To make a special car for use in the zone of armed conflict is far from a new idea. Such a machine should be protected by armor, have excellent permeability and the ability to move off the roads, the car should be provided with the ability to install weapons. The most famous example of such a machine is the American military Hummer jeep (its present name is HMMWV, and the civilian version of the car is called the Hummer). The idea of an army vehicle originated during the Second World War, and the famous Jeep Willys became one of its incarnations. At the turn of the XXI century, the development of such a machine began in Russia. The prehistory of the Russian army car, which today we know as the "Tiger", is rather curious.
The history of the creation of the GAZ-2330 "Tiger"
In 1999, King Abdul II of Jordan attended to the state of the national armed forces and decided to create a special company for their development that would deal with this issue. The company was named King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau. The Jordanians decided that their armed forces lacked a special army SUV that would be an alternative to the American Humvee. The American armored car did not suit the Arabs because of the high price and high cost of its service.
The company Bin Jabr Group Ltd from the United Arab Emirates was to deal with the new car, and she, in turn, offered to do this work to the Gorky Automobile Plant. The Russian side had to develop three prototypes with different body types. At the same time it was a completely military vehicle, the design of the civilian version was not provided. The developers were asked to make an easy-to-manufacture, and most importantly, reliable car that could easily cope with the harsh conditions of the desert (the Hummers were constantly breaking down there). The same Hammer was taken as the basis for the future armored car, several more Russian factories and design bureaus were connected to the project. In a short period of time, the order was executed: an armored and unarmored versions of the vehicle were developed. Created a car received the designation Gas-2975 "Tiger". The car widely used components and components of the BTR-80 and the armored car "Vodnik".
The first experimental cars were ready in two years, they were demonstrated in Abu Dhabi at the arms exhibition in 2001. Russian armored car liked the customer. Looking ahead, we note that Jordan never bought the cars, but set up a joint venture and began producing very similar cars in 2005. And the Russian automakers had the experience of creating a military armored car and the project, almost ready for implementation. Initially, the car "Tiger" did not plan to collect in Russia, but the interest in its technical characteristics showed Russian security agencies. Over the next two years, GAZ specialists significantly reworked the original project, taking into account the wishes of new customers, and already in 2002, five new "Tigers" went to Moscow to participate in the car dealership and to undergo tests. At the MIMS-2002 automobile exhibition, these cars already went under the designation Gas-2330 "Tiger".
At the end of 2002, two "Tigers" entered trial operation at the Moscow Special Police Station and after that they became interested in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Was ordered the first batch of cars. Serially cars "Tiger" are made at the Arzamas engineering plant.
To the new car showed great interest power departments, as well as employees of the oil and gas industry. According to the military, such a car was needed for a long time: it can solve the problem of providing transport for mid-level commanders, both in wartime and in the peace period.
Car device
Gas "Tiger" was created as a vehicle of all-terrain and high reliability. The technical characteristics of this machine make it possible to use it in any, the most unfavorable conditions, it can overcome difficult obstacles, and even the road of terrible quality will seem to her nothing.
Gas-2330 "Tiger" has a classic layout. The welded frame serves as the basis on which the vehicle components and its frame are mounted. She reinforced spars. The body is steel, all-metal. The cargo compartment is separated from the passenger. "Tiger" can carry up to 1500 kilograms of cargo, in this it can not be compared with any SUV.
In the car base set: independent torsion bar suspension of all wheels, power steering, final drives with self-locking differentials, automatic tire inflation. The car can be installed air conditioning, power windows, audio system, ABS.
Many elements of the undercarriage of the car borrowed from the design of the BTR, just as the system swap wheels. On the one hand, this greatly increases the reliability and durability of the structure, but on the other, it does not have a very positive effect on smoothness. Tiger is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. A Cummins engine of the B series with a capacity of 5.9 liters and a YaMZ-534 engine are installed on the vehicle. Depending on the modification, the engine can have a power of 180, 205 and 215 horsepower.
Vehicle specifications
| Wheel formula | 4x4 |
| Length mm | 5700 |
| Width, mm | 2200 |
| Height mm | 2200 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 400 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 3300 |
| Track, mm | 1840 |
| Tire dimension | 335/80 R20 |
| Curb weight, kg | 6000 |
| Load capacity, kg | 1200 |
| Capacity of tanks, l | 2x70 |
| Maximum speed, km / h | 140 |
| Power reserve, km | 1000 |
| Overcoming obstacles: | |
| lifting angle, hail | 32 |
| descent angle, hail | 36 |
| roll angle, hail | 30 |
| ford depth, m | 1,2 |
| turning radius, m | 10 |
Modifications Gas "Tiger"
- GAZ-233034 - SPM-1 "Tiger", the third class of protection.
- GAZ-233036 - SPM-2 "Tiger", the fifth class of protection.
- GAZ-233014 "Tiger" - Army armored car.
- KSHM R-145BMA "Tiger" - a car for commanding personnel.
- GAZ-233001 "Tiger" - unarmored off-road vehicle.
SPM-1 and SPM-2 are armored vehicles of the third and fifth protection class, respectively. They are intended for use by security forces: police, border guards, can be used to suppress riots and disperse demonstrations.
Gas-233014 is an army version of the "Tiger". The vehicle is armored, a revolving hatch and fixtures for installing weapons are installed in the roof. The cabin provides storage space for ammunition and weapons.
KSHM R-145BMA is a vehicle for moving and providing communication for military commanders or civil authorities. It can be effectively used in a war zone or in a disaster area. This car is similar to SPM-2 and is also armored. It has the fifth class of ballistic protection.
Particular attention should be paid to the GAZ-3121 "Tiger-2". This is an experimental car, a civilian SUV, which was first presented in Moscow at the motor show in 2006. It is produced at the Arzamas engineering plant. The six-cylinder Cummins B205 (power 205 hp) or the Steyr turbo diesel with a capacity of 190 hp are installed on this car. Car speed on the highway - 140-160 km / h. The car weighs 3,500 kg and consumes 15 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. The cost of an SUV - 120 thousand dollars.
On the basis of these modifications made interesting specialized cars.
Abaim Abanat Created on the basis of the car SPM-1, has a special retractable ladder for the penetration of soldiers of anti-terrorist units to the upper floors of the building. The gangway is controlled from the driver’s cabin, has several protective shields.
GAZ-SP46 "Tiger" is a special vehicle for receiving parades. Has an open body type "convertible". Differs expensive trim at the level of the elite class cars. The salon is even equipped with a handle-handrail for convenience.
"Tiger" is now quite expensive, but the designers promise in 2018 to reduce its price and to please the Russians with a domestic SUV. It is possible that the car will use Russian components more widely, which will significantly reduce its price.
