Such a small glimpse into one working day. Praga V3S (military three-ton special, [p 1] colloquially Větřeska or Vejtra, or Větřaska, Větráska) is a three-axle off-road truck with all-wheel drive (axle symbol 6×6). The vehicle was created according to the specifications and requirements of the Czechoslovak Army for a standard medium off-road truck. It is characterized by a ladder frame, rigid portal axles and an air-cooled engine of Tatra design. The Praga V3S is the longest-produced Czechoslovak truck and one of the most numerous. The first prototype was made in 1952, in 1953 serial production began, which lasted with breaks until 1990. Final production was first carried out at the Praga company in Vysočany, then moved to Letňanská Avia, then to the repair plant in Vinoř and towards the end of production to Bratislava automobile races. During the 1980s, modernized versions of the M1 and M2 entered production. Total production is estimated at around 130,000 cars. The Praga V3S formed the basis of the vehicle fleet of the post-war Czechoslovak and then the Czech and Slovak armies, where it served in dozens of modifications and was replaced by the Tatra 810 only in the first decade of the 21st century. A large number of Praga V3S vehicles served and are still serving in the civilian sector. The civilian version Praga S5T was derived from the V3S type, differing primarily in its two-axle chassis with a single driven axle. Praga V3S cars were also exported, especially to so-called socialist countries. Series production of the car officially began in 1953, but this year only 185 cars were produced. The actual start of series production did not come until 1954, however, the data on the number of cars produced differ considerably.[24] Assigning cars to military units, where they were driven by soldiers of the basic service, provided an opportunity to verify their characteristics and reliability in real operating conditions. After the exercise at VVP Doupov in the fall of 1954, an evaluation report was written about the V3S car. It highlighted the correctly set tactical and technical requirements for development, resulting in a vehicle capable of successfully fulfilling the given tasks. Among its shortcomings, she mentioned malfunctions caused by poor production quality and (even at that time) the car's low specific power, which was especially evident when driving with a heavier tow. In the following years, the V3S cars underwent further tests, and the knowledge from them was reflected in the modifications of the manufactured cars.[25] At the beginning of 1956, the military administration required 7,876 flatbed V3S cars and another 2,185 V3S box cars to cover the peacetime situation. In the same year, there were discussions about the need to motorize the army in the event of war, resulting in a request for another 28,800 V3S cars. Of this number, 17,300 V3S cars were to be stored in army reserves and the rest to serve in the civilian sphere as a mobilization reserve. These numbers continued to increase over time, e.g. as a replacement for the decommissioned Tatra 805 type and medium armored personnel carriers originating from World War II.[26] From the beginning of the 1960s, the production of V3S cars began to be transferred to the company Avia in Letňany (then n.p. Avia, Jiří Dimitrov plant, Letňany).[26] Production at AZKG ended in June 1964[24], but some components, such as gearboxes, continued to be produced there.[26] From June 1968, the assembly of chassis began in the company Opravy zemědělské mašína, np Vinoř. Later, they also started manufacturing cabins and other parts here. The production of some components remained at Avia. Production in Vinoř and Avia ended only in 1988. By that time, about 60,000 V3S cars had been produced in Vinoř.[27] The next and last change in the manufacturer occurred in the 1980s. Czechoslovak Government Decree No. 228 from 1982 ordered the transfer of V3S car production to the Bratislava Automobile Works[27], but this plan was implemented slowly and gradually. V3S production at BAZ started in the first half of the 1980s, starting with cooperation on the production of components. Since 1986, they have been assembling entire cars here, complete production only started in the second half of 1989. Serial production of V3S cars ended in 1990.[24] Thirty-seven years of production produced approximately 130,000 cars.[27] The Praga V3S is thus the longest-produced Czechoslovak truck.[28]