BAV 485

BAV-A/ZiL-485A
Overview
Manufacturer	Automotive Factory No. 2 Zavod imeni Likhacheva (Likachev Motor Factory)
Also called	ZiS-485 (1952-1957) ZiL-485A (after 1958) BAV-A (army designation)
Production	1952-1962
Assembly	Moscow, Soviet Union
Body and chassis
Class	6x6 amphibious transport
Body style	waterproofed hull
Layout	Front engine, six-wheel-drive
Platform	ZiS-151 ZIL-157 (from 1958)
Related	ZiS-151, ZiL-157, BTR-152
Powertrain
Engine	5.6L ZIS-123 I6[1][2]
Transmission	5-speed manual (road) PTO propeller drive (water)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	4,225 mm (166.3 in)[2]
Length	9.54 m (31.3 ft)[3]
Width	2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Height	2.66 m (8.7 ft) (with top-mounted)
Curb weight	7,150 kg (15,760 lb)

ZiS-485 (BAV), Muzeum Wojska Polskiego, Warszawa

ZiS-485 (BAV) Soviet amphibious truck (Museum of Great Patriotic War, Kyiv)

The ZiS-485, army designation BAV (Russian, большой автомобиль водоплавающий - bolshoi avtomobil vodoplavayushchiy, big floating vehicle), is a Soviet amphibious transport.

Introduced in 1952,^[4] it was intended to complement the GAZ 46 4x4 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle, but using the ZiS-151 6x6 truck (also used in the BTR-152)^[5] as its basis.^[4] Similar in size to the DUKW, which it resembles, the BAV has a rear tail gate making loading and unloading easier, rather than all cargo being loaded over the side by crane.

Initially based on ZiS-151 truck, after the introduction of the improved ZiL-157 the vehicle was modernized using its components now bearing the designation ZiL-485A (army designation was BAV-A).

The cargo body is open, but a canvas cover is available.

Propulsion in water is by means of propeller.

BAVs were used in service by Warsaw Pact Armies and in the Middle East up to the 1980s.^[6]

In use by the Soviet Union and its allies and client states the BAV was gradually replaced by the much larger tracked PTS amphibious vehicles.

Specification

• Rear axle clearance:
• Ground clearance:
• Front track: 1,590 mm (62.6 in)
• Rear track: 1,720 mm (67.7 in)
• Turning radius: 11.2 metres (36.7 ft)
• Maximum speed (loaded, highway): 60 km/h (37 mph)
• Tyres: 8¼x20 in (21x102 cm)
• Fuel tank capacity: 2x 150 litres (39.6 US gal; 33.0 imp gal)
• Fuel consumption: 6.7 mpg
• Top speed: 60 km/h (37 mph) (road)
  10 km/h (6.2 mph) (water)
• Range: 480 km (298 mi)

See also

• GAZ 46
• DUKW
• Landwasserschlepper
• PTS

Notes

1. AMW - Agencja Mienia Wojskowego
2. ZiS-151
3. Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles. (London: Hamblyn Publishing Group Limited, 1980), p.309, "BAV-485".
4. Hogg & Weeks, p.308, "BAV-485".
5. Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 5, p.476, "BTR"
6. Hogg & Weeks, p.309, "BAV-485".

Sources

• Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 5, p. 476-7, "BTR".
• Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles. London: Hamblyn Publishing Group Limited, 1980, p. 308-9, "BAV-485".
• AMW - Agencja Mienia Wojskowego
• ZiS-485 at denisovets.narod.ru