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Germany's Maschinengewehrkraftwagen M.G. Kw Kfz 13
Nickname: badewannen "bath tubs"⁴

Kfz 13 and Kfz 14 Aberdeen Tank Museum

Kfz 13

Design

Daimler-Benz developed a standard 4x4 car chassis that had an armored body added. The superstructures were produced by Deutsche Edelstahl.

Maschinengewehrkraftwagen means machine gun truck.

The Kfz 13 had poor cross country capabilities as it only had two wheel drive and a high center of gravity.⁴

Chassis

The chassis of the Alter Standard 6 passenger car was used.⁴

Body

The body had an open top and was made from all welded construction.⁴

Engine

The engine and a 4 speed gear box were mounted in the front.⁴

Crew

The driver was at the front and the commander was behind him.⁴

Armament

The machine gun had a limited field of fire to the front.⁴

Prototype

 

Production

• Kfz 13: 147², 150
  • Production: 1932 - 1934, 1932-1941, 1933³, late 1933⁴
  • Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz², Alder³
• Kfz 14: 40²
  • Production: 1932 - 1934, 1932 - 1941
  • Manufactured by: Daimler-Benz²

Variants

• Kfz 13:
• Funkkraftwagen, Kfz 14: Radio car with frame aerial and long range radio.⁴ The aerial could be folded down when not in use.⁴

Usage

Typically a section of Kfz 13s would operate with a Kfz 14.⁴

Early War Use

The Kfz 13s and Kfz 14s were used in Poland, the low countries, and France.⁴ Some were still being used in non-motorized infantry units during the invasion of the Soviet Union.⁴

		Kfz 13	Kfz 14
Crew		Commander, driver 21,2,3,4	32,4
Physical Characteristics
Weight	4,700 lb 2.1 tons	4,850 lb3 2.1 tons2, 2.2 tons4, 2.215 tons1 2,235.2 kg4, 2,250 kg1	2.1 tons2, 2.2 tons4 2,235.2 kg4
Length w/gun	14' 4.2 m	13' 8"4, 13' 9"3, 13' 9.4"1 4.17 m4, 4.2 m1,2	13' 8"4 4.17 m4, 4.2 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	4' 10" 1.46 m	4' 9"4, 4' 11"1,3 1.45 m4, 1.46 m2, 1.5 m1	4' 9"4 1.45m4, 1.46 m2
Width	5' 8.5" 1.7 m	5' 6"4, 5' 6.9"1, 5' 7"3 1.68 m4, 1.7 m1,2	5' 6"4 1.68 m4, 1.7 m2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance		7 1/8"3
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main		1: 0.312" MG134 1: 7.92 mm MG132,3,4 1: 7.92 mm MG1
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Quantity
Main		1,0002
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	81	84	84
Hull Front, Upper	8@40°	0.4"@0°3, 8@40°2
Hull Front, Lower	8@22°	8@22°2
Hull Sides, Upper	8@15°	0.4"@0°3, 8@15°2
Hull Sides, Lower	8@5°	8@5°2
Hull Rear	8@22°	0.4"@0°3, 8@22°2
Hull Top	open	Open2
Hull Bottom	none	None2
Turret Front	MG shield: 8@35°	MG shield: 8@35°2
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)		Alder4 Adler Standard 61,2 Horch3	Alder4 Adler Standard 62
Bore / stroke
Cooling		Water3
Cylinders		63,4	64
Capacity
Net HP		59.23, 604	604
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	4 forward, 1 reverse	3 forward, 1 reverse3 4 forward, 1 reverse2	4 forward, 1 reverse2
Steering		Front wheels only3
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)		Gasoline3, Petrol4	Petrol4
Octane
Quantity		18.5 gallons3
Road consumption		9.4 mpg3
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand	360°, hand.2
Max speed	44 mph 70 kph	35 mph3, 37.3 mph1, 44 mph4 60 kph1, 70 kph2,4	44 mph4 70 kph2,4
Cross country speed
Road radius	187 miles 300 km	135 miles3, 186 miles4, 199 miles1 300 km2,4, 320 km1	186 miles4 300 km2,4
Cross country radius
Turning radius		48' 8"3
Elevation limits	-35° to +65°	-35° to +65°2
Fording depth		1' 8"3
Trench crossing
Vertical obstacle
Climbing ability		15° slope3
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side	2
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread
Wheel arrangement		2 x 43
Tire size		6.75 x 183
Wheel centers		56"3
Wheel base		112"3

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
3. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
4. World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006

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