VODNIK 4WD
The GAZ-3937, or Vodnik, is the Russian alternative to the American Humvee, and is almost identical in every way in-game. Featuring a 12.7mm mounted machine gun on its roof, the Vodnik is every bit as threatening as its American rival. The Vodnik is ideal in maps such as Port Valdez, where you will need to be mobile in order to strike deep into the enemy territory in order to actually destroy the M-COM or capture a base. The Vodnik, much like the Humvee and Cobra is frequently neglected by players in favor of the Quad Bike, which presents a smaller target while sacrificing protection, or heavier vehicles, such as the APCs or tanks. Despite this, if the Vodnik is piloted competently it is ideal for quick runs into the enemy area. The Vodnik will not stand a chance against any heavier vehicles in a firefight, though it is much more mobile, and assuming the driver is capable of making quick turns and driving erratically, it can normally escape such encounters.
Like all its counterparts, the Vodnik's turret has a 360 degree field of movement, capable of suppressing a target sufficiently well, and it also has the same number of seats available: four. It can carry a driver, front passenger, gunner, and rear passenger. The Vodnik is never seen in a map alongside the Cobra, though the Humvee can be seen in a map with either. The Vodnik has some slight differences when compared to the Humvee, but for the most part they balance out. The Vodnik is a larger target, making it a more easily hit target, though at the same time, the rear passenger is considerably safer in the back of the Vodnik than the Humvee. For this reason the two are very balanced.
Real World Information
In real life, the Vodnik is identified as the GAZ-3937, and is produced in Russia, as expected. It can carry eleven passengers in total, and can reach a top speed of 120km/h (approximately 75mph in Imperial numerics). The Vodnik, if it is armed at all, is outfitted with a PKT belt-fed machine gun, and weighs 6,500 kilograms. The codename 'Vodnik' is from Slavic mythology, and refers to a male water spirit. Rather impressively, the Vodnik in real life has amphibious qualities, and can 'swim' through bodies of water should it need to. The Vodnik runs on a 175bhp diesel engine, though very little solid information about the Vodnik exists.
