Germany's SdKfz 11 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t half track
Photos
SdKfz 11/2 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t: Imperial War Museum - MH9782 |
SdKfz 11 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t: |
SdKfz 11 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t: Imperial War Museum - MH10053 |
Design
The SdKfz 11 first appeared in 1934.1
Primary use was to be an artillery tractor that would tow one of the following1:
Towards end of war they ended up towing larger guns than designed to do such as the 88 mm Pak 43 and 88 mm Pak 43/41.1
Simplified For Production
Wood replaced the metal superstructures in later vehicles when materials became scarce.1
Prototype
Production
- SdKfz 11 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t:
- Production: 1939 - ?
- Manufacturer: Hansa-Lloyd1, Goliath1, Hanomag of Hanover1, Auto-Union at Chemnitz1
Variants
- SdKfz 11 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t:
- SdKfz 11/1 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t, SdKfz 11/4 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t: Had smoke generating equipment installed.1
- SdKfz 11/2 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t, SdKfz 11/3 leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t: Chemical warfare decontamination equipment.1
Usage
The Luftwaffe used the SdKfz 11 to tow the 3.7 cm Flak 36 and 3.7 cm Flak 37.1
Specifications
| SdKfz 11 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 91 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 15,653 lb1 7,100 kg1 |
| Weight - empty | 5,650 kg2 |
| Weight - loaded | 7,200 kg2 |
| Length w/gun | 17' 11.7"1 5.48 m1, 5.55 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 5' 3.8"1 1.62 m1, 2.15 m2 |
| Width | 5' 11.7"1 1.82 m1, 2 m2 |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure (psi) | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach NL 381, Maybach HL422 |
| Cylinders | 61 |
| Net HP | 1001,2 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | Gasoline1 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity (gallons) | 26 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Speed - Road | 33 mph1 52.5 kph2, 53 kph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 76 miles1 122 km1 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical Obstacle | |
| Suspension (Type) | Wheels: Trans leaf spring2 Tracks: Torsion bar2 |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Halbkettenfahrzeuge, German Half-Track Vehicles 1939-1945, J. Williamson, 1972
