Landships II

Centurion · Legend

And ploughshares back into swords

Tim R · Hero

Hello Centurion

I have for years found these small �SELBSTANGETRIEBENE ARTILLERIE� very interesting, I have attached a few drawings of all three versions.

1.WD-Schlepper 25 PS als Selbstfahrlafette fur 3,7 cm Tak L/45

2.WD-Schlepper 50 PS als Selbstfahrlafette fur 7,7 cm Field Kanone 96/16

3.LHB-Schlepper als Selbstfahrlafette fur 3,7 cm Pak L/65

As well as a few photos, and a schematic for the LHB-Raupenschlepper.

Here is a general history of the first two Selbstangetriebene Artillerie.

�In 1927, Germans designed two self-propelled guns based on fully tracked Hamomag tractors as commercial Hanomag tractors were already in use with the army. First was 3.7cm WD Schlepper 25PS, which was a lightly armored 25hp Hanomag WD tractor with pedestal mounted 37mm PaK L/45 gun. The gun had limited traverse of 30 degrees only. The vehicle also carried single machine gun for defence. Second was 7.7cm WD Schlepper 50PS, which was 50hp Hanomag WD tractor with pedestal mounted 77mm K light gun. The gun had full 360 degrees traverse. Both self-propelled guns were accepted into service with the German Army (Reichswehr) in 1927. Small number of vehicles was produced and was used mainly for testing� ACHTUNG PANZER Early Projects and Prototypes

If any one is interested I have some more technical photos, and information.

All the best

Tim R

Centurion · Legend

Thinks Tim - another link in the chain. The source of my original photo showing the A7V traction units being dismantled and tractors built comes from the Hanomag museum archives which identifies the tractors as the first batch of Hanomag tractors that became the WD-Schlepper 50. Your drawing confirms the this as it is clearly the same tractor. The archive also ids Joseph Vollmer as being the man who originally set the production line up . So we have a contiuous link from A7V to these mini SPs

Any more info gratefully received

-- Edited by Centurion at 21:14, 2006-09-18

Vilkata · Brigadier

The original tractors seemed to have a seat just for one man, but these SPGs seem to have a bench seat. But, the center of the bench seat probably couldnt be used as a seat in combat because the recoil mechanism would traverse over it when the gun fired. So, can we assume that this vehicle had a crew of 2, one sitting on either end of the bench seat?

---Vil.

Centurion · Legend

One assumes that the seat would only be occupied when in motion. When stopped for firing, with stabilizers, jacks etc in place the crew would be standing at their gun positions.