GAZ-AAA with Shelter

Plastic kit for a Soviet GaZ-AAA truck with a fixed body

• 1:35 scale
• 341 parts
• 2 marking variants
• detailed engine and chassis
• Interior with bench and cannon stove
• Doors and bonnet can be installed open or closed
• Photo-etched and clear parts included
• unbuilt, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The GAZ-AAA was one of the Red Army's most important trucks in the years leading up to and during World War II. Produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) starting in 1934, it was a three-axle evolution of the two-axle GAZ-AA, which was itself based on the American Ford AA. The addition of a second rear axle gave the GAZ-AAA a higher payload capacity and superior off-road capability, making it particularly attractive for military applications.

The truck was powered by a water-cooled, four-cylinder gasoline engine producing approximately 50 hp. It had a payload capacity of about two tons and a top speed of around 65 km/h on paved roads. Robust and simple in design, the truck was easy to maintain and could operate under difficult conditions—factors of great importance to the Soviet Army.

The GAZ-AAA served as a general-purpose transport vehicle for troops, ammunition, fuel, and supplies. Furthermore, its chassis formed the basis for numerous specialized vehicles. These included radio trucks, mobile workshops, fuel tankers (such as the BZ-38), mobile anti-aircraft vehicles, and various rocket launchers. The GAZ-AAA became particularly well-known as the carrier for early versions of the Soviet BM-13 Katyusha multiple rocket launcher, prior to the adoption of more modern chassis.

At the time of the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the GAZ-AAA was one of the Red Army's most widely used military trucks. It saw service on all fronts and played a vital role in troop logistics. Production continued until 1943, when raw material shortages and the exigencies of war led to a shift toward other vehicle types.