The TM amphibious tank, also known as the Molotov tank, began taking shape in 1936 at the Nizhny Novgorod automotive plant. It was clear early on that the available small engines were insufficient to power this vehicle effectively. To address this, designers installed two GAZ-M1 engines side by side. One engine carried the generator and starter, while the second engine was started mechanically from the first. This arrangement created a redundancy that, in practice, could immobilize the tank if either engine failed, since there was no independent starting system for the second unit.
The light tank did not perform as hoped in real conditions: the dual-engine setup contributed to instability, and when turning, the chassis tended to slip off the caterpillar. On water, speed dropped to under 4 km/h. During cost calculations, the project faced a critical hurdle: the price tag proved too high for its intended role, and development was scaled back. It is an example of early experimentation with multi-power configurations and their practical consequences in mobility and reliability.
Mikhail Kolodochkin has long collected unusual facts about the history of technology. He notes that at GAZ, in the 1960s, engineers designed an all-terrain vehicle capable of both flight and swimming, illustrating the era’s bold exploration of amphibious and off-road capabilities. These notes help illuminate the broader context of vehicle innovation in the region.
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Requires 7,000 tires in popular sizes. Without tires, public order and essential services cannot function, and medical care cannot reach those in need.
Another collaboration between enthusiasts and public support groups began collecting funds to purchase tires for police patrols and emergency services, ambulances, and government relief transport. Contributions could be made via a dedicated collection page to sustain these critical mobilities.