Kharkovchanka Arctic Off-Road Vehicle 3D model

cgtrader

The Kharkovchanka is an Arctic off-road vehicle built around the AT-T heavy artillery tractor with T-54 tank running gear as its foundation. This self-contained module provides living quarters for eight people, a radio room, kitchen, cockpit, toilet, and shower. In 1959, brave individuals conquered the South Pole using these rugged machines, covering an incredible 2,700 kilometers. They transported essential building materials and fuel to support polar explorers. Today, no comparable vehicle exists; instead, everyone flies to the pole via airplane. These off-road vehicles are not designed for such long distances. Only five Kharkovchankas were produced, with one still operational until 2008 and another repurposed as a monument. In essence, this is a mobile home equipped with everything necessary for crew life and work in temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, there is limited technical information available about the vehicle. While details about the AT-T running gear are well-documented, data on the Kharkovchanka's bodywork is scarce. Researchers have had to rely on studying photographs and articles from polar explorers to piece together this knowledge. A 1959 publication in Tekhnika Molodyozhi magazine proved particularly valuable. Contains: 3dsmax 2018 scene, Substance files, Textures