Sd.Kfz. 11 | |
|---|---|
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Role | Light half-track |
| Produced | 1938–45 |
| Built | 9000+ |
The Sd.Kfz. 11 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug – special motorized vehicle) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for medium towed guns ranging from the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 anti-aircraft gun up to the 10.5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer. It could carry eight troops in addition to towing a gun or trailer. The basic engineering for all the German half-tracks was developed during the Weimar-era by the Reichswehr’s Military Automotive Department, but final design and testing was farmed out to commercial firms with the understanding that production would be shared with multiple companies. Borgward was chosen to develop the second smallest of the German half-tracks and built a series of prototypes between 1934 and 1937. However development was taken over in 1938 by Hanomag who designed the main production version, H kl 6.
Source: Sd.Kfz. 11 on Wikipedia
| Sd.Kfz.11 3-Ton Half-Track Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Michael Benolkin |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 27 |
See also:
General Characteristics and Role
The Sd.Kfz. 11 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 11, or “Special Motor Vehicle 11”) was the German light 3-tonne towing half-track (leichter Zugkraftwagen 3 t) used extensively by the Wehrmacht during World War II. Designed primarily as a prime mover (artillery tractor), it towed medium-caliber guns and carried their crews and ammunition. Its design featured a conventional wheeled front axle and a tracked rear section with an interleaved roadwheel system, providing excellent cross-country mobility for its artillery batteries. Approximately 9,000 units were produced between 1938 and 1945 by manufacturers including Hanomag, Adlerwerke, and Škoda.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Role | Light Artillery Prime Mover (Tractor) / Troop Carrier |
| National Origin | Nazi Germany |
| Manufacturer | Hanomag (Main Designer), Borgward, Škoda, etc. |
| Service Entry | 1938 |
| Crew | 2 (Driver, Commander) + up to 8 Passengers/Gun Crew |
| Length Overall | 5.55 m (18 ft 2 in) |
| Width | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) |
| Weight (Mass) | Approx. 7,200 kg (7.2 tonnes / 15,873 lb) |
| Towing Capacity | 3 tonnes |
Powerplant and Mobility
- Engine: Maybach HL 42 TRKM 6-cylinder, liquid-cooled petrol engine.
- Power Output: 74 kW (100 hp).
- Maximum Speed: 53 km/h (33 mph) on road.
- Operational Range: 240 km (149 mi) on road / 140 km (87 mi) off-road.
- Steering: Front wheels were unpowered; steering involved turning the front wheels for shallow turns, and applying brakes to the tracks for tighter turns.
- Suspension: Torsion bar suspension on the tracks.
Armament and Key Variants
- Primary Role: Towing medium artillery, notably the 10.5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer and 3.7 cm Flak 43 anti-aircraft gun.
- Armament: Unarmed in its basic form, though a single 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun could be carried by the crew for self-defense.
- Armor: Light steel (up to 10 mm), intended only for protection against small arms fire and shrapnel.
- Specialized Variants:
- Sd.Kfz. 11/1: Ammunition carrier for the 10 cm Nebelwerfer 35/40.
- Sd.Kfz. 11/2: Chemical decontamination vehicle.
- Sd.Kfz. 11/4: Ammunition resupply vehicle for the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launcher.
- Sd.Kfz. 11/5: Ammunition carrier with a wooden, two-compartment upper body.
- Related Vehicle: The chassis and running gear of the Sd.Kfz. 11 formed the basis for the much more famous Sd.Kfz. 251 medium armoured personnel carrier.
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