Krupp Protze

The L 2 H 43 and L 2 H 143 "Krupp-Protze" (unofficial designation) was a six-wheeled 6x4 German truck and artillery tractor produced between 1934 and 1941 and heavily used in World War II. It was powered by a 4-cylinder, 55 hp or, from 1936, 60 hp Krupp M 304 petrol engine. Its main purpose was to tow artillery, especially the PaK 36, and transport motorized infantry.

Krupp L 2 H 43 / L 2 H 143 / Kfz.70
Krupp Kfz.70 on display at Deutsches Panzermuseum, Germany.
TypeArtillery tractor / Utility truck
Place of origin Germany
Service history
Used by Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerKrupp
ManufacturerKrupp
Produced1934–1941
No. built7,000
VariantsSeveral, see text
Specifications
Mass2,600 kg
Length5.10 m
Width1.93 m
Height1.96 m
Crew1 + 5 passengers + 1 light towed gun (Kfz.69), 2+10 (Kfz.70)
ArmorNone
EngineKrupp Boxer motor, 3.3 liters
53 or 60 hp
Payload capacity1,150 kg
Fuel capacity110 liters
Operational
range
450 km (on road)
Maximum speed 70 km/h

This vehicle was extensively used on the Eastern Front, during the North African campaign and in France and Sicily. The "Krupp-Protze" was of relatively advanced design. Its fuel consumption was relatively high (24 Litres / 100 km on road) in comparison to the comparable Opel Blitz 1.5 t truck (16.5 liters / 100 km, produced 1938 - 1942). Total production was about 7,000 units.

Variants

A successful design, the Krupp-Protze was converted into several variants:

  • Kfz.19 - Telephone truck
  • Kfz.21 - Staff car
  • Kfz.68 - Radio mast carrier
  • Kfz.69 - Standard configuration for towing the 3,7 cm PaK 36
  • Kfz.70 - Standard configuration for personnel carrying
  • Kfz.81 - Ammo carrier conversion for 2 cm FlaK gun, usually towed
  • Kfz.83 - Generator carrier for anti-aircraft searchlight, usually towed
  • Sd.Kfz. 247 Ausf. A - Armoured personnel carrier, six-wheeled version, only 20 built in 1937; production went to Daimler-Benz, who built the Ausf. B four-wheeled version in 1941 and 1942.

Sometimes anti-tank (37 mm Pak 36) and anti-air (2 cm Flak) guns were mounted directly on the truck bed. Note on troop carrying capacity: Kfz.69 carried 2 in front with 4 in a pair of forward and rear facing seats (2+2+2); Kfz.70 carried 2 in front with 10 seated in the rear bed benches (2+10).

See also

References

Notes
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