At the end of the 1950s, the question of special equipment for the exploration of Antarctica arose: no ordinary tractor can do it when the frost approaches minus 90.
As is often the case in our country, the farmers came up with the idea and did it: the Kirov plant created a car for polar explorers in just six months. The name stuck: “Penguin”. Although there was a stricter designation: “Object 209”.
Chassis – from the BTR-50. Improved tracks – from the PT-76 tank. The pressure on the ground is only 0.3 kg/cm² with a total machine weight of 16 tons.
A powerful heating system allowed the Penguin crew to work without outerwear at an outdoor temperature of minus 50º. Sailing range without refueling – up to 3500 km.
The first campaign with a length of 2100 km “Penguins” passed successfully. Later, two such off-road vehicles were installed as monuments at Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations.
Mikhail Kolodochkin has been collecting unusual facts from the history of technology for many years. For example, did you know what technique Soviet polar explorers used to conquer the South Pole in 1959? About the unique Arctic all-terrain vehicle Kharkivchanka (aka “product 404C”) read here.
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- A unique electric tractor of domestic design has been produced for 55 years.
- “Behind the wheel” can also be read on VKontakte.