ANT-IV Snowmobile

Snowmobiles ANT-IV ANT-IV controls

This vehicle had three skis, with the front ski used to steer. The driver, mechanic, and two passengers were seated in the body. Later models of the ANT-IV had an additional seating position in the body.

The hull of the ANT-IV was of all-metal construction, divided into three compartments. The nose portion contained an open compartment with seats for the driver and mechanic. The steering controls and instrument panel were located here, along with the mounting components for rotating the front ski and brake. A windscreen protected the driver and mechanic from the wind. Entry into the cabin was possible through a hatch.

The second compartment was the closed passenger cabin with entry door on the right side and windows in front and on the sides. In the front portion of the cabin were two seats for passengers. Behind these seats was a single folding seat for a third passenger. The interior of the cabin had a decorative upholstery, along which was a shaded interior lighting. In the rear portion was a light shield that provided unhindered access to the engine accessories- oil pump, and manifold.

The rear compartment housed the engine. The oil tank was hung above and in front of the engine, and below it the fuel tank. An aviation propeller was fitted on the engine.

The aerosled's hull was of girder construction. It consisted of an assemblage of kolchug-aluminum ribs and stringers, covered by a corrugated aluminum sheet skin of 0.5mm thickness. Here it should once more be emphasized that, contrary to what is written in some Western publications, the aerosled's skin was formed only from thin aluminum and did not serve the function of protecting the vehicle's occupants from bullets or shell fragments.

The aerosled's skis were forged from kolchug-aluminum. Each ski consisted of a stamped, ribbed sheet. The bottoms of the skis were trimmed in such a way as to ensure the sure-footedness of the vehicle's movement and prevented the ski from skidding sideways. The front and rear skis were not interchangeable (they differed in construction). The front ski was slightly shorter, and the rear skis were equipped with a braking mechanism of the pintle type.

Changing the direction of movement of the aerosled was accomplished by turning the front ski with an automotive-type steering mechanism. Control of the speed of movement was accomplished with a pedal that was connected with the carburetor's throttle by a thin steel rod.

The propulsion motor consisted of a gasoline engine, aviation propeller, and a number of systems: oil, fuel, ignition, exhaust, and air pre-heater at the mouth of the carburetor.

Translated by: James F. Gebhardt
Sources: «Rewiew of the Combat Employment of Snowmobile Units», Voenizdat, 1944;
«Modelist-Konstruktor», #12, 1985;
«Modelist-Konstruktor», #3, 1983;
«Modelist-Konstruktor», #2,3 1979.