Published on
August 28, 2010 in
German.
The invasion of Crete (1941) revealed for the first time the use by the Germans of the motorcycle tractor. This vehicle, which retains the standard front wheel and handle bars of a normal motorcycle with the rear wheel replaced by two caterpillar tracks, is used primarily for towing light guns and supply, trailers, and for carrying dispatches in localities where difficult terrain precludes the use of wheeled vehicles. The mobility of this vehicle is as good as most tanks and its ability as a light prime mover, because of its wide gear selection, is excellent. Without load attached it has a maximum speed of 45 m.p.h. on level ground, and is capable of climbing 60 per cent grade.
The chassis is a boxlike structure of pressed steel in two sections, welded together in a horizontal plane below the track guards. It contains the driving compartment, engine, and a transverse seat accommodating two men facing the rear. A hand rail is provided on each side of the back. The driver is seated on a saddle seat directly above the transmission and clutch housing. Gasoline tanks are mounted on each side and, together with the battery and tool compartments, make up the side walls of the vehicle.
Power is furnished by the centrally mounted Opel Olympia 4-cylinder, water-cooled gasoline engine developing 37 gross B.H.P. in a displacement of 91.5 cu. in. Cooling is accomplished by a radiator, with a shaft-driven fan coupled to the crankshaft, at the rear. Six forward and two reverse speeds are available.
The suspension consists of four straddle-mounted, rubber-tired bogie wheels on torsion bars, a front driving sprocket, and a rear idler. The inner bogie wheels are of the hollow-spoke type while the outer wheels are of the removable disk type. The track, made up of 40 links per strand, is equipped with needle bearings and replaceable rubber pads.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | |
3,400 lb. (combat) |
| Weight | |
2,700 lb. (empty) |
| Length | |
9 ft., 10 ins. |
| Width | |
3 ft., 3 1/2 ins. |
| Height | |
3 ft., 11 ins. |
| Ground clearance | |
9 ins. |
| Tread centers | |
2 ft., 8 ins. |
| Ground contact | |
2 ft., 8 ins. (approx.) |
| Width of track | |
6.7 ins. |
| Pitch of track | |
4 3/4 ins. |
| Track links | |
40 |
| Fording depth | |
20 ins. (approx.) |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads | |
155 miles |
| Cross-country | |
100 miles |
| Speed |
| Road | |
45 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country | |
25-30 m.p.h. |
| Trailer load | |
980 lb. (normal weight) |
| Size of front tire | |
3.50 x 19 |
| Engine | |
Opel, 37 hp. |
| Transmission | |
3 speeds forward, 1 reverse with high and low range |
| Steering | |
Controlled differentially, mechanical brakes |
| Crew | |
2 (driver and helper) |
German: p. 50
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
August 28, 2010 in
German.
The German wheeled/tracked reconnaissance vehicle is particularly effective in steep and hilly terrain, and in swamps and marshy lowlands where high traction and light weight are desirable. The personnel-carrying capacity is six, and it is capable of towing a trailer load of 2,640 pounds. The Motor-Karrete is capable of operating as a wheeled vehicle and will turn on a radius of 27 feet. It can also operate as a half track vehicle with a turning radius of 8 feet, 2 inches. As a full track vehicle its turning radius is 6 feet, 8 inches.
The three adaptations are accomplished by raising or lowering the front wheels which appear to be mounted on a bell-crank, torsion-type front axle, while the rear wheels (when dismounted from the rear suspension) are mounted on a false axle supported above the rear of the vehicle. The dry-pin steel track is guided from the outside center over a single-tooth front sprocket and a single-flange rear idler. Four small bogie wheels articulate in pairs on a common structure attached to the rear axle. The suspension includes semi-elliptic spring over the rear axle, while rotation of the vehicle is stabilized by a quarter elliptic spring from the front sprocket axle.
The 20 hp. engine is mounted in the rear. The fuel tank capacity is 10 gallons and fuel consumption on highways is 14 m.p.g.—on average terrain 6.8 m.p.g.
The net weight of the vehicle is 3,806 pounds; combat weight, 5,060 pounds. The weight distribution is: front axle 990 pounds; rear axle 4,070 pounds.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | | 3,806 lb. |
| Length | | 12 ft. |
| Width | | 5 ft. |
| Height | | 4 ft., 9 ins. |
| Ground clearance | | Unknown |
| Tread centers | | (wheel, 50 ins.), (track, 34 ins.) |
| Ground contact | | 53 ins. |
| Width of track | | 7.5 ins. (wheel, 5.5 ins.) |
| Track links | | 70 |
| Pitch of track |
| Fording depth | | 20 ins. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads | | 124 miles |
| Cross-country | | 68 miles |
| Speed |
| Roads |
| Cross-country |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
| Sides |
| Armament |
| Ammunition (rds.) |
| Engine | | 20 hp. |
| Transmission |
| Steering |
| Crew | | 6 |
German: p. 49
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
Published on
May 28, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: leichter Kettenschlepper (o).
English designation: Light tractor (standard commercial vehicle).
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight | | 3,500 kg | | 7,716 lb. |
| Pay load |
| Gross weight |
| Weight: Front axle |
| Weight: Rear axle |
| Length (overall) | | 3,100 mm | | 10 ft., 2 ins. |
| Width (overall) | | 1,550 mm | | 5 ft., 1 in. |
| Height (overall) | | 2,300 mm | | 7 ft., 6 ins. |
| Ground clearance | | 310 mm | | 12 1/2 ins. |
| Tread centers | | 1,300 mm | | 4 ft., 3 ins. |
| Track contact | | 0.85 m | | 33 1/2 ins. |
| Track width | | 300 mm | | 11 7/8 ins. |
| Angle of approach | | | | 40° |
| Angle of departure | | | | 65° |
| Seating capacity |
| Fording depth | | 700 mm | | 27 ins. |
| Climbing ability | | | | 30° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | | | | 45° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | | | | 40° |
| Turning radius | | 7 meters | | 22 ft., 11 ins. |
| Trailer load | | 5,000 kg | | 11,023 lb. |
| Lifting power of winch | | 3,000 kg | | 6,614 lb. |
| Engine horsepower | | 45 c-v | | 44.4 hp |
| Piston displacement | | 5,500 cu cm | | 330 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity | | 65 liters | | 17.2 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption | | | | 6.7 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption | | | | 4.7 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.57
Published on
May 28, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: schwerer Radschlepper (o).
English designation: Heavy tractor (standard commercial vehicle).
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight | | 6,450 kg | | 23,147 lb. |
| Pay load |
| Gross weight |
| Weight: Front axle | | 2,370 kg | | 7,209 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle | | 4,170 kg | | 9,193 lb. |
| Length (overall) | | 5,545 mm | | 18 ft., 2 ins. |
| Width (overall) | | 2,460 mm | | 8 ft. |
| Height (overall) | | 2,420 mm | | 7 ft., 11 ins. |
| Ground clearance | | 270 mm | | 10 5/8 ins. |
| Tread centers | | 1,908 mm | | 6 ft., 2 ins. |
| | | 1,836 mm | | 6 ft. |
| Wheelbase | | 3,000 mm | | 118 ins. |
| Wheel width | | 300 mm | | 11 7/8 ins. |
| Angle of approach | | | | 40° |
| Angle of departure | | | | 17° |
| Seating capacity | | | | 5 |
| Fording depth |
| Climbing ability | | | | 5° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | | | | 50° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | | | | 35° |
| Turning radius | | 10.5 meters | | 34 ft., 5 ins. |
| Trailer load | | 15,000 kg | | 33,069 lb. |
| Engine horsepower | | 100 c-v | | 98.6 hp |
| Piston displacement | | 8,553 cu cm | | 513 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity | | 350 liters | | 92.4 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption | | | | 5.2 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption | | | | 3.9 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.57
Published on
May 28, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: mittlerer Radschlepper (o).
English designation: Medium tractor (standard commercial vehicle).
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
3,800 kg |
|
8,377 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
900 kg |
|
1,984 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
2,900 kg |
|
6,393 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
3,500 mm |
|
11 ft.. 6 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
2,000 mm |
|
6 ft., 7 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
2,200 mm |
|
7 ft., 2 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
250 mm |
|
9 7/8 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,500 mm |
|
4 ft., 11 ins. |
| |
|
1,600 mm |
|
5 ft., 3 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,200 mm |
|
86 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
260 mm |
|
10 1/4 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
90° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
60° |
| Seating capacity |
|
|
|
1 |
| Fording depth |
|
500 mm |
|
20 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
45° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
40° |
| Turning radius |
|
11 meters |
|
36 ft., 1 in. |
| Engine horsepower |
|
45 c-v |
|
44.4 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
6,000 cu cm |
|
360 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
150 liters |
|
39.6 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
4.7-6.7 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
German: p. 74.56
Published on
May 28, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: leichter Radschlepper (o).
English designation: Light tractor (standard commercial vehicle).
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
2,000 kg |
|
4,409 lb. |
| Pay load |
| Gross weight |
|
2,000 kg |
|
4,409 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
700 kg |
|
1,543 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
1,300 kg |
|
2,866 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
3,400 mm |
|
11 ft., 2 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
1,800 mm |
|
5 ft., 11 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
1,700 mm |
|
5 ft., 7 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
200 mm |
|
7 7/8 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,300 mm |
|
4 ft., 3 ins. |
| |
|
1,450 mm |
|
4 ft., 9 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,220 mm |
|
87 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
230 mm |
|
9 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
90° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
50° |
| Seating capacity |
|
|
|
1 |
| Fording depth |
|
450 mm |
|
18 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
35° |
| Turning radius |
|
9 meters |
|
29 ft., 6 ins. |
| Engine horsepower |
|
25 c-v |
|
24.7 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
3,500 cu cm |
|
210 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
120 liters |
|
31.7 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
5.9-7.8 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
German: p. 74.56
Published on
May 27, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: leichter Raupenschlepper (Praga T 3).
English designation: Light full-tracked prime mover.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight | | 4,650 kg | | 10,249 lb. |
| Pay load | | 550 kg | | 1,652 lb. |
| Gross weight | | 5,400 kg | | 11,902 lb. |
| Length (overall) | | 4,100 mm | | 13 ft., 5 ins. |
| Width (overall) | | 1,730 mm | | 5 ft., 8 ins. |
| Height (overall) | | 2,300 mm | | 7 ft., 6 ins. |
| Ground clearance | | 400 mm | | 15 3/4 ins. |
| Tread centers | | 1,420 mm | | 4 ft., 8 ins. |
| Track contact | | 2 m | | 79 ins. |
| Track width | | 300 mm | | 11 7/8 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
| Angle of departure |
| Seating capacity | | | | 3 |
| Fording depth | | 550 mm | | 21 5/8 ins. |
| Climbing ability | | | | 30° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | | | | 40° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | | | | 30° |
| Turning radius | | 3 meters | | 118 ins. |
| Trailer load | | 1,800 kg | | 3,967 lb. |
| Lifting power of winch | | 3,000 kg | | 6,612 lb. |
| Engine horsepower | | 70 c-v | | 65 hp |
| Piston displacement | | 4,300 cu cm | | 258 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity | | 150 liters | | 39.6 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption | | | | 2.93 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption | | | | 2.14 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.58
Published on
May 27, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: mittlerer Kettenschlepper (o).
English designation: Medium tractor (standard commercial vehicle).
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight | | 4,600 kg | | 10,194 lb. |
| Length (overall) | | 3,300 mm | | 10 ft., 10 ins. |
| Width (overall) | | 1,550 mm | | 5 ft., 1 in. |
| Height (overall) | | 1,450 mm | | 4 ft., 9 ins. |
| Ground clearance | | 270 mm | | 10 ft., 10 ins. |
| Tread centers | | 1,300 mm | | 4 ft., 3 ins. |
| Track contact | | 1.1 m | | 43 ins. |
| Track width | | 300 mm | | 11 7/8 ins. |
| Angle of approach | | | | 40° |
| Angle of departure | | | | 70° |
| Seating capacity |
| Fording depth | | 600 mm | | 23 ins. |
| Climbing ability | | | | 35° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | | | | 45° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | | | | 40° |
| Turning radius | | 7 meters | | 22 ft., 11 ins. |
| Trailer load | | 6,000 kg | | 13,227 lb. |
| Lifting power of winch | | 3,000 kg | | 6,614 lb. |
| Engine horsepower | | 65 c-v | | 64.1 hp |
| Piston displacement | | 9,000 cu cm | | 540 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity | | 90 liters | | 23.8 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption | | | | 3.9 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
German: p. 74.58
