This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2013) |
The Sd.Kfz. 4 was a 4.5-tonne military truck of Maultier ("mule") half-track family developed during World War II by Germany. Its manufacturer designation was Mercedes-Benz L4500R.
| Sd.Kfz. 4 | |
|---|---|
 15 cm Panzerwerfer auf Sf (Sd.Kfz. 4/1) at the Saumur Tank Museum | |
| Type | Half-track/Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7.1 tonnes |
| Length | 6 m |
| Width | 2.2 m |
| Height | 2.5 m |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | 8 mm |
Main armament | 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 2,000 rounds |
| Engine | 6-cylinder Opel 3.6-litre engine. |
Operational range | 130 km |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h |
Development
editThe Sd.Kfz. 4 was developed after the 1941 invasion of the USSR to deal with the ice and mud, which bogged down the wheels-only road-bound commercial vehicles that were used to supply German forces. It was a modified Standard Mercedes-Benz L4500S (4x2) with Horstmann suspension instead of a rear axle. Another manufacturer of 4.5-t truck, Büssing planned a similar conversion of its Büssing-NAG L4500S but did not proceed.
A total of 22,500 Maultier halftracks were produced by 1944, among which 1480 were 4.5-t. Sd.Kfz. 4, others 2-t. Sd.Kfz. 3. In 1943 Opel was directed to build armored vehicles outfitted with 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 rocket launchers.[1] These vehicles were designated Sd.Kfz. 4/1, with around 300 produced. Given the extra weight of the Panzerwerfer, the top speed was only 24 mph (40 km/h). Another multiple rocket launching system, the 8 cm Raketen-Vielfachwerfer, was also fitted to the Sd.Kfz. 4 chassis.
The vast majority of Maultiers operated using British-pattern Carden-Loyd running gear, with the exception of the Type L4500R, which used PzKpfw. II running gear. The 6-cylinder engines were mated to a transmission with five forward gears plus reverse and could attain a maximum forward speed of 40 km/h. Each halftrack was equipped with the FuG Spr G f radio.
Aside from the Sd.Kfz. 4/1, the Sd.Kfz. 4 was armed only with a light 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun with a traverse of 270° and elevation limits of -12° to +80°.
Notes
edit- ^ "Germany's Munitionskraftwagen für Nebelwerfer (SdKfz 4), 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf "Maultier" (Opel) SdKfz 4/1 half tracks". WWIIVehicles.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.