Published on
September 10, 2010 in
German.
This is the light armored ammunition carrier with the chassis of a light semitrack prime mover. Except for its sloping rear superstructure and small personnel compartment it is similar in appearance to the Sd. Kfz. 250 and 253, all of which are armored counterparts of the Sd. Kfz. 10. Unlike the Sd. Kfz. 10, however, the suspension of this armored version has only four straddle-mounted bogie wheels on each side instead of five.
The power plant and power train in this vehicle are the same as those of the Sd. Kfz. 10 and, although the Sd. Kfz. 252 is heavier, the road performance of the two is similar.
The maximum highway range of this vehicle is 198 miles on a fuel tank capacity of 35 gallons. Its maximum speed is 35 m.p.h. and is operated by a crew of two.
The net weight of the vehicle ready to drive is 10,406 pounds. The combat weight is 12,606 pounds. Weight distribution on the front axle is 2,618 pounds and on the track 9,988 pounds. A power cable winch having a lifting power of 5,500 pounds is fitted as standard equipment. Outside measurement of the turning radius is 35 feet.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight |
|
5.2 tons |
| Length |
|
15 ft., 5 ins. |
| Width |
|
6 ft., 5 ins. |
| Height |
|
5 ft., 4 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
11 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
5 ft., 5 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
3 ft., 11 ins. |
| Width of track |
|
9 1/2 ins. (wheel 7.5 ins.) |
| Pitch of track |
|
6 5/16 ins. |
| Track links |
|
40 |
| Weight on front axle |
|
2,618 lb. |
| Fording depth |
|
27 ins. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
|
198 miles |
| Cross-country |
|
130 miles |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
35 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country |
|
25 m.p.h. |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
|
15 mm (est.) |
| Sides |
|
8 mm (est.) |
| Armament |
| Ammunition |
| Engine |
|
Maybach, 6-cyl., 100 hp., HL 42 TRKM |
| Transmission |
|
Preselective—7 speeds forward, 3 reverse |
| Steering |
|
15° and over, epicyclic controlled differential |
| Crew |
|
2 |
German: p. 46
Published on
August 28, 2010 in
German.
This vehicle is used as a troop carrier and for towing light artillery and supply trailers. Accommodation for a crew of seven, including driver, is provided in the well of the body, the sides of which are sufficiently deep to obscure personnel to shoulder height when seated. With all inspection hatches of the hull closed the main body of the vehicle is practically watertight in traversing deep water.
The chassis of this vehicle is used for several specialized mountings: (1) for the 2 cm Flak 30 gun; (2) for gas-detector truck (Sd. Kfz. 10/1); (3) for light decontamination vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 10/2) carrying a hopper for spreading bleaching powder; (4) for light bulk contamination vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 10/3) fitted with a tank for blister gas and spraying device.
The power plant of the later models consists of a Maybach H.L. 42 T.R.K.M. straight-six, water-cooled engine rated at 100 horsepower. The Maybach N.L. 38 T.R.K.M. rated at 95 horsepower was formerly used. The power train is comprised of the twin-plate clutch, the preselective type transmission with four forward and one reverse speeds with high and low range, and the differential unit of spur-gear and pinion type. Steering is effected by normal steering wheel for turns under 15°; turns over 15° are negotiated by the combined action of turning the front wheels and braking the appropriate epicyclic-drive sprocket by means of the steering brakes mounted on the driving shaft.
The pneumatic-tired front wheels are of the disk type and are fitted on a normal type axle suspended by a single transverse semi-elliptic spring. Two hydraulic shock absorbers are fitted. Each of the flexible rear tracks is borne by a driving sprocket at the front end and an idler wheel at the rear, while between these are five pairs of pressed-steel, rubber-tired bogie wheels.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight |
|
3.7 tons |
| Length |
|
15 ft., 7 ins. |
| Width |
|
6 ft. |
| Height |
|
5 ft., 3 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
13 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
5 ft., 2 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
4 ft., 6 ins. |
| Width of track |
|
9.4 ins. |
| Track links |
|
41 |
| Pitch of track |
|
6.25 ins. |
| Fording depth |
|
27 ins. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
|
176 miles |
| Cross-country |
|
93 miles |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
40 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country |
|
25 m.p.h. |
| Trailer load |
|
1.1 ton |
| Engine |
|
Maybach HL 42 TRKM—100 hp. |
| Transmission |
|
4 forward speeds, 1 reverse, high and low range |
| Steering |
|
Over 15° epicyclic |
| Crew |
|
7 |
German: p. 51
Published on
July 11, 2010 in
German.
This 18-ton vehicle is the heaviest of the German semitrack prime movers. It is often used by the Germans in the evacuation of their damaged tanks. It has a net weight of 16.8 tons and a combat weight of 19.8 tons. Its personnel capacity is 8, including driver and helper, and it can tow a trailer load of 20 tons. The maximum highway range of action is 160 miles on a fuel tank capacity of 72 gallons. Its weight distribution is as follows: front wheels, 5,289 pounds; track, 34,320 pounds.
The front suspension is comprised of a tubular floating axle mounting two pneumatic-tired, heavy duty wheels with transverse leaf springing. The track suspension is the standard semitrack system consisting of straddle-mounted rubber-tired bogie wheels sprung on torsion bars housed in cross tubes; front sprocket, rear idler, and needle-bearing track.
The power plant is the V-12 cylinder, Maybach gasoline engine rated at 230 horsepower. The transmission provides four speeds forward and one reverse with high and low range. Steering is effected by normal steering wheel and an epicyclic-controlled differential drive for the track with a brake linkage connected to the front-wheel steering system.
In addition to the electric starter, this vehicle is also equipped with a Bosch airplane-type inertia starter located on the right side of the engine.
A power winch is located at the rear, with facilities for passing the cable beneath the vehicle and out the front end. The winch-driving mechanism and the drum are located near the center of the chassis. The drum is horizontal and is driven by a propeller shaft from the rear of the transmission. The hub of the winch-driving mechanism is fitted with a slide gear which enables the operator to engage and disengage the winch from the rear of the vehicle. The winch-lifting capacity is 7.7 tons.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | |
16.8 tons |
| Length | |
27 ft. |
| Width | |
8 ft., 6 ins. |
| Height | |
9 ft., 1 in. |
| Ground clearance | |
21 ins. |
| Tread centers | |
(wheels, 82 ins.; track, 78 ins.) |
| Ground contact | |
9 ft., 4 ins. |
| Width of track | |
17.3 ins. |
| Track links | |
47 |
| Pitch of track |
| Fording depth | |
30 ins. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads | |
161 miles |
| Cross-country | |
62 miles |
| Speed |
| Roads |
| Cross-country |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
| Sides |
| Armament |
| Ammunition |
| Engine | |
Maybach HL 98 TUK, 230 hp. |
| Transmission | |
4 speeds forward, 1 reverse, high and low range |
| Steering | |
Normal and epicyclic-controlled differential |
| Crew | |
8 |
German: p. 56
