The GAZ 66 was a 4x4 light military truck produced by GAZ, deployed as a main cargo vehicle for motorized infantry in the Soviet Army, notably to replace the GAZ-63. It is still used in many former Soviet Union countries and other armies. Nicknamed "shishiga", "shisharik" ("trueman" in Siberia) it was fielded after a development started in 1959 and in service from 1969, with the development team receiving an award. Almost one million were manufactured in 1994 for military and civilian use. Production really ceased in 1999 and the GAZ-3308 was produced instead.

About the GAZ-66

Development

The first prototypes of the GAZ-66 were created in 1957 by a team led by Designer L.M. Eremeev, B.B. Lebedev But due to the lack of a standardized engine for the required power, production was delayed until July 1964. In 1958-1962, the 1.2-ton GAZ-62 truck was the interim model, using a cabin from the GAZ-69 and produced in small quantities. In July 1967, the front lining of the cabin was changed on all vehicles (without horizontal slots). In 1968, all trucks received a centralized tire pressure regulation system (GAZ-66-01 and modifications), previously not all vehicles were produced with this system (GAZ-66, GAZ-66E, GAZ-66-03).





In 1966, the car was awarded the Gold Medal at the Modern Agricultural Machinery Exhibition in Moscow, and in 1967, the Gold Medal at the International Agricultural Machinery Fair in Leipzig. In April 1969, the GAZ-66 was the first Soviet car to receive the State Quality Mark. The GAZ-66 was exported to all fiendly or aligned countries in addition to all nations of the Warsaw pact.

The GAZ-66 was adopted by the USSR Armed Forces, used also in civilian service for the national economy, and after the collapse of the USSR, a large number of GAZ-66s remained on the Russian Armed Forces, mainly ussed by the Airborne Forces and Border Troops. It could be lifted, paradropped or carried by medim airlifters. In 1995, mass production of the GAZ-66-11 was discontinued. Instead, the Gorky Automobile Plant mastered the production of the GAZ-3308 "Sadko" model, unified with the GAZ-3307. The last GAZ-66-11 rolled off the assembly line on July 1, 1999.

Final Design

GAZ-66 is a cross-country truck with a load capacity of 2 tons, designed for driving in difficult road conditions and off-road. High cross-country ability is due to the use of cam differentials of the front and rear axles, a short wheelbase, relatively low weight and its uniform distribution along the axles, high ground clearance, as well as adjustable tire pressure (wheel rims have a special design), a compressor driven by the engine is installed to inflate the tires. Off-road, these tires could be bled selectively, and due to the increased support surface reduced groun pressure on soft groun ground at a cost of tire wear which increased significantly.

The GAZ-66 came with three base engine: The ZMZ-513.10, ZMZ-511/5234 and GAZ-542.10, transverse air cooled 4-cylinder. They were coupled with with a transmission a 4-speed manual and two-speed transfer case, with downshift, and a disconnectable front axle. The Gear ratios were the following: 1st gear — 1.982; 2nd gear — 1.00. Final drive — single, gear ratio — 6.83. with synchronizers on 3rd and 4th gears.

There was also a two-speed transfer case. Gear ratios: 1st gear — 2.44; 2nd gear — 1.24. Final drive of drive axles — single, gear ratio — 6.67. The GAZ-66 was a light and compact vehicle, capable of a turning radius of 9.5 m and able to ford 0.8 m without preparation. It had its own wheels with split rim with a side ring of 8.00-18 and tires 12.00-18. Tire pressure was 0.5-3 kg/cm2 when in normal use. The battery capacity was 75 A h and the maximum current of the car generator was 85 A.



The GAZ-66 with its home engine was equipped by a PZhB-12 pre-heater. The service brake system is a separate hydraulic system with a vacuum booster, and the parking brake uses a drum transmission system and hydraulic power steering. To inspect the engine, the short nose cabin could tilt forward on hinges. This also freed between the driver's seat and passenger seat the non-removable casing covering the engine. However this confguration led to have the curved gearshift lever located to the right and behind the driver, not ideal when changing gears.

For the driver's rest, the GAZ-66 was equipped with a removable hanging canvas bunk, essentially a hammock, suspended on four hooks inside and across the cabin under the roof. The front and rear suspension used longitudinal, semi-elliptical springs, with hydraulic telescopic double-acting shock absorbers. The GAZ-66 was praised for its smooth ride. Due to the single springs on the rear axle and limited-slip differentials in the main gears, however, it could not be overloaded unlike older models.

Variants

Cab version used by the Soviet Air Force

Base Versions

GAZ-66-1 (1964–1968) – the first model with no centralized system for adjusting the air pressure in the tires

GAZ-66A (1964–1968) – with a winch

GAZ-34 – a 6×6 prototype

GAZ-66B (1966) – Paratrooper version with telescopic steering column, folding roof and folding windshield frame BM-21V "Grad-V" (Vozdushnodesantiy – 'airborne') (NATO designation M1975): Developed for airborne troops in 1969. A GAZ-66B 4x4 truck chassis is fitted with a 12-round 122 mm rocket launcher. The vehicle is sturdy enough to be air-dropped. Parts of the vehicle such as the canvas cab roof can be taken off or folded down to reduce its size during transit. Like the BM-21, the BM-21V has stabilizing jacks on the rear of the vehicle for support when firing. The launch vehicle has the industrial index of 9P125.

GAZ-66D (1964–1968) – the chassis with a power take-off

GAZ-66P – tractor (experimental)

GAZ-66E (1964–1968) – with shielded electrical equipment

GAZ-66-01 (1968–1985) – the base model with a centralized control system for tire pressure

GAZ-66-02 (1968–1985) – with a winch

GAZ-66-03 (1964–1968) – with shielded electrical equipment

GAZ-66-04 (1968–1985) – the chassis with shielded electrical equipment

GAZ-66-05 (1968–1985) – with shielded electrical equipment and a winch

GAZ-66-11 (1985–1996) – upgraded base model

GAZ-66-12 (1985–1996) – with a winch

GAZ-66-14 (1985–1996) – the chassis with shielded electrical equipment and a power take-off

Specialized Military versions

GAZ-66-15 (1985–1996) – with shielded electrical equipment and a winch

GAZ-66-16 (1991–1993) – modernized version with ZMZ-513.10, reinforced tires (wheels – lean), completed the brakes, the platform without intruding wheel niches (also installed on GAZ-66-11 and GAZ-66-40 ), load capacity 2.3 tons

GAZ-66-21 (1993–1995) – the national-economic modification with the dual tires and rear axle wooden platform GAZ-53, load capacity 3.5 tons

GAZ-66-31 – chassis for trucks

GAZ-66-41 (1992–1995) – a naturally aspirated GAZ-544 diesel engine

GAZ-66-40 (1995–1999) – with a GAZ-5441 turbodiesel

GAZ-66-92 (1987–1995) – for use in the far north

GAZ-66-96 – chassis for shift buses

Export versions

GAZ-66-51 (1968–1985)

GAZ-66-52 (1968–1985) – with a winch

GAZ-66-81 (1985–1995) – for countries with a temperate climate

GAZ-66-91 (1985–1995) – for countries with a tropical climate

Military Conversions

AP-2 – aid station, the main transport unit regimental aid station.

AS-66 – ambulance, designed to evacuate the wounded.

DDA-2 – disinfecting shower installation, is used in the military (sometimes civil) sanitary-epidemiological units.

GZSA-731, 983A, 947, 3713, 3714 – Vans "Mail", "bread" and "Medicine"

MZ-66 – Lube.

3902, 3903, 39021, 39031 – mobile workshops to provide technical assistance to agricultural machinery.

2001, 2002, 3718, 3719, 3716, 3924, 39521 – mobile clinics

NZAS-3964, Volgar-39461 – watch buses

GAZ-SAZ-3511 – tipper for agricultural purposes on the GAZ-66-31 (build – Saransk).

GAZ-KAZ-3511 – tipper for agricultural purposes on GAZ-66-31 (build – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)

Using the same Chassis

AP-2 — dressing van, the main functional unit of the regiment's medical station.

AS-66 — ambulance, designed to evacuate the wounded.

DDA-66 — disinfection and shower vehicle, used in military (sometimes in civilian) sanitary and epidemiological units.

DPP-40 — airborne pontoon park, used in airborne engineering battalions to build crossings over water obstacles.

GZSA-731, 983A, 947, 3713, 3714 — "Mail", "Bread" and "Medicines" vans.

MZ-66 — oil tanker.

R-125, R-142 — command and staff vehicles.

3902, 3903, 39021, 39031 — mobile workshops for providing technical assistance to agricultural machinery.

2001, 2002, 3718, 3719, 3716, 3924, 39521 — mobile clinics.

GAZ-SAZ-3511 — agricultural dump truck on GAZ-66-31 chassis (assembled — Saransk dump truck plant).

GAZ-KAZ-3511 — agricultural dump truck on GAZ-66-31 chassis (assembled — Frunze automobile assembly plant in the Kirghiz SSR).

BM-302, BM-302B — drilling and crane rig for GAZ-66 chassis.

BMP-1KSh is a modernized version of the command and staff vehicle based on the GAZ-66, for the Belarusian army (development of the vehicle began in late 2023 at the 619th communications storage base, in March 2024 the pre-production model passed tests and was accepted into service, on May 30, 2024 the first vehicles were transferred to the communications troops).

ESB-8IM - mobile engineering power station. The station with a capacity of 8 kW is designed to provide: engineering work, logging and woodworking work, procurement and extraction of construction timber and stone materials, cutting and welding of metal elements and structures during equipment repair, construction and engineering and rescue operations, construction of fortifications. Equipped with a special body K1.66 and a single-axle aggregate trailer 1-P-1.5.

Buses NZAS-3964, Volgar-39461 — crew buses (a comfortable body with seats for passengers was installed on the chassis).

Bus APP-66 — a cross-country bus, tires with pressure regulation. It was produced by the 172nd Central Automobile Repair Plant only for the needs of the USSR Ministry of Defense. About 800 units were produced until 1987.

Bus PAZ-3201, an all-wheel drive version of the PAZ-672.

Bus PAZ-3206, an all-wheel drive version of the PAZ-3205.

Bus Based on the GAZ-66-04, from 1967 until the mid-1970s, a special army bus 38AC was mass-produced, all-wheel drive, adapted for transportation and parachuting from an AN-12 aircraft. A total of 6,000 units were produced.

In 2020, the production of modernized GAZ-66 (with an engine and gearbox from an ISUZU truck) began for the armed forces of Uzbekistan. In December 2023, it became known that an armored vehicle on the GAZ-66 chassis. Later named "GAZ-66BM", was developed at the central repair base for weapons and military equipment of the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan in the city of Balykchy. In December 2024, the first such armored vehicle was purchased for the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan.

Operators

Afghanistan (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic...) No longer.
Angola
Armenia
Belarus
Bulgaria
China
Cuba
East Germany: To Bundeswehr after reunification, retired.
Egypt
Finland: 200 regular, 100 special versions 1972–1975. Plus 140 1986–1989.
Georgia
Guinea-Bissau
Hungary
Iran
Iraq
Libya
Moldova
North Korea
Laos
Poland: Only specialized variants in use.
Syria
Socialist Republic of Romania Romania – Romanian Armed Forces
Russia: Specialized versions still used.
Soviet Union: passed on to successor states.
Transnistria
Ukraine
Vietnam

Specs GAZ-66
Dimensions LWH :	5655 mm (5806 mm with winch) x 2342 mm x 2440 mm (2520 mm with tarp)
Other dimensions	Clearance 315mm, Wheelbase 3300
Total weight, curb/full:	3470 kg, Gross 5940 kg
Tires:	12.00-18
Tracks:	Rear 1750, Front 1800 mm
Crew:	1+9 (co-driver, 8 troops)
Propulsion:	4-cylinder, see notes.
Transmission:	5-speed manual +2 speed transfer case
Suspensions:	Leaf spring, hydrosprings.
Brakes:	Drum, Hydraulic
Speed:	60 kph
Range (road/off road):	Tank capacity 2×105 l: 600 km
Payload:	2000 kgs
Production:	c1,000,000

Gallery

Author's Renditions

Naked Chassis and cab

GAZ-66, as built with its flatbed

GAZ-66 with Tarpaulin

GAZ-66 as a Technical with a NSV heavy Machine Gun

East German one

9P125 Grad Rocket Launcher Variant

R142 Communication Cabin

Armoured (Improvized) GAZ-66 Donbass variant

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GAZ-66


Rocker Launching Verion at Verkhnyaya Pyshma Tank Museum


GAZ-66 3D


GAZ-66 3D2


GAZ-66B


GAZ-66 ambulance (Ukraine) in Iraq


GAZ-66


Of the Russian Army

Sources

museum.gaz.ru/
GAZ 66 on en.wikipedia.org
GAZ 66 on ru.wikipedia.org
books.google.fr/
ru.wikipedia.org
auto-lib.ru
autonews.ru
lib-avt.ru
kun.uz/
tass.ru
mil.gov.kg
vayar.mil.by
gruzovikpress.ru
lib-avt.ru
senisovets.ru gaz66
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