Sd.Kfz. 8th
The Sd.Kfz. 8 ( S on d ER- K raft f Ahr z eug 8 - Heavy tractors 12 t ) was a half-track of the German Army . It was mainly used as a tractor for heavy artillery during World War II .
history
The Sd.Kfz. 8 was developed by the Daimler-Benz company in 1934. At the time of its creation, it was the heaviest half-track vehicle in the Wehrmacht. The construction took place in the Daimler-Benz plant in Berlin-Marienfelde as well as at Krauss-Maffei in Munich and at Krupp in Essen and Mulhouse . A total of around 4,000 traction vehicles were produced by 1944. The Sd.Kfz. 8 was considered a reliable vehicle, but was complicated to manufacture and very expensive at 46,000 Reichsmarks.
The first production variant was the "DB 7" version, which had a 150 hp engine. The vehicle received its final form with the "DB 8" series released in 1936. From the "DB 9" version, which was produced from 1938 to 1939, the Sd.Kfz. 8 a 185 hp engine. The last series "DB 10", which was produced from 1939 to 1944, received torsion bar springs instead of leaf springs .
commitment
The Sd.Kfz. 8 was intended for pulling the 15 cm cannon 16 , the 15 cm cannon 18 , the 10.5 cm flak and the 21 cm mortar . The Skoda 30.5 cm mortar , the 8.8 cm anti-aircraft gun , the Strabokran and a low-loader trailer for battle tanks were also used as trailer loads . The 12-ton truck was also often an important tow vehicle on difficult terrain. There was space for a total of twelve soldiers on the three wide benches.
To combat bunkers on the Maginot Line, a total of 25 versions with the 8.8 cm FlaK ("Bunkerflak", "Bufla") were created in 1940 , which were mainly assigned to Panzerjägerabteilung 8. The cannon was placed on the specially created free loading area behind the armored driver's cab. The tall vehicle made a great target, but in return had an extremely powerful weapon.
Technical specifications
| Technical data Sd.Kfz. 8th | |
|---|---|
| Length: Width Height: |
7.35 m 2.50 m 2.77 m |
| Engine: |
water-cooled twelve-cylinder - Otto engine type Maybach HL 85 TUKRM V-engine with 8.5 liter displacement , magneto |
| Power: | 185 hp (136 kW) at 2600 min -1 |
| Top speed: | 50 km / h |
| Total weight: | 14,700 kg |
| Landing gear: | front rigid axle with transverse leaf springs, rear two caterpillar tracks with torsion bar suspension |
| Fuel quantity: | 250 liters |
| Range: | Road 250 km, terrain 120 km |
See also
Web links
source
- Reinhard Frank: Wehrmacht traction vehicle. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, ISBN 3-89555-050-7 .