SOV - GSP (pásové samohybné soulodí)

GSP (GSP-55)
(GSP - Caterpillar self-propelled ferry)


The tracked self-propelled self-propelled semi-submersible is designed for transporting heavy combat equipment over standing or flowing water obstacles, and consists of two self-propelled semi-submersibles (right and left). Each semi-submersible consists of a carrier, a pontoon, a ground ramp, a liaison mechanism and a hydraulic system.



Characteristics and use:
The GSP self-propelled tracked dredger is designed for transporting tanks, self-propelled guns and other loads up to 52 t by self-propulsion using the dredger ramps.
It consists of two separate semi-submersibles - right and left. Each semi-axle consists of: - a carrier
- a pontoon
- the ramps
The crawler propulsion mechanism allows it to move independently on land and water. In the transport position, the pontoon is stowed above the carrier and the ramps are folded in the central sloping recess of the pontoon.
The right and left semi-submersibles, as well as their carriers and pontoons, cannot be interchanged; they differ in the arrangement of the nodes and aggregates.


The deployment of the vessels is carried out only on the water by first connecting the two semi-submersibles with a rope, a hand-operated winch and a special mechanical contacting device (contacting), and then tipping the pontoons and ramps (foot and end) of the right and left semi-submersibles by means of a hydraulic system operated from the drivers' position. The basic operations, contacting, unloading of the pontoons and ramps, are mechanised and carried out by the semi-submersible crew.
The GSP consists of two separate semi-submersibles, a starboard and a port one. Each semi-submarine has the following main parts:
- the carrier hull
- a pontoon with ramps
- propulsion mechanism
- transmission mechanism
- chassis
- propulsion equipment and rudders
- roadway and ramps
- hydraulic system
- liaison mechanism
- equipment for controlling movement on land and water
- electrical equipment
- equipment for pumping swollen (bilge) water
- special equipment
- spare parts, tools and accessories


Carrier hull
The carrier hull is used for the deployment of the semi-semisubmersible carrier's aggregates and mechanisms and for the deployment of the crew. It also carries all operational loads and ensures the semi-submarine's seakeeping capabilities. It is divided into 3 compartments:
- driving
- the propulsion compartment
- the rear carrier compartment
The basic parts of the carrier hull are:
- hull skeleton
- hull bottom (with mounting holes)
- 2 propeller tunnels
- 2 road girders (front and rear)
- hull plating
- propulsion mechanism compartment cover panels
- Liaison mechanism (shuttle with housing, guide housing, closing mechanism, winch and drive for closing mechanism and winch),
- louvres (to regulate the cooling air to the radiators)
- protective glasses (2 front hinged and 2 fixed side)
- breakwater
- air vent with cover (for air supply to the driver)
- removable driver and crew seat


Pontoon with ramps
The pontoon is a closed unit made of steel plate with reinforcements, its volume provides the necessary displacement. It is filled with foamed polystyrene boards with a density of 40 kg.m3. It is jointed to the semi-semisubmersible carrier and in the transport position it is placed above the carrier in the bottom-up position. Inside the pontoon are hydraulic motors with piping and the suction pipe of the bilge water pump circuit, to which the end of the flexible hose is attached.
The pontoons of the left and right cofferdams differ from each other by the symmetrical arrangement of the roadways; they are not interchangeable.
The pontoon consists of:
- a skeleton formed by the roadway girders
- 28 ribs of frame construction made of angles and stiffeners of the carcass
- a deck
- the bottom
- planking


Ramps (2 on each pontoon - they are connected to each other by steel cables, which ensure their simultaneous tipping) are used for loading and unloading of loads. They are connected by joints to the pontoon's ground beams. The ramps are designed as a truss-type structure.
Each ramp is made up of:
- a foot ramp
- an end ramp
- steel tension rods connecting the foot and tail ramp


Electrical equipment
The electrical equipment ensures the preparation of the engine for operation (pre-lubrication, warming up with a heater), starting and checking the engine operation, sound and light signalling, internal and external lighting of the vessel, power supply for the radio station and the electrical control mechanism for the pontoon tipping, ramps and ramp locks, operation of the electric windscreen wipers.


The electrical equipment includes:
- a.) electrical power supplies:
- 2 batteries, each 12 V, 140 Ah, connected in series
- 1,5 kW DC dynamo at 28 V with derivative excitation
- control relay and suppression filter
- b.) electrical appliances:
- 11 kW 24 V electric starter
- electric oil pump motor
- electric motor of the fuel filling pump
- electric motor and induction coil of the heater
- horn
- electric windscreen wiper
- 6 electromagnets of the hydraulic shifter distributors
- interior, exterior and emergency lighting
- c.) auxiliary apparatus:
- battery disconnector
- fuse box with fuses
- front instrument panel (in front of the driver)
- side dashboard with 9 thermal (bimetallic) fuses, light and hydraulic switches, engine heater control lamp and voltmeter
- switches, pushbuttons, toggle switches
- (d.) control devices:
- pressure gauge
- 2 electric thermometers (oil and engine coolant)
- voltmeter (0-30 V and 30-0-60 A)
- electric engine speedometer
- (e.) semi-semi-solar electrical network
- electrical wiring
- fittings (grommets, sockets, distributors, etc.)


Spare parts, tools and accessories
Backup parts, tools and accessories are part of the kit required for technical maintenance and repair of the vessel, tools and accessories also ensure the operation of the GSP.
In addition, this includes:
- dressing equipment
- life-saving equipment (3 + 2 life jackets)
- anchor
- fire extinguisher (2 l, foam)
- electric filling pump MZA-3 (for fuel, emergency also for decontamination and washing)




Technical and tactical data
Total weight: 34 t
Weight of one semi-submersible: 17 t
Maximum load: 52 t


Crew: 6 men (3 men on one semi)


Engine: 8D6
- 6 cylinder, diesel, 4 stroke
- power: 176 kW


The 8D6 engine is derived from the V6 = 6-cylinder, in-line, four-stroke, direct-injection, liquid-cooled, diesel engine. It is located in the centre of the semi-semisubmersible carrier.


The chassis consists of:
- the motion mechanism
- the suspension mechanism


The motion mechanism is used to change the rotary motion of the drive wheel into a straight line motion of the semi-semi-semi-ship. It consists of:
- 2 track belts
- 2 driving wheels
- 14 running wheels
- 2 tension wheels with track tensioning mechanism


The suspension mechanism ensures a smooth ride of the semi-semi, absorbing shocks and shocks from uneven terrain when travelling off-road. The suspension mechanism is torsion (bolt) independent and consists of 14 nodes, each made up of:
- bracket
- a swingarm with elastic limiter and a shock absorber
- a torsion (torsion) bar


Speed:
- maximum: 40-45 km/h
- average off-road: 18 - 27 km/h
- maximum speed in water: 6 - 10 km/h


Driving range: 200 - 350 km

...

...

Východonemecké súlodie na cvičení...

Source: ATOM 1983 No.11

Pásové samohybné súlodie GSP bolo do výzbroje ČSĽA zavádzané od roku 1963, jednalo sa o 4 kusy.


Vysvetlivka :


GSP - " guseničnyj samochodnyj parom ".


parom = trajekt.


Zdroj : Československá lidová armáda na Rýnu - K. Štěpánek - P. Minařík NV Praha 2007

GSP-55 in Military History Museum in Piešt'any 2010.


Source: own photo

The GSP tracked self-propelled gunship is designed for transporting tanks, self-propelled guns and tanks with mechanical minesweepers - tralms.


Mechanization of amphibious assault ships:


- loading of tanks with self-propelled guns on the ship - self-propelled by driving forward using ramps, loading of tanks with tral by driving backwards,
- unloading tanks and self-propelled guns from the ship - using ramps, self-propelled, forward driving,
- control of pontoon and ramps tipping - remote from the driver's seat,
- method of connection of semi-submersibles in the ship - by rope, winch with manual drive.


Chassis


- tracked - 2 tracks with small links ( from PT-76 tank),
- number of links in each belt : 104,
- belt width : 360 mm,
- drive wheels : 2 with two toothed wings ( from PT-76 tank),
- running wheels : 14 - single with rubber hoops ( from tank PT-76),
- number of torsion bars : 14.


Main technical data :


Engine : type 8D6


Cylinder capacity : 19100 cm³
Power : 240 hp at 1800 rpm.


Continuous running time : 13 -17 MH



Fusion


Dimensions in mm:


Length : 12000
Width : 12630 to the edge of the pontoons / 21460 to the edge of the tipped ramps,
Roadway width : 3540


Draught : 970 without load / 1500 with load,


Min. water depth with load : 1000


Weight in kg : 34000
Payload : 52000



Semi-semi


Dimensions in mm:


Length : 12000
Width : 3240
Height : 3200


Track gauge : 2620
Clearance : 350


Draught : 1540 to overhanging tracks
Min. water depth with load : 1000


Weight in kg : 17000


Fuel consumption : 28 - 35 l / MH


Crew : 3 men




Source : Žen-24-8 GSP tracked self-propelled gunship - ČSĽA regulation, Prague, 1966

On snímke are egyptian súlodia GSP nasadené in the Arab-Izraelskom konflikte in 1973. In the description of the images is referred to Soviet PT-8 Pontoon-Laying Tracked Carrien based on K-61 Persdonnal Carrying Vehicle.

Source: AFV G2 Voleme 5 Number 1 (December 1974); Baron Publishing Company

.

In the service of the SR Army.....


Quote from tatratruck.sk


On 25 June 2003, in an unnamed town called Sereď, the soldiers of an engineer unit received a message that a pontoon crawler was waiting for them at the railway station to be transported to the unit. The commander gave the word, the soldiers started the T815, hitched up the tow and off to the station they went. At the station, everything went off without a hitch. The convoy set off on its return journey. However, as the train was pulling out onto the railway overpass, a passenger car without a license plate ran out from the side of the road with a crew of our darker-skinned fellow citizens under the wheels. In order not to be accused of racism, the driver of the tractor-trailer "trampled" the train and stopped practically on the subway. The car disappeared around a bend to the rumble of a falling pontoon carrier :


I will only add that an interesting rescue followed. More info on the above page.

A kdyz uz tady mame takove dve krasne fotky, dokonce oba pravoboky, muzete mi vazeni znalci sdelit, ktera cast soulodi je prava a ktera leva? Proste podle ceho se to na prvni pohled pozna.


Pokud to vidim spravne, pak horni obrazek je PRAVA a spodni LEVA cast. A cim se to spojuje?

Corrected by the author because the original version was misleading.

We can
You can tell by the hinges of the dump pontoon.

Image 550-01 is a starboard view of the starboard side of the Soulship.
- You can see the hinges securing the pontoon to the hull.
- the pontoon is tilting to starboard (towards the photographer)
- the bridges are folded under the pontoon

Picture 550-02 is a right shot of the left side of the Soulship
- this side of the transporter approaching the other part of the Soulship
- the pontoon is tilting to the left (towards the fence)
- you can see the mechanism for tipping the gangways
- The gangways are the "plates" in the cut-out of the pontoon.