Pannzerkampfwagen I Ausf A ohne Aufbau.:

Pannzerkampfwagen I Ausf A ohne Aufbau.:

Other designation: Krupp Traktor LaS
Type: Light armoured tracked vehicle for training use.
Manufacturer: Henschel, MAN Daimler - Benz Rheinmetall-Borsig
Chassie Nos: 8011-9000
15 produced from February to April 1934
Crew 2
Engine Krupp M305
Gearbox 5 Forward/ 1 Reverse
Speed. 37 (km/hr)
Range. 145 (km)
Weight: 3.5 (tons)
Length: 4.02 (Metre)
Width: 2.06 (Metre)
Height: 1.15 (Metre)

Armor (mm/angel) Front. Side
Hull. 13/27⁰ 13/0⁰
Rear. Top/Bottom
13/15⁰ 6/90⁰

History: Prevented by the Treaty of Versailles from possessing of manufacturing tanks or similarly designed armoured fighting vehicles, Germany skirted the treaty restrictions by producing fifteen tank hulls without superstructure, turrets or armaments. To speed production experience as far as possible, five companies had been selected in 1933 to produce three vehicles each. The official designation, 'Land-wirtschaftlicher Schlepper' (agricultural tractor) helped disguise the fact that any type of tracked armoured vehicle was being manufactured.
Specific features: This vehicle had fully-tracked armoured hull. The suspension consisted of a sprocket, 4 road wheels, a fifth larger road wheel (also acting as an idler) and 3 return rollers. The forward road wheel was cushioned by a coil spring and hydraulic shock absorber. The other 4 road wheels were mounted in pairs, cushioned by leaf springs supported by a girder. This girder was all that remained of a suspension design which back to development from a Carden-Lloyd design.
Combat service: Designed as a training vehicle, the turretless Krupp Traktor was not intended for combat. In the Spring of 1934, it was issued to the first Panzer regiments. Kraftfahrlehrkommando (Motorization Instructional Command) Zossen und Ohrdruf to give the troops their first experience of driving a fully tracked armoured vehicle.