:IFA G5

{{Infobox automobile

| name = IFA G5

| image = 16. IFA Oldtimertreffen Werdau 2013, Germany (8718958870).jpg

| caption = IFA G5 mobile workshop lorry

| manufacturer = VEB Kraftfahrzeugwerk »Ernst Grube« Werdau

| aka =

| type = Lorry

| production = {{unbulleted list

|1952–1964

}}

| model_years =

| assembly = East Germany: Werdau

| designer =

| class = 5 t lorry

| body_style = {{unbulleted list

|Long-bonnet lorry}}

| layout = {{unbulleted list

|Front engine, rear-wheel drive

|Switchable all-wheel drive}}

| platform = IFA G5

| related = IFA H6

| engine = EMaW 6—20 (Diesel, 9036 cm3, 88 kW)

| transmission = Manual five-speed unsynchronised gearbox

| propulsion = Tyres

| wheelbase = 3800+1250 mm

| length = 7175 mm

| width = 2500 mm

| height = 3000 mm

| weight = 7850 kg

| predecessor =None

| successor = None

| sp = uk

}}

{{no footnotes|date=May 2013}}

The IFA G5 is an East German three-axle truck produced by IFA from 1952 to 1964.

History

The IFA G5 series was produced in the VEB Kraftfahrzeugwerk "Ernst Grube", Werdau. The plant was part of the IFA combine and succeeded the Schumann works in Werdau. The development of the truck began during World War II in the Vogtland Maschinenfabrik AG (Vomag). Although the Soviet occupation forces completely dissolved Vomag shortly after the end of the war, further development was carried out at Auto Union and Horch. In the Eastern bloc, the G5 series competed against the Soviet ZIS-151 lorry.

Technical description

The G5 is a three-axle lorry with rear wheel drive (6×4) and switchable front wheel drive (6×6). It has no central differential, which means that turning on front-wheel drive will send different amounts of torque to the front an rear axles; there is no option to send the same torque to each axle, therefore, the all-wheel drive system is not suited for on-road driving. The cab was manufactured in several different versions, such as a closed cab, crew cab, cab with soft top, and a cab with fold-down windscreen. The G5 series and H6 series, which were built in Werdau simultaneously, share several components.

The G5 was available in different versions, such as dump truck, crane truck, box body lorry, tarpaulin lorry, tanker, water cannon, and fire engine.

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

|+Technical specifications

!

! IFA G5 flatbed lorry

colspan="2"| Engine
Engine type

|align="center" colspan="1"| EMaW 6—20

Operating principle and layout

|align="center" colspan="1"| Straight-six diesel engine

Fuel System

|align="center" colspan="1"| swirl chamber injection

Bore × Stroke,
Displacement

|align="center" colspan="1"| 115 × 145 mm,
9036 cm3

Rated power (TGL 8346)

|align="center" colspan="1"| {{convert|120|PS|kW|1|abbr=on}} at 2000 min−1

Max. torque

|align="center" colspan="1"| {{convert|47|kpm|Nm|1|abbr=on}} at 1000 min−1

Fuel type

|align="center" colspan="1"| Diesel fuel

colspan="2"| Powertrain
Layout

| align="center" colspan="1"| Front engine, rear-wheel drive with switchable front-wheel drive

Differential locks

| align="center" colspan="1"| None; due to a lacking centre differential, switching front-wheel drive automatically locks front and rear axles

Tyres

| align="center" colspan="1"| 8.25—20″

Clutch

| align="center" colspan="1"| Double disc dry clutch

Gearbox

| align="center" colspan="1"| Manual 5+1-speed with dog-leg gear shift pattern, 2-speed spliter

PTO

| align="center" colspan="1"| Available as a factory option

colspan="2"| Measurements
Length

| align="center" colspan="1"| 7175 mm

Width

| align="center" colspan="1"| 2500 mm

Height

| align="center" colspan="1"| 3000 mm

Wheelbase

| align="center" colspan="1"| 3800+1250 mm

Track width

| align="center" colspan="1"| front: 1800 mm
rear: 1750 mm

Ground clearance

| align="center" colspan="1"| 255 mm

Mass

| align="center" colspan="1"| 7850 kg

Payload

| align="center" colspan="1"| 5150 kg

GVW

| align="center" colspan="1"| 13,000 kg

Fuel tank

| align="center" colspan="1"| 150 l

Top speed

| align="center" colspan="1"| 72 km/h

colspan="2"| Electrical system
Generator

| align="center" colspan="1"| 12 V, 0.5 kW

Source, unless otherwise stated

|align="center" colspan="1"|Oswald, Werner (ed.): Kraftfahrzeuge der DDR, (2nd ed.), Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, {{ISBN|3-613-01913-2}}, p. 189 (in German)

Users

The main customers for these trucks were the Alert police, National People's Army (NVA), and the People's Police. Vehicles of Combat Groups of the Working Class were used as water cannons on 13 August 1961, during the construction of the Berlin Wall. Despite low demand, the number of G5 built was not sufficient to fulfill it. Decommissioned NVA G5s were later used in agricultural production cooperatives (LPG), as Minol fuel tankers, and as fire engines (TLF 15) with crew cabin.

Successor

There were two G5 generations, the G5/1, and the G5/2.

A successor to the G5 series was developed in the late 1950s. This so-called G5/3 had a {{convert|150|PS|kW|1|abbr=on}} V8 diesel engine displacing 12.5 litres, single tyres rather than twin tyres, and a tyre pressure control system. In total, 4 prototypes and 2 pre-series production models were built in 1958/59 and 1961. Further development was cancelled in favour of the new IFA W50. It is said that reasons for abandoning the G5 series were the economic situation in East Germany, but also its high complexity (engine and tyres), low demand, and the necessity to upgrade IFA's Werdau plant for the G5/3's series production.

Gallery

Bundesarchiv Bild 173-1282, Berlin, Brandenburger Tor, Wasserwerfer.jpg|G5 based SK-2 at the Brandenburg Gate during the building of the Berlin Wall

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-66203-0004, VEB Spezialfahrzeugwerk Berlin, Kehrmaschine.jpg|The G5 airfield sweeping machine, mady by the VEB special vehicle factory in Berlin, has a working width of 8 metres (1959)

Fotothek df ps 0000071 Tiefbauarbeiten für die Bebauung der Ernst-Thälmann-Straß.jpg|G5 dumptruck

IFA G5 Tankwagen (Minol) W50 Plane.jpg|MINOL G5 4,000 litre tanker with 4500 litre trailer

IFA G5 Koffer Volkspolizei.jpg|Volkspolizei G5 truckbus

Tlf 15 nva.jpg|NVA G5 TLF 15 fire engine

Tlf 15 g5.jpg|G5 TLF 15 fire engine

Bibliography

  • Christian Suhr:
  • G5 – Der Dreiachser aus Werdau/G5 - The six-wheeler from Werdau, Reichenbach / V. Halle / S. 2007, {{ISBN|3-938426-04-7}} .
  • Nutzfahrzeuge aus Werdau/Trucks from Werdau, Klaus Rabe, Willich 2003. {{ISBN|3-926071-29-X}} .
  • Günther Wappler: Geschichte des Zwickauer und Werdauer Nutzfahrzeugbaues/History of Zwickau and Werdauer Trucks, Verlag Bergstraße, Aue 2002.
  • Hartmut Frank Hunter: IFA-Hauber aus Zwickau und Werdau (Feuerwehrarchiv)/IFA Hauber from Zwickau and Werdau (Fire Archive) Verlag Technik, Berlin 1999. {{ISBN|3-341-01242-7}} .

References