ATS-59

ATS-59
ATS-59
	On display in Batey HaOsef museum, Israel.
Type	Artillery tractor
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
Used by	See operators
Wars	Vietnam War Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Variants	See variants
Specifications (ATS-59)
Mass	13,000 kg (29,000 lb) (empty); 16,000 kg (35,000 lb) (loaded)
Length	6.28 m (20.6 ft)
Height	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) (cab); 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) (tarpaulin)
Crew	1+1
Passengers	14
Engine	A-650 V-12 water-cooled diesel; 300 hp (220 kW) at 1700 rpm
Payload capacity	3,000 kg (6,600 lb); 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) (towed load)
Operational; range	350 km (220 mi); 500 km (310 mi) (with long range fuel tanks)
Maximum speed	39 km/h (24 mph)
References

Artilleriyskiy Tyagach Sredniy - 59, or ATS-59 (from Russian: Артиллерийский Тягач, Средний (АТС), meaning medium artillery tractor) is a Soviet Cold War era artillery tractor, currently in service with the Russian Army.

The ATS-59G has a larger cab seating 7 people in two rows. The T-55 tank engine was used and an overpressure NBC system was added. Otherwise the chassis and payload capacity remained unaltered.

The ATS-59 was developed as the successor for the AT-S. It retained the same payload and towing capability, but had a higher speed, longer range and improved off road capability.

Variants

ATS-59G − Improved variant with a redesigned cab
S-75 tractor − A variant with the cargo bed removed and extra wheels fitted on the top of the rear chassis for towing the S-75 Dvina missile PR-11 semi-trailer transporter-launcher
OST − Combat engineering variant with a hydraulically-operated dozer blade fitted in the front of the hull

History

In April 2023, during the Russo-Ukrainian war, an armed specimen of an ATS-59G with a rear-mounted 25mm 2M-3M naval gun was photographed.

In July 2024, several units where spotted being transported to the front on a military train.

Operators

Cuba − ATS-59
Czechoslovakia − 2,400 ATS-59G
Egypt
Finland − ~28 ATS-59
North Korea
Poland − Produced locally
Romania
Russia
Soviet Union
Ukraine
Vietnam
Yugoslavia

References

1 2 Davis & Brazier II 1985, p. 171.
1 2 3 Świerkowski, Adam (23 April 2023). "Improwizowany zestaw przeciwlotniczy na bazie ciągnika artyleryjskiego" [Improvised anti-aircraft system based on an artillery tractor]. defence24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 26 July 2025.
↑ Isby 1988, p. 502.
1 2 3 Foss 1983, p. 496.
1 2 3 4 Foss 1983, p. 495.
↑ Zaloga 2011, p. 7.
↑ Foss 1983, pp. 495, 604.
↑ "Twitter".
↑ Fermoselle 1987, p. 527.
↑ "Stredný delostrelecký ťahač ATS-59G" [ATS-59G medium artillery tractor]. Vojenský historický ústav (VHÚ) (in Slovak). 21 December 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
↑ Oliemans, Joost; Mitzer, Stijn (6 March 2023). "A Visual Guide To North Korea's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
↑ Foss 1983, pp. 495−496.
↑ Janovsky, Jakub; naalsio26; Aloha; Dan; Kemal; Black, Alexander (24 February 2022). "Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 26 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

Bibliography

Fermoselle, Rafael (1987). The Evolution of the Cuban Military, 1492−1986 (PDF). Miami, FL: Ediciones Universal. ISBN 978-0-89729-428-7. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
Foss, Christopher F, ed. (1983). Jane's Military Vehicles and Ground Support Equipment 1983 (4th ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 978-0-7106-0766-9.
Isby, David C. (1988). Weapons and tactics of the Soviet Army (Revised ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 978-0-7106-0352-4.
Davis, Raymond G; Brazier II, Harold (1985). "Defeat of the 320th". In Simmons, Edwin H (ed.). The Marines in Vietnam, 1954−1973: An Anthology and Annotated Bibliography (PDF) (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. pp. 164–172.
Zaloga, Steven J. (2011). Red SAM: The SA-2 Guideline Anti-Aircraft Missile. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-628-8.

External links

ATS-59 Medium Tracked Artillery Tractor

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[FOOTNOTEDavisBrazier_II1985171-1] 1 2 Davis & Brazier II 1985, p. 171.

[Defence24-2] 1 2 3 Świerkowski, Adam (23 April 2023). "Improwizowany zestaw przeciwlotniczy na bazie ciągnika artyleryjskiego" [Improvised anti-aircraft system based on an artillery tractor]. defence24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 26 July 2025.

[FOOTNOTEIsby1988502-3] Isby 1988, p. 502.

[FOOTNOTEFoss1983496-4] 1 2 3 Foss 1983, p. 496.

[FOOTNOTEFoss1983495-5] 1 2 3 4 Foss 1983, p. 495.

[FOOTNOTEZaloga20117-6] Zaloga 2011, p. 7.

[FOOTNOTEFoss1983495,_604-7] Foss 1983, pp. 495, 604.

[8] "Twitter".

[FOOTNOTEFermoselle1987527-9] Fermoselle 1987, p. 527.

[10] "Stredný delostrelecký ťahač ATS-59G" [ATS-59G medium artillery tractor]. Vojenský historický ústav (VHÚ) (in Slovak). 21 December 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

[11] Oliemans, Joost; Mitzer, Stijn (6 March 2023). "A Visual Guide To North Korea's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 26 July 2025.

[FOOTNOTEFoss1983495−496-12] Foss 1983, pp. 495−496.

[13] Janovsky, Jakub; naalsio26; Aloha; Dan; Kemal; Black, Alexander (24 February 2022). "Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 26 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)