Overview

The Ural-375D was a Soviet 6×6 all-wheel drive heavy truck produced from 1961 to 1993, serving as the primary tactical transport for Soviet/Russian forces and numerous export customers. Built at the Ural Automobile Plant (UralAZ) in Miass, the 375D featured a powerful V8 gasoline engine (180 hp), 5-tonne off-road payload capacity, and exceptional cross-country mobility that made it the workhorse of Soviet logistics from Afghanistan to Eastern Europe.

Over 800,000 units were manufactured during its 32-year production run, with variants including troop carriers, command vehicles, mobile rocket launchers (BM-21 Grad), and specialized military platforms. The Ural-375D's distinctive cab design, massive tires, and proven reliability made it one of history's most recognizable military trucks, comparable to the American M35 "Deuce and a Half" or German Unimog.

Historical context

Soviet tactical mobility requirements (1950s)

By the late 1950s, Soviet military doctrine emphasized mobile warfare with mechanized forces operating deep in enemy territory. Existing transport trucks—ZIL-157, GAZ-63—lacked the payload capacity and off-road performance for sustained operations supporting tank/motor rifle divisions across diverse terrain (forests, swamps, deserts, mountains).

Tactical transport requirements:

  • 6×6 all-wheel drive: Superior traction vs. 4×4 or 4×2 configurations
  • 5-tonne payload: Balance between mobility and capacity
  • Cross-country performance: Operate in mud, sand, snow without roads
  • Towing capability: Pull artillery, trailers (8-10 tonnes)
  • Reliability: 100,000+ km service life with minimal maintenance
  • Simple design: Field-repairable by conscript mechanics

Ural-375 development (1958-1961)

The Ural Automobile Plant (UralAZ), established 1941 in Miass (Ural Mountains), specialized in heavy military trucks. Chief designer Pyotr Fominykh led "Project 375" with goals:

Powerful engine: New ZIL-375 V8 gasoline engine (180 hp)—derived from ZIL-130 truck engine but ruggedized for military use

Advanced drivetrain: 6×6 all-wheel drive with locking differentials, central tire inflation system (CTIS)

Robust chassis: Ladder frame with increased payload capacity

Tactical features: Winch, deep-fording capability, NBC protection

Prototype testing (1959-1961) validated design, with State trials completed 1961. Production began at UralAZ in 1961.

Designation:

  • Ural-375: Original model (1961-1963)
  • Ural-375D: "D" for "Diesel" engine planned but never adopted; designation stuck despite gasoline engine (1964+ standard variant)

Specifications

Commonly cited specifications (Ural-375D standard):

Dimensions:

  • Length: 7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
  • Width: 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in) cab roof, 3.15 m with canvas cover
  • Wheelbase: 3.60 + 1.40 m (11 ft 10 in + 4 ft 7 in)—short-long tandem rear axles
  • Track: 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
  • Ground clearance: 0.40 m (16 in) laden

Weights:

  • Curb weight: 7,475 kg (16,479 lb)
  • GVW: 12,950 kg (28,549 lb)
  • Payload: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) cross-country, 5,475 kg (12,070 lb) on-road
  • Towing capacity: 7,500 kg (16,535 lb) trailer, 8,500 kg (18,739 lb) towed load

Cargo bed:

  • Length: 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in)
  • Width: 2.32 m (7 ft 7 in)
  • Sideboards: 0.62 m (24 in) height
  • Volume: 6.3 m³ (222 ft³)

Powerplant:

  • Engine: ZIL-375 V8 gasoline
  • Configuration: 90° V8, overhead valve
  • Displacement: 7.00 L (427 cu in)
  • Bore × Stroke: 108 mm × 95 mm
  • Power: 180 hp (132 kW) at 3,200 rpm
  • Torque: 510 Nâ‹…m (376 lbâ‹…ft) at 1,400-2,200 rpm
  • Compression ratio: 6.5:1 (low compression for multi-fuel capability)
  • Fuel system: K-88A carburetor (later K-90)
  • Cooling: Liquid-cooled with front-mounted radiator
  • Fuel capacity: 360 L (95 gal) main tanks (2× 180 L)

Transmission:

  • Type: Manual 5-speed (synchronized 2nd-5th gears)
  • Transfer case: 2-speed with front axle engagement, differential locks
  • Clutch: Dual dry plate, hydraulically actuated
  • Final drive ratio: 7.73:1

Performance:

  • Maximum speed: 75 km/h (47 mph) on road
  • Cruising speed: 50-60 km/h (31-37 mph) on-road, 25-35 km/h (16-22 mph) off-road
  • Range: 750 km (466 mi) on road, 500 km (311 mi) cross-country
  • Fuel consumption:
    • Road: 47 L/100 km (5.0 mpg)
    • Cross-country: 70-90 L/100 km (2.6-3.4 mpg)
  • Gradient: 58% (30°) with full load
  • Side slope: 30% (17°)
  • Vertical obstacle: 0.65 m (2 ft 2 in)
  • Trench crossing: 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in)
  • Fording: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) unprepared, 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) with deep-fording kit

Suspension:

  • Front: Live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
  • Rear (tandem): Dual live axles with balancer beams, semi-elliptic leaf springs
  • Tire size: 12.00-20 (12.00 × 20 inches)—single tires all six wheels
  • CTIS: Central tire inflation system (driver-controlled pressure: 0.5-3.5 kg/cm²)

Brakes:

  • Service brakes: Pneumatic drum brakes on all six wheels (compressed air from engine-driven compressor)
  • Parking brake: Mechanical driveshaft brake
  • Auxiliary brake: Engine compression brake

Winch:

  • Type: Mechanical PTO-driven winch (front-mounted)
  • Capacity: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) single-line
  • Cable length: 65 m (213 ft) steel cable
  • Self-recovery: Can winch vehicle out of mud, ditches, obstacles

Electrical:

  • System: 12V DC
  • Generator: 500W alternator (later models)
  • Batteries: 2× 6-ST-90 (90 Ah each, series connection)
  • Lighting: Two headlamps, blackout driving lights, side/tail lights

Crew:

  • Cab capacity: 3 (driver + 2 passengers)
  • Cargo area: 30-35 troops with equipment (bench seating, canvas cover)

Design characteristics

6×6 all-wheel drive system

Permanent 6×6: All six wheels driven continuously (no 4×2 mode)

Transfer case:

  • 2-speed (high/low range)
  • Front axle disconnect (6×6 or 4×4 rear-wheel drive only)
  • Three differential locks (front, center, rear)

Differential locking: Driver-controlled locks for extreme terrain

  • Unlocked: Normal road driving, free differentiation between axles
  • Center lock: Distributes power front/rear evenly (soft terrain)
  • All locked: Maximum traction, all wheels rotate same speed (deep mud, sand, snow)

Tandem rear axles: Two rear axles on balancer beam

  • Distributes weight across four rear wheels
  • Improved traction, reduced ground pressure
  • One rear wheel can lift off ground without losing traction

Central tire inflation system (CTIS)

Driver-controlled air pressure:

  • Road: 3.5 kg/cm² (50 psi) for highway speeds, reduced rolling resistance
  • Cross-country: 1.5-2.0 kg/cm² (21-28 psi) for soft terrain
  • Extreme: 0.5-1.0 kg/cm² (7-14 psi) for sand, snow, swamps

Advantages:

  • Increased tire footprint in soft terrain (flotation)
  • Reduced ground pressure (prevents sinking)
  • Improved traction (tire conforms to obstacles)

System: Engine-driven compressor supplies air through rotating seals to tires

ZIL-375 V8 engine

180 hp output: 50% more powerful than GAZ-53 (115 hp), enabling heavy loads in difficult terrain

Multi-fuel capability:

  • Designed for 72-octane gasoline (Soviet A-72 standard)
  • Can operate on 66-octane, kerosene, diesel/gasoline blends in emergencies
  • Low compression (6.5:1) enables poor-quality fuel use

Durability:

  • Cast iron block and heads
  • Forged steel crankshaft
  • Service life 100,000-150,000 km

Limitations:

  • High fuel consumption (47 L/100 km road, 70-90 L/100 km off-road)
  • Gasoline engine fire risk (diesel safer but unavailable in USSR at scale for military trucks until 1980s)

Cold-weather features:

  • Engine block heater standard
  • Manual choke
  • Starting handle (crank) for extreme cold

Cab and body design

All-metal cab:

  • Distinctive rounded styling (1960s Soviet design)
  • Three-person bench seat
  • Tilt-forward hood for engine access
  • Two-piece flat windshield, manual wipers
  • Cab heater standard

Cargo bed:

  • All-steel construction with wooden or steel sideboards
  • Drop-down tailgate
  • Removable canvas cover with metal bows
  • Bench seating for 30-35 troops

NBC protection: Not standard; specialized variants had filtration systems

Variants and specialized vehicles

Ural-375 (1961-1963)

Initial production:

  • ZIL-375 V8 engine
  • Basic features
  • Production: ~50,000 units

Ural-375D (1964-1993)

Standard variant:

  • "D" designation (originally planned for diesel, never implemented)
  • Improved engine (refined ZIL-375)
  • Enhanced transmission
  • Most common: 750,000+ produced

Ural-375S (command vehicle)

Mobile command post:

  • Enclosed shelter on cargo bed
  • Radio equipment (R-142, R-145 series)
  • Map tables, communications gear, generators

Ural-375D troop carrier

Standard military configuration:

  • Bench seating in cargo bed (30-35 soldiers)
  • Canvas cover
  • Personal weapons storage racks

BM-21 "Grad" MLRS

Multiple Rocket Launcher System:

  • Ural-375D chassis
  • 40× 122mm rocket launcher tubes
  • Range: 20 km
  • Most famous Ural-375 variant: Iconic Soviet MLRS (10,000+ built)

Ural-375 fuel tanker

AT-4.5 fuel tanker:

  • 4,500 L (1,189 gal) cylindrical tank
  • Hand-pump or powered fuel transfer
  • Military fuel resupply

Ural-375 workshop

PM-100 mobile workshop:

  • Enclosed shelter with tools
  • Welding equipment, vise, drill press
  • Generator for power tools
  • Field maintenance/repair

Ural-375 crane

K-51 truck crane:

  • 5-tonne hydraulic crane mounted on Ural-375D
  • Construction, cargo handling, vehicle recovery

Ural-375N (1977 upgrade)

"N" for "noviy" (new):

  • Modernized ZIL-375Ya engine (improved fuel economy)
  • Upgraded electrical system
  • Better cab insulation
  • Production: 1977-1993 alongside 375D

Operational deployment

Soviet/Russian military service

Service timeline:

  • 1961-1965: Initial deployment, supplements ZIL-157
  • 1965-1990: Primary Soviet tactical transport (forward combat zones)
  • 1990-2000: Continued service, supplemented by Ural-4320 (successor)
  • 2000+: Reserve forces, disposal, civilian surplus

Military roles:

  • Logistics: Forward-area supply (ammunition, rations, fuel to frontline units)
  • Troop transport: 30-35 soldiers with equipment
  • Towing: Medium artillery (D-30 122mm, 2A36 152mm howitzers), trailers
  • Weapon platform: BM-21 Grad MLRS, anti-aircraft guns, specialized equipment
  • Recovery: Winch-equipped variants recover stuck vehicles, damaged equipment

Doctrine:

  • Forward combat vehicle: 6×6 drivetrain ideal for frontline operations in mud, forests, swamps
  • Artillery tractor: Primary tow vehicle for divisional artillery
  • MLRS platform: BM-21 Grad on Ural-375D became iconic Soviet rocket artillery

Unit allocation:

  • Motor rifle/tank divisions: 200-300 Ural-375 per division (transport companies, artillery tractors)
  • Rocket artillery battalions: 18 BM-21 Grad (Ural-375D chassis)
  • Support units: Workshops, fuel tankers, command vehicles

Export and global operators

Warsaw Pact: East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria Middle East: Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan Asia: Mongolia, Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, Cambodia Africa: Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Algeria Latin America: Cuba, Nicaragua

Civilian export: Limited (primarily military aid; some commercial sales to developing nations for construction/mining)

Combat record

Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989):

  • Primary Soviet transport in mountainous terrain
  • Demonstrated excellent off-road mobility
  • Vulnerable to Mujahideen ambushes (unarmored cab)
  • BM-21 Grad on Ural-375D extensively used
  • High reliability in harsh conditions (deserts, mountains)

Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):

  • Iraqi Ural-375 units transporting troops, artillery
  • BM-21 Grad rocket barrages

1991 Gulf War:

  • Iraqi Ural-375 transport (many destroyed by Coalition airpower)
  • BM-21 Grad used in urban bombardment

Chechen Wars (1994-2009):

  • Russian Ural-375 logistics support
  • Urban warfare limitations (size, unarmored)

Syrian Civil War (2011-present):

  • Syrian government Ural-375 widespread use
  • BM-21 Grad indiscriminate rocket attacks
  • Rebel forces captured many Ural-375 trucks

Yemen Civil War (2015-present):

  • Both sides operate Ural-375 (Houthi, Yemeni government)

Ukraine conflict (2022-present):

  • Russian Ural-375 in logistics roles (supplementing modern Ural-4320)
  • Ukrainian captures of Ural-375 trucks
  • Documented losses: Several dozen destroyed/abandoned (open-source)

Strengths and limitations

Advantages

Exceptional off-road mobility: 6×6 drive with locking differentials, CTIS enables operations in mud, sand, snow, swamps

Powerful engine: 180 hp V8 adequate for 5-tonne loads in difficult terrain

Towing capability: 7,500 kg capacity pulls medium artillery, heavy trailers

Winch: 7,000 kg self-recovery winch standard (extracts stuck vehicles without external assistance)

Reliability: Robust construction, simple mechanics (100,000+ km service life)

Versatility: Platform for dozens of variants (cargo, BM-21 Grad, tanker, crane, workshop, command)

Cold-weather capability: Multi-fuel engine, starting handle, block heater enable Arctic operations

Parts availability: 800,000+ units produced ensured spare parts ubiquity

Limitations

Fuel consumption: 47 L/100 km road, 70-90 L/100 km off-road (extremely high)—limited range without fuel resupply

Gasoline engine: Fire risk vs. diesel (fuel tanks vulnerable to bullets, shrapnel)

No armor: Unarmored cab/cargo area vulnerable to small arms, shell fragments

Size: Large vehicle (7.35 m long) difficult to conceal, maneuver in urban environments

Speed: 75 km/h maximum limits strategic mobility vs. wheeled transporters (GAZ-66: 95 km/h)

Comfort: Harsh ride, noisy, minimal driver amenities (no power steering)

Obsolescence: By 1980s, diesel trucks (Ural-4320, KamAZ-4310) more fuel-efficient

Comparison with contemporaries

vs. ZIL-131 (USSR, 6×6 competitor):

  • Payload: 5 tonnes (Ural) vs. 5 tonnes (ZIL)
  • Engine: 180 hp V8 (Ural) vs. 150 hp V8 (ZIL)
  • Fuel consumption: 47 L/100 km (Ural) vs. 41 L/100 km (ZIL)
  • Result: Ural superior power/mobility, ZIL better fuel economy; both served complementary roles

vs. M35 "Deuce and a Half" (USA):

  • Drivetrain: 6×6 (both)
  • Payload: 5 tonnes (Ural) vs. 2.5 tonnes (M35)
  • Engine: 180 hp gasoline (Ural) vs. 140 hp diesel (M35A2)
  • Fuel consumption: Ural worse (gasoline), M35 diesel more efficient
  • Result: Ural higher payload, M35 better fuel economy/range

vs. Unimog 404 (Germany):

  • Drivetrain: 4×4 (Unimog) vs. 6×6 (Ural)
  • Payload: 1.5 tonnes (Unimog) vs. 5 tonnes (Ural)
  • Mobility: Unimog superior articulation/ground clearance, Ural superior payload
  • Result: Different roles (Unimog light tactical, Ural heavy transport)

vs. Ural-4320 (USSR, successor):

  • Engine: 180 hp gasoline (375) vs. 230 hp diesel (4320)
  • Fuel consumption: 47 L/100 km (375) vs. 28 L/100 km diesel (4320)
  • Result: 4320 superior in all aspects (fuel economy, power, range); replaced 375 by 1990s

Legacy and modern status

The Ural-375D served Soviet/Russian forces for over 40 years, epitomizing Cold War-era tactical transport. Its combination of power, off-road mobility, and reliability made it comparable to America's M35 series or Germany's Unimog family.

Production milestone: 800,000+ units made Ural-375 one of history's most-produced military trucks

BM-21 Grad platform: Most famous variant; Ural-375D chassis for iconic Soviet MLRS (10,000+ built)

Global reach: Operated by 50+ nations, combat use from Afghanistan to Syria to Ukraine

Post-Soviet era:

  • Continued civilian use in construction, mining, forestry (especially Russia, former USSR)
  • Many operate today in developing nations (minimal maintenance infrastructure)
  • Popular with off-road enthusiasts (expedition vehicles, collectors)

Museums: Preserved at Russian military museums, Kubinka Tank Museum, various Eastern European collections

Popular culture: Featured in Soviet/Russian war films, documentaries (Afghanistan, Chechen conflicts)

Related equipment

Related sections

Technical glossary

6×6 drivetrain : All-wheel drive configuration with six driven wheels (three axles), providing superior traction vs. 4×4 or 4×2 configurations

Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) : Driver-controlled air pressure adjustment optimizing traction for terrain type (high pressure for roads, low for soft ground)

Differential lock : Mechanism forcing differential to distribute power equally between axles/wheels, preventing wheel spin in low-traction conditions

Multi-fuel capability : Engine ability to operate on various fuels (gasoline, kerosene, diesel blends) due to low compression ratio and simple fuel system

BM-21 "Grad" (Hail) : Soviet 122mm multiple rocket launcher system mounted on Ural-375D chassis; 40-tube launcher with 20 km range