IFA G5

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

IFA G5
IFA G5 mobile workshop lorry
Overview
TypeLorry
ManufacturerVEB Kraftfahrzeugwerk »Ernst Grube« Werdau
Production
  • 1952–1964
AssemblyEast Germany: Werdau
Body and chassis
Class5 t lorry
Body style
  • Long-bonnet lorry
Layout
  • Front engine, rear-wheel drive
  • Switchable all-wheel drive
PlatformIFA G5
RelatedIFA H6
Powertrain
EngineEMaW 6—20 (Diesel, 9036 cm3, 88 kW)
TransmissionManual five-speed unsynchronised gearbox
PropulsionTyres
Dimensions
Wheelbase3800+1250 mm
Length7175 mm
Width2500 mm
Height3000 mm
Kerb weight7850 kg
Chronology
PredecessorNone
SuccessorNone

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.

Technical specifications
IFA G5 flatbed lorry
Engine
Engine type EMaW 6—20
Operating principle and layout Straight-six diesel engine
Fuel System swirl chamber injection
Bore × Stroke,
Displacement		 115 × 145 mm,
9036 cm3
Rated power (TGL 8346) 120 PS (88.3 kW) at 2000 min−1
Max. torque 47 kp⋅m (460.9 N⋅m) at 1000 min−1
Fuel type Diesel fuel
Powertrain
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive with switchable front-wheel drive
Differential locks None; due to a lacking centre differential, switching front-wheel drive automatically locks front and rear axles
Tyres 8.25—20″
Clutch Double disc dry clutch
Gearbox Manual 5+1-speed with dog-leg gear shift pattern, 2-speed spliter
PTO Available as a factory option
Measurements
Length 7175 mm
Width 2500 mm
Height 3000 mm
Wheelbase 3800+1250 mm
Track width front: 1800 mm
rear: 1750 mm
Ground clearance 255 mm
Mass 7850 kg
Payload 5150 kg
GVW 13,000 kg
Fuel tank 150 l
Top speed 72 km/h
Electrical system
Generator 12 V, 0.5 kW
Source, unless otherwise stated [1]

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 150 PS (110.3 kW) 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.

  • G5 based SK-2 at the Brandenburg Gate during the building of the Berlin Wall
  • The G5 airfield sweeping machine, mady by the VEB special vehicle factory in Berlin, has a working width of 8 metres (1959)
  • G5 dumptruck
  • MINOL G5 4,000 litre tanker with 4500 litre trailer
  • Volkspolizei G5 truckbus
  • NVA G5 TLF 15 fire engine
  • 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
  1. Oswald, Werner (ed.): Kraftfahrzeuge der DDR, (2nd ed.), Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-613-01913-2, p. 189 (in German)
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