Maultier
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2013) |
| Maultier | |
|---|---|
 OpelMaultier exiting from aMesserschmitt Me 323Giganttransport. | |
| Type | Half-track |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941 - 1945 |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1941 |
| Produced | 1942-1944 |
| No.built | 20,945 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3,930–5,500 kg (8,660–12,130 lb)[1] |
| Length | 5.95–7.9 m (19 ft 6 in – 25 ft 11 in) |
| Width | 2.25–2.36 m (7 ft 5 in – 7 ft 9 in) |
| Height | 2.1–3.2 m (6 ft 11 in – 10 ft 6 in) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Armor | none |
| Engine | 3.6-litre 6-cylpetrolengine (Opel Blitz) |
| Maximum speed | 36–38 km/h (22–24 mph) |
Maultier(English: "mule") orSd.Kfz.3is the name given to series ofhalf-tracktrucks used byNazi GermanyduringWorld War II.They were based onOpel,Mercedes-Benz,Alfa RomeoorFordtrucks.
History
[edit]Soon after invading the USSR, German troops discovered that their wheeled transport vehicles were unsuitable for the sparse road network, particularly in the muddy conditions of therasputitsa.Only half tracks like theSd.Kfz. 11could haul supplies to forward units in these conditions, but removing them from their combat role for supply duties was not feasible, so it was decided to produce half-tracked versions of standard Opel, Daimler-Benz, Alfa-Romeo and Ford trucks (lorries) by removing their rear axles, truncating theprop-shaftsand connecting them to redundantPanzer Itrack assemblies. Heavier trucks (4 tons payload) were fitted withPanzer IItrack assemblies.
Horstmann suspensioncomponents employed by the Panzer I was practically identical to the light tank track system used on theUniversal Carrier,with the Maultier's use of them closely resembling the roadwheel/suspension system used by theT16 American-produced versionin its roadwheel design. Most Maultier conversions were based onOpel Blitzmodel S trucks, which proved successful in service.
Although they lacked the overall mobility of purpose-built half tracks, they were cheaper and sufficiently effective. From 1943 some Maultier trucks were fitted with armored bodies, designatedSd.Kfz. 4.[2]Some of these were armed with ten-tube rocket launcherPanzerwerfer 42,and were designated Sd.Kfz.. 4/1.
Production
[edit]The vehicles were built by Opel at theKlöckner-Humboldt-DeutzAG and also in France in theFordfactory inAsnieres.In 1942 a total of 635 vehicles were produced, 1943 there were 13,000 and 1944 only 7,310.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage,German Military Vehicles of World War II: An Illustrated Guide to Cars,p. 112
- ^"Germany's Maultier (" mule ")".Archived fromthe originalon 11 July 2015.Retrieved19 June2013.
- ^"Lexikon der Wehrmacht".www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de.Retrieved24 December2018.
| Tanks |  | |
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| Self-propelled artillery | ||
| Assault guns | ||
| Tank destroyers (Panzerjäger,Jagdpanzer) | ||
| Half-tracks | ||
| Armored cars | ||
| Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns |
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| Demolition vehicles | ||
| Experimental vehicles, prototypes | ||
| Proposed designs | ||
| Designations | ||