HKp 603 / 603 / 605 / 606

In the production of Sd.Kfz.250 and 251, much of efforts make double use, bus few elements are common to both machines. The light model is too small for certain function and the heavy model too large for others. It was thus tempted to rationalize the half-track vehicles to preserve one model. A series of prototype, the series HK 600, will be developed by Hanomag and DEMAG in 1942. These machines resembled very extremely the models of the Sd.Kfz.251 series but nevertheless the distinction "light half-tracked vehicle" and "heavy half-tracked vehicle" remains. For example, HKp 603 is a heavy half-tracked vehicle whereas HKp 606 is a light model. The design however is clearly simplified compared to Sd.Kfz.251 and 250 but insufficiently made improvement to start production. The series will be abandoned in 1943 but considerable simplifications will be taken again on Sd.Kfz.251 and 250.

HKp 606.

src: site "Achtung Panzer"

Leichte Wehrmachtsschlepper (leWS)

In 1942, the Adler firm under the injunction of Hitler, receives the order to work out two prototypes of a vehicle called leWS (leichter Wehrmachtschlepper = light military tractor) with a simple design and easily adaptable intended for hard realities of the eastern front. The leWS is very different from Sd.Kfz.250, finished the sophistication, the chassis of this new vehicle is very simple (rudimentary): wheels with sheet steel pressed disc, tires with low pressure, tracks of steel with dry axes and sprocket-wheels and road wheels identical to those the tanks. The (front) cabin and the engine compartment are laid out in the same way that on a truck. The machine is propelled by one 4 cylinders Maybach HL 30 allowing only a maximum speed of 27 km/h. The floor of the body is in fact a simple plate. It was enough to bolt there the various artillery mountings and other superstructures which one wished to install there. Certain specimens without the cabin was to be manufactured so that a special superstructure can be installed there. This machine will never be born. An entirely tracked truck, "Raupenschlepper Ost" (tracked tractor for the eastern front) simpler and less expensive tightened produces in the place of the leWS. Two other prototypes of the leWS will be considered but will never be born.

Sd.Kfz.11 leichte Zugkraftwagen 3t

src: site "Achtung Panzer"

Schwere Wehrmachtsschlepper (sWS) Gepanzerte Ausführung /
150 mm Panzerwerfer 42 auf sWS /

However, a model of the same type, the sWS (Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper) was built and known more success. This vehicle intended to replace the not armoured half-tracked artillery tractors of 5 t will be manufactured with a case of loading and a truck front part. The sWS was produced from December 1943 to March 1945 by Büssing-NAG and Tatra. It was intended for the replacement of Sd.Kfz.6 and Sd.Kfz.11 but only 825 were produced. Each vehicle had an armoured cabin (8 to 15 mm). Some will be armed with the 37 mm Flak (37 mm Flak auf sWS) or with the rocket-launcher (Nebelwerfer) Panzerwerfer 42 of 150 mm.

schwere Wehrmacht Schlepper

src: Italeri

[Profiles]

Panther Ausf.G remontant une colonne de sWS.

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

The prototype builds in 1942 will not start production before 1943. The largely widespread machine during the last 18 months of the war will be shown very useful. The basic model is an armoured truck of supply also being used as transport of ammunition with simple racks out of mesh wire could be folded down. The most interesting alternatives will be equipped with the rocket-launcher Panzerwerfer 42 of 150 mm or with the anti-aircraft gun Flak 43 of 37 mm.

150 mm Panzerwerfer 42 auf schwere Wehrmacht Schlepper

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

[Profiles]

The first has a very low armoured superstructure in which the projectiles are transported with the (10 tubes) launcher on directional mounting on the top of the superstructure. The anti-aircraft version had simply the mounting of the gun welded on the floor of the cargo box.

37 mm Flak 43/1 auf schwere Wehrmacht Schlepper

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

37 mm Selbstfahrlafette L/70

At the beginning of 1935, Waffenamt required to Rheinmetall-Borsig to develop a motorized 37 mm L/70 gun using the chassis of 3t of Hansa-Lloyd-Goliath ZkWg. The armament consisted of a gun of 37 mm L/70 and two machine-gun of 7.92 mm MG34 assembled in the turret. Only one prototype was constructed at the end of 1936 and was intensively tested by the units of cavalry

37 mm Selbstfahrlafette L/70.

src: site "Achtung Panzer "

75 mm Selbstfahrlafette L/40.8

In 1934, Waffenamt ordered a new motorized anti-tank gun to Rheinmetall-Borsig, based on the half-tracedk vehicle of Büssing-NAG. From 1935, 3 prototypes (Modell 1), which varied in weight and in length were developed in a few years. In 1936/1938, a new alternative with muzzle brake and other modifications were carried out (Modell 2).

75 mm Selbstfahrlafette L/40.8 (Modell 2).

src: site "Achtung Panzer "