KrAZ-255


The KrAZ-255 is a Soviet three-axle off-road truck with six-wheel drive, intended for extreme operations. It was manufactured at the KrAZ plant beginning from 1967.
The KrAZ-255 was developed directly from its predecessor, the KrAZ-214. Despite being very similar at first glance, there are few major differences. Firstly, the 255 used new and much more powerful engine - the YaMZ-238, replacing the previously used and sensibly weaker YaAZ-206B which was used in 214. The 255 also featured new and more reliable transmission, the YaMZ-236N, instead of the previously used YaAZ-204. It also featured new headlights and, most notably, much wider tires, which offered lighter ground pressure and thus, even greater off-road capabilities when compared to its predecessor.
Along with Ural, ZiL, Kamaz, GAZ and MAZ, the KrAZ once represented one of six models of cargo/towing trucks used by the Soviet Armed Forces, as well as by many civilian organizations in the former Soviet Union, where it was also used as a logging and dump truck.
Since the KrAZ-255 was the heaviest and most powerful of all Soviet three-axle military cargo trucks, it was most often used for towing heavier artillery pieces and also for towing various aircraft from their hangars to runways, or vice versa.
Furthermore, it was also used as a platform for control cabin and the antennas of PRV-9/1RL19 Naklon and PRV-16/1RL132 Nadyozhnost Soviet height-finding radars, as well as for various engineer duties in specially-designed versions, which are still being used today by various military forces across the globe.
The KrAZ-255 ultimately evolved into a new model as its successor in 1979, the KrAZ-260, whose only difference was a new design of cab and the interiors. Despite that however, the KrAZ-260 did not replace it in production, but was actually produced alongside it up until 1994, when both were finally discontinued in favour to KrAZ-6322.

Technical characteristics

  • Engine: 14.86 L diesel 8 cyl.
  • Power: 240 PS /2100 rpm
  • Torque: 883 Nm /1500 rpm
  • Top speed: 71 km/h

Variants

KrAZ-255B - 12-ton cargo truck Mass production started since 8 August 1967KrAZ-255V - tractor unitKrAZ-255L - 23-ton log truckKrAZ-256 - 12-ton dump truckATZ-8,5 - fuel tanker on KrAZ-255 chassisКS-3572 - military crane on KrAZ-255 chassisEOV-4421 - military excavator on KrAZ-255 chassisТММ-3 - bridgelayer on KrAZ-255 chassis, since 1974PMP - pontoon bridge on KrAZ-255 chassisPRV-9 and PRV-16 - height-finding radars on KrAZ-255 chassis.122mm BM-21 Grad on KrAZ-255 chassis - several vehicles were made in TajikistanJupiter - 130mm self-propelled gun, several vehicles were made in CubaPTH130-K255B - 130mm self-propelled gun. One test prototype was made in Vietnam

Operators

Current operators

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Former operators

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