World War II Technology: Tanks and Tracked Vehicles--Half-tracks


Figure 1.--This is a Wehrmacht SdKfz Halftrack and part of the crew. It probably pulled a 88-mm gun. Notice that it was not armored or would it offer much protectin in incklemate weather. The photograph is not dated, nor do we know when it was taken. We think it may have been taken in Poland after the German invasion, perhaps about October 1939. The boy may be an ethnic German.

The half-track was a front-wheel steering vehicle with tracked rear drive. It had rubber tire wheels at the front which afforded a manuverability that tanksdid not have. There were continuous tracks at the back to carry the load abd actually drive the vehicle. The idea behind this combination was to produce a vehicle that married the manueverability of a truck and the cross countrt capability of a tank. They could could keep up with and accompny tanks in offensive operations, both to carry infantry as well as supplied and artillery. Many, but not all were armored. They added to the mobility of armored divisions because they enabled the infantry and artillery to keep up with the tanks. The infantry was needed to both protect the tanks and to rapidly exploit breeches in the enemy lines made by the tanks. As the war progressed and infantry anti-tank weapons were developed, infantry to protect the tanks becae increasingly important. They added both firepower and protection to the infantry. The Germans had a few different types of half-track trucks and this should really be compared to the American half track. One of the most important was the the German Sdkfz-7 Eight Ton Half-Track which could could haul more than the American half track. It was used used primarily as the 88-mm transporter. The Americans could, however, manufactue motorized vehiches, half tracks, in much lrger numbers than the Germans. That type of truck was introduced before the war (1937-38 I think) and all through the War. It performed well in the sands of North Africa and the mud of Russia, but it had a short range and small load capacity (do not know the load weight). The American deuce and a half truck performed roles often given to half tracks. It was faster, had a longer range, and carried a bigger load, but needed a some what good ground to drive on. The trucks the United States provided to the Red Army under Lend Lease significantly improved the mobility and thus effectiveness of Soviet artillery on the Eastern Front. With the loss of air superiority in the West the Germans found it very difficult to move their artillery, even the highly mobile 88s.

Characteristics

The half-track was, as the name implies, a front-wheel steering vehicle with tracked rear drive. It had rubber tire wheels at the front which afforded a manuverability that tanks did not have. There were continuous tracks at the back to carry the load and actually drive the vehicle. Many, but not all were armored as unlike trucks they were deigned for font-line combat use. The specific characteristics varies as to the precise purpoe such a towing artillery or noving infantry.

Purpose

The idea behind the half-track was to produce a vehicle that married the manueverability of a truck and the cross countrt capability of a tank. Thehalf-track was an offensive weapon, one of many elements of the German tactical docrine of mobility so that overwealming force could be rapidly applied to critical points on the battlefield. The wheels provided manuerability. The tracks reduced the pressure on any given area in sharp contrast to wheeled vehicles. The track spread the weight of the vehicle's and load over a larger area. Thus the vehicle could go cross country a well as move over roads in snow and mud that was impassible to wheeled vehicles. They could could thus keep up with and accompny tanks in offensive operations, both to carry infantry as well as supplied and artillery. They added to the mobility of armored divisions because they enabled the infantry and artillery to keep up with the tanks. The infantry was needed to both protect the tanks and to rapidly exploit breeches in the enemy lines made by the tanks. As the war progressed and infantry anti-tank weapons were developed, infantry to protect the tanks becae increasingly important. They added both firepower and protection to the infantry. The Germns used them for Panzergrenadiers deployed to protect the tanks as light anti-tabk wepons were developed for the infantry.

Country Trends

The Germans gave considerable attention to halftracks as part of their Blitzkrieg tactical doctrine. The Germans had a few different types of half-track trucks and this should really be compared to the American half track. One important halftrack was the unarmored German Sdkfz-7 Eight Ton Half-Track which could could haul more than the American half track. It was used used primarily as the 88-mm transporter. The Americans could, however, manufactue motorized vehiches, half tracks, in much larger numbers than the Germans. the Sdkfz-7 was introduced before the war (1938) and all through the War. It performed well in the sands of North Africa and the mud of Russia, but it had a short range and small load capacity. The armored Sd.Kfz. 250s/251s were the primary German half-tracks of the war. Over 15,000 including variants were produced by various manufacturers. They were referred to simply as 'Hanomags'. The United States produced some 43,000 half-tracks, providing some to the Btitish, French, and Soviets. Most of American production was the M2 and similar M3, but beginning in 1942 we begin to see the M5. The M13 and M16 were M5 variants. The American deuce and a half truck performed roles often given to half tracks. It was faster, had a longer range, and carried a bigger load, but needed a did not have the off-road capability of a lalf track. The trucks the United States provided to the Red Army under Lend Lease significantly improved the mobility and thus effectiveness of Soviet artillery on the Eastern Front. With the loss of air superiority in the West the Germans found it very difficult to move their artillery, even the highly mobile 88s. And the half-tracks used for Panzergrenadiers were also vulnerable. The Soviet half-track was the BA-30 which appeared in 1937. It was not very sucessful and not produced in quantity. Which is one reason why you often see Red Army soldiers riding on T-34 tanks. The Japanese half track was the Type 98. The French cme out with the UNIC Kegresse P107 in 1934. Large numbers fell into German hands after the fall of France. As a result they were used by the Wehrmacht in operation Barbarossa.







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Created: 2:36 AM 2/9/2013
Last updated: 7:09 AM 2/25/2016