WesWorld

(Placeholder for information relating to the halftrack vehicles of the German Army)

(Type 10 Light Prime Mover)

Preliminary design of the Type 10 Light Prime Mover, like all Heer halftrack vehicles was undertaken by the Military Automotive Department under the direction of Engineer Ernst Kniepkamp. The firm Deutsche Maschinenbau AG, of Wetter, in the Ruhr, was tasked to develop and place in production what was known as the kleine geländegängiger Kettenschlepper – Small Cross-country Tracked Carrier, and a prototype appeared in 1934, to be followed by a small developmental batch for extended field trials. The design was standardised in 1936 and placed into production – first by Deutsche Maschinenbau, but eventually five firms were part of the production group, viz.

Deutsche Maschinenbau AG, Wetter
Adlerwerke AG, Frankfurt-am-Main
Büssing-NAG, Werk Berlin-Oberschöneweide
Mechanische Werke Cottbus GmbH, Cottbus
Österreichische Saurerwerke AG, Wien

The Heer employs the Type 10 Light Prime Mover in a variety of roles, with four principal configurations:

Special Motor Vehicle 10 (Sonder Kraftfahrzeug 10) – Prime mover with towing pintle
Special Motor Vehicle 10/1 (Sd. Kfz. 10/1) – Light chemical detection vehicle
Special Motor Vehicle 10/2 (Sd. Kfz. 10/2) – Light chemical decontamination unit
Special Motor Vehicle 10/3 (Sd. Kfz. 10/3) – Portee carrier for 2cm FlaK 30

By the close of December 1939 more than 2,200 vehicles of this type had been delivered to the Heer and production was continuing.

(Type 11 Light Prime Mover)

The firm of Borgward in Bremen was assigned the responsibility to develop the standard 3-ton light prime mover from the basic design of the Military Automotive Department. The prototype vehicle appeared in 1934, and was followed in 1935 by the first production vehicles from the new Borgward plant in Bremen- Sebaldsbrück. Subsequently four additional firms were added to the production group, viz.

Carl F. W. Borgward AG, Bremen-Sebaldsbrück
Adlerwerke AG, Frankfurt-am-Main
Auto-Union AG, Wanderer Werke, Siegmar
Maschinen- und Waggonbau Fabriks AG, Simmering
Triebwagen- und Waggonfabrik Wismar AG

The Heer employs the Type 11 Light Prime Mover in a variety of roles, with three principal configurations:

Special Motor Vehicle 11/1 (Sonder Kraftfahrzeug 11/1) – Light artillery prime mover
Special Motor Vehicle 11/2 (Sd. Kfz. 11/2) – Light prime mover for the Pioniertruppen (engineer troops)
Special Motor Vehicle 11/3 (Sd. Kfz. 11/3) – Light prime mover for the Nebeltruppen (smoke troops)

By the close of December 1939 more than 2,100 vehicles of this type had been delivered to the Heer and production was continuing.

(Type 7 Medium Prime Mover)

The Munich locomotive-building firm of Krauss-Maffei AG was assigned the responsibility of developing the Type 7 Medium Prime Mover for the Heer, using the standard designs prepared by the Military Automotive Department. The decision of expanding the procurement base for motor vehicles into the railway equipment industry was opposed by some elements of the Heer General Staff, but the performance of Krauss-Maffei and other firms in meeting production quotas overcame such concerns, the first production vehicles appearing in 1935, less than one year after Krauss-Maffei was assigned the project. Two additional firms have been added to the production group for the Type 7 Medium Prime Mover, which now comprises:

Krauss Maffei AG, München
Dresdner Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Dresden
Westfalia-Werke AG, Rheda-Wiedenbruck

The Heer employs the Type 7 Medium Prime Mover as a tractor for the 15cm Field Howitzer Model 37, while the Luftwaffe employs the vehicle to tow 8.8 cm antiaircraft guns. The type has been exported to friendly nations.

By the close of December 1939 more than 1,600 vehicles of this type had been delivered to the Heer and production was continuing.

(Type 8 Heavy Prime Mover)

The responsibility of developing the Type 8 Heavy Prime Mover was assigned to the Daimler Benz firm, using the basic design elements drawn up by Military Automotive Department. The Heer’s requirement for a heavy tracked towing vehicle for the artillery was of such importance that the design was standardised in 1935 and rushed into production and Daimler Benz’s Marienfelde works along side its tank production lines. Two additional firms were brought into the production group which now comprises:

Daimler-Benz AG, Marienfelde
Krauss Maffei AG, München
Maschinenbauanstalt Übigau, Dresden

The Type 8 Heavy Prime Mover is used by the Heer primarily as a towing vehicle for heavy artillery and heavy antiaircraft guns.

By the close of December 1939 more than 950 vehicles of this type had been delivered to the Heer and production was continuing.

(Type 9 Heavy Prime Mover)

The Type 9 Heavy Prime Mover was developed by the Frankenbergische Motorenwerke, Hainichen (FAMO) based upon the basic designs drawn up by the Military Automotive Department in the early 1930s. It was intended to act as a towing tractor for the heaviest pieces of artillery, but came to be reserved for towing special tank transport trailers, acting as a tank recovery vehicle and as a service vehicle for tank and artillery units. It entered production in 1937 with three firms forming the production group, viz.

Frankenbergische Motorenwerke, Hainichen
Vogtlandische Maschinenfabrik AG, Plauen
Waggon- und Maschinenbau AG, Görlitz

The Type 9 Heavy Prime Mover is used by the Heer in three basic configurations:

Special Motor Vehicle 9 (Sonder Kraftfahrzeug 9): Heavy tractor for tank salvage and trailer towing
Special Motor Vehicle 9/1 (Sd.Kfz 9/1): Service vehicle with 6-ton Bilsten crane
Special Motor Vehicle 9/2 (Sd.Kfz 9/2): Service vehicle with 10-ton crane

By the close of December 1939 more than 540 vehicles of this type had been delivered to the Heer and production was continuing.

(Type 251 Medium Armoured Infantry Carrier)

The Type 251 Medium Armoured Infantry Carrier appeared first appeared in 1934 in response to Heer requirements for a tracked vehicle to carry infantry in support of fast-moving Panzer columns. The Type 251 shared automotive components with the Type 11 Light Prime Mover, but featured an armoured crew compartment and hull for a squad of ten soldiers, their weapons and equipment. It was quickly adopted by the Heer and the first production vehicles appeared in the autumn of 1935. Production has increased steadily to keep pace with the Heer’s increasing requirements; at the close of 1939 more than 2,700 vehicles of this type had been taken on charge. The design has been adapted for a variety of specialised uses, including:

Sdkfz 251/1 – Schützenpanzerwagen – standard infantry carrier
Sdkfz 251/2 – Granatwerferwagen – carrier for the 81mm mortar
Sdkfz 251/3 – Kommandopanzerwagen – command vehicle fitted with extra wireless equipment
Sdkfz 251/4 – Munitionspanzerwagen – gun tractor for infantry support and antitank weapons
Sdkfz 251/5 – Pionierpanzerwagen – troop and equipment vehicle for assault engineers
Sdkfz 251/6 – Krankenpanzerwagen – armoured ambulance
Sdkfz 251/7 – Fernsprechpanzerwagen – telephone line laying vehicle
Sdkfz 251/8 – Messtrupp und Gerätpanzerwagen – survey and instrument carrier for artillery units
Sdkfz 251/9 – Beobachtungspanzerwagen – artillery forward observation vehicle
Sdkfz 251/10 – Fernsprechbetriebspanzerwagen – telephone exchange vehicle

(Type 2 Small Towing Vehicle)

The Type 2 Small Towing Vehicle as developed by the NSU Motorenwerke AG of Neckarsulm, Baden, to meet Luftwaffe requirements for a lightweight towing vehicle that could be delivered by the Junkers Ju52 standard transport aircraft. It is used to heavy infantry weapons, light infantry guns and ammunition using specialised trailers (sonderanhanger).

The first examples of the Type 2 Small Towing Vehicle were delivered in the autumn of 1939 to paratroop units. As of 31 December 1939, eighty-two units had been taken on charge and production was continuing.