The basic Zgkw 8t was built by
Krauss-Maffei, Borgward and, from 1943, by Saurer. The FlaK vehicle was built
with a special superstructure which formed an adequate platform for all-round
traverse if the sides were folded down. Ammunition was carried in a special
single-axle trailer. From late 1943, the driver's cab and engine compartment of
some vehicles were lightly armoured. Vehicles mounting the FV38 towed a Sonder
Anhanger (special trailer) 56 to hold the 2cm ammunition.
Basic
Vehicle
This vehicle with an 8-ton trailer capacity
resulted from a specification laid down by the WaPruf.6 towards the end of
1932. It was required for towing the medium· weight guns, such as the 15cm. s.
F.H. 18 and the 88mm Flak 18, and as an infantry carrier it was to carry from
fifteen to eighteen men.
Development and production of this vehicle
was undertaken by the firm of Krauss-Maffei in Munchen-Allach, but at a later
date other firms such as Bussing NAG, Daimler-Benz, Hansa-Lloyd (Borgward),
Saurer in Vienna and Breda in Milan participated in its manufacture. Of the
12,000 built, 6,129 were produced by Krauss-Maffei Most of the later models
were made by Krauss-Maffei or Hansa-Lloyd, and several models existed-ranging
from the KM m 7 to the KM m 12.
The earlier models of 1934 had a track
length that was only very slightly over half the overall vehicle length . These
were later improved upon by fitting more powerful engines and increasing the
length of the track section to three-quarters of the overall length. The extra
length was carried by additional bogie wheels (one narrow and one wide on each
side). The track suspension system fitted on the 8-ton vehicles represented a
partial development from this model to the torsion-bar suspension on other
models of the semi-track range. Krauss-Maffei objected to a proposed changeover
from leaf to torsion-bar springing on the grounds of loss of production.
Some vehicles were fitted with armour on
the engines and cabs.
Production of the Sd .Kfz.7 was as follows:
|
1940
|
1941
|
1942
|
1943
|
1944
|
|
996
|
1,320
|
1,392
|
3,251
|
3,298
|
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