ZIL-135B

The ZIL-135B grew out of the experimental amphibious eight-wheeled carrier ZIL-135, built by Vitaly Grachev's special design bureau in October 1958. The ZIL-135 family was designed to carry heavy missile systems over rough country.

Design

Grachev's layout used two engines, each driving the wheels on one side, so the 8x8 needed no complex differentials. The two middle axles sat close together, and the front and rear wheels steered, so a vehicle more than 10 m long and 3 m wide handled like an ordinary truck. The 1958 amphibian had a sealed all-steel hull with a built-in frame and two 120 hp ZIL-123F six-cylinder engines. Its soft, very low-pressure tyres, its weight of about 9.7 tonnes and a top speed limited to 50 km/h allowed it to do without springs. At some speeds this caused violent 'galloping' resonance. The vehicle could still move with any two wheels missing.

Development

In May 1959 a ZIL-135 carrying the launcher of the 2K6 Luna missile system was road-tested. The extra weight cost it its ability to float and cut its top speed to 40 km/h. Three pre-series ZIL-135B amphibians were built in October-December 1959 for official trials. Work on amphibious versions then stopped when the bureau was told to concentrate on rocket-launcher chassis.