The Sd.Kfz. 6 (''
Sonderkraftfahrzeug
''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' (abbreviated ''Sd.Kfz.'', German for "special purpose vehicle") was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany during World War II for military vehicles; for example ''Sd.Kfz.'' 101 for the Panzer I.
Sd.Kfz. nu ...
'' 6) was a
half-track
A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cro ...
military vehicle used by the German
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...
during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. 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. As well 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
The Mercedes-Benz Group Aktiengesellschaft, AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German Multinational corporation, multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It ...
.
[Bishop, p. 78.]
Description
The engine had a power from , depending from the production version. Sd.Kfz. 6 was used by the various German military forces (''
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...
'', SS, ''
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
'') for the entire World War II.
Variants
* Sd.Kfz. 6/1: Standard half-tracked vehicle, used for towing various artillery pieces and transporting anything up to fifteen people.
[Lepage, p. 146.]
* 37 mm ''FlaK36 auf Fahrgestell Zugkraftwagen'' 5t (Sd.Kfz. 6/2): Sd.Kfz. 6 fitted with a
3.7 cm Flak 36
The 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37 was a series of anti-aircraft guns produced by Nazi Germany that saw widespread service in the Second World War. The cannon was fully automatic and effective against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4,200 m. The c ...
anti-aircraft gun, sides would fold down to allow space to work on. Crew of seven.
* 7.62 cm FK 296(r) ''Selbstfahrlafette auf Zugkraftwagen'' 5t (Sd.Kfz. 6/3). Sd.Kfz. 6 carrying a captured Soviet
76mm F-22 gun ''
portee'' in an armoured superstructure.
Sources
Bibliography
*
External links
"Tractors Haul Artillery In Mechanized Army"''Popular Mechanics'', August 1937 – excellent photo of early Sd.Kfz. 6s on parade
{{WWIIGermanAFVs
World War II armoured fighting vehicles of Germany
World War II half-tracks
Half-tracks of Germany
Military vehicles introduced in the 1930s