Like a typical Russian woman, "Kharkovchanka" ATV can do everything and a little bit more.

Seek and you will find

What do you think is the biggest problem of the Antarctic? All year round below-zero temperatures? But people live in rather severe conditions and have even got used to it. A few more layers of insulation really help, after all. No, the real problem of the Antarctic is the absence of any infrastructure. There are twenty-five permanent research stations and twenty more function as seasonal seasonal bases. Four of them are located in the depths of the continent. They need to be provided with provisions and fuel. And there is only one ‘highway’ in the Antarctic. McMurdo – South Pole highway, which connects McMurdo Station (the unofficial capital of the Antarctic) and Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. It can be called ‘highway’ only by a long shot. It is just a track where snow is somewhat packed down. Every other road or track here appear ‘by accident’. Not many vehicles can operate in such conditions.

Machinery and vehicles used in the Antarctic face three major problems. First, low temperatures that wouldn’t allow to start an engine. Either lubricating oils freeze or fuel doesn’t inflame. The second problem is a layer of ice couple of meters high. It causes engines to choke. And the last problem for vehicles in the Antarctic is the snow. This was the reason why the famous American “Snow cruiser” fell through. Both, literally and figuratively.

In the 50’s The Soviet Union was preparing their First Antarctic Expedition. A few years earlier, the US tried to create a vehicle suitable for the Antarctic conditions. That’s how “Snow cruiser” was born. Nevertheless, being innovative and bold, “Snow cruiser” had too many flaws and the project fell through.

Therefore, the USSR had to start their own project almost from scratch. The expedition needed a vehicle that would be passable and workable in the most challenging conditions. As it is said in the Bible, “seek and you will find”. The solution was found in a form of AT-T, heavy artillery tractor, whose platform was used as a base for the new ATV.

In 1955 during preparations for the First Soviet Antarctic Expedition, scientists turned to the Soviet Army with a request to construct a vehicle that would be able to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. And the Soviet Army had a few aces up their sleeve.

The base

AT-T was an ace in a sleeve indeed, an engineering marvel of the Soviet Army. It weighed 20 tons and had a 5 tons loading capacity. Twenty-five more tons could be loaded on a camper. The vehicle’s maximum speed was about 35km/h in any climate conditions.

It was practically asking for a survival test in the Antarctic. AT-T took part in the Second Soviet Antarctic Expedition (1956) and passed its test with ease. They passed approximately 1000km through the Antarctic desert and founded Vostok Station.

To modernize, or not to modernize that is a question

Being a tractor, AT-T was not quite comfortable for the crew, so polar explorers asked to modernize it. “Ask, and it will be given to you”. United expertise from Kharkov transport Engineering Plant and Kharkov Aviation Plant (obviously, both plants were located in a city of Kharkov in Ukrainian Soviet Socialistic Republic) took up the project. In three months, a new machine was ready. It was called “Manufacture 404C” with an unofficial name “Kharkovchanka”.

The new body allowed to perform Polar marches with decent level of comfort. “Kharkovchanka” was equipped with everything a polar explorer might need in a field and everything to make expeditions in harsh Antarctic conditions as comfortable as possible: a bedroom for 6 people, a kitchen, a radio room, an insulated restroom, a working compartment and even a drying compartment. To fill all of this, the chassis was lengthened by two rollers. “Kharkovchanka” was 9metres longer than the original AT-T. A new engine was installed as well. Instead of 455hp now there were 995hp! To make maintenance easier engineers made the engine accessible from the cabin. The new 1 meter wide caterpillar tracks were installed on “Kharkovchanka”.

As a result, the modernized vehicle weighed 35tons and could carry 70 more tons of load, easily overcoming snow slopes on maximum speed of 35km/h. The engine was accessible from the inside; there was no need to get out into the cold. To top it all off the Soviet engineers made “Kharkovchanka” able to swim (unlike original AT-T).

The expedition

On January 10, 1959 three “Kharkovchankas” set off on an expedition from Mirny Station to the South Pole. They visited “Vostok” station and “Komsomolskaya” research station (which is now shut down).

That expedition was rather challenging for both, machinery and people. For example, it turned out that repairing an engine from the inside was not as convenient as it seemed at the start. Not having to get out into the cold – good. Breathing in exhaust fumes – not that good at all. Huge caterpillar tracks also proved to be a mistake. They often broke down due to their width. A gearbox broke down twice as well. Caravan went at a speed not more than 5km/h. The first speed of the gearbox wore down more than the rest of them. On one of the vehicles the gearbox was changed right on the spot. While the vehicle had to be unloaded, so it could drive around on the second speed to prevent further damage of the gearbox.

“Kharkovchankas” worked through all the obstacles on their way and reached the final destination, Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.

Modern days

Discovered flaws and shortcomings were supposed to be fixed in the new project, “Kharkovchanka-2”. In the second version, the engine was placed underneath the hood of the vehicle. By polar explorer’s demand the new “Kharkovchanka” obtained panes for ventilation. “Krakovchanka-2” arrived at the Antarctic in 1975. Vehicles of both generations (“Kharkovchanka” and “Kharkovchanka-2”) were used to provide a link between the Soviet – and then the Russian – polar stations. Few of these vehicles are still in use. Three of them are at “Vostok” station along with four arctic AT-Ts.