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Germany - kleines Kettenkraftrad (Sd. Kfz. 2) |
Development of a small, cross-country mobile towing vehicle – which was intended for forestry – was started by NSU in Neckarsulm in 1938. The track drive assembly was very similar to those used on other half-track vehicles in the Wehrmacht. It had interleaved road wheels which were spring-suspended by trailing arms and torsion bars. It was steered by a single front wheel with a handlebar similar to a motorcycle.
The construction allowed driving without front wheel. But this was only rarely done.
A test series of 70 exemplars was ordered and was delivered early in 1940. These vehicles were designated Versuchs Kraftfahrzeug 620. Production of an improved pilot series of 500 vehicles was started in July 1940. The official introduction of the vehicle as kleines Kettenkraftrad (Sd. Kfz. 2) took place on 21st June 1941.
The units which received the Kettenkrad at first were Gebirgsjäger and Jäger. The Kettenkrad was used as towing vehicle for light guns and as transportation vehicle for small loads in heavy terrain. The Fallschirmjäger got the Kettenkrad for towing recoilless guns and light anti tank guns. The signal corps used the Kettenkrad in larger numbers, too. The only official variants of the Kettenkrad – the kleines Kettenkraftrad für Feldfernkabel (Sd. Kfz. 2/1) and the kleines Kettenkraftrad für schweres Feldkabel (Sd. Kfz. 2/2) for building telephone lines.
Later, the Kettenkrad was used by nearly all motorised units for liaison and supply duties during muddy periods and winter.
Beginning in 1944, the Kettenkrad was used by the Luftwaffe as tractor for aircrafts.
The construction allowed driving without front wheel. But this was only rarely done.
A test series of 70 exemplars was ordered and was delivered early in 1940. These vehicles were designated Versuchs Kraftfahrzeug 620. Production of an improved pilot series of 500 vehicles was started in July 1940. The official introduction of the vehicle as kleines Kettenkraftrad (Sd. Kfz. 2) took place on 21st June 1941.
The units which received the Kettenkrad at first were Gebirgsjäger and Jäger. The Kettenkrad was used as towing vehicle for light guns and as transportation vehicle for small loads in heavy terrain. The Fallschirmjäger got the Kettenkrad for towing recoilless guns and light anti tank guns. The signal corps used the Kettenkrad in larger numbers, too. The only official variants of the Kettenkrad – the kleines Kettenkraftrad für Feldfernkabel (Sd. Kfz. 2/1) and the kleines Kettenkraftrad für schweres Feldkabel (Sd. Kfz. 2/2) for building telephone lines.
Later, the Kettenkrad was used by nearly all motorised units for liaison and supply duties during muddy periods and winter.
Beginning in 1944, the Kettenkrad was used by the Luftwaffe as tractor for aircrafts.