I have been researching this vehicle for some years now and am still in need of a good rear view to complete a drawing.A side view drg.is attached and also the only rear view I have which is not very clear.Any help would be greatly appreciated from the Landships fraternity.
Interesting MZ's photo has completely different wheels from the drawing. The drawing shows rear wheels with retractable spades (or spuds) arround the wheel rim controlled by those curved spokes inside the wheel. Versions of this type of wheel were fitted to a number of makes of heavy tractor. The rear wheels in MZ's photo clearly have no such spuds.
It would seem that the "Lastenverteilgerät" variant had even sized wheels front and rear, while the tractor variant had larger rear wheels - of which at least two different types existed, which also could be found on Dürkopps and Deutzes.
If you mean the one used for ammunition haulage the photo I have shows it with the same large rear wheels with retractable spuds as the tractor variant. Vanderveen states that the tractor had a same sized wheels version
The wheel with the retractable spuds was called "Pöhl-Rad" after the Pöhl Company, which also produced the 4 wheel Pöhl artillery tractor. The "Lastenverteilgerät" is the construction seen in my first picture, where the gun isn't drawn but hangs in a swing supported by tractor and trailer. It would seem that the initial Lastenverteiler tractor did not have the large rear wheels, although there are also pictures that show ones with large wheels later in the war.
Building on MadZep's comments above regarding retractable spuds, here's a pic I found on eBay some days ago. It is a Pöhl motorised plow. This is the German agricultural company Zep refers to.
Thanks to you all for the marvellous response to my enquiry re.the Bussing tractor.I feel that I now have enough evidence to proceed with a drawing which could show an alternate set of wheels and possibly a side view of the ammo carrying version.During my trawling through many websites I found the attached pics.of the Bussing,the Lanz and Podeus tractors which may interest fellow tractor enthusiasts.A fascinating subject and a much neglected one.Again my thanks to you all.
The 80 HP Pöhl agricultural Schlepper, also used as tractor for German heavy guns. Note square openings for spuds visible in rear picture. Vehicle was also equiped with winch.
Building on MadZep's comments above regarding retractable spuds, here's a pic I found on eBay some days ago.
Except I think that those spuds are not retractable. There appear to have been two types of wheel with retractable spuds, type 1 with large square openings for the spuds and type 2 with much smaller openings (and presumably smaller spuds). Both have the internal curved spoke arrangement that avtuates the spuds. The difference can be seen by comparing some of the Bussing photos in the previous threads with the Durkopp one I posted. I suspect that the Deutz wheel was similar.
The British army had trialed a steam traction engine with retractable spuds about forty years previously. The spudded wheels proved sucessful on soft going but unsatisfactory when the ground was harder. Possibly some of the German heavy tractors had different sets of wheels for road work and for off road situations?
ARTL. KR. PROTZE Benz 100 Durkopp 3 Horch 3 Lanz 3 Maqirus 3 Juperster-Werke 10 Nag 3
Obviously the KD1 was the vehicle of primary importance, but Daimler production could not timely fulfill army needs, hence the proliferation of orders to other firms for substitute vehicles.
Of further interest is the Kraftprotzen. These were invisioned to provide mobility to 25% of divisional field pieces. I think the Benz version was discussed in an earlier tread by Tim.
The "Kraftzugmaschine" was to tow spring mounted guns by means of a cushioned coupler. The "Kraftzugschlepper" was designed to move unsprung older guns by means of a "Lastenverteilergerät" (load distrubition apparatus). The "Kraftprotze" was foreseen to tow guns without limber.
KD1 was originally developed for the new 15cm K16 and the 8,8 cm and 10,5 cm Flak trailers, but soon proved to be jacks of all trades.
I found this image on Ebay. The photo do not show a Bussing tractor (I think a Podeus tractor with a load of a 42cm german howitzer Big Bertha) but it is a interesting photo:
