Tatra 815

T815, T815-2, TERRN°1
Overview
Manufacturer	Tatra
Production	1983 - present
Assembly	Kopřivnice, Moravia, Czech Republic
Body and chassis
Class	Heavy Truck
Body style	COE Cab forward
Powertrain
Engine	[1] Diesel naturally aspirated or turbocharged Tatra (Air-cooled) V8 (12.6 L) 1983-present V10 (15.8 L)1983-present V12 (19.0 L) 1983-present Deutz V6 (11.9 L) V8 (15.8 L) Cummins L10 (10.0 L) M11 (10.8 L) ISM (10.8 L) ISL (8.9 L) ISB (5.9 L) CAT C13 (12.5 L) C15 (15.2 L) C18 (18.1 L) Detroit 6067SK60 (11.1 L) MTU V12 (183TD224)(22.5 L)
Transmission	[2] Tatra 10 speed manual(10TS180) 14 speed manual(14TS210L) 14 speed semi-automatic TwinDisc 6-speed automatic (TD-61-1175) 10-speed automatic (TD-101-3600) Allison 5- & 6-speed automatic
Chronology
Predecessor	Tatra T813

Tatra T815 is a truck family, produced by Czech company Tatra. It uses the traditional tatra concept of rigid backbone tube and swinging half-axles giving independent suspension. The vehicles are available in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x8, 10x10, 12x8 and 12x12 variants. There are both air-cooled and liquid-cooled engines available with power ranging from 230–610 kilowatts (310–820 hp). As a successor to Tatra T813 it was originally designed for extreme off-road conditions, while nowadays there are also variants designated for mixed (both off- and on-road) use.

The T815 and its descendant models brought the Czech truck racer Karel Loprais to victory six times in the Paris Dakar Rally.

T815 TERRN°1 2010 facelift

History

Designed to eventually replace T148 the prototype T157 was introduced in 1970 and several more prototypes were designed between 1970 and 1974 period but no production resulted. Due to protests from another Czech manufacturer LIAZ which was assigned by the government central planning committee to manufacture trucks of similar class Tatra dropped the T157 and instead started to concentrate on a heavier class as the replacement for T813 and T148 which was introduced in 1983 as T815 series. In 1989 Tatra modernized T815 series and introduced new T815-2 which received further upgrade in 1994 and just 3 years later in 1997 the new cabin TerrN°1 is introduced. Another facelift followed in 2000 where changes included among others new instrument panel and cab attachment and for the first time there is an option for fitment of liquid-cooled engines. The latest facelift of cabin came in July 2010. Due to emission requirements changes in 2003 Tatra developed all new V8 engine T3C to comply with Euro III where it followed the tradition once again with its air cooling design. The further developed T3D engine was introduced in 2006 with its SCR and Euro IV compliance.^[3]

Design

While most other manufacturers derive their trucks from road applications, Tatra T815 was purposely designed for extreme off-road conditions, and its road versions are derived from the off-road original concept. The principle consists in a central load-carrying tube with independently suspended swinging half-axles bolted as one whole. This gives Tatra vehicles outstanding driving qualities in the most difficult terrains. The concept allows higher off-road speed compared to classical rigid axle design.

Central load-carrying tube

The primary structural feature of Tatra trucks is the central load carrying tube, also called a backbone frame. All other parts of the truck are mounted to this rigid assembly. The inherently high torsional and flexural rigidity of this layout protects superstructures from the motions and forces on the axles. Torque distribution to the axles is also carried within the backbone.^[4]

Differential

Tatra differentials^[5] are a unique design that uses two opposing spiral bevel gears instead of the usual single set. The differential gears are part of the input drive shaft rather than between the output axles as in a conventional differential. All versions of the Tatra differential have locking pins that can force the differential gears to rotate together, “locking” the differential. This arrangement had two distinct advantages. The first is that the dual output bevel gears allow the axles to swing around the drive axle without the need for universal couplings. The second is that the input drive shaft goes essentially straight through the differential housing, allowing simple coupling to a second set of swing axles. This modular design enables configurations of 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 6 axles with all axles driven. The whole assembly is part of the backbone frame.

Suspension

Front

• Mechanical suspension^[6] of load capacity up to 8 tons per axle by torsion bars – for versions with one steered front axle (4x4 and 6x6) or by leaf springs – for versions with two steered axles (8x8, 10x10 or 12x12).
• Air-bellows, with a load capacity of 9 tons per axle and a possibility of a ground clearance regulation.

Rear

• Mechanical – by leaf springs, with a load capacity of up to 11.5 tons per axle^[7]
• Air-bellows with a load capacity of 10 tons per axle and a possibility of a ground clearance regulation
• Tatra King Frame suspension system - combination of an air-bellow with a coil spring placed inside, with a load capacity of up to 11.5 tons per axle or combination of air-bellows with leaf springs, with a load capacity of 13, 15 and 16.5 tons per axle.

All suspension types are equipped with telescopic shock absorbers; some versions also have stabilizer torsion bars.

Engine

The Tatra engine^[8] is an air-cooled, OHV, currently 12.7 liter 90° V8 120 x 140 mm diesel engine with direct fuel injection. It is turbocharged by one Holset WasteGate turbocharger, and equipped with an intercooler placed directly over the engine. The engine is equipped with a mechanically controlled in-line Bosch injection pump. Its roller crankshaft bolted together from individual segments belongs among unique technical solutions. The engine is available in emission specifications Euro 2 - Euro 5 with power output ranging from 230 to 325 kilowatts (308 to 436 hp) and 1,400–2,100 N·m (1,000–1,500 lbf·ft) torque. Originally was the T 815 truck optionally powered by the same range V10 (15.8 liter) and V12 (19 liter) air-cooled Tatra engines without turbo and intercooler or by biturbo V12 until the Euro 1 emission limits.

Tatra T815 can be fitted also with water-cooled engines made by other manufacturers - notably Cummins and Deutz with power ranging from 260 to 440 kilowatts (350 to 590 hp) with 1,550–2,750 N·m (1,140–2,030 lbf·ft) torque.

The most powerful MTU engine that was used in a T815 prototype tank prime mover had 610 kilowatts (820 hp) displacing 21,930 cc.

Transmission

Tatra T815 8x8 crane with low cab

• Manually controlled mechanical Tatra transmission^[9] which is mounted directly on the auxiliary transmission case, and which, therefore, is an integrated part of the chassis with 10 or 14 gears with two auxiliary gears.
• An electronically controlled gear shifting Tatra - a driver using a joystick just pre-sets a speed gear, and after the clutch is engaged, the speed shifting is carried out. The driver is informed about the shifted speed gear by means of a dashboard display.
• Twin Disc which is a six-gear auto transmission of 1189 or 1177 type
• Allison six or seven-gear automatic transmission with a compact construction in one case, with a torque converter, which are mounted directly on the engine

Cab

Tatra T815 TERRN°1 4x4 fire engine

Tatra T815 is equipped with own Tatra-produced COE cab.^[10] There is basic version, extended version with room behind seats used for a berth and especially for fire-fighting applications a long four-door cab enabling transportation of up to six persons.

There is also special low cab version used mostly for cranes and other special applications. The cab is situated in front of the front axle.

Equipment

• Trucks equipped with air-bellows suspension have possibility of a ground clearance regulation.
• Special protective surface finish
• Central tire inflation system enabling deflation/inflation of tires during the drive in boggy terrain (standard for military versions, on demand for civilian)
• Multi-fuel engines for military version (on demand)
• Vehicle radio-shielding as per NATO standards for military version
• Possibility of additional cab ballistic protection through a supplied and subsequently installed additional armoring set intended also for windows for military version

Variants

Tatra T815 NVA military troop and cargo carrier

• Civilian
  • Tatra T815
  • Tatra T815 low cab (for cranes and installation of other special superstructures)
  • Tatra T815-2 (outdated, but still manufactured on demand)
  • Tatra T815-2 TERRN°1 (most demanded and sold, core of the current T815 range)

• • Tatra T815-7
  • Tatra T816 Force (ultra-heavy fire-fighting offroad truck)
    • There is wide variety of superstructures built on Tatra T815 ranging from tipper S1 and S3 trucks, flatbed truck, tanker, drilling platform (used notably in Australia and Russia), autocrane, excavator, concrete mixer, semitrailer tracktor and many other.

• Military
  • Tatra T815 Armax
  • Tatra T816 Force (the category of the heaviest military trucks with outstanding mobility in the most difficult terrain conditions)
  • Tatra T815-7 (T817)
    • The military versions vary from 4x4 troop or cargo carrier to 12x12 BrahMos supersonic cruise missile carrier (used by India).

• Racing

Tatra T815 rally raid 4x4

• • Rally raid - Tatra trucks are very successful in rally raids, notably in Dakar where Karel Loprais achieved 6 times victory with T815. There were both 4x4 and 6x6 used in rally raids, and T815 8x8 "Totálka" is the heaviest car ever used in rally.
  • Truck trial where T813 gained reputation of invincible off-road truck, of which T815 is a worthy successor

T815 Users

Civilian

Europe

All versions for all applications are sold in countries of Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Germany and France. In Central Europe the trucks are used mostly by construction companies, logging companies and mining companies. They are notably popular as fire-fighting engines. In far Russian east the Tatra Trucks are used by oil and gas companies in the most difficult terrains, where also the air-cooled engine proves its superiority over water-cooled during harsh winter time.

America

T815 is exported to the USA and Brazil. It used to be marketed under mark "American Truck Company" in the USA, where T815 and T816 Force is used as heavy fire-fighting engine.

Australia

In Australia T815 is used notably by mining companies (i.e. as heavy drill 10x10 carrier)^[11]

India

There is assembly line of Tatra vehicles in India.

T815 is available also in some African and Asian countries

Military

All Variety Types of Tatra Trucks and Chassis like T815 & T810 vehicles are widely used by military in the following countries Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, India, Italy, France, and USA with many other countries.

TATRAPAN of Slovak Army

Derivatives

• Tatrapan
• Astros - chassis for multiple rocket launcher produced in Brazil
• mobile surgical unit by German company Drehtainer
• ATLAV APC
• Many other

Specifications

Tatra vehicle coding

The full name of a given vehicle explains most essential information about it.^[12] Take as example T 815 - 231S25 28 325 6 x 6 . 2 R / 34 1:

• T815 = truck family
• 231S25
  • 2 = truck family - T 815-2 Cab over engine TerrNo1 or Armax
  • 3 = engine type - T3D-928.30 air-cooled
  • 1 = vehicle variant - Euro 5 left hand drive with ABS
  • S = vehicle type - tipper (Sklápěč)
  • 2 = cab type and axle configuration - short cab, 6x6 or 4x4
  • 5 = Rear axles and suspension - Combined suspension, load capacity 11 tons, no reductions, axle ratio 3,385
• 28 = gross vehicle weight (tones)
• 325 = engine power (kW)
• 6x6 = wheel drive
• 2 = tire fitting - dual
• R = hub reduction
• 34 = wheelbase (mm) - number x 100
• 1 = variant - serial vehicle

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tatra 815.

• Official site
• Tatra T815-2 TERRN°1 Civilian Brochure
• Tatra Military Trucks Brochure
• Tatra T815-2 Armax Military Truck Brochure
• Tatra T816 Force Military Truck Brochure
• Tatra T817 Military Truck Brochure
• Comparison of standard ladder chassis and backbone chassis with half axles on offroad testing track with emphasis on the twist of superstructure (video):
  • Ladder chassis (Renault fire engine)
  • Backbone chassis (Tatra T815 fire engine)