GAZ-66

The GAZ-66 is a Soviet and later Russian 4x4 all-road military truck produced by GAZ. It was one of the main cargo vehicles for motorized infantry of the Soviet Army and is still employed in former Soviet Union countries. It is nicknamed shishiga, shisharik /shehsherik, trueman.

History

After tests and trials, in 1969 GAZ-66 received the state quality mark of the USSR. It was the first USSR truck to receive such an award.
Almost one million vehicles of this type were built for both military and civilian use. The GAZ-66 has gained legendary status in many countries due to its reliability, simplicity and off-road capability. Since the 1960s, the GAZ-66 has been popular with armed forces and off-road enthusiasts. Production ceased in 1999, with the GAZ-3308 being produced instead.

Basic versions

GAZ-66-1 – the first model with no centralized system for adjusting the air pressure in the tires
GAZ-66A – with a winch
GAZ-34 – a 6×6 prototype
GAZ-66B – Paratrooper version with telescopic steering column, folding roof and folding windshield frame
* BM-21V "Grad-V" : Developed for airborne troops in 1969. A GAZ-66B 4x4 truck chassis is fitted with a 12-round 122 mm rocket launcher. The vehicle is sturdy enough to be air-dropped. Parts of the vehicle such as the canvas cab roof can be taken off or folded down to reduce its size during transit. Like the BM-21, the BM-21V has stabilizing jacks on the rear of the vehicle for support when firing. The launch vehicle has the industrial index of 9P125.
GAZ-66D – the chassis with a power take-off
GAZ-66P – tractor
GAZ-66E – with shielded electrical equipment
GAZ-66-01 – the base model with a centralized control system for tire pressure
GAZ-66-02 – with a winch
GAZ-66-03 – with shielded electrical equipment
GAZ-66-04 – the chassis with shielded electrical equipment
GAZ-66-05 – with shielded electrical equipment and a winch
GAZ-66-11 – upgraded base model
GAZ-66-12 – with a winch
GAZ-66-14 – the chassis with shielded electrical equipment and a power take-off

Military versions

GAZ-66-15 – with shielded electrical equipment and a winch
GAZ-66-16 – modernized version with ZMZ-513.10, reinforced tires, completed the brakes, the platform without intruding wheel niches, load capacity 2.3 tons
GAZ-66-21 – the national-economic modification with the dual tires and rear axle wooden platform GAZ-53, load capacity 3.5 tons
GAZ-66-31 – chassis for trucks
GAZ-66-41 – a naturally aspirated GAZ-544 diesel engine
GAZ-66-40 – with a GAZ-5441 turbodiesel
GAZ-66-92 – for use in the far north
GAZ-66-96 – chassis for shift buses

Export versions

GAZ-66-51
GAZ-66-52 – with a winch
GAZ-66-81 – for countries with a temperate climate
GAZ-66-91 – for countries with a tropical climate

Specialised versions

AP-2 – aid station, the main transport unit regimental aid station.
AS-66 – ambulance, designed to evacuate the wounded.
DDA-2 – disinfecting shower installation, is used in the military sanitary-epidemiological units.
GZSA-731, 983A, 947, 3713, 3714 – Vans "Mail", "bread" and "Medicine"
MZ-66 – Lube.
3902, 3903, 39021, 39031 – mobile workshops to provide technical assistance to agricultural machinery.
2001, 2002, 3718, 3719, 3716, 3924, 39521 – mobile clinics
NZAS-3964, Volgar-39461 – watch buses
GAZ-SAZ-3511 – tipper for agricultural purposes on the GAZ-66-31.
GAZ-KAZ-3511 – tipper for agricultural purposes on GAZ-66-31

Operators

– Armed Forces of Belarus
– Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova
: Only specialized variants in use.
Romania – Romanian Armed Forces
Transnistria
– Ukrainian Armed Forces

Former operators

– Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
– purchased 200 regular GAZ-66 trucks and 100 special versions for Finnish defence forces 1972–1975. Another round in year 1986–1989.
– passed on to Germany after reunification; retired.
– passed on to successor states.

Specifications

Specifications for GAZ-66-11
;Design

Cab-forward design, 2-seat cab + 21 passengers in the back.
Payload: plus the same weight trailer
Suspension: Solid axles with leaf springs

;Engine

Type- ZMZ-66-06 V8 petrol OHV engine; heavy duty version of the ZMZ-53
Displacement: 4,254 cc
Compression ratio: 7.6:1
Output: @ 3,200 rpm
Torque: @ 2,000-2200 rpm
Max. speed-

;Brakes

Type: Drums, with hydraulic control, single circuit, servo assisted
Stopping distance from 20 mph: 27'

;Measurements

L×W×H: x x /
Wheelbase:
Track front/rear: /
Curb weight:
Fuel tanks: 2 x
Fuel economy:

;Maneuverability

Turning circle:
Approach angle: 41°
Departure angle: 32°
Max. ascent angle: 31–37°
Ground clearance:
Fording depth:

;Tires

Size: 12–18"
Pressure: Adjustable with central tyre inflation system from cab

Popular culture

In the 2010 game Call of Duty: Black Ops, the GAZ-66 is used as a transport for guards in the level "Vorkuta".
It is mentioned in the 1991 Tom Clancy novel The Sum Of All Fears.
In the Russian version of the TV show Top Gear, a test was conducted on the vehicle's strengths: the body had building rubble dropped on it, it was set on fire and submerged in water. After all these tests, it kept going.
The GAZ-66 was featured in the movie The Expendables 2 with Jean-Claude Van Damme.
The GAZ-66 is a truck in the game MudRunner with the name of B-66 due to copyright claims.
In the 2019 HBO TV miniseries Chernobyl, the truck is used by Gen. Col. Vladimir Pikalov, commander of the Soviet Chemical Troops, to carry out a radiation measuring at the damaged power plant, with high-range dosimeter placed at the front and lead sheets covering the cabin.
In the 2020 film Wonder Woman 1984. Appears in the Middle Eastern convoy scene.