Meeting with "Tiger"
In order to find out what an all-terrain vehicle is capable of, you need to drive into places that are wild enough for this. The owners took care of this in advance: a sandy quarry, forest roads, overcoming a ford … All this is ahead, and you still have to drive thirty kilometers along the highway to get there. Therefore, the "Tiger" was the first to go to the scene, accompanied by the "Ural" with evil guys with machine guns: it will come in handy for the entourage. We left a little later than the test car, so out of the corner of my eye I managed to notice the all-terrain vehicle flashing along the road. “You’ll say it too: flashed by,” the incredulous skeptics will grin. Patience and calmness: what the Tiger can do on the track is a serious question, it can do much more than it seems. A predator after all.
Outside the city we meet with an armored car. What does not seem too big from the outside turns out to be a huge iron mountain up close. The "dry" weight of the car is 6, 4 tons, with a full load of up to eight tons, some seventy kilograms are not enough. The time has come to transfer to the "Tiger", but for now - to the passenger seat, because a meeting with representatives of the military automobile inspection for a civilian driving an army car is extremely undesirable. They warn me: the weight of the armored door of the "Tiger" is 60 kilograms, so after opening it, you need to make sure that it is secured with a fuse. Careless movement - and no legs. Or hands, which is easier, but not better.
A highway tape winds under the wheels of the Tiger. The quality of the road surface is 4. There are no harsh Russian pits, but there are patches, small potholes. "Tiger" simply does not notice them: the suspension on the double levers is designed for serious off-road conditions, so the unevenness of the asphalt, which the passenger car will surely react to, pass completely imperceptibly. Moreover: the arrow of the speedometer easily and naturally reached the number 130. And this is not the limit, the maximum speed of a multi-ton armored vehicle is 160 km / h. How this pile of metal can be controlled at this speed is a mystery. For now, let's note the main thing: 130 km / h "Tiger" runs easily, and on the way to the landfill you can drink coffee on the go. And at the same time - to talk to the commander of "polite people", from whom you can find out why they need such a beast.
About surprises
The element of surprise is a good thing when directed at the enemy. "Tiger" was conceived as a vehicle for the rapid transportation of personnel, and in our modification it is intended for this. There are other versions, for example, a command and staff vehicle. With the task of fast transportation, according to the military, the car does an excellent job. Not only will the Tiger not be inferior in speed to many modern cars on the highway, and off-road a heavy car rushes at a very impressive speed - 80-90 km / h. The commander says that the "Tiger" has good capabilities to protect personnel, and the armor plate on the bottom will help to survive a mine explosion.
On the wheels (which, of course, have a centralized pumping system), the enemy can shoot anything from anywhere: even if the rubber is destroyed, the "Tiger" is able to ride on disks without much harm to health. But usually it does not come to this: it is very difficult to damage the tires of an armored all-terrain vehicle. In the meantime, I draw attention to the fact that we are separated from the interlocutor by a couple of meters, but you can hear him perfectly. It is not for me to judge the safety of movement in this car, but the fact that comfort exceeds all expectations is a fact.
It would seem, why did this comfort surrender to the harsh military people? It seems to me that each of them is, first of all, a person, and the fact that the designers managed to take care of them in the best possible way is a definite plus. And try to drive on the same KamAZ on the off-road under the "hundred". Either you will beat off your head, or the opposite place, but rather - all at once. In the meantime, we are approaching the training ground, where I have to shoot a little of the joint work of the special forces and the "Tiger".
The armored car easily rolls out of the bushes onto the sand, and evil guys with machine guns jump out of it. By and large, there should be no more than six people - this number of seats is laid down in the armored "soul" of the all-terrain vehicle. But in fact, a larger crowd can jump out of the armored car. Another surprise for the enemy. And we got there quickly, and the number of soldiers transported is slightly more than expected. But that's not all.
Someone needs a sunroof to admire the sky, someone needs the wind to ruffle their hair, bringing inhuman pleasure to civilians sitting in the cabin. The Tiger also has a hatch. But it performs different functions: you can lean out of it and shoot from a Kalashnikov machine gun (PK), from an AGS grenade launcher or from machine guns of 12, 7 mm "Cliff" or "Kord". Each type of weapon has its own bed, and the time to replace the bed on the slots at the open hatch takes a few minutes. At the same time, the folded hatch cover is an armored back for a fighter wielding a machine gun or a grenade launcher. And although I was going specifically for a test drive, it is impossible not to look at the work of the special forces. So, the "Tiger" leaves the bushes …
A camera hangs around my neck, and I stand in anticipation: I will shoot a military performance. But it was not there! After the appearance on the stage of the main character - an all-terrain vehicle - a few moments pass, and I have no one to shoot … The fighters settled around the "Tiger", their "camouflage" merges with the terrain, there is no group, a beautiful picture that would become a good shot, no, only small clouds of smoke from shots and sounds are heard, but they cannot be photographed.
We interrupt the "operation" and set another task: we need to somehow get together in a heap so that the frame is livelier and more dynamic. The commander understood the idea at a glance and suggested "play the police." Namely, to go through the squad under the protection of the Tiger's armor. I don't know what the police have to do with it, but this time everything worked out as it should: power, pressure, fear and horror. Of course, the armor will not protect against something too serious, but it will save you from bullets of calibers 5, 45 or 7, 62 and from shrapnel. The officer asks if there is a need to run the scene again. “No,” I say, “everything worked out. Why drive people in vain”. “Yes, these guys just let them run and shoot! They are happy about it,”the commander replies cheerfully. I look at the "uncles" unloading machines in the side. Maybe, of course, and in joy, but … it's better not to touch them once again. Therefore, we command to take their places and go to the next place of deployment.
Interestingly, I felt good - I was driving in the front passenger seat. And what do the fighters feel in the Tiger cabin?
What they feel - only they can say, we, civilians, most likely, do not understand such things. But what cannot but please the special forces is the good autonomy and rich equipment of their car. Everything is provided here: stocks of ammunition along the sides, first aid kits, clips for weapons, fire extinguishers, even thermoses. The lampshades make you think: everyone has their own ground wire. It seems to be a trifle, but even if such trifles were taken care of, then it's scary to imagine what else they could come up with. On the ceiling in front of the hatch there is a control unit for the 902B "Tucha" installation. Outside, the presence of this thing is given out by the barrels, from which aerosol grenades are fired, hiding the car from the enemy in the optical, and in some cases in the thermal range. The thing is simply necessary when the "Tiger" needs to be hidden.
Honestly, it’s me who’s clever about this "Cloud", then, although I knew about its existence, I didn’t have to see how it looks inside. Therefore, while they explain to me, a purely civilian person, the principle of operation of 902B, everyone has already settled in their places, including the department of "polite people" who have taken their place in the "Ural". It seems you can go further, but wait: we have come to ride the "Tiger", it's time to get behind the wheel!
In the role of the tamer "Tiger"
It was a great honor for me, I'll tell you a secret, to steer this car. It’s not easy to drive a Tiger at the wheel, but I was incredibly lucky. At first I was lucky that I was allowed to ride, and then - that I was not shot for trying to fly this thing off the road. Although, perhaps, only I managed to notice the latter, being already at the wheel of the car.
Despite the decent height, getting into the cab is not difficult at all: handles, footrests - everything is where they are supposed to be. The only difficulty is to open the door, and it's not only its weight, but also the rather tight handles. And all these are the consequences of installing a reliable door locking system. But having slammed the door behind me, I felt like a gold bar in the safe of a Swiss bank: I cannot be pulled out of here and cannot be lured out.
Sitting comfortably in a chair that has not too pronounced, but tangible lateral support, we get acquainted with the devices. And we are surprised once again: everything is very simple here, and it is familiar to anyone who has been driving an ordinary truck. Especially KamAZ: the two main devices (tachometer and speedometer) are exactly the same as on this Tatar miracle. Only they stand the other way around: the tachometer on the Tiger is on the left, and the speedometer is on the right. And the last one is marked up to 160 km / h (for most KamAZ trucks - up to 120). The rest of the instruments are also by no means exotic: oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel level and ammeter. The fuel level sensor can be switched to one of two tanks, each with a volume of 68 liters. Of the buttons needed to control the car, we note the wheel pumping buttons: there are several modes (highway, soil, etc.), each of which corresponds to a certain optimal pressure, which is created with one click. It couldn't be easier to come up with.
Pressure gauges are visible on the central panel. Air is needed to inflate tires and to operate the pneumohydraulic braking system. When the pressure drops, the drum brake pads are parted, therefore, if the pneumatics are malfunctioning, there is no danger of flying off the road (as on the ZIL-131).
The controls of the car (I am specifying specifically - it is the car, so there is something else you can control) are also familiar. A healthy lever to the right of the steering wheel is the parking brake actuator, the other two are the gearshift lever and the hand-outs.
Despite the "thick-thick layer" of armor and not too large glass area, the visibility is surprisingly good. Therefore, after looking around a little, we start the engine and go.
The engine seems rather modest for a heavy car: only 215 hp. But this is still a turbodiesel, its volume is 4.43 liters, and the maximum torque is 735 Nm. Especially for foreign intelligence, we will clarify: the engine is ours, domestic, namely, the YaMZ-5347-10.
Despite the running engine, the cabin is not noisy. We turn on the second gear (the first, as usual, is used only on strong off-road and with a large load), release the clutch pedal and start off. Many "cars" will envy the movement of the gearshift lever, the switchings themselves are extremely clear (the box here is "gas"). Almost immediately I put in third gear, and the diesel doesn't even raise its tone. Muttering softly, he easily pulls the car along the sand pit. Ahead - an ascent to a forest road. The "Tiger" has very short overhangs both in front and behind: the angles of entry and exit are 52 degrees, and the maximum angle of the overcome volume, which is also limited by the specific torque, is 30 degrees. We go up the hill again in second gear and already here we give gas. Remember when I said I nearly flew off the road? Here is how it was.
The car runs very smoothly. She deeply does not care what is under her wheels: there is something more or less solid - and okay. I finally got bolder (more likely, I got sick), so that the control is more like taxiing a car, not a truck, and drove for my own pleasure, gradually picking up speed. And the "Tiger" is gaining speed easily. And when a decent hole suddenly appeared on my way, I reflexively tried to dodge it by turning the steering wheel. But it wasn’t it: a car weighing about seven tons is not very fond of such "moose tests".
At the first turn, I felt how she was ready to go into a skid. He released the accelerator pedal, returning the steering wheel to a straight position. "Tiger" thought a little and obediently returned to the course. A very sharp steering wheel, coupled with considerable weight, takes some getting used to. As, however, and to the brakes, which at first are very annoying with a decent reaction time. But if you press the pedal, just hold on to the steering wheel! In general, after a couple of kilometers you get used to it. It is a pleasure to drive the Tiger, but you have to be on friendly terms with your head. The only thing you can find fault with if you want is a pretty decent turning radius. Long base affects, and nothing can be done about it. We have the last test ahead - overcoming the ford.
About the river, November and spray
On the way, I never cease to be amazed at the fog that seems to cover the entire Russian north-west. At the approaches to the water, it only became thicker, therefore, even when we drove up to the river bank, we did not see it right away. "Tiger" got out to the ford to the very edge of the water. Pebbles creaked under the boots of camouflaged men with submachine guns around their necks. Stern gazes drilled through the fog in search of the opposite shore. You can't see anything: where to go, where to get out on the other side? But somehow it is necessary to make sure that the all-terrain vehicle is not afraid of water. Nobody will believe me so easily! Here at least a photograph is needed … And the commander quickly found a way out.
- So, who is not sorry? He muttered thoughtfully to himself. - Come here!
On his call a soldier who "does not feel sorry for" ran up.
“Put it on,” the commander ordered, pointing to something incomprehensible. This "incomprehensible" was the semi-overalls of a light protective suit. Under the laughter of good comrades, the fighter put on an outfit.
“You’ll look for a ford,” the officer explained. “You’ll see where the Tiger can drive here.
On paper, the all-terrain vehicle can overcome water obstacles up to 1.2 meters deep. In life - even more. The engine is located high, the attachments are closer to the bonnet, and the air intake is brought out to the roof. In theory, a fighter on this river could walk almost endlessly. Time was running out, and I wondered what would happen next.
The scout wandered on the water and came back. In general, there is nothing to report on the results: we all saw that he did not go deeper than waist-deep, the ground was solid, there was nowhere for the Tiger to sit down. But what about entering the water? The frame is textbook, at least don't come back without it. But the commander is the commander. The officer handed the suit freed by the fighter to me.
- Here you are. Move 20-30 meters away from the shore, and we will fly into the water with a running start on the "Tiger". There will be a lot of splashes. It should work!
It certainly should. But there is no particular desire to climb into the river in November. However, I am not used to turning down a group of well-armed men. They said to climb - you have to climb.
Standing in the water, I waited with trepidation for the "Tiger" "to fly into the water with a running start." Seven tons, after all. But everything went well: the car rushed from the shore into the river, a fountain of splashes, a sea of emotions, there is a frame.
Why am I telling this here? Such moments perfectly convey how good this car is. Many of us are accustomed to the fact that in difficult road conditions somewhere outside the city we sometimes have to get out of the car, walk, look for a road. But the "Tiger" will easily pass where you cannot always climb on foot. No wonder there is a center differential lock with a low gear in the "razdatka", self-locking inter-wheel differentials and wheel reducers.
The smooth ride is provided by an independent torsion bar suspension, which even the accompanying soldiers spoke only positively about. At the same time, wherever the car goes, it will still be good inside: light, relatively safe. In the cold, the "stove" works, in the heat - the air conditioner, and it is not so important what the all-terrain vehicle has under the armored bottom: asphalt, mud, sand, water. It will go almost everywhere. By the way, it is designed to operate at temperatures from -30 ° C to + 50 ° C. Not bad, huh?
And finally …
The military is not overly concerned with fuel consumption. And yet the "Tiger" shows its best side here too: the control fuel consumption is declared by the manufacturer in the amount of 13.5 liters per hundred kilometers. And in fact, it really comes out a little: 12-16 liters. The power reserve is 600 kilometers on average.
We cannot say anything about the maintenance of these machines: even in part this is done by the specialists of the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, who regularly come with everything necessary for maintenance. And it's not so important to know how the oil is changed in this car or the undercarriage is inspected. The main thing is that the Tigers are always on the move. Is not it?
