SdKfz 4

Infobox Weapon
name= SdKfz 4


caption=
origin= Nazi Germany
type= half-track truck
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is_artillery=
is_vehicle=yes
is_missile=
is_UK=
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weight= 7.1 tonnes
length= 6 m
part_length=
width= 2.2 m
height= 2.5 m
diameter=
crew= 3
armour= 8 mm
primary_armament= 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42
2,000 rounds
secondary_armament=
engine= 6 cylinder Opel 3.6 litre engine.
engine_power=
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suspension=
clearance=
vehicle_range= 130 km
speed= 40km/h
guidance=

The SdKfz 4 Gleisketten-Lastkraftwagen ("track chain truck"), nicknamed "Maultier" ("mule") was a family of half-tracks developed in the World War II by Germany which, between 1933 and 1945, was leading in the production of these vehicles [http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/8141/halftracks.html] .

Development

The SdKfz 4 was developed after the 1941 invasion of Russia as the ice and mud of Russia bogged down the commercial vehicles (primarily the 3t Opel-Blitz Type 3.6-36 S, the 3t Ford V8 Type G 398 TS/V 3000 S, the Magirus Type S 3000 and the 4.5t Mercedes-Benz Type L 4500 R) that were used to supply German forces. [ [http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/8141/halftracks.html German World War II Prime Movers and Halftracks ] ]

A total of 22,500 SdKfz 4 halftracks were produced by 1944 [ [http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/8141/halftracks.html German World War II Prime Movers and Halftracks ] ] . Later in the war, Opel trucks were outfitted with 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 rocket launchers and designated SdKfz 4/1's, with around 300 being produced [ [http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/8141/halftracks.html German World War II Prime Movers and Halftracks ] ] . However these variants, with the extra weight, could only manage a top speed of 25mph.

The vast majority of SdKfz 4's operated using British Carden-Lloyd running gear, with the exception of the Type L 4500 R, which used PzKpfw. II running gear. The 6-cylinder engines used 5 forward gears and one reverse, at 3,000 rpm, to attain a maximum forward speed of 40 km/h. Each halftrack was equipped with the FuG Spr G f radio.

Aside from the SdKfz 4/1, the SdKfz's were armed only with a light 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun with a traverse of 270° and elevation limits of -12° to +80°. With thin armour plating, the SdKfz's were not ideal in close quarter battle against anything greater than small arms fire.

References

*http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/8141/halftracks.html