GHQ Models Forums

I am attempting to get some more info on how various German trucks were used during WWII. I have seen info from some other sites and books but still not really sure about some things.

I do know that the Krupp Protze was an Infantry hauler in the early stages of the war and I know that the Opel Blitz was increasingly used in the role later. But what of GHQ's other trucks - what purpose did they serve? One of the other manufacturers suggests that the Steyr Diamler as represented by G79 was also used in the infantry hauler role as well.

What trucks were used to do this? What dates were they in major use? What theaters were they used in? I don't think the Krupp Protze was used in North Africa but I could be wrong. How about the G514 Einheits Diesel and G37 Steyr Diamler with the cargo body etc?

If anyone can provide this info that would be very helpful. I am currently working on North Africa and I do know that captured trucks were often used as replacements but am interested in what was the primary intended infantry hauler for this theater in 1942. I am also interested in the other theaters such as Russian Front as well.

Thanks in advance.

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

Please don't take this as authoratitive; it is based on recollection and opinion.
Other than armored carriers for Panzergrenadier units the German Army of WWII didn't really have any vehicles designed specifically as personnel carriers.
Although it was used as a personnel carrier on occasion, the primary purpose of the Krupp Protze was to tow light artillery pieces (2cm anti-aircraft, 3,7cm anti-aircraft, 7,5cm howitzer, etc). Certainly, the gun crews would pile on the vehicle while the artillery piece was being towed and there was a sub-type designated as a personnel carrier.
The Opel Blitz was designed as a cargo carrier.
Common infantry were expected to walk in most situations. The Germans just didn't have enough motor transport to assign vehicles specifically to transport foot soldiers. Certainly, if a truck (or any other type of vehicle) were available, infantrymen would pile on.
On the other hand, this means that almost any truck could be used as an ad-hoc personnel carrier. I suspect that if you took a couple of packs of various types of German trucks (or add in a few French, US, and British vehicles) and randomly pick as many trucks as you want in your scenario, you would have a fair representation of an actual German truck convoy.

Don S.

Pete:
May I suggest you give this site a thorough going over.
It is a LOT of information to go through, but you will get a pretty darn good look at the trucks (among other vehicles) used by the German army; domestic and otherwise...

http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/

My recollection is that at least 75% of "Panzergrenadiers" were actually carried in cross-country trucks.
I have read that just under 50% of the aprox. 7000 Krupp Protze (kfz-70 variant) were built for this purpose. Most of the rest were built as light "gun-tugs" (kfz-69).
In any case, enjoy the website...
JimR.

Thanks very much for the replies, Don and Jim. I checked out the site that Jim recommended and learned a bunch of stuff in my short visit. My main focus of this thread was to find out what types of trucks were used to transport the motorized panzergrenadiers in the panzer and motorized divisions. I was also interested in knowing when and in what theaters these vehicles were used as well as the various cargo trucks. Since German panzer division often had different mixes of tanks - especially in the early war period - it might be reasonable to suggest that there was no standardized transport vehicles from division to division or maybe even down to regiment or battalion but at some point in the chain there would be some standarization to make maintenance a lot easier.

The Krupp Protze which ceased production in 1942 was used as both a light prime mover for various guns and also as an infantry carrier for panzergrenadiers. There were two different body styles depending on the use. The one that GHQ makes as represented by G97 looks like the infantry hauler version. The other version had the seats front to back with open sides.
The Steyr Diamler as represented by G79 was also used to transport troops according to the site. GHQ sells this one as a command vehicle and some were used in this capacity but I think it was primarily used for troops. Perhaps GHQ might look into the packaging for this one. The cargo body was fairly rare according to the site.
The Einheits Diesel ceased production in 1940 so would be increasingly rare to see after that. When GHQ said an early war truck they meant it.

I will be checking out this site some more over the next few days to see if I can come up with any more info. It is a good site and doesn't answer all my questions but it helps to answer some of them. If any of the rest of you have any more info or corrections to anything I have said up to this point feel free to jump in. Thanks.

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

Pete:
Glad you got some use out of it. There's a lot of info there...

Unfortunately, neither GHQ or CinC makes the 37mm gun tractor version of the Protze.
(edit-I accidentally typed Horch instead of Protze in the line above)
I have a few from an english maker, but they are pretty bad...
GHQ does have the special ammo/ crew/ tractor verson of the Protze made for the 20mm flak- packaged with the gun.
The einheits diesel- that's a good 6x6 useful for grenadiers.
They built over 17000 of them if I remember correctly, so those probably hung around a while. I really need a few more of them...
I agree with you about the Steyr personnel car- GHQ- please repackage it.
Same goes for the Kfz-15 in G-77- this was also used to tow the 37mm Pak & for other purposes than "command".
JimR.

The Steyr Diamler that GHQ produces appears to be the one that started appearing in mid 1942 with the external spare tire. The earlier version carried the spare internally.
The actual Commander's variant had a trunk in the back and some other mods. I personally think that GHQ might consider repackaging this set with 5 of the Steyr Diamler and not call it a Command pack. The two utility trucks that are currently included might be included with the cargo body versions since indications are that these were more rare.

Pete - Binpicker Out!

If you take a look at pictures from the North African theater you will see convoys with trucks from all participants on both sides. The Germans used any equipment they could find, ...as did the British.

I have not noticed the same in American convoys later in the war... Will

pmskaar wrote: I personally think that GHQ might consider repackaging this set with 5 of the Steyr Diamler and not call it a Command pack. The two utility trucks that are currently included might be included with the cargo body versions since indications are that these were more rare.

Pete - Binpicker Out!

Yah; and the Kfz 15 as a five-pack too. (tug for the 37mmPak in infantry divs.)
Of course, we can order both of these as individual items too.
I edited my prior post -goofed & typed Horch when refering to the Protze Kfz-69.
JimR.