Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Auburn Spring event,
May 11-13, 2017.
Chassis No.
BILL OF SALE
Estimate:
$ 40,000 - $ 50,000 US
In 1942, Opel began production of 2-ton Maultier (Mule) half-tracks
at their Brandenburg/Havel plant. The Maultier reportedly
originated from a field modification carried-out by the 2nd SS
Panzer Division "Das Reich" during the winter of 1941-42.
Conditions on the Eastern Front were already poor, roads turned to
seas of slush and mud in the spring thaw. This created almost
impossible transportation situations for the wheeled truck units of
the German army. A standard Ford 3-ton V3000S 4X2 truck was used as
the basis of the conversion along with sets of Carden-Loyd tracks
and bogey wheel assemblies from captured British Universal type
carriers. In 1943, Opel was ordered to start production on an
armored, self-propelled version of the 15-cm Nebelwerfer rocket
launcher based on the Maultier half-track. Combat experience
demonstrated the vulnerability of the towed Nebelwerfers.
Conspicuous smoke trails, which resulted from firing Nebelwerfer
rockets, left the exposed crews vulnerable to counter-battery fire.
The armored Maultiers corrected this by providing mobility and
protection. During World War II it's reported that 300 Opel
Panzer-Werfer 42s were produced.
