Germany's schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper, sWS, Gerät 71 half track

Photos

3.7cm Flak 43 auf Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper:

15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Zehnling) auf Schwerer Wehrmacht-Schlepper:

Design

Several months after the start of the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans began to realize that some of their half tracks were too expensive or too complex to produce and a cheaper one was needed.^2,3

Büssing-NAG came up with the design for the sWS.²

On May 7, 1942, Hitler ordered a simple low-speed semi-track vehicle be produced for use in Russia. Up until mid-1944 they had a truck like cab, and then was replaced with an armored cab.

It was intended for infantry units which would act as a general purpose and supply vehicle.²

Hull

There was almost no armor.²

Tracks

Used all-steel tracks which reduced costs.²

Prototype

The 1st prototype appeared in the spring of 1943.

Production

The sWS was never produced in large quantities as it never got priority for production.²

• schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper, sWS, Gerät 71: 381²
  • Production: December 1943 - September 1944²
• 37 mm Flak 43 auf sWS, 3.7cm Flak 43 auf Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper:
• 150 mm Panzerwerfer 42 (Zehuling) auf sWS, 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Zehnling) auf Schwerer Wehrmacht-Schlepper:
• Total: 825¹
  • Manufacturer: Büssing-NAG in Berlin^1,3, Ringhoffer-Tatra in Czechoslovakia^1,2
  • Production: December 1943 - March 1945¹

Variants

• schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper, sWS, Gerät 71:
• leWS³: Lighter design that wasn't manufactured.³
• 37 mm Flak 43 auf sWS, 3.7cm Flak 43 auf Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper: 37 mm Flak43 L/89 mounted.²
• 150 mm Panzerwerfer 42 (Zehuling) auf sWS, 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Zehnling) auf Schwerer Wehrmacht-Schlepper: Mounted 10 barrel 150 mm Nebelwerfer 42 rocket launcher.²

Usage

Specifications

	schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper	3.7cm Flak 43 auf Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper	15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Zehnling) auf Schwerer Wehrmacht-Schlepper
Crew	21,2	21	21, 52
Physical Characteristics
Weight	29,762 lb2 13,500 kg2 13.5 tons1	13.5 tons1	13.5 tons1
Length w/gun
Length w/o gun	21' 11"2 6.68 m2, 6.92 m1	6.92 m1	6.92 m1
Height	9' 3.4"2 2.07 m1, 2.83 m2	2.07 m1	2.07 m1
Width	8' 2.4"2 2.5 m1,2	2.5 m1	2.5 m1
Ground clearance
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main		37 mm FlaK43 L/891	150 mm Nebelwerfer 421
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Quantity
Main			50 Wurfgranate1
Secondary
MG
Side arms		2,0001	2,0001
Armor Thickness (mm)
Hull Front, Upper	15@30°1	15@30°1	15@30°1
Hull Front, Lower	15@15°1	15@15°1	15@15°1
Hull Sides, Upper	12@8°1 + 12@15°1	12@8°1 + 12@15°1	12@8°1 + 12@15°1
Hull Sides, Lower	12@15°1	12@15°1	12@15°1
Hull Rear	8@30°1 & 8@0°1	8@30°1 & 8@0°1	8@30°1 & 8@0°1
Hull Top	6@87°1	6@87°1	6@87°1
Hull Bottom	6@90°1	6@90°1	6@90°1
Turret Front		shield: 10@30°1	10@45°1
Turret Sides			10@40°1
Turret Rear			10@40°1
Turret Top			10@90°1
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 422, Maybach HL42TRKMS1	Maybach HL42TRKMS1	Maybach HL42TRKMS1
Cylinders	62
Net HP	1002
Transmission	2x4 forward, 2x1 reverse.1	2x4 forward, 2x1 reverse.1	2x4 forward, 2x1 reverse.1
Fuel Type	Gasoline2
Octane
Capacity
Performance
Traverse		360°1	270°1
Speed - Road	16.8 mph2 27 kph2, 28 kph1	28 kph1	28 kph1
Speed - Cross Country
Range - Road	300 km1	300 km1	300 km1
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits		-6° to +90°1	-5° to +45°1
Fording depth
Trench crossing
Vertical Obstacle
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width
Track centers/tread