Three Kharkovchankas were built in 1958, and shipped to Antarctica. They traversed from the ocean coast to the existing Soviet Vostok Station in February 1959. Two of these, and a third AT-T tractor, left Vostok station for the geographic South Pole in early December 1959, arriving at the pole on 26 December 1959, and surprising the US crew that had been airlifted into the Amundsen–Scott Station the previous summer.[1] Dozens of more exploratory missions into Antarctica were made with Kharkovchankas in subsequent years.[1]: 20:15
In 1974–1975, a second generation Kharkovchanka was designed and built for Antarctic service. The largest design difference was the movement of the cab and engine back out in front of the main massive rectangular body structure, as well as the addition of auxiliary power generation for electricity and heat when the main engine was not operating. Three second generation Karkovchankas came off the production line in the fall of 1975.[1]: 22:45–24:55
A potential third generation based on the MT-T tractor was considered in the 1980s, but was put on permanent hold for budgetary reasons, and following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, left the Kharkovchankas as the main transportation system for Antarctic cargo into the early 2010s as part of the Russian Antarctic operation.[1]: 25:35–26:30
Description
First generation
Like the Antarctic Snow Cruiser, the engine was inside the 20 m2 (220 sq ft) living space to allow maintenance without being exposed to the elements.[4] However, this meant that the noise of the engine prevented any sleep and that everything was covered by soot from the exhaust fumes.[4]
Technical characteristics
First generation
Assembly: Kharkiv (Kharkov Transport Engineering Plant), Ukrainian SSR[1]
