This 18-ton vehicle is the heaviest of the German semitrack prime movers. It is often used by the Germans in the evacuation of their damaged tanks. It has a net weight of 16.8 tons and a combat weight of 19.8 tons. Its personnel capacity is 8, including driver and helper, and it can tow a trailer load of 20 tons. The maximum highway range of action is 160 miles on a fuel tank capacity of 72 gallons. Its weight distribution is as follows: front wheels, 5,289 pounds; track, 34,320 pounds.
The front suspension is comprised of a tubular floating axle mounting two pneumatic-tired, heavy duty wheels with transverse leaf springing. The track suspension is the standard semitrack system consisting of straddle-mounted rubber-tired bogie wheels sprung on torsion bars housed in cross tubes; front sprocket, rear idler, and needle-bearing track.
The power plant is the V-12 cylinder, Maybach gasoline engine rated at 230 horsepower. The transmission provides four speeds forward and one reverse with high and low range. Steering is effected by normal steering wheel and an epicyclic-controlled differential drive for the track with a brake linkage connected to the front-wheel steering system.
In addition to the electric starter, this vehicle is also equipped with a Bosch airplane-type inertia starter located on the right side of the engine.
A power winch is located at the rear, with facilities for passing the cable beneath the vehicle and out the front end. The winch-driving mechanism and the drum are located near the center of the chassis. The drum is horizontal and is driven by a propeller shaft from the rear of the transmission. The hub of the winch-driving mechanism is fitted with a slide gear which enables the operator to engage and disengage the winch from the rear of the vehicle. The winch-lifting capacity is 7.7 tons.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | 16.8 tons | |
| Length | 27 ft. | |
| Width | 8 ft., 6 ins. | |
| Height | 9 ft., 1 in. | |
| Ground clearance | 21 ins. | |
| Tread centers | (wheels, 82 ins.; track, 78 ins.) | |
| Ground contact | 9 ft., 4 ins. | |
| Width of track | 17.3 ins. | |
| Track links | 47 | |
| Pitch of track | ||
| Fording depth | 30 ins. | |
| Theoretical radius of action | ||
| Roads | 161 miles | |
| Cross-country | 62 miles | |
| Speed | ||
| Roads | ||
| Cross-country | ||
| Armor | ||
| Front plate | ||
| Sides | ||
| Armament | ||
| Ammunition | ||
| Engine | Maybach HL 98 TUK, 230 hp. | |
| Transmission | 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse, high and low range | |
| Steering | Normal and epicyclic-controlled differential | |
| Crew | 8 |
German: p. 56