The Glorious UAZ 452 van… Story of Russian military vehicle
Our Story Begins With A Problem
Russia was faced with a problem. It was the time of World War Two and her armies were fighting a scattered war on two continents over vast distances with a myriad of transportation and supply difficulties.
Understand that within Russia one can travel East to West across 14 time zones, and South to North covering climates from blistering Deserts to the frozen Arctic and traveling without real roads under the tires most of the time.
There was a strange belief at that time that the men needed to eat and keep warm, and if injured to be removed from the battlefield to a safe place. But more importantly, the army needed weapons and ammunitions and they also needed critical supplies to support their war efforts. The problem was simply how to do this across vast distances and wildly inhospitable climates and terrains.
A vehicle was needed that would be able to haul heavy loads, provide warmth and shelter to men, climb mountains and swim rivers, drive over rocks and boulders and dig through muddy bogs. It had to run on anything from gasoline to diesel fuel to cooking oil to grape jam. It had to be high enough to clear the rocks and bridge the gaps, and be sturdy enough to take the punishment of those crazy weather and geological challenges.
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In reality, a Miracle was needed!
Robust. Simple. Cheap. The resulting van was impressive!
Why it's so popular?
by Irina Terenteva
18.12.2017
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