Leichttraktor
Leichttracktor
| Germany | Light Tank | Tier I |
| Cost | 0  |
|---|---|
| Health | 110 |
| Weight/Load Limit | 7.5/9.2t |
| Engine Power | 51hp |
| Speed Limit | 32km/h |
| Traverse Speed | 34deg/s |
| Hull Armor | 14/12/12mm |
| Turret Armor | 14/12/12mm |
| Damage | 22-42HP |
| Penetration | 24-44mm |
| Rate of Fire | 30r/m |
| Accuracy | 0.4m |
| Aim time | 1.5s |
| Turret Traverse | 40deg/s |
| Gun Traverse Arc | gunTraverseArc |
| Gun Vertical Limits | gunVerticalLimits |
| Ammo Capacity | ammo |
| Chance of Fire | 20% |
| View Range | 270m |
| Signal Range | 100m |
| Parent | none |
| Child |    |
The first German tank available to the player and allows research to begin on the German tech tree. The Leichttraktor starts with an underpowered 50hp engine and the 3.7 cm KwK 36 L/46.5 gun, although this can be quickly upgraded. Adequate armor and performance characteristics make it a very good starting tank. Being a tier 1 tank matters little to this tank, as it is matched with equal or similar tanks. In the tech tree, the Leichttraktor can eventually unlock the Sturmpanzer I Bison to start the German SPG line, the PzKpfw II to continue with light class tanks that lead to mediums, heavies, and alternatively to SPGs, the Panzerjäger I to start the TD line, or the PzKpfw 35(t) which allows players to advance through light tanks that lead directly to TDs.
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Historical Info
After the First World War, Germany was restricted in military development by the Versailles Treaty, but a secret program under the cover name "traktor" tested and developed armored military vehicles and artillery.
Testing Grounds
The German-Soviet treaty from Rapallo, signed in 1922, and the Berlin Friendship Treaty of 1924, allowed Germany to test their designs in the Soviet Union under high security and secrecy. The testing facility used from 1926 to 1933 was called Panzertruppenschule Kama, near Kazan in the USSR. The location was a joint military testing ground and tank school for the Red Army and the Reichswehr. It was codenamed Kama from the two words Kazan and Malbrandt, and Oberstleutenant Malbrandt was the one assigned to select the location for testing.
Requirements
The secret motorization program (Kraftfhr Ruestungsprogramm) dated 17th April 1928: Subject: Kleintraktor: Deliver the first trial pieces (Versuchsstuecke) in October 1929 for testing in 1930. Starting in 1931, as achievable with available funds, acquire a company of 17 vehicles at a cost of 50,000 Marks per Kleintraktor.
Inspecktorat 6 (K) (In 6) in the Wehramt prepared basic functional characteristics for a light tank. These functional requirements were then given to Heereswaffenamt Pfuefwesen 6 for trial pieces (Versuchssteucke). Waffenpruefwesen 6 (Wa Prw 6) then created conceptual guidelines and technical specifications to provide a basis for detailed designs and awarded development contracts to design companies. The design contractors prepared overview drawings and general descriptions of their proposed design. The proposals were reviewed and changed by Wa Prw 6 and In 6 (K) prior to awarding development contracts. The requesting organization controlled the funding: in this case, In 6 (K). In 6 (K), development and procurement programs for new combat vehicles were approved as line items in the annual budget for overall military expenditures. Development of a light tank was initiated on 14th March 1928, under the program codename "Kleintraktor", later renamed "Leichttraktor".
Preliminary requirements (25th April 1928) at a meeting between the representatives of the Wehramt and prospective developers outlined the basic need for a fully-tracked vehicle with a fully-rotating turret, which should be equipped with a semi-automatic 37mm gun and one auxiliary 7.92mm light machine gun. The vehicle should be equipped with an engine which has an output of at least 60hp.
Further specifications and changes were spelled out on 25th May and 10th June 1928; The project name changed from "Kleintraktor" to "Leichttraktor". The project required the development of a multipurpose platform, which should form the basis not only for a battle tank, but also as a chassis for a ration supply vehicle (Verflegungsnachshub), ammunition transport (Munitionstransport), and industrial applications (Wirtshaft). Weapons were to consist of a semi-automatic 37mm cannon, which should be housed together with a light machine-gun in a fully-rotating turret. The ammunition supply to be a minimum of 150 rounds for the cannon and 3000 rounds for the machine-gun. The crew to consist of four members; a gunner (Kampfwagen-Schuetze), commander (Kampfwagen-Kommandante), driver (Fahrer), and radio operator (Funker). Resist S.m.K. steel core armor-penetrating rifle shells, and important equipment to be protected against 13mm cannon shells. Front and side armor thickness' of 14mm. Road speed to be around 25-30 km/h, and soft-ground speed to be 20km/h. Carry 150 liters of fuel and have a range of 150 km or 6 hours of operation time. Climb 60% (31°): the vehicle should be able to overcome such a pitch for no less than a 1 km stretch with a speed of at least 3 km/h. Climp a step and ford a river of 600mm. Cross trenches of 1500mm. Ground clearance of 300mm. The specific ground pressure should be a maximum of 0.5 kg/cm^2. The vehicle should be equipped with a radio (with telegraph key) (Funk-Telegraphie-Geraet) with a stationary range of 3 km, a mobile radio range of 2 km, and a connection to transmit Morse to 17 km. The vehicle needs to have a smoke dispensing device (Vernebelungspapparat) with the ability to dispense smoke for 20 min. A poison gas filter (Gasfilter). Not exceed the weight limit of 7.5 tons.
Preliminary Design
The first designs were based on the lessons learned from the development of the Leichte Kampfwagen I and II (LK I and LK II) (1918-1919), which only existed as prototypes.
Krupp prepared preliminary drawings very quickly (preliminary drawings were dated July 3rd 1928). Besides the tank design, Krupp also proposed a platform for commercial and civilian applications called Leicht Zugmaschine (LZ). The platform would be able to be equipped with plows, winches, and could serve as a truck. One of the proposals was for a transport vehicle that, with a driver, would be able to transport 15 people. A modification for a spotting vehicle for artillery (Beobachtungswagen) was also proposed, which had no turret, but had a fully-armored superstructure and retractable observation instruments. This modification was also proposed as an ambulance, whose crew would consist of two drivers, a physician, and two assistants. A self-propelled gun was also designed with a 7.5cm field gun, but it's ultimate production was considered unlikely as the vehicle had very limited space for the crew and ammo.
Krupp had to choose between the 100hp Maybach engine or the 15/70/100hp Daimler engine with injectors. The Maybach engine is quieter because of it's lower speed (1900rpm vs Daimler's 2800rpm), but is significantly larger and weighs more: 400kg as opposed to Daimler's 362kg. The Maybach is more expensive, but also more fuel efficient. In the end, the Daimler engine was selected for the design as it would keep the engine compartment smaller.
| Full weight(with crew): | 6000kg |
|---|---|
| Length: | 3900mm |
| Width: | 1850mm |
| Height: | 2000mm |
| Engine: | 100hp |
| Speed: | 4-40km/h |
| Climb | 65% |
| Track width: | 250mm |
| Track contact: | 2x2500mm |
| Ground Pressure: | 0.48kg/cm2 |
| Ground Clearance: | 300mm |
| Step: | 600mm |
| Ford: | 800mm |
| Trench: | 1400mm |
| Fuel: | 150liters |
| Armor: | 14mm |
In the designs, the engine is positioned in the front with cooling on the right, protected by an armored grate, and fuel and steering are on the left. The engine has a starter magneto and an electrical generator. If the starter fails, the engine can be started using a crank. Cooling is provided by twin fans with an engine-driven belt. A Krupp 4-speed, 3-ton, truck transmission with a 2-speed transfer case provides 8 forward and 2 reverse gears.
A drive shaft with two universal joints connects the transfer case to the rear drive housing that, with the aid of a differential and two spur gears, transfers the power to the rear track drive-wheels. For steering and braking, there are two brake drums with Cletrac auxiliary wheels on both sides of the differential which help slow the track when the brake is applied.
Two rubber tracks (Gummiraupen) are used, later experimentation with cable or transfers will decide which type to implement. 2x3 road wheel pairs are mounted on each side that, with swinging arms and springs, are designed to provide a soft suspension for driving on roads and crossing obstacles. An additional fixed road wheel is located below the idler wheel and provides the track with good support while crossing obstacles. Both idler wheels are adjustable, and have spring tensioners to prevent the track from breaking when driving over obstacles. The track returns forward over a track box and two support rollers. The track box itself is bolted to the hull and serves to hold the springs and to stow equipment.
The driver would sit on the left and have vision slits (optical glass) in an armored head-housing (Kopfgehause). The 3.7cm Geschuetz-Turm is mounted on the roof of the armored hull behind the driver. The gunner (Richtkanonier), commander (Kommandant), and loader (Landekanonier) sit in the turret. 150 rounds of 3.7cm ammunition are stowed in armor paniers to the left and right, between the tracks. 3x20 rounds are stowed in removable holders, and 2x15 rounds are stowed horizontally in individual packing. The ammunition for the machine gun is stowed under the floor plates and in the track boxes, where the smoke dispensers are also located. The radio operator (Funker) sits close to the floor to the right and somewhat behind the driver: the radio sender and receiver sets directly in front of him. An 80amp-hour battery for vehicle lighting and air filtration is located on the floor directly behind the driver.
The air filter is mounted on the rear access hatch, and the hatch is sealed with a rubber gasket.
A firewall in the instrument panel for the driver completely seals the engine compartment from the rest of the hull, allowing positive-pressure to be maintained in the crew compartment by the filter.
Due to the high mounting of the cooling system, the vehicle would be able to ford rivers up to 80cm deep.
After review by Wa Prw 6, the 80/100hp, 6 cylinder/7 liter Daimler-Benz Lkw.-Motor Type M36 was favored because it can achieve from 50hp @ 800rpms to 100hp @ 1900rpms, with max torque of 45 mkg @ 600-1200rpm. It was also decided that a 3-speed Friedrichshafen-Soden-Getriebe with claw shifting was be installed with a Krupp auxiliary gear instead of the Stroboskop. An observation cupola (Beoboachtungskuppel) with protective glass (Kinonglass) was also decided to be used.
Contracts
On 16 June 1928, Oberstlt Gaissert (head of Wa Prw 6) sent a letter to Fried. Krupp A.G.,Abt. A.K., Essen, Rheinmetall, Duesseldorf, Daimler-Benz, z.Hd., and Dr. Porsche, Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, with a proposed contract between the Heereswaffenamt and the firms for the design and production of two Klien-Traktoren.
Krupp agreed, and the contract was signed between Generalmajor Buchholz from Heereswaffenamt(15 Oct. 1928) and Herr Hageloch from Krupp (24 Oct. 1928). But Krupp's contract stated they will not include parts of military character consisting of the armament, 14mm thick armor, and additional technical equipment. Carbon-steel was to be used for the hull and a fixed price of 230,000 Goldmark was established for the contract/construction of two prototypes.
Rheinmetall also accepted the contract for two prototypes, as well as the secret development of the armaments for all four prototypes.
In July 1928, Daimler-Benz emphatically declined the specific development contract, but would draw up the prototype for the supply vehicle (Nachschubfahrzeug).
The Leichttraktor vehicle was to be based on a chassis that could also be used as a base for a self-propelled vehicle mount for a 37mm gun, an armored supply carrier, a tractor, and a vehicle capable of mounting different industrial tools. Secondary vehicle roles were to be developed later.
Krupp, in cooperation with Rheinmetall-Borsig, began work on the four contracted prototypes. Both Krupp's and Rheinmetall's 4-man prototypes were powered by a 6-cylinder, 100hp, Daimler-Benz M36 truck engine and were were very similar in design, the main difference being the type of suspension; Krupp used coil springs and Rheinmetall used leaf springs. Both vehicles were known as Leichttraktors (VK 31) and were armed with a 37mm KwK L/45 with a -10/+30 deg vertical movement and a light machine-gun on a rear-mounted turret (designed and produced by Swedish AB Landsverk and Bofors).
The Rheinmetall-designed Leichttraktor (L.Tr.Rhm) differs from Krupp's in that; The fuel tanks are located in the track boxes. Driver and radio man can sit beside the engine, having a better view and access to the engine. The Hull bottom is reinforced with ribs. Uses a heavy-duty model 4-speed Soden transmission, assembled with the transfer case (with two short shift levers on top of the lid). Final drives for the track-drive wheels are located outside the hull. Large brake drums for brake bands are mounted on the inside of the hull side. In addition to both turret hatches, there is a hatch in the hull rear-wall, a hatch above the radio operator, and a hinged rectangular vision cupola (Sehkuppel) above the driver. Kinonglas-blocks are mounted behind vision slits on three sides of the Sehkuppel. The width of these vision slits can be adjusted from 3 to 20 mm wide by sliding the adjustable plates. The weight of the Sehkuppel is counterbalanced by the coil spring.
Preliminary tests at Krupp (without turret, which is to be assembled by Rhienmetal) proved to be a huge success. In 6 (K) and Wa Prw 6 were very pleased with the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle, and expressed special thanks to Krupp for such good service.
All four prototypes were finally assembled in the Rheinmetall facilities in Unterluess, because Rheinmetall was also responsible for all four turrets.
Testing
The prototypes were ready in May of 1930. Four prototypes were built; two from Krupp and two from Rheinmetall. Rheinmetall-Borsig also produced a third prototype, an early Panzerjager, which was a 3-man self-propelled mild-steel mount for a 37mm PaK L/45 gun.
All four prototypes were sent to Russia for testing. The Leichttraktors by Krupp are designated Nr.37 and Nr.38 and those by Rheinmetall as Nrs.39 and Nrs.40. The prototypes arrived to the Kana testing grounds in June 1930. Overall, the Leichttraktor vehicles were considered a success during testing and were subsequently used for training in Kama, but were not seen as fully-ready for combat.
In 1930, based on the testing at Kama, the radiator was strengthened and the Soden transmission was replaced with an Aphon one. The Leichttraktors were converted to dry steering brakes, the driving brakes were modified, the suspension was strengthened, and the drive wheels were replaced with harder ones. Cables were replaced with hydraulically-actuated steering brakes. Daimler modified the Nachshub-Fahrzeug suspension to 9 double road wheels, a 2575mm track contact length (weight increasd to 8400kg), and the Krupp Leichttraktor had spring suspension installed.
In 1932, Rheinmetall's Leichttraktor widened the 12 double road wheels from 86 to 90mm. Later, one was experimentally modified with four large diameter road wheels with spring suspension.
Conclusion
Testing at Kama showed that the position of the machine gun, as well as the limited diameter of the turret ring, made loading the main gun more difficult and slower for the loader, as well as the gunner having to take command of the tank in certain situations. This lowered the rate of fire, making the commander redundant, and ultimately lowered the efficiency of the entire crew.
So it was concluded that the commander needs to be in the main turret as per the original design, and that in the future, a 12-hour clock needs to be used to communicate between the commander and the gunner. Also, it is absolutely necessary for the turret to be both electrically and hand driven in the future.
Deflector and spent cartridge sacks proved useful for both the machine gun and the cannon, as the crew was not hindered by the spent propellent gasses, even though the hatches were always open for safety at Kama.
No experience was gained in the question of riveted vs. welded steel as the turret was not made of armored-steel, but of normal steel.
In 1931, 289 units were ordered, but in 1932 the project was canceled in favor of other developments, such as the Panzerkampfwagen I. Together, Krupp and Rheinmetall produced only 4 prototypes. In 1933, co-operation between the Soviet Union and Germany ended and all four vehicles were returned to Germany.
| 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nr.37 | 365 | 697 | 598 | 1660 |
| Nr.38 | 534 | 371 | 1095 | 1800 |
| Nr.39 | 382 | 708 | 775 | 1865 |
| Nr.40 | 290 | 513 | 932 | 1735 |
Upon returning to Germany in 1933, the Leichttraktors were sent to Heereszeugamt Spandau for overhaul. Further tests took place in the Summer of 1933. During the winter of 1934/35, they were stored near Berlin. All four Leichttraktors took part in major maneuvers to test the concept of a Panzer-Division at the troop training grounds (Truppenuebungsplatz Munster Lager) in the Summer of 1935. The Leichttraktors were then transferred to the newly established Tank Gunnery School (Panzerschiessschule Putlos) near Oldenburg/Holstein, where they were used to train crews for several more years. The tanks were continuously modified to aid in experimentally-testing new designs for future light tank development.
Model | Number Built | Armament in turret | 3.7cm ammunition | M.G. ammunition | Armor (carbon steel) | Crew | Engine | Horsepower | Power to weight ratio | Maximum speed (km/h) | Fuel capacity | Range (km) | Transmission | Steering | Length (m) | Width (m) | Height (m) | Wheelbase (m) | Total Weight (metric tons) | Roadwheels per side | Pairing | Number of support points | Roadwheel diameter | Roadwheel width | Track Type | Track Width (mm) | Track Pitch (mm) | Track Links per side | Track length (m) | Track contact length (m) | Support length (m) | Ground Pressure (kg/cm2) | Ground Clearance (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. Tr. Kp. | 2 | 3.7cm 1 s.M.G. | 150 | 3000 | 5-14mm | 4 | M36 Daimler 4-cyl 7.8 liter | 100 | 11.5 hp/t | 30 | 220 | 137 | 4-speed | Cletrac | 4.350 | 2.370 | 2.350 | 1.810 | 8.7 | 9 | 2-4-2-1 | 4 | 400,260,300 | 95 | Dry Pin | 266 | 130 | 72 | 9.360 | 2.565 | 1.850 | 0.73 | 305 |
| L. Tr. Rhm. | 2 | 3.7cm 1 s.M.G. | 150 | 3000 | 5-14mm | 4 | M36 Daimler 4-cyl 7.8 liter | 100 | 11.2/t | 30 | 220 | 137 | 4-speed | Cletrac | 4.320 | 2.260 | 2.270 | 1.800 | 8.96 | 12 | 3x4 | 3 | 210 | 85 | Bearing | 270 | 130 | 72 | 9.360 | 2.720 | 1.980 | 0.71 | 290 |
Jentz, Thomas L. Panzer Tracts 3-1 - Panzerkamfpwagen III Ausf. A, B, C, und D. Panzer Tracts: P.O.Box 334, 2006. Print.
Chamberlain, Peter, Hilary Doyle L., and Thomas Jentz L. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two. Sterling, 1999. Print.
