Hi guys,

I have a quick question about the GAZ-69M. I know very little about this jeep apart from the fact it was made from the 50's to the early 70's.

Does anyone know what theatres it was used in, if any? Was this jeep used in the Soviet War in Afghanistan at all?

Just trying to get an understanding of what sort of scenes, or dioramas I could use this in (for Russian service).

Thanks!

Hi Jon

I've came across this picture which show Afghan Mujahideens (according to the caption) but I'm 99.99 % sure it's a fake



I think Russian troops in Afghanistan would have rather been equipped with UAZ-469s instead...

Frenchy

Thanks frenchy, how about early in the war or as a support vehicle left at bases?

Any chances for a soviet Afghanistan base camp dio at all?

I have this pic in a book, why do you think its fake?

Maybe it's just me but when you look at all these guys (11 or 12 ! ) there's something that looks wrong...Just like a photomontage. The guy's pose on the far right for instance is rather weird...Same with some of the heads in relation to bodies...

Frenchy

Yes, Frenchy is absolutely right - any GAZ-69 were not used in Afghanistan by Soviets. And I think, it is not probably to find any GAZ-69 in Russian service + War conditions (the Russians at that time have only one War - Afghan War, on which Soviets had used just Soviet equipment). Any other Wars with Soviet's participation took place not in Russian territory - so, those vehicles have been "dressed" in foreign "uniforms".
For example, GAZ-69s were actively used in Vietnamese War, Arab - Israeli Wars, in African Wars, etc. Here is some Arab (and ex-Arab) GAZ-69 jeeps:





As for GAZ-69's using in peace time - these jeeps were used in armies of East Germany, Romania, Albania, Czechoslovakia, China, Poland, North Korea, and more, and more... And they were in civilian using too. I read, GAZ-69s were supplied in 56 countries (according to official data). How many cars were supplied unofficially - it is mystery...

It is hard to find, but here is one picture of Soviet field camp in Afghanistan (sorry - very little, and do not pay attention to the helicopter):


Regards,
Ed.

Thanks Ed, how about in Soviet Airfields? Were Gaz 69 ever used in this context? As support vehicles etc?

I was thinking if they were not used by Soviet Army maybe Soviet Airforce?

Jon

I think Eduard means that the GAZ-69 has been used by the Soviet army only in peacetime. You could have probably found some on Soviet military airfields in the 60's and 70's...

Here's one exiting an IL-12 during trials :



Frenchy

Thanks!

I only ask about airfields as I'm not sure if I could use the Jeep in an airfield dio, I was planning to stick one with a 1/35 (Afghanistan era) chopper or maybe a 1/32 jet.

Like a Mi-8 ? :
This one is Czech but I guess the Soviets did similar things



EDIT : according to the caption, this picture has been taken in Afghanistan. You can notice a GAZ-69 in the background (maybe an Afghan Army one )...



HTH

Frenchy

Yeah or a Hind, or possibly a SU-17 or SU-25.

Wasn't sure if it was kosher though. Apart from the GAZ 69 there aren't many post war jeep kits that I know of.

Don't forget Military Wheels (in)famous UAZ-469 kit


Frenchy

Thanks great idea also. I was also hoping to find a reason to use the GAZ kit, seems like your photo helps my case!

Don't forget Prague spring...is not a proper war condition but anyway...


general-pavlovski gaz 69













cheers

Thanks Mauro, very interesting!

When was the GAZ69M retired in Soviet use? I know the production run ended in the early 70's but I'm not sure how long they stayed on in service after that.

You're welcome Jon

I read in many eastern forums....and nobody know how long was the gaz 69 service...

Anyway, probably you've already downloded it, but:

http://www.russianmilitarytrucks.com/downloads.htm
here you can find the gaz 69 user manual (with other soviet trucks manuals)

http://www.russianmilitarytrucks.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=12
here you can find a gaz 69 forum

cheers

Thanks for the links Mauro ! Good to find a one stop place for these manuals

Frenchy

I agree! Awesome Mauro thank you very much!

Jon, Frenchy
I'm always glad to help who loves russian stuffs...

If i'll find some other interesting references I will you know surely

Cheers

Well, men, I see, You actively discuss here. Let's give one after another:

1) Frenchy have posted the picture of GAZ-69M jeep of Soviet Airborne Troops (note the emblem on the vehicle's door).

2) In Soviet military aviation the GAZ-69 jeeps were mainly used as staff cars (see first image below), and as personnel cars for the delivery of flight and technical personnel from military settlements and barracks to aerodromes (see second image):


But some military versions were designed, produced, and used for military purposes in Soviet military aviation:
- APA-12 - airfield starting unit for electrical supply of aircrafts during their maintenance service on the ground:


Those vehicles had special bodies; but another APA-12 version was based on usual GAZ-69M jeep:


Those APA-12 vehicles were produced in small series, and were used until the beginning (or until the middle) of the Sixties.

- LFM-1 (first image) and LFM-29 (second image below) - the vehicles for the preparation of ice and snow aerodromes:


Some LFM jeeps were also used in civil aviation:


These LFM vehicles were produced in series and were popular enough in both - military and civil - using.

That is all about GAZ-69 in Soviet military aviation.

Many of GAZ-69 were used in Soviet civil aviation:
- air traffic control car:


- AT-3 - car with conveyor tape for the loading of passenger's luggage in the plane's load compartment. AT-3 had open cab (see vehicle in foreground on image):


- AT-4 or AT-4M - car with conveyor tape for the loading of passenger's luggage in the plane's load compartment. AT-4 had open or closed cab:



3) As for "GAZ-69 and helicopters" topic - see the images from Soviet maneuvers here:


Helicopters here are Mi-4 Hound.

4) Frenchy wrote:

Yes - UAZ-469 was a successor of GAZ-69 in Soviet army.

5) It is strange, but I have found the different info about GAZ-69 production's end. Even our Russian sources writes about 1971, or end of 1972, or 1973, or 1976 ! One Russian automobile expert wrote about 1973, and he should be trusted. There were produced 634 285 examples of GAZ-69 jeeps of all versions in total in the USSR.

6) The real image from Afghanistan at last. Note - the car have blue colour; so, here we have a civilian version; and, maybe, it was produced by China:


That is all.

Enjoy !

Ed Craft.

Thanks for all these pics Ed ! I had read about special GAZ-69 variants used on airfields but hadn't seen any pics until now.

Frenchy

Thanks Ed, this is great!

As well as helicopters do you know if the car was ever used as a staff/supply car for SU-17 jets?

These photos give lots of options for some very interesting conversions and dioramas!

Just came across this one :



(from this Afghanistan war photo album )

Frenchy

Cool! Well I never imagined my question would dig up so many cool images!

This has become a really interesting and informative thread!

GAZ 69 VIDEO