Tag: zgkw

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German

m. Zgkw. 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6): Medium Semitrack Prime Mover

m. Zgkw. 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6): Medium Semitrack Prime Mover

This is the medium 5-ton semitrack prime mover. It is designed as an artillery tractor to tow the piece and carry the gun crew of fourteen men. It is similar in design to all of the standard line of semitrack prime movers for artillery. It can tow a trailer load of 11,000 pounds when loaded to a combat weight of 19,360 pounds. The weight distribution on the front axle is 2,860 pounds, and on the track 16,500 pounds.

The suspension is made up of six dual-rim, rubber-tired bogie wheels, three of which are alternately straddle-mounted to torsion bars, followed by the idler which just clears the ground. The sprocket is fitted with contact rollers and rigidly mounted to the frame.

The vehicle is powered by a Maybach NL 38 TRKM 95 horsepower engine fitted with standard 12-volt Bosch magneto ignition and No. 40 JFF 2 Solex Carburetor.

The transmission combines the final drive which includes an epicyclic reduction gear for each sprocket. Steering is effected from the steering wheel in the usual manner up to 15°, after which the epicyclic steering brakes cause a reduction in the speed of the track on the inside of the turn, while through the differential a relative compensating action takes place.

This vehicle has a fuel tank capacity of 47 gallons; its highway fuel consumption is 1 gallon in 4 miles. The lifting winch which is fitted to the rear has a lifting power of 2.7 tons.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         8 tons
Length 19 ft., 9 ins.
Width 7 ft., 2 ins.
Height 8 ft., 2 ins.
Ground clearance 15 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 7 ins.
Ground contact 6 ft., 6 ins.
Width of track 12.6 ins.
Track links 55
Pitch of track
Fording depth 2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 180 miles
     Cross-country 71 miles
Speed
     Roads 30 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 18 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate
     Sides
Armament
Ammunition
Engine 6-cyl. Maybach HL 42 TRKM—100 hp.
Transmission 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse, high and low range
Steering 15° and over—Epicyclic controlled differential
Crew 15

German: p. 53

Categories
German

l. Zgkw. 3t (Sd. Kfz. 11): Light Semitrack Prime Mover

l. Zgkw. 3t (Sd. Kfz. 11): Light Semitrack Prime Mover

The following variations of the 3-ton light semitrack prime mover are known: (1) medium armored personnel carrier (Sd. Kfz. 251); (2) smoke vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 11/1) when it is apparently fitted with racks to carry generators; (3) medium decontamination vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 11/2); (4) medium bulk contamination vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 11/3); (5) ambulance. The vehicle is also used for mounting antiaircraft weapons.

The body and frame are constructed of electrically welded steel.

The suspension is the normal type as used for semitrack vehicles. Six pressed-steel, double-rim bogie wheels are straddle mounted on torsion bars which are housed in cross tubes, each containing two torsion bars. The track consists of rubber-pad track blocks which contain needle-bearings.

A normal type forged front axle is used to carry two pressed-steel wheels with 7.5 x 18 tires. No front brakes are provided. Triangular radius rods similar to conventional Ford system are attached from axle to cross members at rear of engine.

The power plant consists of a 6-cylinder, in-line, valve-in-head, liquid-cooled engine Maybach engine, type NL 42 TUKRR, rated 100 horsepower.

The vehicle has a radius of action of 168 miles on roads and 84 miles cross-country. It has a seating capacity for eight men, including the driver.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         6 tons
Length 18 ft.
Width 6 ft., 7 ins.
Height 7 ft., 3 ins.
Ground clearance 12.5 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 3 ins.
Ground contact 5 ft., 11 ins.
Width of track 11 ins.
Track links 54
Pitch of track 5.5 ins.
Fording depth 20 ins.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 168 miles
     Cross-country 84 miles
Speed
     Roads
     Cross-country
Trailer load 3.3 tons
Engine Maybach, NL 42 TUKRR—100 hp.
Transmission 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse, high and low range
Steering Front wheel and track epicyclic, controlled by normal steering wheel
Crew         8

German: p. 52

Categories
German

m. Zgkw. 8 t (Sd. Kfz. 7): Medium Semitrack Prime Mover

m. Zgkw. 8 t (Sd. Kfz. 7): Medium Halftrack Semitrack Prime Mover

The medium semitracked prime mover, like all German semitracks, is highly maneuverable. Its maneuverability is due to an epicyclic-controlled differential drive for the track with a brake linkage connected to the front-wheel steering system. These brakes are applied to the epicyclic on the side to which the turn is being made when the front wheels are turned. This results in easy steering.

This vehicle has a seating capacity for 12 (with driver), a trailer load capacity of 8.5 tons and a maximum highway range of 155 miles on a fuel capacity of 50 gallons. Its combat weight is 12.7 tons.

Body cross members are made up of flat steel welded to form an I-beam construction. All brackets, supports, etc., are welded and a minimum of rivets and bolts are used. Rather than cut holes in the frame to attach the body, a C-clamp is used.

Both spring and torsion bars were utilized in its suspension. A transverse spring, concave downward, is used as the suspension for the front end. The track portion of this vehicle has a total of four springs, two on each side, that make up the spring suspension for the rear. In addition, the trailing idler of each track is mounted eccentrically on a torsion bar which allows the tracks to be readily adjusted.

The power plant is a Maybach, valve-in-head, 6-cylinder gasoline engine, rated 140 hp. at 2,600 r.p.m. The power train includes a feature well worth reviewing. Incorporated in the clutch assembly is a brake that is located to the rear of the clutch disks. When the clutch is disengaged, the brake functions and retards the speed of the drive shaft to the transmission. This results in very easy gear-shifting.

This semitrack is equipped with inertia starter in addition to the electric starter, and a cable winch, capable of lifting 3.8 tons, is fitted in the rear.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         10.7 tons
Length 22 ft., 5 ins.
Width 7 ft., 10 ins.
Height 8 ft., 6 ins.
Ground clearance 15.7 ins.
Tread centers (Wheel, 78 ins.), (Track, 70 ins.)
Ground contact 7 ft., 4 ins.
Width of track 14 ins.
Track links 54
Pitch of track 7 ins.
Fording depth 25 ins.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 155 miles
     Cross-country 62 miles
Speed
     Roads 30 m.p.h. (est.)
     Cross-country 18 m.p.h. (est.)
Armor
     Front plate None
     Sides None
Trailer load 8.5 tons
Engine Maybach HL TR, 140 hp.
Transmission 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse, high and low range
Steering Epicyclic controlled differential
Crew 12

German: p. 54

Categories
German

l. Zgkw. 1t (Sd. Kfz. 10): Light Semitrack Prime Mover

l. Zgkw. 1t (Sd. Kfz. 10): Light Semitrack Prime Mover

This vehicle is used as a troop carrier and for towing light artillery and supply trailers. Accommodation for a crew of seven, including driver, is provided in the well of the body, the sides of which are sufficiently deep to obscure personnel to shoulder height when seated. With all inspection hatches of the hull closed the main body of the vehicle is practically watertight in traversing deep water.

The chassis of this vehicle is used for several specialized mountings: (1) for the 2 cm Flak 30 gun; (2) for gas-detector truck (Sd. Kfz. 10/1); (3) for light decontamination vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 10/2) carrying a hopper for spreading bleaching powder; (4) for light bulk contamination vehicle (Sd. Kfz. 10/3) fitted with a tank for blister gas and spraying device.

The power plant of the later models consists of a Maybach H.L. 42 T.R.K.M. straight-six, water-cooled engine rated at 100 horsepower. The Maybach N.L. 38 T.R.K.M. rated at 95 horsepower was formerly used. The power train is comprised of the twin-plate clutch, the preselective type transmission with four forward and one reverse speeds with high and low range, and the differential unit of spur-gear and pinion type. Steering is effected by normal steering wheel for turns under 15°; turns over 15° are negotiated by the combined action of turning the front wheels and braking the appropriate epicyclic-drive sprocket by means of the steering brakes mounted on the driving shaft.

The pneumatic-tired front wheels are of the disk type and are fitted on a normal type axle suspended by a single transverse semi-elliptic spring. Two hydraulic shock absorbers are fitted. Each of the flexible rear tracks is borne by a driving sprocket at the front end and an idler wheel at the rear, while between these are five pairs of pressed-steel, rubber-tired bogie wheels.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         3.7 tons
Length 15 ft., 7 ins.
Width 6 ft.
Height 5 ft., 3 ins.
Ground clearance 13 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 2 ins.
Ground contact 4 ft., 6 ins.
Width of track 9.4 ins.
Track links 41
Pitch of track 6.25 ins.
Fording depth 27 ins.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 176 miles
     Cross-country 93 miles
Speed
     Roads 40 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 25 m.p.h.
Trailer load 1.1 ton
Engine Maybach HL 42 TRKM—100 hp.
Transmission 4 forward speeds, 1 reverse, high and low range
Steering Over 15° epicyclic
Crew 7

German: p. 51

Categories
German

s. Zgkw. 12 t (Sd. Kfz. 8): Heavy Semitrack Prime Mover

s. Zgkw. 12 t (Sd. Kfz. 8): Heavy Semitrack Prime Mover

The 12-ton heavy prime mover is highly mobile despite its bulky appearance. It can handle a trailer load of 13 tons and carry a crew of 11, including the driver. It has a weight distribution as follows: front wheels, 5,200 pounds; track, 21,300 pounds. Its combat weight is 16 tons.

The front suspension consists of a tubular axle of the oscillating, floating type carried by two pressed steel wheels, size 11.25 x 20, mounting extra heavy-duty tires. A traverse leaf spring is on a pivot in the center of the frame. One end of the spring is mounted to the axle through a shackle while the other end is free to slide. The rear, or track suspension, is made up of six twin rubber-tired bogie wheels mounted on torsion arms, attached to torsion bars and housed in cross tubes. The front drive sprocket and rear idler complete the assembly. The track is of the needle-bearing type with removable rubber pads.

Steering is by conventional steering wheel and through epicyclic-controlled differential to the track sprockets, being actuated by hydraulic brake bands.

Power is furnished by a Maybach V-12 over-head valve, liquid-cooled, HL 85 TUKRM gasoline engine, rated at 185 horsepower. Ignition is the conventional 12-volt Bosch magneto located behind the carburetors. All ignition wires are carried in a flexible aluminum conduit to the side of the engine.

The transmission provides four speeds forward, one reverse, with high and low range.

This vehicle is equipped with an inertia starter and a cable winch with a lifting power of 5.5 tons.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight       13 tons
Length24 ft.
Width8 ft., 2 1/2 ins.
Height9 ft., 2 ins.
Ground clearance16 ins.
Tread centers6 ft., 3 ins. (wheels, 6 ft., 9 ins.)
Ground contact8 ft., 3 ins.
Width of track15.7 ins.
Track links55
Pitch of track8 ins.
Fording depth25 ins.
Theoretical radius of action
   Roads155 miles
   Cross-country62 miles
Speed
   Roads30 m.p.h. (est.)
   Cross-country18 m.p.h. (est.)
Armor
   Front plateNone
   SidesNone
Armament
Ammunition (rds.)
EngineMaybach HL 85 TURRM, 185 hp.
Transmission4 speeds forward, 1 reverse, high and low range
Steering15° and over—Epicyclic controlled differential
Crew11

German: p. 55