SdKfz 6

SdKfz 6 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 6)
SdKfz 6/1 towing 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer, Poland, 1939
Type Half-track
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
In service 1939–1945
Production history
Designer Büssing-NAG
Designed 1934–1939
Manufacturer Büssing-NAG, Daimler-Benz, Praga
Unit cost 30,000 RM
Produced 1939–1944
No. built 3,500
Specifications ([1])
Weight 8,500 kg (18,700 lb)
Length 6.325 m (20.75 ft)
Width 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
Height 2.48 m (8.1 ft)
Crew 12/15
Engine Maybach NL 54
115 hp (86 kW)
Power/weight 12.8 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion bar suspension
Ground clearance 40 cm (16 in)
Operational
range
 316 km (316,000 m) (road)
158 km (158,000 m) (off-road)
Speed 50 km/h (road)

The SdKfz 6 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 6) was a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was designed to be used as the main towing vehicle for the 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer.

Development

Development of a new medium artillery tractor began in 1934 at Büssing-NAG, in Berlin. The vehicle, produced in around 750 units until 1942, could carry up to 11 men in three rows, covered by a canvas structure. Along as a tractor for the 10.5 leFH 18 howitzer, the vehicle was to be used to tow heavy equipment for engineer units. Production was carried out by both Büssing-NAG and Daimler-Benz.[1][2]

Description

The engine had a power from 90–100 hp (67–75 kW), depending from the production version. SdKfz 6 was used by the various German military forces (Wehrmacht, SS, Luftwaffe) for the entire World War II.[1][2]

Variants

  • SdKfz 6/1: Standard half-tracked vehicle, used for towing various artillery pieces and transporting anything up to fifteen people.[1][3]
  • 37 mm FlaK36 auf Fahrgestell Zugkraftwagen 5t (SdKfz 6/2): SdKfz 6 fitted with a 3.7 cm FlaK 36 gun, sides would fold down to allow space to work on. Crew of seven.[1][3]
  • 7.62 cm FK36(r) auf Panzerjäger Selbstfahrlafette Zugkraftwagen 5t (SdKfz 6/3). SdKfz 6 fitted with a captured Soviet 76-mm divisional gun model 1936 (F-22) in an armoured superstructure.[1][3]

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bishop, p. 78.
  2. 1 2 Lepage, Jean-Denis (2007). German Military Vehicles of World War II: An Illustrated Guide to Cars, Trucks, Half-Tracks, Motorcycles, Amphibious Vehicles and Others. McFarland. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-0-7864-2898-4.
  3. 1 2 3 Lepage, p. 146.

Bibliography

  • Bishop, Chris, ed. (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Aerospace Publishing.
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