kleintraktor (Antrieb Hinten)

Overview

kleintraktor (Antrieb Hinten)
General Data
Type	Light Tank
Place of Origin	Germany (Deutsches Reich)
Designed by	Krupp
Designed	1929 - 1931
Manufacturer	Krupp
Produced	Early 1931 (mockup)
Number Built	Mockup only
Development
Developed Into	Kleintraktor Fgst.Nr. 8000
Armament
Main Gun	Rheinmetall 2cm machine gun (planned) (500-rnds)
Traverse	60° (30° left, 30° right) (in mount) 360° (turret)
Elevation	-8° to +25°
Misc Specs
Crew	2 (driver, gunner) A third crewmember is a possibility.
Vehicle Optics	Zeiss T.R.Bl.F.6 Beobachtungsfernrohr
Dimensions
Weight	3,500kg
Length	3.460m
Width	1.820m
Height	1.37m (planned) 1.70m (actual) 1.65m (final)
Automotive
Engine	Low profile, air-cooled 60hp
Gears	8 forward
Brakes	Hand brake controlling steering gear brakes Hydraulic-assisted foot brake controlling brake drums on drive wheels
Ground Pressure	0.47kg/cm²
Ground Clearance	0.320m
Fuel Capacity	160 liters
Fuel Consumption	0.8 liters per kilometer
Operational Range	200km
Speed	3km/h (minimum) 45km/h (maximum)
Trench Crossing	1.50m
Maximum Fording Depth	0.50m
Minimum Turning Diameter	1.58m
Suspension
Suspension	Coil springs
Maximum Inclination	35°
Roadwheels	5 each side
Roadwheel Diameter	400mm
Roadwheel Materials	rubber tire
Track Width	200mm

The kleintraktor (Antrieb Hinten) is a prototype light tank developed by Germany in early 1930s.

Only a full-scale wooden mockup was completed, the project continued into the kleintraktor Fgst.Nr. 8000.

Development

On 14 February 1930, Waffen Prüfen 6 conducted a meeting to go over development of a klein-traktor (following the leicht-traktor and groß-traktor programs), while named 'traktor', this was a code-name for a small tank project. The role for this small tank was not chosen at this time, with multiple proposed roles;

• Erkundungs-Fahrzeug
• Waffenträger
• kleine Zugmaschine

The role of 'light tank' was considered questionable for such a small vehicle however, and the existing drawings were too vague. Waffen Prüfen 6 proposed the purchase of a Carden Lloyd tankette to draw design details from.

Waffen Prüfen 6 assigned the contract to Krupp. Initial specifications were received during the fiscal year 1930 as follows;

• Armament of a single 2cm machine gun.
• Powered by an air-cooled 60hp engine.
• Not to exceed 3 metric tons in weight.

Krupp was to develop a chassis meeting these specifications, produce a wooden mockup, and develop a suspension system for trails on a test stand at Kummersdorf proving grounds.

In Krupp's fiscal year 1931 report, the receipt for the kleintraktor contract (now for 3.5 tons instead of 3.0) was for 38,000ℛℳ, the receipt for the wooden turret model for 2,240ℛℳ, and a receipt for the suspension production for 5,007ℛℳ. Only the suspension was completed during the 1931 fiscal year, for which they charged 8,066ℛℳ. The

on 10 Feburary 1931, the Planstudie Motorrisierung-Programm reported that the Waffenamt was not interested in acquiring any kleintraktor within the first phase of the plan (from 1 April 1928 to 31 March 1933), and only 20 were expected to be ordered for the second phase (1 April 1933 to 31 March 1938) for an estimated cost of 1,000,000ℛℳ.

On 30 April 1931, Krupp provided drawing W232 to Waffen Prüfen 6, detailing the design of a turret for the kleintraktor.

On 2 June 1931, Waffen Prüfen 6 received the description of the kleintraktor chassis from Krupp. A summery is listed below;

• Fast and manoeuvrable.
• Weight of about 3.5 tons.
• Machine gun mounted in superstructure.
• Front mounted transmission, rear mounted transfer case and steering gear.
• 5 road wheels + idler each side.
• Front mounted low-profile air-cooled engine, allowing for better weight distribution and not interfering with the crew compartment. The driver can hear the engine running clearer for when it isn't running smoothly. Heat from the engine is forced upon the driver, but the engine is cooled faster than a rear mounted engine. The front of the vehicle is likely to sink into soft terrain.
• Crew layout allows for easier communication.
• Powerful starter motor to reduce need to hand crank start the engine.

On 22 May 1931, Krupp showed Waffen Prüfen 6 drawing W239, detailing a new form of independently sprung suspension. The change would allow for the reduction of the roadwheels by one on each side. Dipl.Ing. Kniepkamp stated that the changes could be made once trails on the test stand were completed by mid-August 1931. It was later deduced that the fifth roadwheel was deemed important for automotive reasons, so it was kept.

On 2 June 1931, Rheinmetall was tasked with creating a working mockup of a 20mm machine gun with removable magazines. On 4 June 1931, Krupp was awarded contract Wa.Prw.6/V 66818 to construct a wooden model of a machine gun turret for the kleintraktor in accordance with drawing W232.

On 5 June 1931, Waffen Prüfen 6 rejected a change in the roadwheel diameter from 400mm to 415mm, as this would require the chassis length to be increased by 75mm, and increase the overall weight more than was allowed.

On 24 June 1931, the wooden turret model was completed by Krupp and was ready for viewing. Hauptmann Streich viewed the model and requested multiple changes: A reduction in armour due to the weight of the ammunition exceeding the requirement (down to 13mm and 10mm plates), and the height was inaccurate in the design compared to the model - the model was 1.7 meters tall while the design was merely 1.37 meters tall - Streich said to lower the roof by 5 centimeters.

On 28 July 1931, the Aufbau was described by Krupp to Waffen Prüfen 6. A summery is listed below;

• The superstructure is to be made out of steel plates of thickness selected in accordance with the table of armour-piercing bullet-proof armour plates.
• The main gun is mounted on a mount that moves separately from the turret. The gun can be locked in place for the use of turret controls. The trigger is located on the elevation hand wheel.
• The turret roof extends over the crew, but is open in the rear to allow for faster dismount.

In early August 1931, Rheinmetall was to deliver the functional wooden mockup 20mm machine gun to Krupp for dimensional clearance checks.

The design was abandoned in favour of a front-drive chassis, the kleintraktor Fgst.Nr. 8000.

Variants

kleintraktor (Antrieb Hinten) Earliest prototype model. kleintraktor Fgst.Nr. 8000 Fgst.Nr. 8000. kleintraktor Fgst.Nr. 8001 through 8005. Krupp-Traktor 1. Serie/Landwirtschaftliche Schlepper, Fgst.Nr. 8011 — 8803. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A — Sd.Kfz. 101 First production model. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A mit M601 (?) Diesel engine model. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B — Sd.Kfz. 101 Second production model. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B mit M601 (?) Diesel engine model. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. C — VK6.01 Limited production model with 7.92mm EW 141 autocannon. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. D — VK6.02 nA Limited production model with 7.92mm EW 141 autocannon. Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. F — VK18.01 Heavy tank prototype. VK18.02 Design for alternate drive-train version of the Pz.Kpfw. I F kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen — Sd.Kfz. 265 Command vehicle. gepanzerter Munitionsschlepper auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A Munitions carrier. gepanzerter Munitionsschlepper auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B Munitions carrier. Flammenwerfer 40 auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A Field modification to fit a flamethrower. Panzer-Schulfahrgestell Ausf. A Training model. Panzer-Schulfahrgestell Ausf. B Training model. Ladungsleger I Charge laying model.

Germany (Deutsches Reich) Land Vehicles 1919 - 1945

Half-Tracked Vehicles
Offensive / Defensive	SPAA	2cm Fla.K. 30 auf Fgst. le.Zgkw. 1t • 2cm Fla.K. 38 auf Fgst. le.Zgkw. 1t • 2cm Fla.K. 38 (Sf.) auf le.Zgkw. 1t • 2cm Fla.K. 38 Vierling (Sf.) auf m.Zgkw. 8t • 3,7cm Fla.K. 43/1 auf Sfl. s.W.S. • 5cm Fla.K. 41 (Sf.) auf m.Zgkw 5t • 8,8cm Fla.K. 18 (Sfl.) auf s.Zgkw 12t • 8,8cm Fla.K. 37 (Sfl.) auf s.Zgkw 18t
	Armoured Recon	le.S.P.W. (2cm) • le.S.P.W. (3,7cm) aA • le.S.P.W. (3,7cm) nA • Pz.Spw. RK A
	Fire Support	le.S.P.W. (7,5cm) • le.S.P.W. (s.Pz.B. 41)
	SPM	8cm R-vielfachwerfer auf Fahgestell S 303(f) • leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer) • mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen S307(f)
	SPRA	8cm R.W. auf Fgst. S303(f) • 8cm Reihenwerfer auf Fahgestell S303(f)
	SPATG	5cm PaK 38 (Sf) auf leichter Zugkraftwagen 1t • 7,5cm PaK 40 (Sf) auf Fahrgestell S 307(f) • 8,8cm FlaK 18 (Sf) auf schwerer Zugkraftwagen 12t • 8,8cm FlaK 37 (Sfl.) auf schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18t • leichter Schützenpanzerwagen mit Sfl 5cm PaK 38 L/60 • Panzerjäger S307(f) mit 7,5cm PaK 40 L/46
Utility	Ammunition Carriers	l.gp.Mun.Tr.Kw. • le.Mun.Pz.Wg. (A • B)
	Command	le.Beob.Pz.Wg. n.A.
	Communication & Cable Related	kl.Kett.Krad. f. Fe.Kab. • kl.Kett.Krad. f. s.Fe.Kab. • leichter Fernsprechpanzerwagen • leichter Funkpanzerwagen
	Engineering	m.S.P.W. (Pi)
	Observation, Spotting & Survey	leichter gepanzerter Beobachtungskraftwagen • leichter Beobachtungspanzerwagen Alte • le.Messtrupp-Pz.Wg. • m.S.P.W. (IR)
	Transport & Towing	gepanzerter Transportkraftwagen P380(f) • kl.Kett.Krad • leichter Schützenpanzerwagen Series • leichter Schützenpanzerwagen Alte • le.S.P.W. n.A. • le.S.P.W. U304(f) • le.Zgkw 1t • le.Zgkw 3t • le.Zgkw S307(f) • m.gep.Zgkw S303(f) • m.Zgkw 5t • m.Zgkw 8t • S.P.W. M2(a) • S.P.W. M3(a) • s.Zgkw 12t • s.Zgkw 18t • Zgkw P302(b) • Zgkw P302(f) • Zgkw P304(f)

Sources
Books	Online	Documents
• Panzer Tracts no. 1-1