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Military usage The RF-8, a smaller WWII model powered by an inexpensive automotive engine Military use of the aerosan goes back to at least the 1920s. During the 193940 Winter War against Finland, some were equipped with a machine-gun ring mount on the roof. They could carry four to five men, and tow four more on skis. The aerosans were initially used for transport, liaison, and medical evacuation in deep snow, and mostly used in open country and on frozen lakes and rivers because of their poor hill-climbing ability and limited maneuverability on winding forest roads. During WWII, aerosans were found to be useful for reconnaissance and light raiding in northern areas, thanks to their high mobility in deep snow (2535 km/h, where many vehicles couldn't move at all). Responsibility for aerosans was transferred to the Soviet Armoured Forces (GABTU) and orders were submitted for design and fabrication of lightly-armoured versions, protected by ten millimetres of steel plate on front. They were organized into transport or combat battalions of 45 vehicles, in three companies, often employed in co-operation with ski infantry. Troops were usually carried or towed by transport aerosans, while fire support was provided by the heavier machine gun-armed, armoured models. Aerosans were not used for direct assault because of their vulnerability to explosives such as mortar rounds. The ANT-I through ANT-V were a successful series of aerosans of the 1920s and 30s, designed by aircraft engineer Andrei Tupolev. However, there is reason to believe that in 1924 the Soviets obtained plans and specifications for 'air sleighs' from Chester B. Wing, an aviator, automobile dealer and former mayor of St. Ignace, Michigan, U.S.A. He had built practical aerosleds to aid transportation across the ice between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island, and for use by fishermen. The Spring 1943 issue of the magazine Science and Mechanics states that "from his aerosleds the Russians developed their present battle sled." The first military aerosans used in Finland, the KM-5 and OSGA-6 (later called NKL-6), were initially built at the Narkomles Factory in Moscow. During WWII, improved NKL-16/41 and NKL-16/42 models were built, and production started at the ZiS and GAZ car factories, and at smaller industries such as the Stalingrad Bekietovskiy Wood Works. In 1941 the armoured NKL-26, designed by M. Andreyev, started production at Narkomles. The following year, Gorki Narkorechflota developed the smaller, unarmoured GAZ-98, or RF-8, powered by a GAZ-M1 truck engine and durable metal propeller. There was also an ASD-400 heavy assault sled used in WWII. See also Air boat Armoured fighting vehicle KRISTI snowcat Notes ^ "The Propeller-Driven Sleigh". SelfSite. July 26, 2005. http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/propsleigh/propsleigh.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-11. References Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two, pp. 18587, London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8. Science and Mechanics, Spring 1943, p. 49. External links The Propeller-Driven Sleigh At the Russian Battlefield: Soviet Combat Snowmobiles RF-8-GAZ-98 Snowmobile NKL-26 Snowmobile ANT-IV Snowmobile Boyevyye aerosani 'Combat Aerosans' at Brone-Sayt (Russian language) Aerosani-amfibiya AS-2, a modern amphibious recreational vehicle from aircraft manufacturer Tupolev (Russian language) v d e Soviet armoured fighting vehicles of World War II v d e Tanks tankettes T-27 amphibious tanks T-37 T-38 T-40 fast tanks BT-5 BT-7 BT-8 medium tanks T-28 T-34 T-44 heavy tanks T-35 KV-1/KV-2 IS-2/IS-3 light tanks T-26 T-50 T-60 T-70/T-80 v d e Self-propelled artillery Guns and anti-tank guns ZiS-30 SU-5 SU-76 SU-85 SU-100 SU-122 SU-152 ISU-122 ISU-152 Anti-aircraft guns ZSU-37 T-60Z T-70Z T-90 v d e Armored cars Wheeled D-8 D-12 D-13 FAI BA-10 BA-11 BA-20 BA-21 BA-3 BA-6 BA-27 BA-64 BA-I LB-62 LB-23 Amphibious PB-4 PB-7 BAD-2 Half-track BA-30 v d e Aerosans Aerosans ANT-IV NKL-16 NKL-26 RF-8 ASD-400 v d e Artillery tractors Armored Artillery tractors T-26-T Komsomolets Komintern Voroshilovets Artillery tractors S-2 Stalinez S-60 Stalinez S-65 Stalinez Kommunar STZ-3 STZ-5 YA-12 v d e Experimental and improvised vehicles Experimental SU-14 A-40 flying tank T-43 tank SU-100Y SPG PPG tankette Improvised KhTZ-16 IZ NI tank List of armoured fighting vehicles of World War II Soviet armored fighting vehicle production during World War II Categories: Russian and Soviet military vehicles Snowmobiles Russian inventionsHidden categories: Articles containing Russian language text The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as android skeleton watch Manufacturer , China ladies skeleton watch, and more. For more , please visit skeleton mechanical watch today!
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