Skarżysko Kamienna. 2025-03-31
Mazur D-350 crawler tractor. 1957.
The Mazur D-350 crawler tractor is a Polish design that was developed in the 50s of the 20th century, at the Łabędy Mechanical Plant in Gliwice. The construction of the prototype and its tests lasted from 1957 to 1958. Production began in 1958 and lasted until 1960. Some sources indicate that production ended in 1961. The vehicle was universal, and in the Polish Army it was mainly intended for towing cannons. The cabin has space for a driver-mechanic and up to 8 soldiers who operated the cannon. The vehicle can ford rivers up to 0.80 m deep. The angle of approach is up to 30 degrees. The tilt to the side is up to 35 degrees.
Work on the vehicle began in 1956 at the Łabędy Mechanical Plant in Gliwice. The design used components from the T-54A tank, the licensed production of which was being implemented. The unification of the vehicles amounts to as much as 75%, including; engine, transmission, chassis. In 1957, two prototypes were built, which were designated ACS Mazur D-300. In 1958, two improved vehicles were created, which served as a model for serial production. Production lasted until 1961. Production was carried out in Łabędy and in the Stalowa Wola Steelworks. The engines were manufactured by the PZL Wola factory in Warsaw. Final assembly was carried out in Łabędy. The vehicle was powered by one diesel engine; W-54, 12 cylinder, four-stroke, with a power of 350 HP at 1,800 rpm. The power was reduced to extend the service life. Compression ignition. The engine was commonly used to power T-54 and T-55 tanks. The engine is built in a V-shaped arrangement. Displacement is 38.88 liters. Maximum power: 520 HP (382 kW) at 2,000 rpm. Torque: 2,000 Nm. The engine is liquid-cooled. Dry engine weight 1,000 kg. This engine was a development of the older W-2 unit, developed in the 1930s and used, among others, in T-34 tanks and IS-2 self-propelled guns. The W-54 engines and its later versions, such as the W-55, were manufactured at the Wola Combustion Engine Factory in Warsaw. About 1,000 Mazur D-350 vehicles were built.
The Mazur D-350 vehicles were used to build field runways. The vehicles were used to level the terrain and heavy rollers were used to compact the soil.
The production of the successful Mazur D-350 tractor was completed on the Moscow coast, and the reason was supposedly the unification of artillery tractors in the Warsaw Pact and the introduction of the Soviet ATS-59 tractor, the licensed production of which was undertaken in Poland. Allegedly, the Muscovites conducted comparative tests of the vehicles and according to the final report, the ATS-59 vehicle proved to be better. Interestingly, the Muscovites did not show the results of the tests themselves.
In the Polish Army, the Mazur D-350 tractors were used until the end of the 70s of the 20th century. At the beginning of the 60s, a large number of tractors were transferred to Czechoslovakia. According to their data, it was 218 vehicles. A small number went to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In Poland, the vehicles were sent to forestry and the railway, where they were used in rescue trains, with additional equipment installed, such as cranes. Currently, two vehicles are presented in museums. One in Skarżysko Kamienna, the other in Drzonów. In Drzonów, the vehicle bears the registration UAK 5422, and the vehicle was equipped with WZ 1938 (M-30) 122 mm howitzers.
Interestingly, the name Mazur was repeated in Poland and was given to a family of tractors and crawler bulldozers: Mazur D-35, Mazur D-40 and Mazur D-50. The chassis, wheels and tracks were manufactured by Zakłady Mechaniczne Łabędy. The vehicles had American roots and came to Poland via the Moscow state. The vehicles were manufactured from the 1950s, at Zakłady Metalowe in Gorzów Wielkopolski. The Mazur D-50 had a Polish S323C engine. The drive unit was manufactured by Wytwórnia Silników Wysokoburznych Andrychów. It had three cylinders and a capacity of 5.43 litres, with a power of 50 HP. The vehicles were manufactured for construction, heavy industry, forestry, agriculture and the military. The tractor was started using a small, 340 cm3, auxiliary carburetor engine with an output of 8 HP. This engine was started after winding 2-3 coils of rope on the flywheel of this engine and pulling vigorously on the wooden handle at the end of the rope.
T-T data of the Mazur D-350 vehicle: Length 5.81 m. Width 2.89 m. Height 2.69 m. Ground clearance 0.46 m. Weight 13,500 kg. Payload 12,500 kg. Weight of the towed trailer or gun 25,000 kg. Maximum speed 53 km/h. Range 490 km with load. Range without load 600 km. The vehicle has a winch installed.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman