TheKrAZ-255 is aSoviet three-axleoff-road truck withsix-wheel drive (6 × 6), intended for extreme operations. It was manufactured at theKrAZ plant beginning from 1967.
The KrAZ-255 was developed directly from its predecessor, theKrAZ-214 (produced 1956-1967). Despite being very similar at first glance (both using the same cab,flatbed as well as the suspension), there are few major differences. Firstly, the 255 used new and much more powerful engine - the YaMZ-238 (same used inMT-LB trackedAPC), replacing the previously used and sensibly weaker YaAZ-206B which was used in 214. The 255 also featured new and more reliabletransmission, the YaMZ-236N, instead of the previously used YaAZ-204. It also featured new headlights (which were now, together withturn signals, located in their own housings mounted on thefenders) and, most notably, much wider tires (1300 x 530 x 533 in dimensions), which offered lighter ground pressure and thus, even greater off-road capabilities when compared to its predecessor.
Along withUral,ZiL,Kamaz,GAZ andMAZ, the KrAZ once represented one of six models of cargo/towing trucks (in its basic version, the KrAZ-255B) used by theSoviet Armed Forces, as well as by many civilian organizations in the former Soviet Union (mainly by various construction plants), where it was also used as alogging (the KrAZ-255L/L1) anddump truck (the KrAZ-256[3]).
Since the KrAZ-255 was the heaviest (weighing 12tons empty) and most powerful (using a 14,900ccm engine, producing 240hp/180kw) of all Soviet three-axle (6 × 6) military cargo trucks, it was most often used for towing heavierartillery pieces (such asD-74,M-46 and2A65howitzers orT-12anti-tank gun) and also for towing various aircraft from theirhangars torunways, or vice versa (intractor-unit version, the KrAZ-255V).
The KrAZ-255 ultimately evolved into a new model as its successor in 1979, theKrAZ-260, whose only difference was a new design of cab and the interiors. Despite that however, the KrAZ-260 did not replace it in production, but was actually produced alongside it up until 1994, when both were finally discontinued in favour toKrAZ-6322 (a modernized model of KrAZ-260).
Romania - 4 were allocated to the Bucharest public transport company in 1978 serving as recovery vehicles for buses, trams and trolleybuses, where they remained in service until 2007, when one was cut and disposed and the other 3 retired
^abcКременчугский автомобильный завод имени 50-летия Советской Украины // Большая Советская Энциклопедия / под ред. А. М. Прохорова. 3-е изд. том 13. М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1973. стр.373
^abcdКременчугский автомобильный завод имени 50-летия Советской Украины // Украинская Советская Энциклопедия. том 5. Киев, «Украинская Советская энциклопедия», 1981. стр.399
^Ежегодник Большой Советской Энциклопедии, 1968 (вып. 12). М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1968. стр.51
^капитан В. Иконников. Автомобиль КрАЗ-255Б1 // "Техника и вооружение", № 4, 1983. стр.11
^abАвтомобили КрАЗ // журнал "Автомобильная промышленность", № 8, 1984. стр.30-31
^abcdПерспективи розвитку озброєння та військової техніки Сухопутних військ: Збірник тез доповідей Міжнародної науково-технічної конференції (Львів, 17-18 травня 2018 року). Львів, НАСВ, 2018. стор.264
^ab"удивили реактивные установки залпового огня БМ-21 на шасси знаменитых "лаптежников" - КрАЗ-255. Все привыкли видеть "Грады" на платформах бензиновых и дизельных версий "Уралов" и КамАЗ-5350, о такой версии РСЗО ранее ничего не было известно" Алексей Моисеев. Реактивный "лаптежник": КрАЗы с РСЗО "Град" заметили в Таджикистане // "Российская газета" от 25 февраля 2020
^Владислав Морозов. Остров в океане. Бронетанковая техника Революционных Вооружённых сил Республики Куба 1961 - 2016 гг. // «Техника и вооружение», № 4, 2016. стр.14-24
^"Базовые автомобили КрАЗ-255Б планируется заменить на более современные автомобили КАМАЗ-63502" На выставке "KADEX-2016" в Астане представят модернизированную военную технику // газета "Сарбаз" от 28 апреля 2016
^Artilleristen am Mekong // "Armeerundschau", № 10 1987. s.60-65
Belarus -Armed Forces of Belarus[15]
Bulgaria
Cuba -Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces[16]
Egypt
Georgia
Hungary -Hungarian Armed Forces[17]
India – Used by theIndian Army for towing 130 mmM-46 guns.[18][19][20]
Iran[21]
Kazakhstan - In April 2016, it was announced thatArmed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan would begin replacing KrAZ-255B trucks with new KamAZ trucks[22]
Laos -Lao People's Armed Forces[23]
Lebanon
Moldova -Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova[24]
North Korea
Poland
Romania - 4 were allocated to the Bucharest public transport company in 1978 serving as recovery vehicles for buses, trams and trolleybuses, where they remained in service until 2007, when one was cut and disposed and the other 3 retired
Russia -Russian Armed Forces[25]
Serbia -Serbian Armed Forces[26]
Syria -Syrian Armed Forces[27]
Tajikistan -Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan[13]
Ukraine -Ukrainian Armed Forces[28][12][29]
Vietnam[14]
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