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By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on November 25th, 2010%
Maco continues to add to their 1/72nd series of schwere Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) kits with the new 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf sWS (1/72).
Continue reading Maco 1/72nd 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf sWS
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on November 23rd, 2010%
Shown below are Bundesarchiv photographs of the German Sd.Kfz. 10 halftrack. (Sd.Kfz. = Sonderkraftfahrzeug or special-purpose motorized vehicle.) The Sd.Kfz. 10 was used extensively by the German military throughout WWII as a light tractor and prime mover with over 14,000 produced. The Sd.Kfz. 10 chassis also formed the basis for the Sd.Kfz. 250 light armored personnel carrier.
 An Sd.Kfz. 10 halftrack tows a 3.7cm Pak 36 in Russia in October 1941. Both the tractor and antitank gun have a crude white winter camouflage, and several of the crew wear improvised camouflage over their uniforms. (Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-268-0176-14 / Böhmer / CC-BY-SA) Continue reading Sd.Kfz. 10 Halftrack
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on November 20th, 2010%
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on October 20th, 2010%
Instructions for digging defensive positions for AA halftracks from “Antiaircraft Artillery Notes,” HQ ETO, No. 8, December 1944:
Digging in Half-Tracks
Source: AA Section, Headquarters Twelfth Army Group
The principle of digging in equipment is one which all AAA combat units understand and practice. Some units have learned from experience that the deeper one is dug in, consistent with the field of fire to perform the assigned mission, the better protection the crew and equipment are afforded against artillery and mortar fire. As an example of the policy that it pays to dig in deep, Figure 1 shows the plan practiced by the 554th AAA AW Bn (M). Approximately eight hours is required to prepare the emplacement, including sandbagging. This battalion, commanded by Lt Colonel L. V. Linderer, has seen continuous action since arriving on the continent 18 June, being attached to XIX Corps until 5 November when it was attached to the 29th Inf. Div. During this period the battalion has been subjected to mortar and artillery fire on numerous occasions, and to date has suffered no fatal personnel casualties due to this fire.
Notes: (a) Minimum thickness of revetment. (b) The depth of emplacement and heighth or sandbags will depend entirely on the terrain. (c) Log or plank for track to rest on. (d) Floor of emplacement slopes to the center and front to sump hole where water will drain and can be bailed out.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on September 8th, 2010%
The following U.S. intelligence report on the Japanese Type 98 halftrack personnel carrier and prime mover was published in Enemy on Luzon: An Intelligence Summary:
A Japanese combination personnel carrier and prime mover was recovered near Manila, Luzon.
The vehicle was without armor or armament of any kind. It had a folding canvas top and four wide seats providing seating capacity for approximately 16 persons. Storage compartments for equipment and luggage were provided under the seats. The vehicle was equipped with a large winch and towing pintle in the rear.
 Halftrack Personnel Carrier and Prime Mover The engine, a 6-cylinder, in-line, water-cooled diesel type, was connected to a four-speed forward, one-speed reverse, spur-gear transmission. The chassis layout was similar to the German standard half-track, while the suspension and steering followed the Opel truck half-track conversion. The front transverse leaf spring, independent wheel suspension was an original and effective feature. The vehicle was 18 feet 3 inches long, 6 feet 4 inches wide, 7 feet 10 inches high, had a ground clearance of 13 inches, 110 horsepower, and weighed approximately 6 tons.
Performance tests indicated a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, an estimated radius of action of 125 miles, and proved that the vehicle could manipulate a trench 3 feet wide, a vertical wall 18 inches high, a 50% slope, and a stream 3 feet deep. Ample power and cross-country mobility were provided to allow it to fulfill the functions of a prime mover and personnel carrier.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on June 11th, 2010%
German SdKfz 251 Ausf D halftracks destroyed by the U.S. 9th Air Force near Gavray, France in August 1944. The foreground SdKfz 251 is an unknown variant with extended top armor plate over the passenger section.
 German SdKfz 251 Ausf D (U.S. Air Force Photo)
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on June 11th, 2010%
Photograph of a destroyed German SdKfz 251/9 halftrack in France in August 1944 showing the gun mount and vehicle interior. The SdKfz 251/9 mounted the short 7.5cm KwK37 (L/24) to provide a support weapon with antitank capability to panzergrenadier units. The nickname for the SdKfz 251/9 was “Stummel” (Stump).
 Destroyed German SdKfz 251/9 Halftrack (U.S. Air Force Photo) SdKfz 251/9 Characteristics:
| Weight |
8.5 tons |
| Height |
2.1m |
| Crew |
3 |
| Armament |
7.5cm KwK37 L/24 |
| Ammunition |
52 rounds |
| Traverse |
12° left/right |
| Elevation |
-10° to +12° |
| Secondary Armament |
2 7.92mm MG34 or MG42 |
| Designation |
SdKfz 251/9 mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen 7.5cm, Gerät 909 |
| Nickname |
Stummel (Stump) |
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Sgt. Rock, Vol. 2
Sgt. Rock, Vol. 3
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