Half-tracks - Germany: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Panzergrenadier

With the development of the German Panzerwaffe, military planners realized both the enormous potential of the tank as a breakthrough weapon, but also the issues faced by support units following the attacking force - including the infantry. A tank assault moved rapidly forwards and this required a motorized infantry which could keep pace with the attack and provide all necessary support.
This motorized infantry element for a Panzer division was an integral Schützenbrigade (rifle brigade), and it was equipped with a suitable means of transport - the Schützenpanzerwagen (armoured personnel carrier).

During Operation Barbarossa, German forces were faced by the Red Army and unforeseen weather conditions. With the onset of the harsh Russian winter the operation failed, and the war in the east entered a new phase. From experience gained from the operation, a new arm of the military was created: the Panzergrenadier.

This groundbreaking book describes the development and evolution of the armoured infantry force that accompanied the German Panzers as they crossed the battlefields of Europe, as well as detailing the vehicles and equipment that were developed to support their specialized role.

Contents

Introduction
1. 1936 - A New Infantry
2. The Schützenpanzerwagen
3. 1939 - Poland
4. 1940 - France
5. 1941 - New Challenges
6. 1941 - Variants
7. 1942 - Armoured Infantry
8. 1943 - In Combat
9. 1944 - Defending the Reich
10. Weaponry
Index.

Product details

Author:	Thomas Anderson
Details:	304 pages, 9.8 x 7.7 x 1.06 in (25 x 19.5 x 2.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Osprey Publishing (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781472841797

Sd.Kfz. 251 - 251/9 and 251/22 Kanonenwagen : German Army and Waffen-SS Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944-1945 (Land Craft)

The SdKfz 251 half-track was among the most versatile armoured vehicles of the Second World War. Designed by Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG (Hanomag), more than 15.000 were built in twenty-three variants. These covered roles such as troop carrier, command vehicle, rocket launcher, armoured ambulance, and bridge-layer.

In the first volume of the LandCraft series, Dennis Oliver focuses on SdKfz 251 versions armed with the 7.5 cm gun, first used for infantry support and reconnaissance, and later adapted as tank destroyers as Germany sought to mount anti-tank weapons on as many vehicles as possible.

Using official records and unit histories, the author studies the formations that operated these vehicles. Archive photographs and carefully researched colour artwork explain markings, camouflage, and technical features of the SdKfz 251/9 and 251/22 used on the Western and Eastern Fronts in the final months of the war.
A dedicated section reviews available model kits and aftermarket parts, supported by a gallery of high-quality models in different scales. Technical data and field modifications are also covered, giving modellers the information needed to build accurate replicas.

Product details

Author:	Dennis Oliver
Details:	64 pages, 12 x 8.5 x 0.24 in (30.5 x 21.5 x 0.6 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2021)
Series:	Land Craft
ISBN:	9781526791146

Sd.Kfz 10/4 & 10/5 Selbstfahrlafette (Camera On)

This photo-album in the "Camera On" series contains over 100 photographs of the Sd.Kfz. 10/4 and 10/5 Selbstfahrlafette (self-propelled gun carriage).
The Selbstfahrlafette (Sd.Kfz. 10/4) für 2cm Flak 30 and the Selbstfahrlafette (Sd. Kfz. 10/5) für 2cm Flak 38 were self-propelled Flak halftracks based on the Sd.Kfz 10 one-ton vehicle. In firing mode, the vehicle had hinged side walls that opened up to enlarge the firing platform at the back and to both sides. Except for armoured shield often fitted to the AA gun these vehicles were unarmoured.

Product details

Author:	Alan Ranger
Details:	80 pages, 11.6 x 8.25 in (29.5 x 21 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	100 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	MMP Books (PL, 2018)
Series:	Camera On (8)
ISBN:	9788365281852

Sd.Kfz. 8 & Sd.Kfz. 9 Schwerer Zugkraftwagen (12t & 18t) (Camera On)

During WWII, the German armed forces were by far the greatest user of half-track vehicles. Such vehicles were used in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS, where they served as personnel carriers, tractors, combat engineering vehicles, as well as self-propelled carriages for anti-aircraft guns.

The Sd.Kfz. 8 Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 12t - (heavy 12 ton half-track vehicle) - was a German half-track that saw widespread use in the war. Its main roles were as a prime mover for heavy towed guns such as the 21 cm Mörser 18, the 15 cm Kanone 18 and the 10.5 cm FlaK 38.
The Sd.Kfz. 9 Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18t - (heavy 18 ton half-track vehicle) - was the Germans' heaviest half-track vehicle of any type built during the war years. Its main roles were as a prime mover for very heavy towed guns such as the 24 cm Kanone 3 and as a tank recovery vehicle.

This photo-album in the "Camera On" series contains over 100 photographs.

Product details

Author:	Alan Ranger
Details:	72 pages, 11.6 x 8.25 in (29.5 x 21 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	100 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	MMP Books (PL, 2018)
Series:	Camera On (11)
ISBN:	9788365281883

Sd.Kfz.10 Leichter Zugkraftwagen 1t (Camera On)

This photo-album in the Camera On series contains over 140 photographs of the Sd.Kfz. 10 Leichter Zugkraftwagen 1.t.
The Sd.Kfz. 10 was developed as a towing vehicle for light loads like the 37mm Pak 36/37, the 2cm Flak 30/38 and the Heavy Infantry howitzer Sigg 33 plus a myriad of trailers types such as the Sd. Anh. 32.
Later, it was used as a towing vehicle for the 5cm Pak 38 and different Nebelwerfer (rocket launchers).

As the war progressed and the German army had less and less equipment to utilize, the Sd.Kfz 10 was often to be seen towing loads way beyond its designed weight class for the lack of other suitable vehicles.

Camera On is a series of books on the equipment and operations of the German Wehrmacht in WW2. The focus is on the often ignored or overlooked soft-skinned, non-armoured, vehicles used by the German army.

This profusely illustrated photo-album includes a large number of previously unseen pictures, many from private sources in Germany. Whatever the rules might have said, German soldiers took many photographs, and these are the basis for this series!

Product details

Author:	Alan Ranger
Details:	80 pages, 11.8 x 8.25 x 0.47 in (30 x 21 x 1.2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	140+ b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	MMP Books (PL, 2017)
Series:	Camera On
ISBN:	9788365281746

Sd.Kfz.6 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Camera On)

During WW2, the German armed forces were the greatest user of half-track vehicles. Such vehicles were used in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS, where they served as personnel carriers, tractors, combat engineering vehicles, as well as self-propelled carriages for anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns.

One of them was the Sd.Kfz. 6 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5 t. It was designed to be used as the main towing vehicle for the 10.5 cm le.FH 18 howitzer.

This book presents a collection of photographs of different versions from the private archives of German soldiers. The photographs depict vehicles serving on all fronts in a variety of roles.

This profusely illustrated photo-album from the "Camera On" series includes a large number of previously unseen pictures, many from private sources in Germany. Whatever the rules might have said, German soldiers took many photographs.

Product details

Author:	Alan Ranger
Details:	80 pages, 11.6 x 8.25 in (29.5 x 21 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	MMP Books (PL, 2017)
Series:	Camera On (1)
ISBN:	9788365281708

Sd.Kfz.7 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t (Camera On)

During WW2, the German armed forces were the greatest user of half-track vehicles. Such vehicles were used in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS, where they served as personnel carriers, tractors, combat engineering vehicles, as well as self-propelled carriages for anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns. Sd.

Kfz. 7, Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t (middle half-track vehicle 8 tons) was designed in 1932 by Krauss Maffei and by 1937, the ultimate Km m 11 model was introduced. Approximately 13,600 units were produced until production ceased in 1945, including about 200 built under license by Breda in Italy and even a version by Vauxhall in the UK.

Camera On: a new series of books on the equipment and operations of the German Wehrmacht in WW2. The focus is on the often ignored or overlooked soft-skinned, non-armoured, vehicles used by the German army. This profusely illustrated photo-album includes a large number of previously unseen pictures, many from private sources in Germany.

Whatever the rules might have said, German soldiers took many photographs, and these are the basis for this new series!

"Camera On" is a series of books on the equipment and operations of the German Wehrmacht in WW2. The focus is on the often ignored or overlooked soft-skinned, non-armoured, vehicles used by the German army. This profusely illustrated photo-album includes a large number of previously unseen pictures, many from private sources in Germany.
Whatever the rules might have said, German soldiers took many photographs, and these are the basis for this new series.

Product details

Author:	Alan Ranger
Details:	80 pages, 11.8 x 8.25 x 0.31 in (30 x 21 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	MMP Books (PL, 2017)
Series:	Camera On (2)
ISBN:	9788365281715

German Half-Tracks and Wheeled Vehicles 1939-1945 (Fact File)

A highly accessible overview of the history of fhe half-tracks and armoured wheeled vehicles with technical data, facts and pictures as used by German Wehrmacht in WW2.

Product details

Author:	Alexander Ludeke
Details:	128 pages, 9.25 x 6.1 in (23.5 x 15.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	97 b&w and 60 color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2015)
Series:	Fact File
ISBN:	9781473824003

Halftracked Vehicles of the German Army 1909-1945 (Spielberger)

Volume on German halftracked vehicles from 1909-1945. Spielberger, a leading expert in the field of German military vehicles, presents the wide variety of halftracked types and their wide range of uses in this richly illustrated technical documentation. Types include the WWII era Sd.Kfz.7, Sd.Kfz.250, Sd.Kfz.251, and many others from a wide variety of manufacturers.

Product details

Author:	Walter J. Spielberger
Details:	176 pages, 11.4 x 8.9 x 0.87 in (29 x 22.5 x 2.2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many b&w photos and drawings
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2008)
ISBN:	9780764329425

German Heavy Half-Tracked Prime Movers

The Sd.Kfz.8 and Sd.Kfz.9 heavy prime movers of the Wehrmacht on a variety of war fronts.

Product details

Author:	Reinhard Frank
Details:	48 pages, 12 x 11 x 0.16 in (30.5 x 28 x 0.4 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	over 100 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2004)
ISBN:	9780764301674

German Light Half-Tracked Prime Movers 1934-1945

Covers all of the light half-tacked prime movers used by Germany during WWII.

Product details

Author:	Frank Reinhard
Details:	48 pages, 11 x 8.5 x 0.16 in (28 x 21.5 x 0.4 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	over 100 b&w photos, drawings
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2004)
ISBN:	9780764302626

German Medium Half-Tracked Prime Movers 1934-1945

Covers all of the medium half-tracked prime movers used by German forces during WWII.

Product details

Author:	Frank Reinhard
Details:	48 pages, 10 x 8.5 x 0.12 in (25.5 x 21.5 x 0.3 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	over 100 b&w photos, drawings
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2004)
ISBN:	9780764302633

The Kettenkrad - Sd.Kfz. 2, Type HK-101

This book offers numerous photographs and detailed text concerning the NSU Kettenkrad (Sd.Kfz. 2, Type HK-101).

Product details

Author:	Friehelm Abel
Details:	48 pages, 8.25 x 10.25 x 0.16 in (21 x 26 x 0.4 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	b&w photos, drawings
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2004)
ISBN:	9780887403156

SdKfz 251 Half Track 1939-45 (Osprey)

Following in the best traditions of German ingenuity in design and construction of armoured vehicles, the SdKfz 251 firmly realised the concept of a competent cross-country tactical vehicle for armoured infantry units. So successful was this half-track that not only did a modified version of it remain in use with Czech forces well into the 1980s but also, ironically, the armoured infantry tactics that the Germans pioneered with it were adopted by Allied forces in the Second World War and helped them to achieve the eventual defeat of Germany.

This book covers the genesis and development of the SdKfz 251, and details the numerous modifications and variations that sprang from combat experience.

Contents: Design and Development - Variants - Training and Organisation - Tactics: Assault - Tactics: Defence - Serviceability.

Product details

Author:	Bruce Culver
Details:	48 pages, 9.7 x 7.3 x 0.2 in (24.5 x 18.5 x 0.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	photos and drawings (in b&w and color)
Language:	English
Publisher:	Osprey Publishing (GB, 1998)
Series:	New Vanguard (25)
ISBN:	9781855328464

Halbkettenfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres (Spielberger)

Half-track vehicles became necessary because the normal wheeled vehicles with which the German grenadier units were motorized were unable to cope with difficult terrain. Therefore, a whole range of half-track tractors was developed and built before the war.

In this volume, the team of authors documents every development step of these all-terrain vehicles and presents them and their inner workings with many informative photos. This book complements the successful Spielberger volumes.

Pages of the book "Halbkettenfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres"

Product details

Author:	Walter Spielberger, Hilary Doyle, Thomas Jentz
Details:	172 pages, 10.4 x 9.1 in (26.5 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	423 b&w photos and 58 drawings
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2012)
Series:	Spielberger
ISBN:	9783613029958

Zugkraftwagen der Wehrmacht

This volume documents the development of the Wehrmacht's half-track tractors. The most important half-track vehicles are represented, from the light one- and three-tonners to the medium-sized five- to eight-tonners and the heavy twelve- and eighteen-tonners.

Lots of technical data. Detailed sectional drawings. Over 100 historical photos, including many rare archive images.

Product details

Author:	Reinhard Frank
Details:	144 pages, 9.7 x 7.1 in (24.5 x 18 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	100+ b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Dörfler Verlag GmbH (D, 2002)
ISBN:	9783895550508