Radschlepper Ost

Radschlepper Ost (Škoda RSO)

model of Škoda RSO
Type Prime mover
Place of origin  Nazi Germany
Specifications
Weight 7 t
Length 6.22 m
Width 2.30 m
Height 3.065 m
Armor None
Main
armament
 None
Engine 4-cylinder Petrol, 6023 cc
90 hp (67 kW)
Payload capacity 5 t
Suspension leaf springs
Operational
range
 120 km
Speed 16 km/h (9.9 mph)

Radschlepper Ost, literally "Wheeled Tractor East", also known as Škoda RSO or Porsche 175, was a German heavy 4WD military tractor used during World War II. It was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1941 and produced by Škoda in Mladá Boleslav. During years 1942–1944 there were circa 206 vehicles made.

History

Idea of heavy multipurpose tractor, intended for prepared invasion of the Soviet Union supposedly came from Adolf Hitler. In 1941 Ferdinand Porsche prepared design of four-wheel drive tractor, distinguished by large diameter (1500 mm) steel cleated wheels. Vehicle was powered by Porsche's own design air-cooled, inline-four petrol engine of 6023 cc displacement. As a starter, two-cylinder petrol engine (half of KdF-Wagen engine) was used.[1]

Final development and production took place in Škoda automobile plant in Mladá Boleslav, in then Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. RSO went through its first trials in 1942. Results were disappointing; high weight and narrow wheels caused high ground pressure. Tractor got stuck easily even on relatively solid surface. On icy surface, vehicle was practically unsteerable. Also, fuel consumption was unfavourable. Nevertheless, probably some 200+ tractors were produced during 1942–1944. Because of their faults, they were never deployed on eastern front; instead they served in Normandy and Netherlands. Some of them supposedly participated in Battle of the Bulge.[2][3]

Probably no vehicle survived into nowadays.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Spremo 1991, p. 114.
  2. ↑ Spremo 1991, p. 115-116.
  3. ↑ Cedrych 2007, p. 265.
  4. ↑ Spremo 1991, p. 116.

References

See also