Star 266
| Star 266 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | FSC Star |
| Production | 1973 - 2000 |
| Assembly | Poland |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | 6x6 Truck |
| Related | Star 200, Star 244 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | STAR 359/359M 6-cylinder diesel 150 hp |
| Transmission | S5-45 5-speed |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 7.35 tonnes |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Star 660 |
| Successor | Star 1466 |
Star 266 is a Polish 6x6 truck designed for transport of cargo and personnel. Created by Starachowice-based FSC Star, it is the basic transport truck used by the Polish Army, it was also available to civilian market. A successor to a highly successful Star 660 series of trucks, the Star 266 shared many components with Star 200 and Star 244 multi-purpose medium-capacity trucks.
The truck can transport up to 3500 kilograms cross-country and up to 5000 kg on paved roads, it can also tow trailers of up to 4000 kg. As a truck designed primarily with military service in mind, it can ford rivers of between 120 and 180 centimetres of depth. It was initially equipped with a 6-cylinder S359 diesel engine (6842 cm³, 150 HP).
The design works started in 1968. The following year the first prototypes were ready. Between 1970 and 1973 the vehicle was being prepared to enter serial production which it did in 1973. It remained in production until 2000, when it was replaced with Star 1466.
Usage
Star 266 is widely used by civilians to transport goods and served as a basis for many civilian vehicles including fire engines, garbage trucks, sewerage service trucks and truck-mounted cranes.
Two specially modified Star 266 trucks took part in the 1988 Dakar Rally. The two crews included Tomasz Sikora with Jerzy Franek and Jerzy Mazur with Julian Obornicki. Both trucks reached the finish line in Senegal but they went over the delay limit and as such were not classified.[1] One of the trucks is currently in Muzeum Przyrody i Techniki (Nature and Technology Museum) in Starachowice.
Star 266 is a basic medium-capacity transport vehicle of the Polish Armed Forces and as such is used for a number of different tasks. Polish Army also uses the modernized variant of Star 266 known as Star 266M. Star 266 also served as basis for a number of different vehicles including CD-5 tank trucks which are used for transport of liquid fuel by supply platoons of tank and mechanized battalions, GD-2 smokescreen generation vehicles, truck-mounted cranes, excavators, WUS-3 and IRS special vehicles used for disinfection, deactivation and decontamination of vehicles, terrain, equipment and buildings, ADK-11 command vehicles as well as Star-266 AP-64 and Star-266 BP-64 special transport vehicles used for transporting the elements of the PP-64 Wstęga pontoon bridge.[2][3][4]
Variants
- Star 266 - standard production model.
- Star 266M - modernized 266.
- Star 266 based military truck-mounted crane with 5 tonnes capacity.
- Star 266 based military excavator.
- GD-2 - military smokescreen generation vehicle used for creating constant or temporary smokescreens with maximal dimensions of 1500x150 m. Also known as typ 528.[2][4]
- CD-5 - military tank truck used for transport of liquid fuel by supply platoons of tank and mechanized battalions. It's equipped with a 4500-liter tank and a pump. Also known as typ 520.[2][3][4]
- Hibneryt - self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. A ZU-23-2 or ZUR-23-2S short-range air defense towed twin 23 mm autocannon fitted onto the Star 266's truck bed which has been modified and elevated to allow the AA gun to fire more freely. The wheels haven't been removed which allows the crew to remove the autocannon if need be which can be used as it originally was. The vehicle carries the ammo and equipment for the AA gun.[2][4][5]
- Hibneryt-KG - Hibneryt armed with ZUR-23-2KG Jodek-G short-range air defense towed twin 23 mm autocannon. It has a storage space for the GROM missiles as well as engine-generator for the AA gun.[5]
- Hibneryt-P - Custom variant made by soldiers from 3rd District Technological Workshops in Nowy Dworek Mazowiecki.[5]
- WUS-3 - military special vehicle used for disinfection, deactivation and decontamination of vehicles, terrain, equipment and buildings.[2][3][4]
- IRS (IRS stands for Instalacja Sanitarno-Rozlewcza) - military special vehicle used for disinfection, deactivation and decontamination of vehicles, terrain, equipment and buildings.[2][3][4]
- ADK-11 - military command and staff vehicle used as a part of the Topaz artillery fire direction system.[2][4]
- Star-266 AP-64 - military special transport vehicle used for transporting the elements of the PP-64 Wstęga pontoon bridge.[2][3][4]
- Star-266 BP-64 - military special transport vehicle used for transporting riverbank side pontoons of the PP-64 Wstęga pontoon bridge. Has an enlarged cabin with space for up to four soldiers.[2][3][4]
Military operators
- Angolan Armed Forces - 2785 (delivered between 1977 and 1981)
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- Burmese Armed Forces - 106 (1990)
- Hungarian Defence Force - 174 (1986–1989)
- Lithuanian Army - some Star 266 were donated by Poland[6]
- Military of Yemen - 550 (1999–2000)
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- Libyan Army - 650 (1986)
- Soviet Army - 394 (1987–1989)
References
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