Tatra T111
Encyclopedia
The Tatra T111 was a truck produced in Czechoslovakia
by the Tatra company.
as a heavy truck for use by the Wehrmacht
. Production started in 1942 and continued for twenty years, ending in 1962 when it was replaced by the Tatra T138
. Despite being built for the Nazi war machine, the vehicle ultimately played an important role after the war ended. The Tatra T111 contributed significantly to the rebuilding effort during the postwar era, mainly in Eastern Europe
and the USSR. To its chief designer however it brought charges of treason and collaboration with the Nazi regime after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia
and contributed to the imprisonment of Tatra design guru Hans Ledwinka
.
75-degree V developed from Tatra V850 engine intended for use in Tatra 103 (Sd Kfz. 234 Puma).The engines had power output of 210 horsepower
at 2250 RPM mainly for war use (An average life expectancy during combat for Wehrmacht
was 6 hour
s.) which was later reduced to 180 hp at 1800 rpm to increase reliability.
The engine has three camshafts and originally by covered chain driven two cooling fans, later was the belt drive used (marked T111A).
. The service brakes were air all-round drums, parking brake was mechanical
acting on rear end of backbone tube output shaft via rotating drum.
The vehicle was capable of a top speed of approximately 65 kilometre per hour. The maximum cargo capacity was 10.3 tonnes and it had the ability to tow up to 22 tonnes trailer
.
6 cylinder version for the Praga V3s 6x6 light utility military truck and civilian Praga S5T light truck. Based on the T111 V12 engine was created V8 version for the T128 4x4 truck for the Czech Army, designed mostly from the T111 parts.
T111 main product range was in flatbed, tipper, tanker and crane configuration.
had earned its reputation, and its legendary reliability contributed to its iconic status among those who had driven and lived in those conditions. The T111 concept and technology continued its evolution in following years with successful line of Tatra models.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
by the Tatra company.
History
The T111 was developed and manufactured during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a heavy truck for use by the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. Production started in 1942 and continued for twenty years, ending in 1962 when it was replaced by the Tatra T138
Tatra T138
-History:The decision to replace the Tatra T111 was made in 1952 as part of a central state planning economy, where Tatra Kopřivnice was to produce 7-10 ton utility trucks. In 1956 at II. Czechoslovak Machinery Expo in Brno, Tatra exhibited 2 new models, the T137 and T138. Both vehicles had up to...
. Despite being built for the Nazi war machine, the vehicle ultimately played an important role after the war ended. The Tatra T111 contributed significantly to the rebuilding effort during the postwar era, mainly in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and the USSR. To its chief designer however it brought charges of treason and collaboration with the Nazi regime after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and contributed to the imprisonment of Tatra design guru Hans Ledwinka
Hans Ledwinka
Hans Ledwinka was an Austrian automobile designer.- Youth :Ledwinka was born was born in Klosterneuburg , near Vienna, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire....
.
Design and technology
The design was based on the proven Tatra concept of a backbone tube chassis construction with swing half axles, a modular gearbox and differential assemblies. The main advantages of the central load carrying backbone tube are its high torsion and bend strength, which protects the truck body against load stresses. The secondary advantage is that it houses all important parts of the drivetrain. Due to its torsional stiffness and use of differentials locks the vehicle had exceptional offroad capabilities. Of note was the ability to use a cranking handle to start the engine.Engine
Model V910 - the first Tatra aircooled powerplant V12V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
75-degree V developed from Tatra V850 engine intended for use in Tatra 103 (Sd Kfz. 234 Puma).The engines had power output of 210 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
at 2250 RPM mainly for war use (An average life expectancy during combat for Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
was 6 hour
Hour
The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds...
s.) which was later reduced to 180 hp at 1800 rpm to increase reliability.
The engine has three camshafts and originally by covered chain driven two cooling fans, later was the belt drive used (marked T111A).
Chassis
Central backbone tube, front and rear axles with independent swing half axles. Front axle suspended on quarter elliptic leaf springs, rear axles suspended on half elliptic longitunal leaf springLeaf spring
Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles...
. The service brakes were air all-round drums, parking brake was mechanical
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
acting on rear end of backbone tube output shaft via rotating drum.
- Front track = 2080 mm (81.9 in)
- Rear track = 1800 mm (70.9 in)
- Wheelbase = 4175 mm (164.4 in)+1200 mm (47.2 in)
- Road clearance = 300 mm (11.8 in)
Transmission
- Drive - 6x6 Selectable front wheels drive
- Main gearbox - 4+1 (1 and 2 gears synchronizedSynchronizedSynchronized can refer to the following definitions:*synchronization , or syncronisation , the coordination of events to operate a system in unison.*Synchronized , a 2002 album by sHeavy....
)- gear ratios - 5.29, 2.78, 1.62, 1.00, R 5.91
- Auxiliary gearbox - 2 speed
- gear ratios - offroad - 4.52, highwayHighwayA highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
- 1.82
- gear ratios - offroad - 4.52, highway
- Auxiliary gearbox - 2 speed
- gear ratios - 5.29, 2.78, 1.62, 1.00, R 5.91
- Differentials - ratio 3.19
- ClutchClutchA clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
- 2x plate, dry
Bodywork
The cab originally used wood for its construction due to strategic unavailability of steel during the war, in later years the wooden frame was steel plated and the last models used an all-steel cabin.The vehicle was capable of a top speed of approximately 65 kilometre per hour. The maximum cargo capacity was 10.3 tonnes and it had the ability to tow up to 22 tonnes trailer
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
.
Production
The Tatra T111 was in production for 20 years, with a total of approximately 34,000 units made. The T111 engine was widely used in the variety of other vehicles such as a heavy tractor T141, a railway car M 131, airport tugs and pontoon bridges used by the army. The engine was also "halved" to create an inlineInline
inline may relate to:* Inline citation or reference* Inline engine * Computers** Inline expansion** Inline function** Inline assembler** inline tag * Internet Posting Style** Inline replying...
6 cylinder version for the Praga V3s 6x6 light utility military truck and civilian Praga S5T light truck. Based on the T111 V12 engine was created V8 version for the T128 4x4 truck for the Czech Army, designed mostly from the T111 parts.
T111 main product range was in flatbed, tipper, tanker and crane configuration.
- Models
| T111 R - Flatbed |
| T111 NR - Flatbed with auxiliary gearbox powered winch Winch A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and... |
| T111 N Special - Flatbed with foldable sides, winch Winch A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and... military specs |
| T111 S - Three-way tipper with wooden sides |
| T111 S2 - All-steel three-way tipper heavy duty |
| T111 C - Tanker |
| T111 D - Bodybuilders chassis |
Legacy
The Tatra T111 exploits at SiberiaSiberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
had earned its reputation, and its legendary reliability contributed to its iconic status among those who had driven and lived in those conditions. The T111 concept and technology continued its evolution in following years with successful line of Tatra models.