CZK - Praga RN

The PRAGA RN truck is designed for fast transport of cargo on roads. It is not designed for towing trailers - emergency up to 1500 kg. It is also not suitable for driving in difficult terrain.
The vehicle body consists of a driver's cab and a flatbed.
The driver's cab has a wooden frame on which is fixed a non-removable unit made of 0,8-1 mm thick steel plate. It has not been heated.
The Roller platform of wooden construction is designed for payloads up to 3000 kg.
Platform dimensions:
Length : 4000 mm
Width : 2100 mm
Height of side rails : 500 mm
Net loading area : up to 42 series 3900 x 2000 mm, from 43 series 3940 x 2040 mm

Wheels : disc wheels with 8 bolt holes

Source : Truck 3 tons PRAGA RN SNTL PRAHA 1954

Differences between pre-war and post-war machines
Until 1945, all Praga RN and RND had Bosch electrical equipment, a mask with lettering (in the form of aluminium letters) (except for the 2 series for WH and RAD, which had bare masks), doors held in place by three hinges, a mountain strut, and wheel centres with PRAGA lettering. Also the front window and engine bulkhead mounting was completely different.


Differences between petrol (Praga RN) and diesel (Praga RND): different gearbox and differential, different engine mounts. Diesel had 24 volt starting (2x two 12 volt batteries) = more powerful dynamo, smaller 70 litre tank and had a total weight of 6.5 tonnes.

Sources:
Praga archive, Mr. Příhoda and spare parts catalogues

Modernization of the pre-war type


The early 1930s can be considered the period of the Praga RN. The first Praga RNs were produced in 1933. They were cars with a 38.3 kW (52 hp) six-cylinder petrol engine with a square two-door three-seater cab with retractable windows, mixed construction, solid axles and mechanical brakes, which were later replaced by liquid brakes. The car continued to evolve and improve in design, which was reflected in production changes. The angular cab was gradually rounded off. More modern and powerful engines were fitted to the car. In 1939, the Praga RN was given the look we remember from post-war production.The rounded front grille with horizontal ribbing, the overall rounded shape of the cab and the fenders correspond to the design of the 1930s. After the war in 1946, production of the partially modernised Praga RN was restarted.


A request for the introduction of the Praga RN into the armament of the Czechoslovak Army was made by the 3rd Vice-Chief of the General Staff in September 1948. At that time, the Czechoslovak Army lacked more than 4,000 trucks in the number tables. At the end of 1948, a meeting was held at the MNO with the participation of representatives of the automobile industry, at which, among other things, the requirements for partial design modifications of the vehicle for the needs of the Czechoslovak army were specified. According to them, all vehicles were to be equipped with an in-line, liquid-cooled petrol six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3 468 cm³ and a total power of 53 kW (72 hp) at 3 500 rpm. The modifications also required strengthening of the vehicle's ladder frame, reinforcement of the rear part of the frame on which the towing bracket was mounted and improvements to the suspension. A lockable hatch for the vehicle commander was to be provided on the roof of the cab. The sidewalls were to be raised from the original 500 mm to 870 mm, with folding benches mounted on the inside of the sidewalls to allow the car to carry 24 seated persons. The height of the vehicle with arches and canvas was not to exceed 2 650 mm.


In the spring of 1949, the Praga Vysočany car factory demonstrated the vehicle thus modified to the representatives of the Second Department of the Main Staff. On the basis of their recommendation, the vehicle was put through military tests. In the course of these trials, drives were carried out mainly on paved and dirt roads, partly off-road as well. The tests showed that the vehicles on dry, undulating terrain were capable of towing, if necessary, in addition to 57 mm PTK vz. 43 as well as a 76 mm gun vz. 42. In the summer of 1949, the Praga RN was introduced into the Czechoslovak army's armament by order of the Ministry of National Defence. The production of the vehicle was provided by the Praga Praha - Vysočany car factory. Between 1949 and 1953, the army took delivery of a total of 4,274 Praga RN cylinder cars. They were allocated mainly to infantry and later to rifle divisions. Mechanised divisions also received a smaller number. The gradual process of phasing out the Praga RN from the Czechoslovak Army began in 1958 and ended in 1960. In that year the Czechoslovak Army was finally equipped with Praga V3S vehicles.



Source : OBRANA No.5 2011

Prague RN


Source : Svět motorů 1952 No. 120

Source : archive of the VHÚ Bratislava

Praga RN (RND) (VPZ 314 620) of Czechoslovak army helping soldiers at harvest near Hředle, summer 1953.

Source: Czechoslovak Army

Praga RN (RND) (VPZ 508 183) of the Czechoslovak Army in a car workshop, winter 1953/1954.

Source: Czechoslovak Army

Praga RN (RND) cars (car in front VPZ 300 803) of Czechoslovak army operated by military driving school, 1954.

Source.

Praga RN, which took part in a ceremonial military parade at Prague's Letná street, 8 May 2005.

Post-war Praga RN (license plate AX 30-24) with well visible roof hatch, military parade, Prague, 8 May 2005.

Praga RN from the collections of the Military History Museum in Piešt'any.

Praga RN (2.3586) from post-war production depicting a car of the First Republic Czechoslovak Army from the collections of the Military Museum Králíky, Cihelna 2015, August 2015.

Praga RN (RND) (VPZ 220 170), Military Aviation Museum, Prague-Kbely, April 2016.