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Panzerfähre
Germany · Tracked carrier
| Also known as | Pz.F, Landwasserschlepper II, LWS II |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Built | 1941– |
| Type | Tracked carrier |
| Status | Prototype |
| Use | Military |
| Propulsion | |
| Land drive | Tracked |
| In water | Propeller |
| Hull | Boat hull |
| Engine | Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol |
| Power | 300 hp |
| Dimensions & performance | |
| Length | 8.25 m |
| Width | 2.8 m |
| Weight | 17,000 kg |
| Speed on land | 45 km/h |
| Seats | 3 |
Specifications need checking. Some figures here were taken from the archive and have not been confirmed against a source.
The Panzerfähre (Pz.F, "armoured ferry") was a German amphibious tractor designed in 1941 to replace the Landwasserschlepper. It was meant to work on land and in water, but only two prototypes were completed.
Design
The vehicle was essentially a large, lightly armoured tracked boat. It used modified Panzerkampfwagen IV running gear and had a propeller at the stern. The hull was riveted, with armour of about 11-14.5 mm. A 300 hp Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol engine powered the 17-tonne vehicle to about 45 km/h on roads. It measured 8.25 m long, 2.80 m wide and 2.50 m high, and had a crew of three. Range was given as 350 km on roads and 200 km in water, and the suspension used leaf springs.
Role
The Pz.F could tow an amphibious trailer. Alternatively, two of them could carry a floating platform between them to ferry loads of up to 24 tonnes. The project was dropped when heavier tanks, beginning with the Tiger I, made that capacity inadequate.
Models
Several of the pictures in the archive folder show a built-up 1/35 scale multi-media kit of the Pz.F by ADV/Azimut.
4 Photographs
17 photographs in the archive folder. Click any image to view it full size.
5 Related vehicles
Compare the Panzerfähre with another vehicle.
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