Sd.Kfz. 6
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The Sd.Kfz. 6 (SonderkraftfahrzeugTemplate:Efn 6) was a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was designed to be used as the main towing vehicle for the 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer.
Development
Development of a new medium artillery tractor began in 1934 at Büssing-NAG, in Berlin. The vehicle, produced in around 750 units until 1942, could carry up to 11 men in three rows, covered by a canvas structure. As well as a tractor for the 10.5 leFH 18 howitzer, the vehicle was to be used to tow heavy equipment for engineer units. Production was carried out by both Büssing-NAG and Daimler-Benz.<ref name="Bi7">Bishop, p. 78.</ref><ref name="GG">Lepage, 2007 pp140–141</ref>
Description
The engine used gave Template:Convert, depending on the production version. Sd.Kfz. 6 was used by the various German military forces (Army, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe) for the entire war.<ref name="Bi7" /><ref name="GG" />
Variants
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- Sd.Kfz. 6
- Standard half-tracked vehicle for Pioneers, used for towing Pioneer equipment and transporting fifteen men.<ref name="Bi7" /><ref name="Lepage">Lepage, p. 146.</ref>
- Sd.Kfz. 6/1
- Standard half-tracked vehicle for Artillery, used for towing artillery pieces and transporting 10 men plus 500 kg equipment.<ref name="Bi7" /><ref name="Lepage">Lepage, p. 146.</ref>
- Sd.Kfz. 6/2 3,7 cm FlaK36 auf Fahrgestell Zugkraftwagen 5t
- A Sd.Kfz. 6 fitted with a 3.7 cm Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun, sides would fold down to allow space to work on. Crew of seven.,<ref name="Bi7" /><ref name="Lepage" /> with three loaders and two gunners in the back, with the rest in the front.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> 203 vehicles were produced for the Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1941. The gun had an elevation of -8° to +85°.
- Sd.Kfz. 6/3 7,62 cm FK 296(r) auf Selbstfahrlafette Zugkraftwagen 5t
- A Panzerjaeger constructed from a Sd.Kfz. 6 carrying a captured Soviet 76mm F-22 gun portée within an armoured superstructure.<ref name="Bi7" /><ref name="Lepage" /> The gun was emplaced on the rear on its field carriage and Template:Convert thick armour plates were added to the sides and rear to augment the protection given by the gun shield.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Nine were produced in 1941-42<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
References
Notes
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Bibliography
External links
- "Tractors Haul Artillery In Mechanized Army" Popular Mechanics, August 1937 – excellent photo of early Sd.Kfz. 6s on parade
- Technical data of Sd.Kfz. 6 at wehrmacht-history.com
- 7.62cm Pak 36 (r) Auf 5t Zugkraftwagen Sd Kfz.6/3 at tanks-encyclopedia