In addition to light (Sd.Kfz.250) and medium (Sd.Kfz.251) half-tracked vehicles for transport of sections of infantry, the Germans realized several type of half-track tractors in order to mechanize another component of the German army as much as possible, the artillery. This category of half-tracked vehicles gathers a whole series of machine to variable tonnage. Like Sd.Kfz.250 and Sd.Kfz.251, these vehicles were also useful for other tasks of service (like offensive) and were produced in insufficient quantity to equip in integrality the German forces. Indeed considerable unit had to be satisfied with trucks (not very effective in cross country) and with horses.

Sd.Kfz.2 Kleines Kettenkraftrad / Sd.Kfz.2/1 Kleines Kettenkraftrad für Feldkernkabel / Sd.Kfz.2/2 Sd.Kfz.2/1 Kleines Kettenkraftrad für schweres Feldkernkabel

Sd.Kfz.2 Kleines Kettenkraftrad, smallest of the series, was conceived to tractor draw the anti-tank gun of infantry of 37 mm, for the German airborne forces. This light vehicle was to replace the motor bikes with side-car in this function. The motor bikes hardly gave satisfaction because of low capacities of traction. At the end of 1939, the design of this machine was entrusted to NSU (motor bikes manufacturer). The pilot model was tested in 1940 and the production began in 1941.

Sd.Kfz.2 Kleines Kettenkraftrad

src: Tamiya

Sd.Kfz.2 was a hybrid vehicle equipped with a tracked body and a direction of motor bike (front fork). It was propelled by a four-cylinder Opel-Olympia OHV (1.478 cc) engine developing 36 cv. Under the seat of the pilot in front of the body was the clutch and the transmission which transmitted the power from the engine to the front sprocket-wheels. The transmission offered 3 forward speeds and a reverse speed. However Sd.Kfz.2 was equipped with a secondary transmission (identical) to facilitate walk in hard ground. In all the machine had 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. The suspension consisted of interlaced (steel) road wheels assembled on torsion bars.

src: Dragon

The radiator was with the back of the engine and the air intake was behind the seat of the pilot. The fuel tanks were located on the two sides of this last and had a total capacity of 42 liters. Sd.Kfz.2 was a rather fast vehicle, it could reach on road the 70 km/h with an autonomy on road of 260 km (190 km in cross country). It could tractor draw a load of 4.5 tons.

Sd.Kfz.2 en action.	Sd.Kfz.2 of the DAK (Deutsche Afrika Korps) in flame in the desert.
src: "La Seconde Guerre Mondiale", Ed. C.Colomb

June 5, 1941, the airborne brigade "Ramcke" was the first unit with being equipped with Sd.Kfz.2. At that time the units of German parachutists were abundantly used in Crete. Although conceived for the airborne forces, Kettenkraftrad was also adopted by the ground forces. Consequently, it was product in mass since 1943. Thanks to its capacities on hard ground, Kettenkraftrad advantageously replaced the motor bikes, especially on the eastern front because of the bad conditions of the ground (snow, mud...). The production of Kettenkraftrad (HK-101) continued until the end of 1944, to arrive at a total of 8345 produced specimens. A version equipped with a more powerful engine (2000 cc), the HK-102, was also produced in small number.

Sd.Kfz.2/2 Kleines Kettenkraftrad für schweres Feldkernkabel.

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Sd.Kfz.2 was also converted into layer of telephone lines. Two versions of this machine were produced, Sd.Kfz.2/1 Kleines Kettenkraftrad für Feldkernkabel and Sd.Kfz.2/2 Kleines Kettenkraftrad für schweres Feldkernkabel. These two machines were equipped with an uncurler of cable installed behind the seat of the pilot.

Sd.Kfz.3a/b/c Gleiskettenlastkraftwagen 2t offen "Maultier"

To supply in ammunition, fuel and other supplies, the troops engaged on the grounds in bad condition of the Eastern front, standard 4x2 trucks of 3 tons (Opel (3a)/Ford (3b)/Klockner-Humbolt-Deuts (3c) and Mercedes) was transformed into cross country half-tracked vehicle. This model of interim, was realized to palliate the delay of Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper. With this intention, the rear wheel-axle unit was removed and replaced by a tracked train (Cardan Lloyd type) with tracks of Pz.Kpfw I or II (Mercedes).

Sd.Kfz.3a Gleiskettenlastkraftwagen 2t Opel Maultier.	Sd.Kfz.3aequipped with the anti-aircraft gun Flak 38 of 37 mm.
src: Revell	src: Italeri

If the standard truck, could transport a payload of 3 tons, Maultier (mule) could not accomodate but 2 tons of freight more. The model provided by Opel, was standard Opel Blitz 3.6-36S propelled by a six-cylinder motor (6 L of cubic capacity) producing 68 hp. Sd.kfz.3a could reach the 38 km/h for an autonomy of 165 km on road and 100 km in cross country. Sd.Kfz.3a (Opel) was produced with approximately 4000 specimens since 1942.

[Profiles]

Sd.Kfz.4 schwere Gleiskettenlastkraftwagen 4.5 t offen "Maultier"
(Munitionskraftwagen für Nebelwerfer) /
Sd.Kfz.4/1 15 cm Nebelwerfer-Zehnling 42 auf 2t "Maultier"

Opel Maultier (Sd.Kfz.3) was also used as launcher of rockets with an armoured superstructure - 150 mm (10 tubes) Panzerwerfer 42 auf Sd.Kfz.4/1. Sd.Kfz.4/1 was developed in 1943 by Opel on the basis of truck of 3 tons Opel Maultier. The chassis was covered with an armoured hull. Three models of production were carried out with differences in the shape of the hull and suspension. The 150 mm Panzerwerfer 42 had a maximum range of 6700 m. The many tubed (10) rocket launcher could traverse on 270° and elevate until 80°. Some models were equipped with the rocket launcher of 8 cm, R-Vielfachwerfer (24 rails).

Sd.Kfz.4 Gleiskettenlastkraftwagen 4.5 t Maultier.	Sd.Kfz.4/1 15 cm Nebelwerfer-Zehnling 42 auf 2t "Maultier".
src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"	src: Italeri

300 specimens were produced by Opel between April 1943 and March 1944 whereas into June 1944 19 Sd.Kfz.4 (transport of ammunition) were converted into Sd.kfz.4/1. 289 Sd.kfz.4 were produced by Opel. The two vehicles were versed in Nebelwerfer Brigades on all fronts.

[Profiles]