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 previo ...

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 opposi ...

. 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 AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufactur ...

.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 (''

'', 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 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