ZIL-157 – Φώτο &; Βίντεο

Teh ΖΙΛ-157 είναι ένα φορτηγό γενικού σκοπού 2 1⁄2 τόνων 6×6, που παράγεται στο ZiL της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Το ZIL-157 ήταν το τυπικό σοβιετικό φορτηγό μέχρι που αντικαταστάθηκε από τις σειρές ZIL-131 και Ural-375 που έγιναν τα τυπικά σοβιετικά στρατιωτικά φορτηγά μαζί με το GAZ-66. Ο Λαϊκός Απελευθερωτικός Στρατός παρήγαγε επίσης το CA-30, ένα αντίγραφο του ZIL-157.

Πηγή: ZIL-157 στη Βικιπαίδεια

The ZIL-157 was a versatile 6×6 truck that was produced in the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1994. It was based on the ZIL-164 truck, which was itself a successor of the ZIS-151 truck. The ZIL-157 had a front engine and a cargo platform that could carry up to 2.5 tons of load or personnel. It also had a tractor unit variant that could tow trailers or artillery pieces.
One of the distinctive features of the ZIL-157 was its central tire inflation system, which allowed the driver to adjust the air pressure in the tires from the cabin while driving. This improved the traction and mobility of the truck on soft or uneven terrain, such as sand, snow or mud. The truck also had a single tire on each rear axle, instead of the dual tires of the ZIS-151, which reduced the weight and increased the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
The ZIL-157 was powered by a 5.55 liter gasoline engine that delivered 104 horsepower and a maximum speed of 65 km/h. The engine was derived from the ZIS-151 engine, but with some modifications, such as an aluminum cylinder head and a higher compression ratio. The truck had a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. The fuel capacity was 210 liters, which gave a range of about 400 km.
The ZIL-157 was widely used by the Soviet Army and other Warsaw Pact countries, as well as by some non-aligned nations. It served as a transport, supply and communication vehicle, as well as a platform for various weapons systems, such as multiple rocket launchers (BM-14), anti-aircraft guns (ZSU-57-2) and surface-to-air missiles (SA-2). The truck also proved to be reliable and durable in civilian applications, such as forestry, construction and agriculture.
The ZIL-157 was eventually replaced by the more modern ZIL-131 truck in the late 1970s, but some units remained in service until the 1990s. The truck was also licensed-produced in China as the Jiefang CA-30 until 1986. The ZIL-157 is considered to be one of the most successful and iconic trucks of the Soviet era.