The Sd.Kfz. 2, Kleines Kettenkraftrad HK 101 or short Kettenkrad
was conceived and patented by a German inventor, Heinrich
Ernst Kniepkamp and started its life as a light tractor for
Fallschirmjager troops. The vehicle was designed to be delivered
by the Luftwaffe
Ju
52 aircraft, but not by parachute. The Sd.Kfz. 2 was built
and designed by the
NSU
Motorenwerke AG,
Stoewer.
There were two sub-variants of the Kettenkrad, Sd.Kfz.. 2/1
Kleines Kettenkraftrad für Feldfernkabel and Sd.Kfz..
2/2 kleines Kettenkraftrad für schwere Feldfernkabel.
Both vehicles were used with a trailer and had field communication
wire spools mounted behind the driver. The Sd.Kfz. 2/1 vehicle
mounted a small wire spool and frame similar to the backpack
piece used by the infantry. The Sd.Kfz. 2/2 utilised much
larger spools, two of which were mounted on a frame behind
the driver. Additional spools were mounted in a specialised
trailer Sd.Anh. 1
Most Kettenkrads saw service in Europe and the Eastern
Front, and Libya, Egypt Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. Where
they were used as troop transports, towing small cannons
or to lay communication cables, There were several different
trailers designed during the war for the Kettenkrad. The
first was designed but never reached production status.
The second was the most numerous with longer hitch pole
and solid wheels. This trailer had the designation of Sd.Anh.
1 sonderanhanger, This was the only one designed exclusively
for the Kettenkrad. Two variations of this trailer, the
Sd.Anh. 1.1 and the Sd.Anh. 1/2. Both of these were modified
to be used in conjunction with the Sd.Kfz.. 2/1 and Sd.Kfz..
2/2. These trailers were fitted with cable drum mounting
devices. Later in the war, Kettenkrads were used as runway
tugs for the Luftwaffe the aircraft would be towed rather
than run the engines while taxiing.
German Military Vehicles.
ISBN-10: 087349783X
Armoured Fighting Vehicles of Germany World War II.
ISBN-10: 0214203077
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World Two.
ISBN-10: 1854095188
For a complete list of
sources
