Manufacturer: Carl F.W. Borgward GmbH, Bremen, Germany

Production Year: 1942

Engine: No Engine - specifications call for: Maybach HL 42 TUKRM, 4.2-liter, 100-hp, six-cylinder, liquid-cooled, gasoline

Transmission: Four forward, one reverse coupled with a transfer case

Brakes: Air brakes plus hydraulic steering brakes

Length: 18-feet, 3-inches

Width: 6-feet, 7-inches

Height: 7-feet, 2-inches (to top of cargo area bonnet)

Weight: Approximately 5-3/4-tons

Armor: None

Armament: NONE on this example – Could be fitted with a 7.92-mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun

Maximum speed: Approximately 30-mph

Maximum Payload: 3-tons

Markings: German Werfer-Lehr Regiment (Rocket Artillery)

The Borgward 3-ton half-track entered production in 1937. In 1934, several German manufacturers began developing prototypes of half-track military vehicles. Experiences in World War I and war games conducted thereafter, demonstrated the shortcomings of utilizing wheeled trucks as artillery tractors. Conventional trucks lacked the off-road and towing ability necessary to tow most of the medium to heavy artillery pieces entering service with the German Army in the 1930s. Initially, 5, 8 and 12-ton capacity half-tracks were developed, supplemented shortly thereafter by the 1 and 3-ton designs. The 3-ton half-track was produced by three other firms in addition to Borgward during World War II. Borgward manufactured 2,067 of the 8,800 3-ton half-tracks produced. The 3-ton half-track was designed specifically to tow the 10.5-cm gun-howitzer initially and later, the 7.5-cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun. The 3-ton could accommodate a crew of nine, including the driver and eight gun crewmen. Provision for the artillery ammunition was also provided. The versatile 3-ton chassis was also used as the basis of the SdKfz 251 armored half-track series, of which nearly 15,000 were produced during WW II.