile (1961)
- ZIL-135KM: launcher for SS-N-3 Shaddock missile (1962, prototype for BAZ)
- ZIL-135KP: land train (1969)
- ZIL-135L: improved suspension (1961)
- ZIL-135LM: ZIL-135L with manual transmission (1964)
- ZIL-135LN: chassis-cab based on ZIL-135K
- ZIL-135P: amphibious landing transport (landing barge) (1965)
- ZIL-135SH: zero-turn radius (1967)
BAZ
- ZIL-135K: launcher for FCR-2 missile (1961)
- BAZ-135LM: ZIL-135K with manual transmission (1963)
- BAZ-135LMT (BAZ-135L7): tropical weather version of BAZ-135LM (1968)
- BAZ-135LMP: launcher for BM-27 Uragan MLRS (1976)
- BAZ-135LTM: transporter for Luna-M missile (1963)
- BAZ-135L4: civilian version (1968)
- BAZ-E135G: experimental prototype with gas turbine engine
- BAZ-135M1: prototype with a single diesel engine
- BAZ-135MB: launcher for SPU-35V, Tu-143 and Tu-243 (1964)
- BAZ-135MBP: BAZ-135MB with metal cargo platform
- BAZ-135MBK: BAZ-135MB with increased cargo and towing capacity (1991)
- BAZ-135MBL: (1993)
Specifications
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- Length: 30.41 ft (9.27 m)
- Width: 9.19 ft (2.80 m)
- Height: 8.30 ft (2.53 m)
- GVW (without missile): 11.57 tons
- Ground clearance: 580 mm (23 in)
- Pitch angle: 57°
- Engine: 2 X ZIL-375YA V-8 6.9 liter gas engines
- Horsepower: 180 hp (130 kW) X 2
- Top speed: 40.39 mph (65.00 km/h)
- Range: 248.55 mi (400.00 km)
- Fuel consumption: 3 mpg‑US (78.40 l/100 km) - 1 mpg‑US (235.21 l/100 km)
References
- Red Steel: Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of the Cold War, by Russell Phillips, pub Shilka, 2013, p140.
- WeaponSystems.net, BM-27 Uragan.
- Prenatt 2016, p. 36.