Originally developed by the J. A. Maffei AG during the early 1930’s, the wheel cum track design or Räder-Ketten, was intended to be both an artillery tractor and a self propelled gun platform. The advantage of this vehicles system, when compared to removable overall tracks, is the vehicle could actually be in motion and switch between wheels and tracks! The design phase culminated in a prototype being built and tested in Kummersdorf. Even though the trials were successfully completed, the German Army Weapons Office chose the half-track design, as it was less complex and fit better into the theories of Blitzkrieg.
Click a Thumbnail to see a larger Image
All Images Copyright 2008 John F. Steinman, DMD. |
