In the early seventies of the last century, the Special Design Bureau of the Plant. I. A. Likhachev began to develop a new version of the search and evacuation complex, designed to provide assistance to the landed astronauts. In future projects, it was planned to implement new ideas that required verification. One of the tools for studying the proposed technical solutions was the experienced ZIL-49042 amphibious all-terrain vehicle.
It should be noted that the process of modernization of search and evacuation complexes started back in the late sixties, when the development of the PES-2 / ZIL-5901 machine began. In 1970, a prototype of this model was tested and proved to be the best. Nevertheless, such an amphibious all-terrain vehicle had a serious drawback in the form of unacceptable dimensions and weight - they were associated with the simultaneous presence of a cargo area and a passenger cabin. An overly large vehicle could not be transported by military transport aircraft, which seriously reduced its real potential. PES-2 was not accepted for supply, and the main conclusions made during its check formed the basis for new projects.
All-terrain vehicle ZIL-49042 after repair and restoration. Photo of the State Military Technical Museum / gvtm.ru
According to the results of tests of the PES-2, it was determined that a promising search and evacuation complex should include at least two ultra-high cross-country vehicles. On one it was proposed to mount a crane and a cargo platform for evacuating the descent vehicle, and the second was to receive a habitable compartment and become a real home on wheels. All this made it possible to solve the assigned tasks, but at the same time it did not exclude the transportation of equipment by air.
Taking into account the operating experience of serial and experimental equipment of existing types, the development of new samples began in the early seventies. A promising search and evacuation complex, which was supposed to enter several vehicles at once, received the designation PEC-490. It is easy to see that the numbers in this designation correspond to the Soviet system of road transport indices. The number "490" indicated that the new samples would be categorized as special vehicles with a GVW in the range of 8-14 tons.
When developing new "space" technology, it was planned to use both already known and new solutions. The development of new ideas, both independently and in conjunction with existing ones, required the construction and testing of special prototypes. It was for this purpose that the project was launched under the designation ZIL-49042. This machine was not considered as a full-fledged replacement for the existing PES-1 systems, however, it was supposed to influence the further development of special equipment in the most noticeable way. A. A. was appointed the lead designer of the new project. Soloviev.
The all-terrain vehicle is being tested. Photo of the State Military Technical Museum / gvtm.ru
One of the tasks of the new projects was to facilitate the design of the all-terrain vehicle while maintaining all the basic capabilities. These are the goals set for the experimental project ZIL-49042. A machine of this type, while retaining some of the features of its predecessors, should have received lighter devices. Reducing the curb weight would lead to some advantages over existing technology. The most successful technical solutions proposed and implemented in the new project could be used to create new amphibians designed for full operation.
In terms of overall architecture, the new all-terrain vehicle was similar to previous vehicles for search and rescue structures. The basis of the ZIL-49042 machine was a welded frame made of aluminum profiles with fasteners for the installation of all main components and assemblies. A displacement sealed fiberglass body was fixed on the frame. It had a rounded lower frontal section, reinforced with several longitudinal stiffeners. Through rounded surfaces, such a forehead mated with vertical sides. The latter had cut-outs for large wheels. At the back, the body had a pair of inclined sheets of a close to rectangular shape.
Above the fiberglass "boat" was the upper part of the cockpit with developed glazing. Behind the cockpit there was a shroud of lower height with the sides heaped inside. It served as a cover for the engine compartment. In front of the cab, under the upper frontal part, volumes were organized to accommodate some units. Access to this compartment was provided by three hatches. Along the perimeter of the upper part of the hull, there were several boxes for this or that equipment or property.
View to starboard and stern. Photo of the State Military Technical Museum / gvtm.ru
Due to the maximum lightness of the design, the experienced all-terrain vehicle did not need a high-power power plant. Unlike some previous cars, it received only one ZIL-130 petrol engine with a capacity of 150 hp. The engine was mated to a standard single-plate clutch and manual transmission. Such a power unit was placed in the rear of the hull. An exhaust pipe with a silencer was placed on the aft part of its casing.
Taking into account the developments in a number of successful projects, the ZIL-49042 all-terrain vehicle was equipped with a transmission with on-board power distribution. The power unit in the form of an engine and a manual transmission transmitted power to the transfer case with the output of torque to three propeller shafts. Through a lockable inter-bead differential, the box divided the power into two streams for each of the beads. The third outgoing shaft was connected to a water jet. Between the individual wheels of the board, the power was distributed using wheel gears, three for each stream. In the project, a new design of transmission brakes was proposed, which subsequently found application on new technology.
The three-axle undercarriage was again used with a uniform distribution of the axles along the base. The latter was equal to 4.8 m with a distance between adjacent axles of 2.4 m. ZIL-49042 retained the proven scheme with a rigid suspension of medium wheels and a lever-torsion system on the first and third axles. The sprung axles were also connected to the steering mechanisms. The wheels were equipped with I-159 tires of 16, 00-20 dimensions and connected to a centralized pressure control system.
The car climbs the slope. Photo of the State Military Technical Museum / gvtm.ru
A water jet was placed in the rear of the hull. The channel of this device connected the intake device in the bottom and the nozzle in the niche of the feed unit. The direction of the ejected flow and, accordingly, the thrust vector was changed using two deflected side flaps.
About half the length of the body of the ZIL-49042 all-terrain vehicle was in the cockpit and passenger compartment. All places for the crew and passengers were placed in a single inhabited compartment, which did not have solid partitions. The front part of the habitable volume was given under the cockpit with three seats. The driver was located on the left and had all the necessary controls. The passenger compartment had eight seats located along the sides. The cockpit was equipped with large windshields and smaller side windows. The salon was also equipped with advanced glazing, which provided an almost all-round view.
Access to the crew seats was provided by a pair of side doors. Above the middle seat of the cockpit, a sunroof was provided. Getting into the passenger compartment was difficult enough. His only own door was in the stern and led to the roof-deck of the hull. Thus, before boarding the passenger compartment, passengers had to climb onto a fairly high amphibian board.
Tests in the cold season. Photo Kolesa.ru
Despite the experimental nature of the project, the ZIL-49042 all-terrain vehicle received a set of various equipment for working at a distance from the bases and providing assistance. So, the habitable compartment received three separate heaters of different types. The packs carried a fire extinguisher, rescue and medical equipment, a supply of clothing, etc. The crew had at their disposal a supply of water and food for three days. To create a truly home environment, a portable TV from the Yunost line was even placed in the salon.
New components and assemblies, distinguished by their reduced weight, made it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the all-terrain vehicle, although they did not lead to a noticeable reduction in dimensions. The length of the ZIL-49042 car was 8, 96 m, width - 2, 6 m, height - 2, 5 m. The wheelbase reached 4.8 m with a track of 2, 1 m. The ground clearance was 448 mm. Due to the use of new structural elements, the curb weight of the vehicle was increased to 6415 kg. Payload - 2 tons. According to calculations, the amphibian could reach speeds of up to 75-80 km / h on the highway. On water, this parameter reached 8-9 km / h.
In mid-November 1972, the Plant named after. Likhachev completed the construction of the only planned all-terrain vehicle ZIL-49042. The car was immediately sent for testing, in which it was planned to test new solutions in different conditions and on different landscapes. Based on the test results, decisions could be made on the further development of the project or on the creation of a completely new machine.
Amphibian on the water. Photo Kolesa.ru
The prototype of the new model at the factory was painted in a khaki similar to military equipment. On the doors of the cockpit, the tail number "44" was inscribed. Also used license plates "11-43 test". It is known that the factory witches could not pass by the new car. For its characteristic coloring and amphibious capabilities, the all-terrain vehicle was nicknamed "Crocodile".
Tests on different tracks and ranges have shown that the applied new transmission units, which were distinguished by a lower mass, fully cope with their work and can be used in practice. The achieved reduction in the weight of the structure to a certain extent reduced the load on the units and gave some advantages. In general, the new devices have paid off. They could be used both in the further development of the existing ZIL-49042 project, and in the creation of new types of equipment.
For certain reasons, SKB ZIL did not begin to develop the pilot project in its current form, but launched the development of a completely new machine. At the same time, despite certain innovations, a significant number of developments on ZIL-49042 were retained. Other solutions from this project were redesigned in accordance with the existing requirements and were also used to create new equipment.
Before the restoration, the ZIL-49042 was in a very poor condition. Photo Denisovets.ru
In the first half of the seventies, the Special Design Bureau of the Plant. Likhachev launched the development of a new all-terrain vehicle ZIL-4906, designed to become the basis of the promising search and evacuation complex PEC-490. Despite some external and internal differences, the ZIL-4906 transport vehicle and the ZIL-49061 passenger all-terrain vehicle were, to a certain extent, based on the design of the experimental ZIL-49042.
In new projects, SKB ZIL again used the proven and proven three-axle chassis architecture with a rigid suspension of the middle wheels. Wheels and tires were borrowed from ZIL-49042 without modifications. They also took the body from the Crocodile, slightly changing the front and rear overhangs. The transmission for the ZIL-4906 was partially developed anew, but the gear ratios in its main elements were determined in the ZIL-49042 project.
The experienced all-terrain vehicle ZIL-49042, which appeared in 1972, could not go beyond the polygons and remained in history solely as an experimental vehicle designed to develop new technical solutions. At the same time, the solutions were successful and could be used in new projects. Soon after the completion of the tests of the prototype, the development of new types of equipment began. By the mid-seventies, the new machines of the PEC-490 complex were tested, and a few years later they began to replace the outdated PES-1.
The repaired all-terrain vehicle in motion. Photo of the State Military Technical Museum / gvtm.ru
In connection with the beginning of the design of new samples of special "space" equipment, the prototype ZIL-49042 turned out to be unnecessary. For a long time he remained at the ZIL enterprise, where he was idle. Later, the unique car changed its status and became a museum piece. As in the case with other interesting all-terrain vehicles, many years of not very accurate storage had a bad effect on the condition of the car. Nevertheless, several years ago, all museum amphibians from SKB ZIL underwent restoration and returned to their original appearance. At the same time, a small "artistic liberty" was allowed: a white edging appeared on the protruding upper belt of the fiberglass displacement hull, which was not in the original paint scheme.
Now the only all-terrain vehicle ZIL-49042 is kept in the State Military Technical Museum (Ivanovskoye village, Moscow Region). It is part of the most interesting exposition presenting all the main developments of the ZIL Special Design Bureau in the field of ultra-high cross-country vehicles. Newer machines created using his ideas and solutions are demonstrated next to the Crocodile.
The ZIL-49042 project was intended to test new technical solutions and determine their prospects in subsequent projects. The prototype, nicknamed "Crocodile", met expectations, which made it possible to start designing new equipment. Soon the rescue complex PEK-490 appeared, the operation of which continues to this day. Similar results of the entire "space" program of SKB ZIL clearly show how important and useful the experimental project ZIL-49042 was.
