Half-horses - the workhorses of the Great Patriotic War: from construction to frontline legends

When it comes to the technique of the Great Patriotic War, tanks immediately come to mind. T-34,fighters Yak-3 or Katyusha. But the real heroes of the rear and the front were the humble trucks. "half-hours"The silk was named for its capacity of 1.5 tons. These machines, created in the pre-war years, were so tenacious and unpretentious that they were used until the 1960s. Without them, there would be no transfer of troops, no supply of ammunition, no evacuation of the wounded.

In this article, we will discuss technicality the most popular models GAZ-AAA and ZIS-5Let's unravel their secrets. field-repair (including the "kolkhoz" methods of Soviet mechanics), and also show how these machines are used. adapted to military needs: from armoured cars to mobile workshops. We'll put a special emphasis on unique archival data on the life of engines half-tickets in war conditions - up to 200,000 km without major repairs with proper operation.

1. What cars were called “half-lights”: models and their differences

The term "half-torch" is not an official designation, but a soldier's nickname, fixed behind all trucks with a carrying capacity of about 1.5 tons. There were two main models, and their differences determined the scope of application at the front.

GAZ-AAA (1932-1946) is a licensed copy of the United States Ford Model AAIt was adapted to the Soviet roads. The car had a car. 4-cylinder engine 40 hp, 3-speed transmission It could go up to 70 km/h. Its main advantage is the simplicity of the design: for example, frame It was made of two longitudinal beams, which simplified repairs after being blown up by mines. Minus - weak suspension, because of which the body often "played" on bumps.

ZIS-5 1933-1948 was a response to the shortcomings of the GAZ-AAA. It's already here. 6-cylinder engine (73bhp), 4-speed transmission and a reinforced frame. The truck was carrying up to 3 tons and clearance (260 mm) allowed to overcome off-road. Interesting fact: ZIS-5 It was the first Soviet truck with hydraulic brakes on all wheels, this reduced the braking distance by 30% compared to the GAZ-AAA.

• 🔧 GAZ-AAAIt is easier to repair, but less powerful. It was used for transportation of personnel and light cargo.
• 🛠️ ZIS-5: heavier, but more enduring. He often carried artillery, fuel and ammunition.
• ⚡ General.: both trucks had single-piece (one wheel to the side), which made it easier to replace tires in the field.

By 1941, the Red Army had about 150,000 half-torches That was half the entire fleet. And yet, ZIS-5 It was 2 times slower because of the complexity of the design, so GAZ-AAA He was the main workhorse.

2. Tech tricks: how the half survived the war

The conditions of war dictated their own rules of operation. For example, petrol frequently ligroin or kerosene (in a 1:1 ratio with gasoline), which reduced power, but allowed you to move. The mechanics at the front have developed several universal upgrades:

• 🔥 Radiator boost: in front of him was installed metal mesh from fragments, and in the cold was closed with plywood so that the engine did not cool.
• 🛢️ Additional tanks: under the driver's seat mounted 20-liter canisters connected to the fuel system hose.
• 🔄 "Eternal" cardan: instead of the standard mounting used a chain from the bicycle - it was less likely to break off-road.

Special attention was paid to tires. When the tires were short, the wheels were wrapped. sheet or rope, soaked in tar. In extreme cases, they were used wood-plate (like the first car) – this allowed to get to the repair base.

The most common breakdown was radiator holes. They were repaired with help. raw-egg (the protein folded and clogged the leak) or soap, which was hammered into a crack. If the damage was serious, the radiator would simply be filled with water from the nearest stream, as long as it was without sand.

3. Half-time at the front: unexpected roles

Trucks were used not only for their intended purpose. They were remade to:

1. Armoured cars: on the frame ZIS-5 installed armored body thickness of 6-10 mm and weapons (submachine gun) DT or a 37 mm gun. These cars were called BA-20 or BA-6.
2. Mobile workshops: in the body placed machines, welding equipment and spare parts. One such workshop could serve up to 10 cars a day.
3. Anti-aircraft installations: on the platform were mounted twin machine guns DSHK Or a 25mm automatic gun.
4. Slushing machines: the body was sheathed with plywood, installed folding stretcher. One and a half could carry up to 8 wounded.

Interesting fact: in The Battle for Moscow half-tree used as movable-point. The cars were loaded with firewood, set fire to them and rammed German tanks at full speed. The burning half-star created a smoke screen and distracted the enemy.

How did the two-and-a-halfs get masked by the air force?

Bodies were smeared with dirt or painted in a protective color, and branches were laid on top. At night, the headlights were covered with slits so that the light was not visible from the air.

Modifications	Basic model	Armament	Crew
BA-20	GAZ-AAA	7.62mm DT machine gun	2 people
BA-6	ZIS-5	45 mm 20K gun + DT machine gun	3 people
ZIS-5B	ZIS-5	2 x 12.7 mm DShK machine gun	4 people
PMZ (mobile workshop)	ZIS-5 or GAZ-AAA	Machines, welder, spare parts	2-3 mechanics

4. Repair in the field: what front-line mechanics could do

In a war situation overhaul It was a luxury. Mechanics have learned to repair half-ways literally "on the knee". Here are a few. unique:

• 🔩 Replacement of piston rings without removing the engine: through a candle hole in the cylinder poured kerosene, then turned the crankshaft to the piston pushed out the broken ring.
• 🔧 Repair of the checkpoint: instead of worn gears installed parts from captured German trucks Opel Blitz.
• 🛢️ Removal of oil leakage: cracks in the pallet of the crankcase were sealed cold-welding (Mixture of epoxy resin with iron sawdust).

Especially appreciated kolkhoz-welder. In the absence of acetylene, they used blow-lamp And solder tin, lead and rosifoli. This is how they even repaired the frames!

Is there a fuel reserve (minimum 2 canisters)

Oil level in the engine (should be between min and max)

Tire condition (whether nails or cuts)|

The performance of the brakes (pedal movement is not more than 1/3)->

The most difficult failure was considered cylinder-break. In such cases, the engine was simply replaced by another – for this purpose, the repair bases were kept in place. spare-engineRecovered from decommissioned vehicles.

⚠️ Attention! Never pour water into the hot engine of the half-speed - this will lead to cracks in the block. In emergency cases, first let the motor cool for 10-15 minutes, then add a thin stream to the liquid.

5. Tactics of application: how the half-stars saved divisions

The trucks played a key role in maneuverable. For example, in Battle of Stalingrad half-tree used for night-freight They could drive where tanks and heavy equipment were stuck in the mud. Their main advantages are:

• 🚛 Permeability: thanks to high clearance and short base, the half-trenches overcame trenches and funnels.
• 🔄 Universality: for 1 flight, the car could deliver ammunition, soldiers, and wounded.
• 🛡️ CloakingSmall size allowed to hide in forests or settlements.

V Kursk half-tree used for artillery-towing. For example, a 76 mm gun. ZIS-3 They could only transport ZIS-5 — GAZ-AAA I couldn't handle the weight. The speed of the column did not exceed 20 km / h, so as not to overheat the engines.

A special role of the half played in partisan. The guerrillas remade them under the mortars (install an 82 mm mortar in the body) or portable with a gun. Known case when one and a half in 2 months delivered to the rear of the enemy 12 tons of explosives!

6. Myths and legends about the half-years

There are many stories going around these cars. Here are the most famous:

• 🚗 "A Half-War on Wood"In the besieged Leningrad trucks worked for the gas generatorswhere the fuel served as wood or peat. Power dropped to 15 hp, but the cars drove!
• 💥 "Rabs."In 1941, half-dog drivers rammed German motorcycles with wheelchairs, knocking them off the road. This technique was called a "dry battering ram."
• 🛠️ "Eternal ZIS": in the Museum of Technology in Upper Pyshma stands ZIS-5who passed 400,000 km Without a major overhaul, it was a record for that era.

One of the most famous legends is driver of a half-pilot who delivered ammunition under enemy fire. In 1943, sergeant Ivan Kuznetsov was shot down. GAZ-AAA (with a broken radiator and one cylinder) drove 12 km on the neutral lane, carrying artillery shells. The car stopped only after unloading.

7. How to restore half-trees today: the advice of restorers

Today's original GAZ-AAA and ZIS-5 - very rare. Most of the surviving copies are replicacollected from details of different years. The restorers advise:

• 🔍 Look for the frame.: that's the basis of the machine. Original frames ZIS-5 They have a factory stamp with the year of release.
• 🛠️ Engine.It is easier to restore the original than to adapt the modern. For example, for GAZ-AAA fitting GAZ-M1 (with some modifications).
• 🎨 Kuzov: The original bodywork is almost always rotten. They are restored according to drawings or replaced with new ones, welded by hand.

The hard part is, electrical. Old generators and starters are often not repairable, so they are replaced by analogues from the GAZ-51 (But it's not quite authentic anymore).

The cost of a full restoration of the half-pit today is 1.5–3 million rublesDepending on the condition of the car. The finished copies at auctions go to 4-7 million.

⚠️ Attention! When buying a half-bait check frame-number Many cars are assembled from parts of different years and do not have original units. Real war veterans usually have battle marks: bullet holes, dents from shrapnel, or traces of paint in protective color.

FAQ: Frequent questions about half-hours

Could the two of them have been on a diesel?

No, serial diesel engines on the half-speed were not installed. However, in the 1940s, experiments were conducted with diesel engines. GAZ-41 (licensed) GMC), but it did not go into production due to the complexity of production. During the war, diesel fuel was scarce, so even gasoline engines often ran on surrogates.

How many half-hours have survived to our days?

According to the retro-technical clubs, there are still some 200–300 More or less original half-tone (including replicas). Most of them are. ZIS-5They were more durable and were used longer after the war. Completely original cars (with native engine and body) can be counted on the fingers.

Is it true that the half-dogs could ride on alcohol?

Yes, but with reservations. In 1942, an order was issued to transfer part of the vehicle to the ethanol (due to lack of gasoline). To do this, the engine was modified: increased the degree of compression and installed a special carburetor. Power dropped by 20 to 30 percent, but the car could move. Alcohol was obtained from hydrolysis plants or even from medical supplies.

Which one and a half was better: GAZ-AA or ZIS-5?

It depends on the task. GAZ-AAA It was easier to repair, cheaper and lighter, but less powerful. ZIS-5 It was better in load capacity and cross-country, but it required more fuel and oil. At the front, they were more often used. ZIS-5 for the transport of heavy weapons, and GAZ-AAA - for intelligence and communications.

Could the two-and-a-halfs have towed tanks?

Theoretically, yes, but only light tanks. T-60 (weight 5.8 tons). In practice, this was rarely done: the half-truck simply could not develop sufficient speed on the off-road. They were usually used for towing. YAG-3 (artillery tractor) or US6 Studebaker (Lend-lease). However, in emergency cases ZIS-5 could have pulled out the stuck T-34 short distance (if the tank itself helped the tracks).