Trippel Schildkröte and E3 amphibious armoured cars

The Schildkröte (Turtle) I, II and III were three prototype four-wheeled amphibious armoured cars designed by Hans Trippel in 1941. Trippelwerke built them at Molsheim in October 1942. Also known as the E6, they were based on the SG 6 amphibious car and powered by air-cooled Tatra V8 engines. They performed well on land and in water. However, to stay afloat they could carry armour only up to about 10 mm thick, too light for heavier weapons. Schildkröte I had a 7.92 mm machine gun, II a 20 mm cannon with a machine gun, and III an aircraft-type MG 151/20 cannon. The German Army Weapons Office (Waffenamt) did not like these limitations, and with materials hard to obtain the project was cancelled at the end of 1942.

E3 and E3M

In 1943-1944 a new series, the Panzerspähwagen Trippel E3 (E for "Einheits", standard), was built on the basis of Schildkröte III. Only three prototypes were completed, including one turretless E3M ammunition carrier. The E3 had armour of 5.5-14.5 mm, a crew of three and a 20 mm MG 151/20. It was 5.18 m long and 1.90 m wide and weighed about 5,000 kg. In October 1944 the Waffenamt decided such vehicles were not needed.