KrAZ-214

     Notes: This vehicle was in production for 11 years until replaced by the KrAZ-255B.  It is a large 6x6 truck of conventional design.  The KrAZ-214 is a descendant of the post-World War 2 YAZ-214, which itself was a descendant of wartime Lend Lease Studebaker trucks.  The KrAZ-214 has much more load-carrying capacity and has a more powerful engine, and is physically a larger vehicle than its Studebaker ancestor. The KrAZ-214 has an 8-ton capacity winch and a cab heater. The rear cargo area can be covered by a tarpaulin over bows, and has removable sides and a removable tailgate for transporting outsized cargo. The engine of the KrAZ-214 is a YaMZ-M206B diesel developing 205 horsepower; this was a very powerful engine for a Soviet truck of its time period. Note that if the KrAZ-214 stays on roads, it can haul up to 7 tons; the KrAZ-214 can tow 10 tons cross-country, but on roads, the enormous torque of the KrAZ-214’s engine enables it to tow 50 tons. (It is for this reason that a tank transporter variant of the KrAZ-214 was in production.)

     The primary variant, the KrAZ-214B, featured a more robust electrical bus and a better suspension (primarily producing a better ride). For game purposes, the KrAZ-214B is identical to the KrAZ-214. It should be noted that, despite the major use of the KrAZ-214 by the Soviet military, production took place in Kremenchug in Ukraine; there was a lot of civilian ownership of KrAZ-214s in Ukraine after military production stopped, and KrAZ-214s pop up here and there in the current Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Variants of the KrAZ-214 included pontoon bridge carriers, the TMM bridgelayer, the E-205 power shovel, and the FM truck-mounted crane. In addition, several tanker truck variants were made, and several hard-sided shelter carrier trucks were made.

KrAZ-255B

     Notes: The KrAZ-255B is the replacement for the Ural-377 and KrAZ-214 in Russian and former Bloc service.  The layout is conventional, with an engine in front, cab in the center, and cargo area in the rear.  The cargo area has hinged tailgate and removable canvas cover.  The cab has a heater and room for the driver and two passengers, and the truck has a front-mounted winch with a 12-ton capacity.  When using the winch, the suspension may be locked if necessary.  The KrAZ-255B looks similar at first glance to its predecessor, the KrAZ-214, but it is somewhat larger than the KrAZ-214, and has a more powerful YaMZ-236 engine developing 240 horsepower, as well as the more reliable YaMZ-236N transmission. The KrAZ-255B also has wider tires, giving the vehicle a much lower ground pressure, helping out when traveling off road. (The KrAZ-255B was called the “Lapteznik” by its crews – Russian for “fat tires.”) The KrAZ-255B has a 6x6 suspension and a central tire pressure regulation system. The turning radius is wide sue to the wide tires, at 14.5 meters. The KrAZ-255B can ford one meter of water. The cab not only has room for three people, but it also has a space behind the seat with a narrow sleeping bunk. The fuel tankage is actually split into two 165-liter tanks.

     The KrAZ-255B1 has a number of small structural improvements, and improved brakes.  For game purposes, it is the same as the KrAZ-255B. The last ten years of KrAZ-255Bs were actually KrAZ-255B1s.

     There are many variants, including the basic cargo/troop carrier, an artillery tractor, an aircraft tractor, a semi-tractor trailer that can tow an 18-ton trailer, a crane shovel, tanker, pontoon bridge, and pile driver. It was also used as a base for the TMM-3 bridging vehicle, the PMP collapsible ferryboat, and the PRV-9/1RL19 Naklon and PRV-16/1RL132 Nadyozhnost radars. In Tajikistan, the KrAZ-255B is used as a base for a BM-21 MRL, while in Cuba, it is used as a base for a 130mm SP gun. Civilian variants include a logging truck, concrete mixer, and dump truck. Some have gone to the US, Canada, and England, into the hands of private collectors. Some 21 countries use the KrAZ-255B, and there are four former operators. The KrAZ-255B was produced from 1965 to 1994.

KrAZ-260

     Notes: While the KrAZ-255B replaced the Ural-377 and the KrAZ-214, the KrAZ-260 replaced the KrAZ-255B, although all four are still used by the former Bloc and Russia.  It was first seen in 1985 towing the 2A36 152mm nuclear-capable howitzer in a parade, but is believed to have officially entered service with the Soviet Union in 1979.  80% of the parts of the KrAZ-260 (other than the engine) are interchangeable with those of the KrAZ-255B. The cargo body has hinged tailgate with a canvas cover. The cab has a heater and room for the driver and two passengers, and the truck has a front-mounted winch with a 12-ton capacity. When using the winch, the suspension may be locked if necessary.  Early KrAZ-260s used the YaMZ-238L 288-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine, but later models are equipped with the more reliable, higher torque and higher output 300-horsepower turbocharged YaMZ-238N. (For game purposes they are identical, but the version with the YaMZ-238N is designated the KrAZ-260A.) Both use a 4-speed YaMZ-238B manual transmission. The fuel supply is split into two 165-liter tanks; the KrAZ-260A adds a 50-liter reserve tank (the fuel from this tank is generally used last). The KrAZ-260 can ford 1.2 meters and climb a 58% gradient; the radius when turning a complete circle is 26 meters. The maximum towing capability is 30 tons on roads or 10 tons off road.

     The KrAZ-260 has many versions, including the basic cargo/troop carrier, artillery tractor, semi-tractor trailer (which may tow a 27.5-ton trailer), SA-10 SAM launcher, crane, and dump truck. Current operators include Greece, Serbia, Ukraine, and the UN; there are six former operators, including Russia and surprisingly North Korea.