SdKfz 2 Kettenkrad: Germany's Halftrack Motorcycle
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The Sd.Kfz. 2 Kettenkraftrad (aka Kettenrad) is a deliciously German sort of vehicle, a small utility tractor made with a pair of treads and motorcycle front wheel. It was powered by a 4 cylinder Opel automotive engine generating 36 horsepower, and had a 3-speed gearbox with high and low range transfer case. Top speed was 44 mph, and it could tow about 1,000 pounds of ammunition or other supplies in a small 2-wheeled trailer, or directly tow light artillery pieces.
The vehicle was developed in 1939, and in mass production in time to see substantial use in Operation Barbarossa; the German invasion of Russia. Although complex to maintain and expensive to produce, the Kettenkrad was quite well suited to the terrain and distances of the Eastern Front. As the war progressed and supplies became scarcer and artillery became heavier it was less universally useful, but remained in service until the very end of the war, tasked with jobs as mundane as towing aircraft at airfields. After the war, they were put into civilian agricultural service (much like the Jeep in the US).
This example is in the rental fleet at DriveTanks.com, available for instruction and driving to anyone. It is one of my very favorite vehicles form World War Two, and I really appreciate DriveTanks giving me the opportunity to do some driving on it and show it to you! See all their available rentals here:
www.drivetanks.com
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740
This looks like the perfect vehicle to explore an abandoned city with.
When you want to blitzkrieg but Hans only has a motorcycle license.
"Get in loser were going to open 4 different fronts and stretch our industrial capacity to past its limits "
Q: How was this designed?
When someone orders an über.
Looks at the tracks it leaves : looks like the enemy was on a unicycle and the tank was in pursuit
"Come over, my parents aren't home."
German Engineer:
Ian's Last Tour
When you're a pizza delivery guy on the Russian front.
My mother was a tank.
Watches it drive by
what a beautiful vehicle to drive around with your friend in a post apocalyptic world
SdKfz 2 - when you are into tanks so much even your motorcycle has tracks.
"Feels like it's waiting for the first opportunity to roll over and kill you"
I first saw the Kettenkrad in Girls' Last Tour, it's truly a magnificent motorcycle.
"The germans didnt build things just to look cool though..."
Ian’s vehicle for the Tour de France, 2020, Colorized
Dad:what do you want for a birthday son?
I wanted one of these back when I first heard of them.