German nomenclature: schwerer Schneepflug Thp. K.
English designation: Heavy snow plow.
| Net weight | 980 kg | 2,160 lb. | ||
| Length (overall) | 2,850 mm | 9 ft., 4 ins. | ||
| Width (overall) | 3,000 mm | 9 ft., 10 ins. | ||
| Height (overall) | 1,300 mm | 4 ft., 3 ins. | ||
| Ground clearance | ||||
| Angle of approach | ||||
| Angle of departure | ||||
| SNOW PLOW | ||||
| Clearing width | 3.00 m | 9 ft., 10 ins. | ||
| Clearing height | to 1.5 m | 4 ft., 11 ins. |
German: p. 74.103
German nomenclature: Anhänger für Tragflächen 10 meters (Sd. Ah. 451).
English designation: Trailer for airplane wings, 10 meters.
| Net weight | 2,400 kg | 5,292 lb. | ||
| Pay load | ||||
| Gross weight | 3,400 kg | 7,496 lb. | ||
| Weight: Front axle | 1,700 kg | 3,747 lb. | ||
| Weight: Rear axle | 1,700 kg | 3,747 lb. | ||
| Length (overall) | 11,000 mm | 36 ft., 1 in. | ||
| Width (overall) | 1,900 mm | 6 ft., 3 ins. | ||
| Height (overall) | 3,800 mm | 12 ft., 6 ins. | ||
| Ground clearance | 260 mm | 10 1/4 ins. | ||
| Tread centers | 1,700 mm | |||
| Wheelbase | ||||
| Wheel width | 190 mm | |||
| Angle of approach | ||||
| Angle of departure | ||||
| Fording depth | ||||
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | ||||
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | ||||
| Turning radius |
German: p. 74.91
German nomenclature: Anhänger für Tragflächen, 6 meters (Sd. Ah. 450).
English designation: Trailer for plane wings, 6 meters.
| Net weight | 1,700 kg | 3,747 lb. | ||
| Pay load | 500 kg | 1,103 lb. | ||
| Gross weight | 2,200 kg | 4,850 lb. | ||
| Weight: Front axle | 1,100 kg | 2,425 lb. | ||
| Weight: Rear axle | 1,100 kg | 2,425 lb. | ||
| Length (overall) | 8,300 mm | 27 ft., 3 ins. | ||
| Width (overall) | 1,800 mm | 5 ft., 11 ins. | ||
| Height (overall) | 3,000 mm | 9 ft., 10 ins. | ||
| Ground clearance | 260 mm | 10 1/4 ins. | ||
| Tread centers | 1,500 mm | 4 ft., 11 ins. | ||
| Wheelbase | 4,610 mm | 15 ft., 2 ins. | ||
| Wheel width | 190 mm | 7 1/2 ins. | ||
| Angle of approach | ||||
| Angle of departure | ||||
| Fording depth | ||||
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | ||||
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | ||||
| Turning radius |
German: p. 74.91
The German grenade-throwing rifle (Granatbüchse 39) is a modification of the
The barrel has been shortened to 24 1/8 inches. At the forward end, 4 7/16 inches of the barrel have been turned down to 13/16-inch diameter, and threaded back approximately 1 3/8 inch to accommodate the launcher base. The standard sights have been replaced by special sight equipment. The wooden forearm has been removed, and the carrying sling has been changed to the right side because of the position of the new sights. The bipod mount is located 6 3/4 inches forward of the breech.
The launcher threaded to the barrel is the Scheissbecher, which is also used on the Mauser Kar 98K rifle, firing the same grenades as with the present weapon. The launcher is 7 inches long; the inner tube is 5 1/8 inches long and 1 1/2-inch in external diameter.
Three types of grenades can be fired from the weapon: (1) antipersonnel grenade (Gewehr Sprenggranate); (2) small antitank grenade (Gewehr Panzergranate); (3) large antitank grenade (Gross Gewehr Panzergranate). The propelling medium used is a wooden bulleted blank cartridge. The cartridge case used is a standard 7.92/13 mm case such as is used in the
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber of launcher | 3 cm (1.18 in.) | |
| Weight | 23 lb. | |
| Length | 48 1/2 ins. extended | |
| 35 3/4 ins. folded | ||
| Length of barrel | 24 1/8 ins. | |
| Length of barrel with discharger | 29 1/2 ins. | |
| Feed | Handfeed | |
| Effective range | 80 yds. on moving targets | |
| 136 yds. on stationary targets | ||
| Front sight | Special grid type sight graduated up to 150 meters for the Gewehr Panzergranate grenade | |
| Hear sight | Fixed sight with open U notch |
German: p. 212
The German antitank rifle, Pz. B 39, 7.92 mm, is a weapon of opportunity which is used by the German Army against vehicles having light and medium armor. It fires a cartridge similar to that used in the Polish Mascerzek antitank rifle. This cartridge also resembles the American .50/.30 which has been under development in this country since 1931.
The projectile has a tungsten carbide core and is known to have a small pellet of a lachrymator as well as a tracer mixture. Penetrating power of the bullet at 300 yards’ range is 3/4 inch at 20°, and 1 inch at normal against face-hardened plate. At 100 yards’ range, penetration is 1 1/4 inches at normal.
The weapon has proved to be a simple and reliable gun. The recoil is comparatively light. The rifle is manually loaded and fired single shot from the shoulder with the aid of a bipod. It is equipped with a circular turbine muzzle brake.
The Germans also have an earlier version of this weapon known as the Pz. B 38 which is 7 pounds heavier, has a self-ejecting action, and is more elaborate than the hand-operated Pz. B 39. It fires the same ammunition as the more recent rifle.
The Pz. B 39 uses ammunition boxes holding 10 rounds each, mounted on brackets on each side of the wood stock. These are not magazines but serve to hold the ammunition so that it can be quickly and easily removed for hand loading.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | 7.92 mm (.312 in.) | |
| Weight | 27.25 lb. | |
| Length (with shoulder stock extended) | 62.25 ins. | |
| Ammunition | 13 mm case necked down to 7.92 mm. Bullet has tungsten carbide core with tracer and lachrymotor mixture. | |
| Sights | Rear, fixed with open U notch. Front covered blade. | |
| Capacity | Single rounds | |
| Muzzle velocity | 3,540 f/s |
German: p. 211
The 3.7 cm, formerly the chief German antitank gun, has been largely replaced by the 5 cm (1.97 in.) antitank gun. A stick bomb, 6 1/4 inches in diameter and with an overall length of 29 1/8 inches, has been recently introduced for use with the gun. The bomb, a hollow charge type, has a steel rod which fits into the bore of the piece, and a perforated sleeve which fits around the barrel. Its use is likely restricted to short ranges.
The gun is normally towed on its own wheels by a tractor but may also be carried on a lorry. Weighing 950 lbs., it is a suitable weapon for use by air-borne troops.
The piece consists of an “A” tube, jacket and breech ring combined. The breech block is of the horizontal sliding block type with a hand operated block stop.
The axle incorporates independent suspension which is, however, locked when firing, the freeing and locking being controlled by the opening and closing of the trail legs.
The lower carriage has a pivot housing and bearing face for the top carriage. It also carries the traversing rack, the travelling clamp and the locking gear for the trail legs and houses the axle.
The layer stands on the left side of the weapon and operates the traverse with his right hand by a small handwheel (clockwise to the right, anticlockwise to the left). The arc of traverse is 60°. The arc of 21° elevation and 13° depression is completed by 32 1/2 turns of the handwheel, which the layer operates with his left hand.
A hydraulic buffer and spring recuperator are provided.
The straight tube telescope sights are mounted on an upright bracket carried on the top carriage.
The shield is composed of the gun shield and leg shield, of 3/16″ armor plate. The leg shield folds under the lower carriage when travelling, and folds down to ground level when in action.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | 3.7 cm (1.45 in.) | |
| Weight (firing position) | 970 lbs. | |
| Length of tube | 65.52 ins. (50 cals.) | |
| Rate of fire | 8-10 r.p.m. | |
| Muzzle velocity (A.P. shell) | 2,625 f.s. | |
| Range (maximum—horizontal) | 600 yds. | |
| Elevation | 25° | |
| Depression | 8° | |
| Traverse | 60° | |
| Ammunition | A.P.H.E.; H.E.; stick grenade |
German: p. 130
The Pak 41 first appeared in the European Theater of Operations in 1942. It is the second of the German tapered-bore antitank guns. The monobloc barrel is long, with marked external as well as internal taper. There is no muzzle brake. The breechblock is of the horizontal sliding wedge type opening to the left. There is no provision for automatic opening; it is manually opened by means of the operating handle situated on top of the breech ring. The firing mechanism is a combination percussion inertia type.
The recoil mechanism of the hydro-spring constant type is similar in construction to the
The elevation and traverse mechanisms are both fitted to the left side of the upper carriage.
The piece is mounted on the 3.7 Pak carriage fitted with sheet-metal, pneumatic-tired wheels, with tubular trails approximately 7 feet, 3 inches long. A light, steeply sloping, spaced armor shield is also provided.
A curved arm, riveted to the left side of the upper carriage, houses at its upper end the sight bracket trunnion from which the telescope carrier is hung.
Gerlich type ammunition, both H.E. and A.P., is used with the piece.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | 42/28 mm | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 1,360 lb. | ||||||||||||||||
| Rate of fire | 10-12 rds./min. | ||||||||||||||||
| Muzzle velocity | 4,101 f/s | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight of projectile (A.P.)* | .80 lb. | ||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 19° | ||||||||||||||||
| Depression | -14° | ||||||||||||||||
| Traverse | 44° | ||||||||||||||||
| Penetration | |||||||||||||||||
|
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| *This is a lightweight projectile consisting of a small tungsten carbide core embodied in a lightweight metal jacket. The jacket is so constructed that it is swaged to a smaller diameter as it moves through the tapered bore. This design permits a high muzzle velocity, but can be used for short ranges only as the velocity falls off rapidly. Penetration is accomplished by the core only, and because of its relatively small size very little damage is effected by it. | |||||||||||||||||
German: p. 128
Produced in 1942. This antitank equipment was encountered in the battle of Tunisia. It is composed of the 7.5 cm antitank gun mounted on a Pz. Kpfw. II chassis and its road performance will closely follow that of the Pz. Kpfw. II tank.
The gun, which retains its original shield, recoil system, traversing and elevating gears, is mounted on a platform high on the hull and fires forward. A protective shield 10 mm thick, which slopes away to the rear of the chassis, has been provided. The shield is nearly rectangular except for a projecting portion in front of the gun mounting itself and the top and back are apparently open. The traverse of the gun is limited due to the gun shield fouling the protective shield. A barrel support for travelling is fitted in front of the hull.
The piece, 134 inches in length, is a monobloc type, semi-automatic, with horizontal sliding breech. It consists of barrel with shoes; breech ring with locking ring; breech block with firing mechanism; semi-automatic gear and muzzle brake. The recoil mechanism is comprised of a buffer cylinder, filled with a mixture of glycerine and distilled water, mounted in the cradle and secured by a nut to the front end plate. The piston rod, which is connected to the gun lug, is hollow, and is fitted with a bronze piston head. Ports are drilled in the conical part of the piston. A tapered rod is screwed into the front plug of the cylinder and projects into the hollow piston rod. During recoil the piston moves to the rear and the oil is forced from the buffer cylinder through the ports in the piston and hence through the annular space between the tapered rod and a bushing fitted in the piston. Recoil control is effected by a brass control plunger screwed to the end of the tapered rod. The recuperator is hydro-pneumatic.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | 10 tons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 15 ft., 2¾ ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Width | 7 ft., 4 ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft., 5¾ ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground clearance | 13 ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tread centers | 6 ft., 2 ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground contact | 7 ft., 10 ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Width of track | 11 1/8 ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitch of track | 3 5/8 ins. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track links | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fording depth | 3 ft. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Theoretical radius of action | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roads | 118 miles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cross-country | 78 miles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roads | 25 m.p.h. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cross-country | 12 m.p.h. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Armor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Front plate | 15 + 20 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sides | 15 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Armament | 7.5 cm Pak 40 A.T. gun | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max. effective range | 3200 yards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.V. (Wt. 12.6 lb.) | H.E. 1800 f.s. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.V. (Wt. 15 lb.) | A.P.C. 2525 f.s. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | -5° to +22° | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traverse | 65° | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| Ammunition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engine | Maybach HL 62 TRM, 140 h.p. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transmission | Crash-type gear box, 6 fwd. speeds, 1 reverse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steering | Epicyclic clutch brake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crew | Probably 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German: p. 11
This tank was evolved from the experimental model K-1 which appeared in 1934. Manufactured by the Krupp Company, both tanks were equipped with an air-cooled, four-cylinder, 65 horsepower gasoline engine, Krupp Model M305.
The turret is of horseshoe design, with flat front, the sides and rear being one rolled plate. The superstructure is octagonal with driver’s vision port on the left side of the front plate. Pistol ports are located on three corners of the fighting compartment. An exhaust silencer is placed on each track guard to the rear.
The suspension consists of four rubber-tired bogie wheels, adjustable trailing idler, front sprocket, three return rollers and outside center-guide steel track with dry pin. The idler and rear bogie wheel are paired to articulate on a stub axle. The two center bogie wheels are paired also. Quarter elliptic springs, assisted by a coil spring, absorb road shock. The front bogie is independently mounted and resisted by a coil spring plus a luvax shock absorber. Both articulating bogies are connected by a steel girder.
From the engine the drive is taken to the propeller shaft to the clutch, thence to the crash-type transmission, which is mounted forward on the right of the driver. There are 5 speeds forward and one reverse.
From the transmission the drive is taken through a bevel gear box to steering units of the clutch and brake type on each side. The two steering levers are each provided with two grips, one for normal steering and the other with thumb plunger which operates a “fly-off” type catch for holding the levers back and thereby providing a parking brake. No normal hand brake is fitted. From the steering units the drive is taken via two rubber disc-type universal joints to the final drive reduction gears, mounted inside the hull, to single sprockets driving from the front.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | 5.7 tons | |
| Length | 13 ft., 2 ins. | |
| Width | 6 ft., 9 ins. | |
| Height | 5 ft., 7 ins. | |
| Ground clearance | 12 ins. | |
| Tread centers | 5 ft., 5 ins. | |
| Ground contact | 8 ft., 1 in. | |
| Width of track | 11 ins. | |
| Pitch of track | 3 11/16 ins. | |
| Track links | 89 | |
| Fording depth | 2 ft. | |
| Theoretical radius of action | ||
| Roads | 112 miles | |
| Cross-country | 81 miles | |
| Speed | ||
| Roads | 25 m.p.h. | |
| Cross-country | 15 m.p.h. | |
| Armor | ||
| Front plate | 14 mm | |
| Sides | 10 mm | |
| Armament | Two 7.92 mm M.G. 13 | |
| Ammunition (rds.) | 1525 | |
| Engine | 65 h.p. Krupp Model M305 | |
| Transmission | 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse | |
| Steering | Clutch brake | |
| Crew | 2 |
German: p. 1
German nomenclature: schwerer Betriebstoffkesselkraftwagen (o) mit Fahrgestell des schwerer Lastkraftwagen (o).
English designation: Heavy fuel servicing truck with special chassis for heavy motor truck (standard commercial vehicle).
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight | 8,000 kg | 17,636 lb. | ||
| Pay load* | 5,000 kg | 11,023 lb. | ||
| Gross weight | 13,000 kg | 28,659 lb. | ||
| Weight: Front axle | 5,000 kg | 11,023 lb. | ||
| Weight: Rear axle | 8,000 kg | 17,636 lb. | ||
| Length (overall) | 8,500 mm | 27 ft., 10 ins. | ||
| Width (overall) | 2,500 mm | 8 ft., 2 ins. | ||
| Height (overall) | 2,600 mm | 8 ft., 6 ins. | ||
| Ground clearance | 200 mm | 7 7/8 ins. | ||
| Tread centers | 1,980 mm | 6 ft., 6 ins. | ||
| 2,150 mm | 7 ft. | |||
| Wheelbase | 5,200 mm | 204 ins. | ||
| Wheel width | 320/680 mm | 12½/26¾ ins. | ||
| Angle of approach | 45° | |||
| Angle of departure | 30° | |||
| Seating capacity | 1 | |||
| Fording depth | 450 mm | 17¾ ins. | ||
| Climbing ability | 15° | |||
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) | 50° | |||
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) | 30° | |||
| Turning radius | 23 meters | 75 ft., 5 ins. | ||
| Trailer load | ||||
| Engine horsepower | 110 c-v | 108.5 hp | ||
| Piston displacement | 10,000 cu cm | 600 cu. ins. | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 150—150 liters | 39.6 gal. | ||
| Highway fuel consumption | 5.9-7.8 m.p.g. | |||
| Average terrain fuel consumption | ||||
| *Cyl. of 6,500 l. cap | 1,717 gal. |
German: p. 74.50