Gaz · 1954–1958
GAZ 46
The GAZ-46, army designation MAV (Russian, малый автомобиль водоплавающий, small floating car), is a Soviet-made light four-wheel drive amphibious military vehicle that entered service in the 1950s and has been used by many Eastern Bloc allied forces since.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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History
During the Second World War Canada, Britain and the United States forwarded large quantities of military materials to Russia. Among those were jeeps, trucks, and amphibious vehicles like the 6×6 DUKW and the 4×4 Ford GPA. The latter were used to help men and equipment get across the many rivers of Eastern Europe and combat the Germans. Seeing merits of such vehicles, after the war, Russia decided to develop two similar vehicles, using domestic automotive parts, the BAV, an equivalent of the DUKW, and the MAV, an equivalent of the Ford GPA. Due to bad reception of the Ford GPA 'Seep' by Allied soldiers, most of them were routed to Russia under the US Lend-Lease program, before production was halted prematurely in 1943. The research institute NAMI developed a prototype NAMI-011, basing on GAZ-67B parts, in 1949. The authorities decided, that it should be manufactured in GAZ works, as GAZ-011, but the factory was reluctant, because a design needed much perfecting, while the GAZ-67B was obsolete and due to be replaced with GAZ-69. As a result, an improved model GAZ-46 was built using the frame and parts of the GAZ-69 4×4 half-ton light truck, of which production started with the Gorky factory in 1952. The principal functions of the GAZ-46 MAV were to make light work of crossing lakes and rivers for men and materials, as well as performing river reconnaissance. As of the end of the fifties the latter role became reserved for the BRDM-1, a much more powerful 4×4 amphibious vehicle. The GAZ-46 MAV used the mechanics of existing Russian GAZ 4×4 "jeeps" as well as being created somewhat bigger for better buoyancy, and its design is heavily inspired by that of the wartime Ford GPA. Just like the 'Seep', its hull is entirely out of steel, welded to a steel chassis. The layout is t
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- GAZ-46, MAV
- Manufacturer
- GAZ (Gorky Automobile Plant)
- Production
- 1954-1958
- Assembly
- Soviet Union
- Class
- 4×4 amphibious jeep
- Body style
- waterproofed hull
- Layout
- front engine, rear drive;, part-time 4×4
- Platform
- GAZ-69
- Engine
- 4 cyl petrol, 2112cc GAZ-69, 55 hp @ 2800 rpm, 170 nm @ 1400 rpm
- Transmission
- 3-speed manual; 2-speed transfer case, water: PTO propeller drive
- Wheelbase
- 230 cm (91 inch)
- Length
- 507 cm (200 inch)
- Width
- 173,5 cm (68 inch)
- Height
- 179 cm (70 inch)
- Kerb weight
- 1270 kg (GVW: 1770 kg)
- Related
- Ford GPA
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q678596CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAZ-46CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1287668225 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GAZ_46_at_Sinsheim_pic2.JPGCC0 · Photo: AlfvanBeem · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.