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Qdkfz2
Sd.Kfz.2
NSU-Kettenkrad HK-101
Sd.Kfz.2 Kleines Kettenkraftrad
Kettenkrad
General Historical Information
Place of origin Germany
Italian
Category Artillery tractor
Speed 70 km/h
General Ingame Information
Used by Germany
Crew in‑game 2
Seat 2 Passenger/ 7.92mm MG 42
Transporting artillery Yes:
2 cm Flak 38
3.7 cm Pak 36
7.5 cm IG 37
Historical Picture
Sd.Kfz. 2 Kettenkrad

Although initially designed to act as an airlanded light tractor for airborne forces, the Kettenkrad (Ketten = tracks, krad = military abbreviation of the German word Kraftrad, the administrative German term for motorcycles) was, effectively, a half-tracked motorcycle. This gave better performance off-road than traditional motorcycles. In fact, for extreme off-road conditions the fornt wheel could be removed and the Kettenkrad became a fully tracked vehicle.

The first use was in 1941 during the Battle of Crete where Junkers Ju 52s carried the Kettenkrad into battle. Also it saw service in 1941 on the Eastrern Front, where it was mostly used to lay communication cables, pull heavy loads and carry soldiers through the deep Russian mud. In addition to the Eastern Front the Kettenkrad saw widespread service in North Africa, Italy and the Western Front.

As the war progressed Kettenkrads would begin to also be used as tugs for aircraft on runways, most notably the Me 262 as jet fuel was at such a premium the German Luftwaffe attempted to conserve it wherever possible. Over 9,000 of this distinctive vehicle were produced during the war.


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