Tatra 111

     Notes: This truck series was for some time the most powerful truck used by the Czechs.  They were replaced in service by the Tatra 138, but many are still found in civilian roles, and in front-line roles in Vietnam and the Middle East.  The Tatra 111P is the standard military model. All models have a drop tailgate, but the Tatra 111N has drop sides as well. The Tatra 111NR has a winch with a capacity of 6 tons.  Variants include several tractor trucks, a crane-shovel, several crane trucks, several tankers, and a dump truck. The Tatra 111 can tow a load of 8 tons cross-country or 22 tons on improved roads. The Tatra 111 is powered by a T-111A diesel engine developing 180 horsepower; the transmission is manual with four forward and one reverse gear.

     The Tatra 141 is a variant of the Tatra 111 with an enlarged cab, and are used primarily as artillery tractors and prime movers for large equipment trailers with electronic gear, communications, NBC decontamination complexes, or other large equipment used by specialized units. The Tatra 141 has a reinforced frame and cargo body, as well as heavy-duty towing hooks. A figure is given below, but the Tatra 141 does not normally carry a large complement of troops. The Tatra 141 can tow a nominal 12-ton load cross-country but is capable of a 100-ton tow on improved roads.

Tatra 138

     Notes: This truck replaced the Tatra 111, and was in turn replaced by the Tatra 148.  It is an evolutionary development of the Tatra 111.  It is a conventional-layout truck, with a cargo area that has drop sides and a removable tarpaulin cover over bows. The standard engine is the T-928-12, a 180-horsepower diesel, but some are equipped with a 928K supercharged diesel developing 220 horsepower. Both use the same manual transmission with five forward and one reverse gear. The Tatra 138 can tow a 10.8-ton load cross-country or 22 tons over roads. The truck is equipped with a 6-ton capacity winch.

     Variants include several crane trucks, a tractor truck, a crane/shovel, a couple of dump trucks, and an airfield lighting truck with a large signal light. A variant is also used to launch the PMP pontoon bridge.

Tatra 148

     Notes: This is a somewhat old Czech truck, first produced in 1972.  It is a basic cargo vehicle with a conventional layout.  The Tatra 148 has a central backbone tube construction, which have high torsion and bend strength It also houses the important parts of the drive train and allows for modular construction. The Tatra 148 has an inter-axle differential. The Tatra 148’s standard engine is a T-2-928-1 multifuel developing 212 horsepower; the truck can be fitted with the engine of the tractor truck variant of the Tatra 148, which is a T-2-928-19 multifuel developing 232 horsepower. The engines feature fuel injection, which can be adjusted depending upon the role and load to be carried. Front axle suspension is by adjustable torsion bars, while the rear axles are suspended by semi-elliptical leaf springs. The drive is 6x6. Brakes are power assisted. Most military variants have a hatch on the roof of the cab. The driver’s seat is fully suspended to reduce driver fatigue.

     Variants include the TZ-74 decontamination vehicle, the CAS-32 fire engine, the Tatra 148S series dump trucks, the NT series tractor-trailers, and a variety of hard bodies and tankers. 

Tatra 813

     Notes: The first vehicles of this type were produced in The Czech Republic, Slovakia, in 1967, and produced until 1982, when they were replaced by the T815.  The chassis is related to that of the OT-64 APC, and it is a truck with good off-road performance.  The designers started with the Tatra 138, but the project quickly grew out of this base. The truck has a tubular backbone construction, and has high torsional and bending strength. The Tatra 813 military truck is available in 8x8 suspensions, with permanent all-wheel drive, and steering on the front four wheels. The engine is a T-930-3 diesel with 270 horsepower, though early models used a 258-horsepower version of the same engine. The manual transmission has a nominal five speeds, but an overdrive feature provides a total of 20 forward and four reverse gears. Military Tatra 813s have a central tire pressure regulation system and run-flat tires, as well as a compressor able to maintain the pressure in any tire up to 12 punctures. The truck has locking differentials  on all axles as well as a central locking differential. Military versions also have a winch with a capacity of 11 tons; this is mounted in the center between the second and third axles, and the 60-meter cable may be led out to the front or rear. The suspension uses a combination of leaf springs, coil springs, and torsion bars, and produces a soft ride. On a good road, the Tatra 813 can tow a 100-ton load. Brakes and steering are power assisted, 

     The forward control cab is large, with four doors, allowing for the seating of 7 persons including the driver.  This cab does not tilt to access the power pack; instead, there are access panels inside the cab and outside the cab to provide maintenance and repairs. The cab is pressurized and has two hatches in the roof, one of which has a weapon mount.  The rear cargo area has drop sides and rear, and is made of steel.  Some Tatra 813s are mounted with a snowplow; these are not armored plows and are not suited for use as a mine plow. 

     This vehicle is used to move pontoon bridges or scissors bridges, and some are used as the basis for the RM-70 40-round 122mm MRL.  There are also versions of this truck that tow semi-tractor trailers (65 tons), dump trucks, and crane trucks.  The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and India use the Tatra 813, and it was also exported to the Soviet Union, East Germany, Iran, Iraq (captured from Iran), and Romania. There is also considerable civilian use in at least 10 countries.

Tatra T815 Series

     Notes: The Tatra T815 (or simply Tatra 815) starts with Tatra’s tubular backbone frame; the rest of the components are mounted to this rigid assembly.  This frame has high torsional and flexural rigidity, and protects the rest of the components, particularly the load-carrying bed, from the motions and forces on the axles.  The suspension, whether 4x4, 6x6, or 8x8, have a front suspension of torsion bars, leaf springs, and air bellows combined.  The rear suspensions have a combination of leaf springs, air bellows, torsion bars, and the Tatra King Frame suspension, which is a combination of a pneumatic shock absorber, and a coil spring placed inside. Each wheel is independently sprung and can move a large amount to retain contract with the ground below them. Military T815s have a central tire pressure regulation system and run-flat tires along with a constant air compression system which swings into action when the tire is punctured; this can keep the tire inflated with up to 12 punctures, depending on how large the punctures are. The load-carrying area is all-steel, with drop sides and a drop tailgate.  Upon demand, Tatra supplies their T815s with multifuel variants of their engines. It may be covered with a canvas tarpaulin over removable bows. An armored cab is optional; armored cab versions are further protected by NBC Overpressure. Major assemblies of the 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 versions are interchangeable with each other.

     The Tatra 815 4x4 is the smallest member of the T815 family, with 4 wheels and a smaller bed and load capability.  Variants include cargo/troop carrier, workshop carrier, launcher for reconnaissance drone, fire truck, and a civilian model.  The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and India (where it is produced under license) use the T815 4x4, and there are a lot of civilian T815 4x4 trucks in the world, doing tasks limited only by imagination. Most military T815 4x4s are powered by a T3B-928-30 turbocharged diesel developing 268 horsepower, but some are powered by a German Deutz turbocharged diesel developing 285 horsepower. (This is particularly common in T815 4x4s operating in Western Europe.) These are coupled with a 10 TS-130 manual transmission with 10 forward and 2 reverse gears.  Tatra will also supply their trucks with automatic transmission upon demand. Towing capability is 16 tons off or on-road.  The cab is large and has a hatch on the roof with a weapon mount. 

     The 6x6 version of the T815 (often going by the same “Kolos” name as the 8x8 versions of the T815) is a smaller version of the T815 than the 8x8. Most major assemblies are the same as on the 8x8 version, including the rear suspension. (The front suspension has more in common with the 4x4 model.) The original engine was the T3-930-31 multifuel engine, but two other turbocharged diesels were later used on the 6x6 T815. The 6x6 model can tow a 65-ton load on road, but only 16 tons off-road. Versions of this vehicle include cargo/troop carrier, tanker, decontamination vehicle, container carrier, bridging carrier, radar or antenna carrier, command post carrier, NBC reconnaissance vehicle, recovery vehicle, and fire truck.  The T815 6x6 is also the chassis for the Tatrapan APC.  The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and India use the T815 6x6. Like the 4x4, the 6x6 T815 has numerous civilian users.

     The T815 8x8 replaced the Tatra 813 in Czech service (though the Tatra 813 is still being used).  It is an 8x8 truck with independent suspension for each wheel, and has good off-road performance.  The cab is fully enclosed and has room for six people including the driver, and has a roof hatch with a weapon mount.  The cab is NBC sealed and has a heater.  The cargo area has drop sides and rear, and can be covered by a tarpaulin.  There is a winch mounted in the front bumper that has a capacity of 12 tons, and has 85 meters of cable. The original engine was a T3-930-51 multifuel with an output of 265 horsepower; further Tatra turbocharged engines of 308 and 436 horsepower were also used to power the T815 8x8, and later Cummins and Deutz turbocharged diesels of 350 horsepower and 590 horsepower were installed, particularly in export models. (Other engines are also available, but I don’t have figures on those.) The standard transmission is a manual transmission with 20 forward and four reverse gears, but an automatic transmission of several gears can be installed. The Kolos may be equipped with an arrow-type snowplow or a dozer blade.  Variants include a tractor-trailer (may tow 25 tons, or 100 tons on hard roads), pontoon or ribbon bridge carrier, RM-70 122mm MRL carrier, decontamination vehicle, command post carrier, minelayer, radar vehicle, and recovery vehicle.  The Tatra T815 is also the chassis for the Dana and Zuzana SP howitzers.  The Czech Republic, Slovakia, India, Saudi Arabia, and the UN use the Kolos.

*The AV is only for the cab; the rest of the truck is AV1.  The cab floor has an AV of 4Sp.