The MAZ-537 was a heavy four-axle tractor unit of high cross-country ability, designed at the SKB-1 office of the Minsk Automobile Plant for the Soviet Army. It was meant to move tanks and other large loads on roads and across country, and from 1963 it was built at the Kurgan plant while still carrying the MAZ name.
MAZ-537 at a glance
| Maker | Minsk Automobile Plant 1959–1965, Kurgan plant 1963–1990 |
|---|---|
| Chief designer | B. L. Shaposhnik, SKB-1 of MAZ |
| Layout | 8×8, four axles, two front axles steered |
| Engine | D-12A-525A V12 diesel, 525 hp |
| Transmission | hydro-mechanical, with torque converter and three-stage planetary gearbox |
| Cab | four-seat cab with two side doors and a roof hatch |
| Load | semi-trailers of up to 50 tonnes, later up to 65 tonnes |
| Semi-trailer | ChMZAP-9990 or ChMZAP-5247G |
| Version with winch | MAZ-537G, 100 m cable, 15 tonnes of pull |
History of the MAZ-537
For the army
The MAZ-537 was developed by the SKB-1 design office of the Minsk Automobile Plant under its chief designer B. L. Shaposhnik, as a heavy four-axle tractor of high cross-country ability for the Soviet Army. It was originally intended to move large loads such as armoured vehicles, on hard roads and across country. Series production began at the Kurgan plant of wheeled tractors in 1963, still under the MAZ name; the second generation of tractors was developed at Kurgan and carried the KZKT name. Besides army work, the tractors carried large indivisible loads in industry and were exported to a number of countries.
A tank engine behind the cab
Technically the MAZ-537 was similar to the base MAZ-535, with a wheelbase 300 mm longer. Its frame was riveted and welded, with channel-section side members. At the front sat a four-seat cab with two side doors and a roof hatch, with heating that worked independently of the engine. Immediately behind the cab was the engine and transmission compartment with the 12-cylinder D-12A-525A tank diesel of 525 hp, a direct descendant of the V-2 engine of the T-34. The transmission was hydro-mechanical, with a torque converter and a three-stage planetary gearbox, and the steering had hydraulic assistance. The two front axles were steered, and each axle had a central final drive, two half-shafts and two planetary hub reductions. The differentials of the front central drives were of the limited-slip type, while those of the rear drives locked automatically on the freewheel principle.
Trailers and loads
The heavy 2-PPT-50 semi-trailers with a capacity of 50 tonnes were designed specially for the MAZ-537 family, and more advanced trailers and platforms followed. Later versions of the tractor could handle a semi-trailer load of up to 65 tonnes.
Versions
The MAZ-537G was the most numerous version, built from 1964, with a load on the coupling of 27 tonnes and a new winch of 15 tonnes; its 100 m cable also allowed the tractor to pull itself out of mud. The MAZ-537A was a ballast tractor with a welded metal platform and a winch, able to tow guns, trailers and missile systems of up to 75 tonnes, built in a small series in 1964 to 1966. The MAZ-537D carried an alternating-current generator and served as a mobile power station, the MAZ-537E had extra power take-offs for generators, hydraulic pumps and compressors, and the MAZ-537K was adapted for crane equipment. The MAZ-537V was a special tractor for the DB-1 Yastreb drone and later for containers of UR-100 missiles, and the MAZ-537L was an airfield tractor for aircraft of up to 200 tonnes.
Design and features
- Tank diesel: the 525 hp D-12A-525A, a descendant of the T-34’s V-2 engine.
- Hydro-mechanical transmission: a torque converter with a three-stage planetary gearbox.
- Eight wheels driven: four axles with planetary hub reductions and locking differentials.
- Self-recovery: the 15-tonne winch of the MAZ-537G with 100 m of cable.
- Wide use: missile transporters, tank transporters, airfield tractors and oil-field work.
MAZ-537 versions
- MAZ-537: the base tractor.
- MAZ-537G (from 1964): multi-purpose tractor with a 15-tonne winch, the most numerous version.
- MAZ-537A: ballast tractor with a platform and winch for loads up to 75 tonnes.
- MAZ-537D: tractor with an alternating-current generator.
- MAZ-537E: tractor with extra power take-offs for missile-system semi-trailers.
- MAZ-537L: airfield tractor for aircraft of up to 200 tonnes.
The MAZ-537 was developed from the MAZ-535 and shared its role with the later MAZ-7310, while the MAZ-7410 carried the same work into a new generation. More are in the MAZ collection.
Sources
- MAZ-537, English Wikipedia: production, engine, transmission, cab, variants
- MAZ-537, Russian Wikipedia: design, axles and differentials, detailed versions
