ZIL » PEU-1 (132K)

In 1966, ZIL made a prototype of PEU-1 offroad vehicle (search and rescue vehicle also known as ZIL-132K). The main purpose of the machine - search and evacuation of spacecraft ships, as well as search, rescue and evacuation of their crews.

PEU-1 is an amphibious vehicle with an original design. It had a waterproof fiberglass hull with a navigation, radio equipment and a 4-place cab installed in front and a cargo bay in the rear. The original transmission consisted of hydromechanical drive, transfer gearbox, cardan drive, and hub reduction. Hydromechanical transmission borrowed from ZIL-135L. The vehicle has six wheels of large diameter. The wheels of the first and third axles were controllable and had an independent suspension. It also was equipped with water jet.

In 1972. ZIL made an updated version PEU-1M. This version had a comfortable 8-passenger cabin instead of a cargo bay. There was no crane on this version. Since 1974, PEU-1M became the main part of a search and rescue complex.

In 1977, another modification was built, called PEU-1B. It differs from PEU-1 by an extended boom of a crane unit. Totally 13 PEU-1, six PEU-1M and three PEU-1B were built till 1979. In 1984, ZIL made PEU-1R prototype with AN-25TL turbine engine.