Krupp L 2 H 43 / L 2 H 143 / Kfz.70 | |
Type: | Artillery tractor / Utility truck |
Is Vehicle: | yes |
Used By: | |
Wars: | World War II |
Designer: | Krupp |
Manufacturer: | Krupp |
Production Date: | 1934–1941 |
Number: | 7,000 |
Variants: | Several, see text |
Weight: | 2600kg (5,700lb) |
Length: | 5.1m (16.7feet) |
Width: | 1.93m (06.33feet) |
Height: | 1.96m (06.43feet) |
Crew: | 1 + 5 passengers + 1 light towed gun (Kfz.69), 2+10 (Kfz.70) |
Armour: | None |
Engine: | Krupp Boxer motor, 3.3 liters |
Engine Power: | 53 or 60 hp |
Payload Capacity: | 1150kg (2,540lb) |
Fuel Capacity: | 110L |
Vehicle Range: | 450km (280miles) on road |
Speed: | 70km/h |
The Krupp Protze (officially L 2 H 43 and L 2 H 143) was a six-wheeled 6x4 German truck and artillery tractor produced between 1934 and 1941 and heavily used in World War II. It was powered by a 4-cylinder, 55 hp or, from 1936, 60 hp Krupp M 304 petrol engine. Its main purpose was to tow artillery, especially the 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank gun (designated Kfz 69), and transport motorized infantry (designated Kfz 70).
This vehicle was extensively used on the Eastern Front, during the North African campaign and in France and Sicily. The "Krupp-Protze" was of relatively advanced design. Its fuel consumption was relatively high (24 Litres / 100 km on road) in comparison to the comparable Opel Blitz 1.5 t truck (16.5 liters / 100 km, produced 1938 - 1942).
Total production was about 7,000 units.
A successful design, the Krupp-Protze was converted into several variants:
Generator carrier for anti-aircraft searchlight, usually towed
Sometimes anti-tank (37 mm Pak 36) and anti-air (2 cm Flak) guns were mounted directly on the truck bed (Portée).