Volkswagen type 166 floating car
The Volkswagen Type 166 is a floatable off-road vehicle with all-wheel drive . It was developed on the basis of the KdF-Wagen and the Volkswagen Type 82 for the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS . From autumn 1942 to summer 1944, over 14,000 units were manufactured in the Volkswagen factory near Fallersleben . Colloquially, the Type 166 is also known as the VW float or, more generally, as a swimming car.
Development from the people's car to the Kübelwagen
In his opening speech at the 24th International Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition (IAMA) in Berlin at the beginning of March 1934, Adolf Hitler called on the German automotive industry to build a “people's car”. He later laid down his ideas about the people's car of the future in detail. It should not consume more than 7 liters of petrol per 100 km, be able to develop a continuous speed of 100 km / h, have enough space for a family of four and cost no more than 1000 RM . Even at this early point in development (April 1934) the Wehrmacht was considering how such a future automobile could also be used militarily. In June 1934 Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to develop such a people's car. It was not until January 1938 that the Army Weapons Office made concrete demands for a development and its conditions for a military vehicle ; this on the basis of the previously developed KdF car . The Heereswaffenamt imposed the following conditions on the vehicle: It should be able to accommodate three soldiers with equipment, not exceed a total weight of 950 kg (550 kg for the vehicle and 400 kg for three men with equipment), have a low overall height and be suitable for off-road use. In addition, there had to be the possibility of large-scale production and low conversion costs from civil to military vehicles. In November 1938, after nine months of development, a prototype was presented to the Army Weapons Office. The standard VW Type 82 ( Kübelwagen ) was developed from this prototype by 1940 .
Development of the VW Type 128/166
Based on the experience gained during the attack on Poland in mid-1940, the Army High Command demanded a floating and off-road vehicle for the motorized infantry units. Based on the VW-bucket car type 82 with rear-wheel drive was organized by the Porsche KG a buoyant prototype with the all-wheel drive of the type 87 developed ( "commander cars"). The most important features of the new "swimming car" Type 128 were its tub-shaped body , a pivoting three-wing screw at the rear and a modified boxer engine with 1131 cm³ displacement (25 HP). The stern thruster allowed just under the required speed of 10 km / h on the water. Together with the Drauz company from Heilbronn, a first prototype was completed on September 21, 1940 and immediately tested on the Max-Eyth-See near Stuttgart. After the start of series production at Porsche, there were still some deficiencies in the field.
Thereupon development of the Type 166 began in April 1941. The wheelbase was shortened to exactly 2 meters ( KdF-Wagen , Type 128 and Type 82: 2.4 meters) and the tub was 37.5 centimeters shorter. This resulted in increased body stability and improved off-road mobility. In August 1941 the first prototype was ready and a pilot series of 125 pieces was ordered from Porsche KG. After the acceptance by the Heereswaffenamt on May 29, 1942, series production began in the Volkswagen factory near Fallersleben in autumn 1942. In contrast to the Type 82 Kübelwagen, the superstructure of which was manufactured by Ambi-Budd in Berlin, VW produced the bodies themselves. During an Allied air raid on the VW plant on August 5, 1944, the production facilities in the body shop were so badly damaged that another Production was no longer an option. As a result, only a small number of the Type 166 could be produced from existing parts. The production of the Type 82 Kübelwagen, however, continued in the VW factory until April 10, 1945. A total of 14,276 floating cars type 166 were manufactured in the Volkswagen factory from 1942 to 1944.
commitment
The first models of the Type 128 were delivered to the army's engineering units in 1940. On the basis of an order from the SS Leadership Main Office in 1941, the successor to the Type 128, the new Type 166, was supposed to replace the sidecar teams from BMW ( BMW R75 ) and Zündapp ( KS 750 ) in the motorcycling battalions of the Waffen SS divisions. The new floating car could transport several soldiers, their equipment as well as weapons and ammunition. In addition, under difficult conditions it was more off-road than the sidecar trailer, but only cost around half as much. Overall, however, only a small number of the Types 166 and 128 were delivered to the Army and SS units. Both types were used on almost all fronts of the Second World War. However, its swimming ability was rarely used. Its real strength was the off-road capability due to the high- ratio off-road gear in connection with the all-wheel drive, the self-locking ZF limited-slip differential and the ground clearance of 260 mm.
Technical specifications
engine
| Type | drive | Displacement | power | Carburetor | cooling | Valves | battery |
| 128 | 4-cylinder, 4-stroke boxer engine with oil cooler |
1131 cc | 24.5 hp at 3000 rpm (max. 3300 rpm) |
Downdraft carburetor Solex 26 VFJ |
air-cooled with an oil cooler in the air flow | hanging | 6 V / 75 Ah (installation under the rear seat) |
| 166 |
Transmission / power transmission
| Type | translation | Power transmission |
| 128 | I. Gear 1: 3.60 II. Gear 1: 2.07 III. Gear 1: 1.25 IV. Gear 1: 0.80 Reverse gear 1: 6.60 Off-road gear 1: 5.86 |
All-wheel drive (4 × 4) single-disc dry clutch engine behind, gearbox in front of the rear axle, three-winged propeller for water travel, stick shift in the middle of the car, four gears and one off-road gear with a separate gear lever |
| 166 |
chassis
| Type | chassis |
| 128 | Watertight sheet steel tub, 128 with central tubular frame, 166 self-supporting with double longitudinal members and additional longitudinal and transverse reinforcements |
| 166 |
landing gear
| Type | landing gear |
| 128 | Front axle: parallel swinging double crank axle with independent wheel suspension and two transverse torsion bar springs, rear axle: split pendulum axle with two transverse torsion bar springs, hydraulic oil pressure shock absorbers, single at the front, double acting at the rear, mechanical two-jaw brake, acting on all four wheels |
| 166 |
more details
| Type | Dimensions | Tires | Wading ability | Freeboard | Draft | Turning circle | Empty weight |
| 128 | 4200 × 1620 × 1720 mm | 5.25-16 terrain | buoyant | 480 mm | 690 mm | Road 11.5 m, water 18.5 m |
900 kg |
| 166 | 3825 × 1480 × 1615 mm | 5.25-16 terrain 200-16 or 200-12 (tropics) |
350 mm | 770 mm | Road 10 m, water 16 m |
910 kg |
| Type | permissible total weight | Payload | Maximum speed | consumption | fuel | Driving range |
| 128 | 1350 kg | 450 kg | Road 80 km / h, water 10 km / h |
Road 9.5 l / 100 km water 7 l / h (theor. 70 l / 100 km) |
42 l (front) | Road 440 km |
| 166 | 1345 kg | 435 kg | 2 × 25 l (front) | Road 520 km |
family tree
Development number / type list
| V1, V2, V3 | prototype |
| Type W30 | |
| Type W38 | |
| Type 60 | German Volkswagen Limousine Cabrio-Limousine open convertible open delivery van |
| Type 12 | 3 Volkswagen prototypes, built by Zündapp in 1931/32 |
| Type 61 | Downsizing Study |
| Type 62 | Volkswagen for off-road use (prototype), 18-inch wheels |
| Type 64 | Berlin-Rom-Wagen (sports car with streamlined body) |
| Type 65 | Additional device for driving schools |
| Type 66 | Type 60 as right-hand drive |
| Type 67 | Type 60 as a disabled vehicle |
| Type 68 | Type 60 as a delivery van (model A) |
| Type 81 | Box van |
| Type 82 | Volkswagen for off-road purposes (standard version ) 0 four-seater 1 three-seater 2 siren cars 3 dummy armored vehicles for training purposes 4 - 5 flatbed trucks with limousine body 6 box vans with limousine body (tropical car) 7 three-seater commander body 8 open body (wooden version) E all-terrain beetle (bucket truck chassis with limousine body) |
| Type 83 | Automatic transmission system circle for VW Type 60 (trial) |
| Type 84 | Transmission system Hering / twin circuit for VW Type 60 (trial) |
| Type 85 | VW with all-wheel drive (trial) |
| Type 86 | Kübelwagen with all-wheel drive. Chassis type 60, without countershaft on the rear axle (trial), 18-inch wheels |
| Type 87 | Chassis with all-wheel drive, with back gear 0 four-seater Kübelwagen body 1 three-seater Kübelwagen body 7 sedan body (commander's car) |
| Type 88 | Delivery Van (Model B) |
| Type 89 | automatic test transmission, Beier BBS system |
| Type 90 | Trailer with VW torsion bar axle |
| Type 92 | Type 82 chassis with sedan body (Beetle) SS with armament without all-wheel drive LO platform truck, open KdF convertible |
| Type 98 | All-wheel drive convertible sedan |
| Type 99 | Trailer study for VW |
| Type 106 | Experimental gear |
| Type 107 | Exhaust gas turbine |
| Type 110 | Small tractor (model A) with driver's seat arrangement |
| Type 115 | Compressor motor |
| Type 116 | Racing car prototype based on VW |
| Type 120 | Stationary engine for the Reich Ministry of Aviation |
| Type 121 | Stationary motor with magneto for the Heereswaffenamt |
| Type 122 | Stationary motor with battery igniter for Reichspost |
| Type 123 | Stationary motor on trailer for the Heereswaffenamt |
| Type 124 | VW Type 82 with rail wheels (trial) |
| Type 126 | with fully synchronized gearbox with steering wheel gearshift |
| Type 127 | Valve motor (experiment) |
| Type 128 | Swimming car (version A) standard |
| Type 129 | Floating car (special type), seaworthy |
| Type 133 | self-priming carburetor for VW |
| Type 138 | Swimming car (version B) |
| Type 139 | Swimming car like type 138, but without a central frame |
| Type 141 | Auxiliary engine 2-cyl. (1/2 VW engine) for type 175 east wheel tractor |
| Type 151 | Transmission for VW, System Plus (trial) |
| Type 152 | Gearbox for VW, Stieber system (trial) |
| Type 155 | Type 82 with snow chain running device |
| Type 156 | Rail running device for swimming wagons |
| Type 157 | Rail running device for type 82 and 87 |
| Type 160 | Sedans with a self-supporting body |
| Type 162 | Off-road vehicle with a self-supporting body |
| Type 164 | 6-wheel off-road vehicle with two engines |
| Type 166 | Swimming car (version C) |
| Type 170 | VW engine for assault boats I |
| Type 171 | VW engine for assault boats II |
| Type 177 | Off-road vehicle with 5-speed gearbox A. |
| Type 178 | Off-road vehicle with 5-speed gearbox B. |
| Type 179 | Gasoline injection engine |
| Type 182 | Off-road vehicle with standard body (2-wheel drive) |
| Type 187 | Off-road vehicle with standard body (4-wheel drive) |
| Type 188 | Swimming car (model D) |
| Type 197 | Starter gear I |
| Type 198 | Starter gear II |
| Type 225 | Electric gearbox for VW System BBC (trial) |
| Type 227 | Compilation of parts for all-wheel-drive VW |
| Type 230 | VW with generator drive |
| Type 231 | VW with acetylene drive |
| Type 235 | VW with electric drive |
| Type 236 | Stove insert for generator for VW |
| Type 237 | VW engine for Göttingen Air Base |
| Type 238 | VW engine for cable pull device |
| Type 239 | VW with charcoal drive |
| Type 240 | with cylinder gas drive |
| Type 247 | VW aircraft engine with fan for hoarding flying wings |
| Type 252 | VW transmission system PIV (trial) |
| Type 274 | Spring-operated starter for VW |
| Type 276 | Type 82 with swank hook |
| Type 278 | Synchromesh |
| Type 280 | VW Project M (trial) |
| Type 283 | Type 82 with generator drive |
| Type 287 | Chassis of the commander's car with a KdF body |
| Type 296 | Intermediate gear for VW engine |
| Type 298 | Radio installation for VW (Volksempfänger) |
| Type 307 | Heavy fuel carburetor |
| Type 309 | 2-stroke diesel engine with reverse scavenging |
| Type 310 | Diesel engine for VW |
| Type 315 | Cable device for winter sports with VW engine |
| Type 330 | VW with charcoal mixture system |
| Type 331 | VW with "local fuel" system |
| Type 332 | VW with anthracite coal plant |
| Type 355 | Delivery van "VW-Bulli" (model C) |
| Type 356 | two-seater sports car |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bernd Wiersch: The Beetle Chronicle. The story of a car legend. P. 91, 2nd edition, Delius Klasing, Bielefeld, ISBN 978-3-7688-1695-3 .
literature
- Mayer-Stein: Volkswagen Military Vehicles 1938–1948. 5th edition. Nebel Verlag, Utting 1993, ISBN 3-89555-861-3 .
- Janusz Piekałkiewicz : THE TYPE 82 KÜBELWAGEN in the Second World War. 3. Edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-87943-468-9 .
- Sawodny: Weapons arsenal The VW in war - Kübelwagen, special designs, float vehicles. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1998, ISBN 3-7909-0119-9 .
- Seifer: weapon arsenal The VW floating bucket type 166. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 2002, ISBN 3-7909-0773-1 .
Web links
- Schwimmwagen - The VW-Schwimmwagen register
