The Kettenkrad: Halftrack Motorcycle

[@projecttwentytwentyfiveisgreat]

The Germans really misunderstood the Golf Cart market.

[@steffenrosmus1864]

Nope they invented the ATV aka "Kraftkarren" which was built as a light vehicle for airborne troops in the mid 1960ies . but German engineers could not imagine the demand in the USA or Canada so they sold the concept to Japan and the rest is history

[@Maxfr8]

Hitler gave up golf for dictatorin' and mayhem.

[@putbye1]

Good for exploring a post-apocalyptic world.

[@cheng3580]

Ik that reference. Girls Last Tour XD

[@Machomanne8]

*dab*

[@MegaSegawa]

Yes, and Read the manga

[@tyberfen5009]

You bet it is

[@der7tezwerg921]

Ask the guys from ''7 Days to Die'' to implement it in their game.

[@gso619]

Is it me or can half the german vehicles be summed up with "Innovative, versatile and highly efficient until the gearbox explodes."?

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

Well, yes and no, Uboats usually did not have gearbox problems, as well as the aircraft ;D.

[@kirknay]

for land vehicles, it was either that or the engine catching fire *stares at Tiger (P)*

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

@@kirknay Not really, it was not the engine that caught fire but the electric motors that simply overheated.

[@kirknay]

@@Enthropical_Thunder is that not still the powerplant?

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

@@kirknay No, in the case of sequencial hybrids (the Porsche Tiger is one of the first vehicles ever to implement this technology) the electric motor and generator act as a transmission. The whole system of engine and electric transmission is still one drivetrain but the "powerplant" is the engine ;D.

[@sctm81]

Expensive, complex, limited production and unique. German Ww2 engineering at its best. I love it.

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

You forgot "so good, it was even used after the war".

[@Joesolo13]

@@Enthropical_Thunder almost every bit of kit was if it wasn't total crap. The m22 locust had a variant in use until recently by Taiwan. Nobody's throwing away perfectly operational equipment when they could use it or sell it

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

@@Joesolo13 Yes but no, the technology was reused but very rarely was the actual item reused, as it was almost always outdated. The M22 Locost and the late Sherman models and the Jagdpanzer 38T as well as the Stug 3 or the PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV are rare examples of that, as well as the V2 missile and the "Wasserfall" missile. Even rarer examples of equipement pieces that are still in use today are the M2 Browning, The MG42 (respectively the various copies and conversions to 7,62 Nato) and that was basically it. However, technology wise, a lot of WW2 development went directly into new concepts, like the Germans late Uboat designs or Frank Whittles jet turbine or Franz Anshelms axial flow turbine design or even the prototype jet turbine of Daimler Benz wich was effectively a high bypass turbine (used today in jet fighters as well as airliners). Or think about the british advances in radar technology or the german supersonic research, or the knowledge gathered by Britain and the USA when developing the nuclear bomb.

[@dongilleo9743]

In contrast, the U.S. built the Jeep, in the tens if not hundreds of thousands, which was probably cheaper to build and easier to maintain. The sturdy little Jeep served all over the world from desert, to mountains, the artic, to Pacific islands, in countless roles. It could be transported by glider, used as a scout vehicle, an ambulance, supply car, pull a trailer or anti tank gun, etc.

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

@@dongilleo9743 Yes and no. It is true, that the Jeep was a true allrounder but it had it's weaknesses regarding the ability to pull artillery pieces or overall transportation on rought terrain. However it made up for them by being light anouth to parashute out of an aircraft. That was an ability that the americans had to relie on, the germans on the other hand usually did not make make much less use of paratroopers. They needed a vehicle that could go through every terrain without major issues, that could tow artillery pieces in such an enviroment and be relatively comfortable for said conditions.

[@redknight1322]

It's really nice to see a historical content creator willing to admit that the sources used should be taken with a grain of salt due to the dearth of authoritative sources and the lack of footnoting by other authors. As a professional military historian, I find this rare level of historical integrity very refreshing and hopefully will become a standard for future historical content creators. Well done MHNV well done indeed!

[@namelesscurmudgeon9794]

If the Kettenkrad went back into production, I am certain that it would sell, especially in cold climates. The Kettenkrad would be one hell of a snowmobile.

[@Wallyworld30]

I want one of these for Christmas. They need to put these back into production I would buy one. They look amazing and appear to be very useful.

[@Riceball01]

They should, just fix the problems with the original, put in a modern engine and transmission and I could see it selling fairly well.

[@Wallyworld30]

@@Riceball01 I wonder if this would be street legal? If not it would still sell well for it's off road capabilities and retro goodness. You could easily do your outdoors man stuff in one of these instead of a Modern ATV. Only this thing looks 10x more badass than any Modern ATV. Men love Tanks and this might be the closest to actually owning one your average Joe will ever get.

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

They have, it is called a Wiesel reconnaissance vehicle, is a closed vehicle, looks even cuter and runs on the most reliable engines that VW ever build, a 2,5L 5 cylinder Diesel or a 1,9L 4 cylinder engine. It can carry AA missiles, TOW missiles, HOT 3 missiles or a 20 mm auto cannon. Actually, there was a prototype with a 30mm recoilless revolver auto cannon (mind you the first and only in the world ;D) build by Rheinmetall. There is only one question renaining, why aren't they already modeled in Warthunder?

[@fearthehoneybadger]

@@Wallyworld30 unfortunately, because of its instability caused by its height to width ratio, the liability lawyers would have a field day with anyone who tried to produce this wonderful machine. This is what happened to the three-wheeled ATVs.

[@lordterra1377]

@@fearthehoneybadger Can't you just have customers sign a waver?

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

“Cute” “German” and “WW2” are not words you often hear in the same sentence.

[@torp6845]

are you familiar with Girls und Panzer?

[@MsZsc]

Maus is cute Goliath is too fat tbh

[@torp6845]

@The Yangem glt is arguably my favorite anime, but I'd argue that it doesn't fulfill the 'ww2' category

[@jaroslavstava3704]

A comparison with the Universal Carrier would be nice, since it's probably the closest relative.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

Thank you. That's what I was thinking. The Universal Carrier was a much more flexible design but this was perfect for the Heer given the shortage of fuel.

[@williammagoffin9324]

The related Loyd Carrier might be closer to this, as it was more of a tractor than a weapons carrier like the Universal Carrier. Although I would say the M29 Weasel is more the Allied equivalent to the Kettenkrad.

[@jakedee4117]

And also repurposed by civilians after the war for agriculture.

[@bificommander7472]

The Jeep was my first comparison, but obviously as a wheeled vehicle there's a lot more differences.

[@yaldabaoth2]

2 machine guns on the front and you have one amazing Mad Max vehicle.

[@sabotabby3372]

Until literally anything flies your way, no armor or cover

[@Ralphieboy]

Remember in Saving Private Ryan it had Reiben on his BAR on the back

[@sabotabby3372]

@@Ralphieboy remember how that ended

[@anonymousstout4759]

Unless it could only goes 44mph at best

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@Jace Baker Aye but his acting career was a casualty.

[@Abe_Hiroshi]

I had a big Kettenkrad toy when I was a kid. 1:16th scale, no idea where it went. Had a Kubel too.

[@krautandsalo]

There, take an "ü" :)

[@ninaakari5181]

Here are wild 'ä' and 'ö' for future use

[@indridcold8433]

I had a Junkers Ju-87 and a P51 Mustang. I still have the Ju-87 in the attic. But the P-51 has been long lost.

[@Gorilla_Jones]

@Herbert Norkus yup, got all the 21st century toys vehicles.

[@EvanRobertsonHD1]

These were kinda randomly used by the US Army in Germany into the Cold War as well; my uncle was passenger in one during a tank exercise in like 78 or something, having to throw smoke grenades at "dead" tanks. Well, they crashed and flipped it and he has a pretty gnarly scar from it.

[@martinrking]

wait, ketten doesnt mean "kitten"? I thought it was the Kitten Cart, y'know, Panther, Tiger, Kitten :D

[@derb7462]

I think we should change history. That's genius

[@SiliconBong]

The kettenkrad was an upgrade to the katzchenvagon.

[@aspielm759]

Jesus... but ok... we can call it Kätzchen

[@SiliconBong]

@@aspielm759 apologies, I lost my A4 sheet with all the ASCII codes on it

[@AFnord]

Kettenkrad, in some circles known as the cutenkrad for being so small and cute.

[@FloofyTanker]

Girl's Last Tour cute

[@sebastianthomsen2225]

:D

[@MsZsc]

That grammar implies one girl

[@shayak3236]

When BMW builds a toy tank in their bike factory

[@Keckegenkai]

NSU aint BMW

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

@@Keckegenkai I think he said BMW as a reference to its great capabilities but extremely involved or annoying maintenance .

[@Freimopp777]

BMW Schneekrad for winter

[@razor1uk610]

@@Keckegenkai Indeed, if anything, NSU is Audi (since one of the 4 rings, represents NSU).

[@indridcold8433]

BMW used to build airplane engines for Nazi warplanes. This is what the symbol of BMW represents. It is supposed to be a propeller whirling around with the blue sky behind it. After Nazi Germany fell, BMW was not allowed to build airplane engines anymore. That was when they started giving some thought to building car engines instead using fuel injector technology for airplanes and othef advancements made for airplanes.

[@endlesnights3817]

Based on all the cat nicknames for German AFVs I think we should move to give the Kettenkrad the nickname of Kitten-krad or Kätzchen-krad. EDIT: And here is the picture of the Georg von Küchler riding on the back of the Kettenkrad i.imgur.com/onwbAvI.jpg

[@nichtvorhanden5928]

But it is only tracked and neither armoured or armed.

[@pommeterre5198]

@@nichtvorhanden5928 that why it's a kitten and not a full cat. Ps: I love this name, I kind of want to experience a new world war just to name things: Kitten-krad Rainbow-howitzer (it use gaz munitions and it looks like a rainbow) Panda Canon...

[@endlesnights3817]

You get it! it's not some giant predictor cat, only a small little cute kitty :3 Maybe it plays hunt by pulling around some light artillery or anti tank gun. But it's no King of the Jungle.

[@nichtvorhanden5928]

@@endlesnights3817 Yes but the cats are for fighting vehicles not a little Kettenkrad.

[@plusequalminusk4203]

When the world ends I want one of these

[@oberstkarl6640]

Make sure to stock on up on food and try to make sure your friends dont die.

[@sonicy22]

Ugoku ugoku...

[@arya31ful]

Dakara ONE!, TWO!, THREE!

[@BenersantheBread]

@@arya31ful Kyou mo ashita mo kinou mo kawaranai!

[@oberstkarl6640]

crys*

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

"M1 can referr to dozens of things from tank's to rifles "We English speakers can be weird sometimes I know.

[@mattislindehag3065]

If a ww2 drill sergeant told a recruit to "go get the M1" would he get the M1 submachinegun, the M1 carbine, the M1 Garand, the M1 flamethrower, the M1 mortar, the M1 helmet or the M1 bayonett? I think the only right thing to do would be to bring them all in the M1 combat car.

[@Predator20357]

Mattis Lindehag Yep, that’s how America is and I love it.

[@arya31ful]

Now i have flashback about two girls exploring post-apocalyptic wasteland riding one of these.

[@johnnypopulus5521]

1:24 Is that a 7th armor insignia? I can just imagine Rommel riding on the back seat, goggles down, grinning with a personal satisfaction, whipping back through France to retrieve the rest of the division on that thing. These are one of my favorite old vehicles. I looked up how much one is & was shocked at the $100,000+ price tag. Not surprised though.

[@mitchverr9330]

Best little vehicle ever, tied with the universal carrier.

[@rolandfelice6198]

Nice one. Without a doubt one of my favourite WW2 vehicles. When I started assembling models of that period , it was one of the first built.

[@typxxilps]

It also had been used as plane movers on airfields for the Komet rocket plane and here in my hometown as ME 262 jet fighter mover during Erprobung under Major Nowotny. The Pilots loved to ride with these bikes after returm back from the maintenance shells to officer Messe. After war local farmers had used a few of them as a kind of tractor.

[@Feiora]

If you extend a protective mounting around the seating in the back, slap a light AT gun to one side and with a handful of rounds, this thing could have made for a decent force multiplier, or at the very least a WW2 version of the rebel Snowspeeder... Something to plink and draw attention away from where the bigger AT gun its just dropped off is deployed! ;)

[@baddog5936]

Probably my favorite vehicle ever made. A big thank you for your presentation.

[@edi9892]

Please cover light tanks concept and reality. I'd wonder if it depends on the country and if so how.

[@Joesolo13]

Pretty much. In places like the Pacific with rough terrain they were particularly useful, having a weak tank was better than no tank

[@edi9892]

@@Joesolo13 Light tanks can go through narrow streets, use light bridges, or even swimm. I bet they do well in traversing forests and cities, but that doesn´t mean that they can fight effectively there... Against average infantery, they should do very well, even if they lack firepower, but again they are also very vulnerable. The Soviets had BTs with amazing mobility and speed (record holder of the longest jump in a tank up to date!), but rather than hit and run, they seem to have wasted them holding their lines... It seems that 30mm auto cannons proved to be the best against masses of soft targets, but when we look at WWII, we see mostly 45, or 50mm cannons, which proved woefully inadequate for any purpose really. The Germans used 75 and later 105 , 155mm SPGs and later even came up with the monster of 380mm Sturmtiger (and various improvised mortars with giant projectiles). Soviets used 122 and 152mm and later introduced 240mm mortars. As a War Thunder player I like them a lot (Obj 906, BMP2 and Begleitpanzer 57mm all pack enough of a punch to deal even with MBTs and are fast). Speaking of the BMP, or Bradley: having a battlefield taxi could actually help in dangerous missions or transport VIPs.

[@Joesolo13]

@@edi9892 yea they had uses a lot of places but most medium tanks could cross most bridges as well, and street fighting is a rough place for any tank. Also agree with you on APCs/battle taxis but they're a different class from light tanks, and VIP transport is a very specify situation to be accounting for.

[@Punisher9419]

In Russia they still use very similar vehicles to get around forests all year round.

[@TheIfifi]

Lol. Probably leftovers xD

[@lisachicoine1559]

hello this is my first time commenting to you I appreciate your videos very much the authenticity of it with your background and of course accent. Very descriptive and much appreciated I lived in Stuttgart Germany for a while which began my love and fascination of this time. And of the German army as a whole you bring to light the accomplishments and of course the failures of the time. With this army and is amazing thank you for everything and I will continue watching

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

Thanks. The irony, I am currently in Stuttgart.

[@lisachicoine1559]

it is a beautiful city I was there when my father was stationed at the base the army base on the hill overlooking the I believe BMW factory it was an incredible time in my life something I will never forget and something I strive to be able to go back to with my wife and son now to show them the historical significance & incredibly beautiful and economically powerful country .

[@lisachicoine1559]

Also sorry my name is not Lisa that is my wife's email my name is Leebut I use it for streaming purposes for when I watch KZbin it's just easier since we're both synced

[@WRX3]

I would really recommend going to Militracks and taking a ride in one, it's the second-best military vehicle drive I ever had :D

[@TheMrFu]

What's your first?

[@WRX3]

@@TheMrFu Standing in the commander seat of a scorpion with only my hands as safety. Damn that thing is fast, and standing there is trully epic. Was at the Flywheel Festival, really great if you like pre 1950 cars, bikes or planes. (or a bit more modern/old)

[@maj.d.sasterhikes9884]

I've seen documentary footage of Kettenkrads being used to pull aircraft, much like the wheeled 'tugs' we use at the base where I work, to move aircraft around.

[@Gorilla_Jones]

One of my favorite WWII vehicles. It's so cool.

[@Osvath97]

0:53 "Where as kraftrad is the old German word ..." Oh old German, like what they spoke during the Middle Ages? "... for motorcycle." Wait a second...

[@David-eh9le]

Well, its still used as an official designation on your driverslicense

[@obelic71]

They called it a Pferd ( horse )😉

[@fremejoker]

That would be Old High German not old German.

[@Osvath97]

@@fremejoker It is interchangeable, but Old High German is the more official term. Old German can be used for it though.

[@fremejoker]

@@Osvath97 Old High German is a language different to modern German. If you just use old German for it, you blur the difference between an old German word which is just old and an Old High German word, that's a difference of 1000 years of language evolvement. Old High German has no speakers since 1050 AD anymore.

[@GeraltofRivia22]

Thanks for reminding me of one of my favourite anime

[@Malibu1515]

Hands down in my book the coolest peice of mechanization to ever come out of Germany. Wish they were made today...I'd buy one.

[@scottcampbell2836]

Kettenkrad in action-- from squadron signal is a great source. To me it fills role of light tractor. Field cable , towing aircraft, light vehicle recovery, supply in mud and snow, and even guard duty rotation. Gearbox was from Cleveland Tractor design. Engine was Opel 1600 cc petrol

[@scottcampbell2836]

I think 1500cc is correct. 1600 cc is so common my mistake

[@philm9593]

Thanks for throwing some light on this unique vehicle. Good job. 👍

[@Oscuros]

04:46 This example is from the famous Ramke Parachute Brigade, note the Luftwaffe number-plate. There is a very famous photo of a Kettenkrad being operated by the Brigade in Tunisia. They also had way cooler Luftwaffe Tropical uniforms, which came in tan already, so did not need to be faded or bleached and their trousers were really baggy and had the special map pockets in the thigh. Cool AF.

[@slitor]

They were also used in airborne operations, they dropped these in Crete and must have been ideal for the LG 40 and for moving/rounding up scattered troops.

[@williamzk9083]

After transport on a 2.5 ton truck kettenrad is Perfect for final positioning range of recoilless guns, 75mm infantry guns, 120mm mortar and PAW 600.

[@Juel92]

This vehicle sounds way more impressive than I expected but also more heavy.

[@GrasshopperKelly]

2:10 The same problem occurred with the Sd.kfz 250 chassis, and other German half tracks like the Famo half track variant. The tracks relying on a gearbox as their primary source of steering. Which admittedly, allowed them more agility cresting a ridge, or when towing heavy loads (or for any reason weighted significantly towards the rear). Where as the US half tracks, really was just tacking the existing truck chassis, and replacing the rear wheel, with a drive sprocket for the rubber tracks. The rear axle was simple an axle, and a differential. Relying on the front wheels for steering.

[@MaxCruise73]

A Kettenkrad was featured in the beginning of the end battle of "Saving Private Ryan." As the Kettenkrad sped off, one can see it go up on one track as it made a left hand turn.

[@Patriotusa44]

Riben, get on the rabbit.

[@MaxCruise73]

@@Patriotusa44 Edward Burns portrayed Private Reiben, the squat BAR gunner. Ironically one of the few that survived the battle.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

Thank you so much for this video. I have always wondered about it, but I had no idea it weighed that much!

[@DaveSCameron]

I confess to never laying eyes upon this craft in my 50 years of living! Where has this been hiding itself all this time? Seriously though I've not seen any in all the hours of documentaries nor the doubled books I've read regarding WW2 and I feel like one who was left in Pompey whilst the Heroes headed for Normandy... Thanks again for informing us all my German friend. Dave Cambridge U.K.

[@agr2190]

You need to play video ganes you Will see It a lot

[@nunyabidniz2868]

Saw one on a street corner in Palm Springs with a for sale sign on it about 15 years ago. [Yes, I knew what it was. Lifelong biker, so had heard about the weird half-track motorcycle some years before...] Wish I'd had the funds...

[@Wombat1916]

I bought the 1/9th scale model of this in England. During the move to Holland all but one or two of my 1/9th scale motorcycles, including the Kettenkrad were smashed! I found the ESCI model here, as well as the German "Jeep" plus a few of the Protar motorcycles.

[@watcherzero5256]

Horses are still used in Forestry in Britain to this day, no wheel or track can beat legs at navigating dense woodland full of fallen branches and mud.

[@obelic71]

This is one of the German WW2 vehicles you could start production again and sell with modern materials ! Highstrenght aluminium chassis and suspension, Fiberglass tub, and a Diesel engine. A tracked Piaggio Ape for commercial, civilian, construction and agriculture use.

[@nunyabidniz2868]

Crowdfund it!

[@obelic71]

@@nunyabidniz2868 Crowdfund project: Military History re-enginered Kettenrad 2.0 😁

[@seanmalloy7249]

With one piece of major redesign -- one of the causes for transmission failures was the fact that the transmission gears were made of aluminum to save on strategic materials, and had a tendency to shed teeth under heavy loads. One (secondary) source I have makes reference to Kettenkrads that had the aluminum transmission gears replaced by gears machined from proper steel not having this problem.

[@fmikuru]

precious potato girls carrier

[@Warentester]

They don't follow the footnote doctrine? So you don't have Axis to good sources?

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

?

[@bloqk16]

@@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized Johannes Rueter is doing a _play-on-words_ with "Axis" and the soundalike "access; as in _don't have _*_access_*_ to good sources?_

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

@@bloqk16 thanks!

[@tavish4699]

some people in my village found one in their garage after realizing the outside was longer then the inside wall it was revealed that there was a secret room in the back which had a krad hidden there

[@Treblaine]

Interleaved roadwheels?! Someone must have thought "how can I make this light utility vehicle way harder to make and maintain for no perceivable advantage?"

[@Treblaine]

What was it with the Germans in WW2 and interleaved wheels for tanks? The advantage was so trivial yet for such a high cost.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

@@Treblaine In some ways the German general staff were Otaku. They approved the vehicle or weapon that looked coolest. This fact did not escape the munitions designers. Let's build our own T-34, becomes the Panther.

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

Well, the thing is this, imagine your vehicle has to have a certain size, now imagine it being much to heavy for the size. That's a problem, because the maximum lenght and width of the vehicle automatically limit the size of the tracks and therefor the ability to decrease ground pressure. The only thing that can counter thus problem is an increased number of wheels to use as much of the tracks as possible. The only way to get the naximum ammount of wheels in a limited space is to interleave them. The density of the vehicles called for this type, it may be easier to inagine the Panther, it was to heavy for its size, it would have had an enormes ground pressure without the interleaved wheels technique. It helps to think like an engineer, there is always a reason ;D.

[@absalomdraconis]

@@Enthropical_Thunder : Well, that's a good thought, but it's actually the tracks that directly affect ground pressure, so _usually_ you can just make wider road wheels for the same effect. Interleaved road wheels usually _won't_ reduce the width, so the savings over wider wheels are either slim, or none.

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

@@absalomdraconis No, that's the problem, the road wheels directly influence the ground pressure. Why? Because the wheels transmit the weight of the vehicle as a point load onto the tracks. If the tracks would be rigid, basically a steel plate, than they would theoretically disperse the load and therefor lower the groundpressure but as it is with tracks, they basically are a chain of moveable links. Now imagine one road wheel standing directly on one link in comparsion to it standing the joint of 2 links. The ground pressure will be lower when the wheel stands on the joint of 2 links, so, to achieve a lower ground pressure you use more wheels to achieve this state, you also have lower point loads on the track snd therefor a more even dispersed load, respectively less ground pressure.

[@thebullmoose8316]

I’d kill to get to drive one of those around a ranch.

[@sevenproxies4255]

So it's a tracked proto-ATV?

[@markadams7597]

Great vid. Ty.

[@avnrulz]

My friend is a Docent at a aviation museum which has one.

[@TroysMilitaryHistory]

The Tank Museum channel has the accurate origin story for the Kettenkrad

[@landfair123]

Why don't they build them again? I would love to have one.Just update the internals.

[@grundergesellscahftmkii6196]

Its Nazi related. You might get backlash for producing it from certain people.

[@bencejuhasz6459]

In France,they were manufactured after the war. It's just simply became obsolete in the agricultural role.

[@MsZsc]

That’s why you dress up girls in neutral-looking uniforms and make the stalhelm on one of them fatter and people would be none the wiser

[@fdsdh1]

The German "Universal Carrier", it just struck me!

[@cnlbenmc]

The Kettenkrad; it Krads Ketten!l.

[@bosto23]

That's adorable

[@ralphgeigner3011]

Excellent as always ! wish I had the $$ to get one ! as well as a VW ! Go ARMY

[@GusLandy]

This guy's accent freaks me out. Awesome!

[@mitchellvliem6200]

Congratulations on 72k Subs 🍾

[@maxkennedy8075]

The mini sdkfz 251/1

[@hoosierhiver]

I think I remember in Kelly's Heroes they called it a "rabbit"

[@jkoeberlein1]

Wow this thing was actually useful! I've always thought this vehicle was fever dream of some over worked German engineer.

[@jasondaniel918]

Kettenkrad. I was taught the vehicle's name was Kettenrad. I learned something new. I had a chance to ride on one when I was stationed in Fulda, on the West/East Inner German Border. It was a painful experience. The vehicle had no suspension system to speak of. Cute? Maybe. Fun? No!

[@DavidSmith-yc6lm]

Seen a die cast model small and big of this vehicle at Eden Camp today

[@Name-ps9fx]

I had a 1/35 model of the Kettenkrad (by Tamiya?)...always wondered what purpose it served, and how did the steering handlebar + front wheel function regarding steering? Totally cute little thing!

[@Loup-mx7yt]

VZ_ 342 when turning the wheel, a track would slow down (kind of like how a tank steers but with a wheel at the front in the place of the 2 levers).

[@rancidink7069]

Footnote doctrine I love that quote

[@tostie3110]

Yes, my favourite german vehicle! All that's left for me to get is an actual model or something. And fix the one up our reenactment group has...

[@Theanchoritegarlic]

Quirky-Genius! Inspiration of the "Motor Track" from cherished underground comic Cobalt 60!

[@bradster1708]

Th e Kettenkrad made a cameo appearance in the movie “Saving private Ryan”

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

I was about to read that a kittenkart and it almost sound like too 🤣

[@douglasstrother6584]

The M-1: Rifle, Tank, Shell, SPAM, Another Tank, More Tanks-A1, SPAM ...

[@jontronsdad2788]

Helmet

[@bencejuhasz6459]

You forgot the countless artillery pieces,tank cannons, the M1 Carbine and the Thomson M1 submachine gun.

[@jameson1239]

There also the M1 carbine

[@Lukusprime]

I’ve often wondered why they went back to M1 for the Abrams. There was the M4 Sherman, the M26 Pershing, the M46 Patton, the M48 Patton, the M60, aaaaannnnnnndddddd.... back to the M1. Why not M62, or M70?

[@bencejuhasz6459]

@@Lukusprime Because the M1 Abrams was the first MBT in the US. The M60 was originally classified as a medium tank,and it was changed shortly before the production started.

[@gregp7379]

All well and good, but how do we adjust track tension?

[@stevehairston9940]

I want one. Are their any still available. 😃

[@dereiserneotto1514]

1:53 You pronounced it Neckars ulm, it is called Neckar-sulm because ir comes from the two rivers Neckar and Sulm.

[@galier2]

Most German speakers pronounce it that way. Which is not uncommon that a majority pronounce a town name or a region name falsely (Mecklenburg, Lübeck like for instance should be pronounced with a long e before the ck as it is the low German Dehnungszeichen de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehnungszeichen#Gegenbeispiel_Dehnungs-c_im_Digraph_-ck-)

[@dereiserneotto1514]

ok wow, i did not know that there is so much misspronunciation in German City Names. I obly know the correct pronunciation of Neckarsulm for sure because i live near saud city but thank you for clarifying @galier2

[@galier2]

@@dereiserneotto1514 It's a normal phenomenon (it's the same in French). Toponyms (i.e. names of geographic locations) are very often remnants of ancient languages, and they conserve old ways of writing that do not apply to the common language. The with Mecklenburg or Lübeck for example are in typical low-German dialects. Or Soest which is pronounce with a long o "Soost" and not as Ö as it is in region that was dutch speaking long time ago, so it has a spelling that is closer to Dutch thant to modern German.

[@dereiserneotto1514]

yes, apart from Neckarsulm i would not know any other right pronunciations of Cities. I also have the language-barrier because i am a semi-rural Swabian and often missread city names of other german regions.

[@bigbigmurphy]

Desire to own one, intensifies.

[@andrewmuelleranantababaji8073]

My first question from observation, if say front wheel usually used for steering get bogged down in snow or mud, can this vehicle steer with the 2 separate tracks, like bull Dozier or tank? Can front frock and wheel be Detached if conditions warranted? Just seems to me wheel could get stuck

[@seanmalloy7249]

If the front wheel was too badly damaged, it could be removed, and the vehicle steered with just the track braking system.

[@maade9642]

I wish you would have said that the smallest gear with only 1-2km/h is made for marching aside of infantry. And because a man can only walk with 1-2km/h over a longer distance this gear was made. It's a important aspect I think for what this kinda things were made for. The motorcycles had this small gear, too. The Kübelwagen I'm not sure but I think.

[@mackermicker2064]

Who remembers the kitty from company of heroes? Love that thing

[@timothyhouse1622]

The truth could be in the middle about the beginning. It could have started as a civilian project, built on a limited scale, and when the military called out for a specific vehicle to fill a roll the company could have thought "hey, we got this here that fits that bill." They were already ahead of the curve by having a fully operation vehicle. OR someone in the military could have known about it and brought it into consideration.

[@pauld9561]

I owe half of all of my Saturday afternoons throughout most of my early life to Great Germany. The movies and documentaries are priceless.

[@WildBillCox13]

Then perfect mechanized mount for a post-apocalyptic hero. Someone should do a manga . . .

[@MsZsc]

Bruh

[@charleswindsor7835]

i've had a ride as a pillion in/on one of these, there great fun but a little bumpy at speed

[@rexmundi3108]

Dual wheel steering would have been an improvement i think. This was basically a cross between a small tractor and early ATV. 3 wheel ATVs had limitations similar to this vehicle.

[@nunyabidniz2868]

The front wheel does the steering until you turn the handlebars more than ~ 15deg off to either side, when differential braking of the tracks [ie, normal tank steering] kicks in. It was entirely possible to drive one w/ no front wheel at all, you just didn't have the fine control that came with the standard setup.

[@legoeasycompany]

Interesting that the Kettenkrad was still produced post-war, any info on the numbers and the factory that continued to make it?

[@hawk2717]

The factory was NSU in Neckarsulm, wich is today part of Audi.

[@canisxv9869]

'Fun fact, NSU still exists today, you may know it under this name: Audi "Audi AG (German: [ˈaʊ̯di ʔaːˈɡeː] (About this soundlisten)) is a German automobile manufacturer that designs, engineers, produces, markets and distributes luxury vehicles. Audi is a member of the Volkswagen Group and has its roots at Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. Audi-branded vehicles are produced in nine production facilities worldwide. The origins of the company are complex, going back to the early 20th century and the initial enterprises (Horch and the Audiwerke) founded by engineer August Horch; and two other manufacturers (DKW and Wanderer), leading to the foundation of Auto Union in 1932. The modern era of Audi essentially began in the 1960s when Auto Union was acquired by Volkswagen from Daimler-Benz.[10] After relaunching the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of the Audi F103 series, Volkswagen merged Auto Union with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969, thus creating the present day form of the company."

[@pitcheralex1262]

I wonder what his standards of cute and ugly are.

[@TheIfifi]

Its cute.

[@johnnypopulus5521]

*küt

[@minutenreis]

*Goliath wants to know your location*

[@jefferyindorf699]

It is cute! 😅

[@Enthropical_Thunder]

Well, it is cute compared to ots big brothers ;D. I would even go as far as to say, that the Kettenkrad looks amazing.

[@RolloTonéBrownTown]

Mom can we have a tank? Mom: we already have a tank at home

[@ldmitruk]

Now I want to see the Chieftain do a walk around of one of these.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Yes definitely! Then we can learn how to tension the tracks, and how to get out if it's on fire.😉😁

[@scottcampbell2836]

It would still be a 40 minute video lmao

[@seanmalloy7249]

@@BA-gn3qb He'll make time in the walkaround to point out how annoying it is to service -- like most of the other German halftracks, each track link has its own individual lubrication point where you have to remove a bolt, pump in the grease, then reinsert the bolt... for each of eighty track links on each side.

[@sirianstarseed1896]

They're pretty cool 😎 how much would 1 go for?

[@jamesscott5407]

How do you spell the vehicle at the end...the 1950s mountain barrow?? Great video,I love the kettenkrad...cute and clever!!

[@jonathanmoeg1202]

I was wondering this myself and went searching. Think it's 'gebirgskaretten'. Found some pictures but only german text.

[@AFilmaciones]

Interesting, my info on the birth of this vehicle was wrong, I read years ago in a magazine, that it had been first used by the luftwaffe to tow load and and aircraft and due to the extraordinary specs and performance it had spread to the other branches. I always learn great stuff here.

[@DmdShiva]

One of the (secondary) sources I have states that it was developed in response to a requirement from the Luftwaffe for a light artillery tractor that could be carried in a Ju52 transport, but with the dearth of original sources, we have to live with conflicting accounts.

[@almontepaolilli4909]

Great video.

[@georgetur3511]

I wonder if the germans would have been better served building something like the british universal carrier instead of the kattengrad, the kattengrad has a complex drive train, and is unstable in certain situations. While it looks good and the troops liked it I think a light tracked vehicle like the universal carrier would have been better in terms of performance, and cost.

[@88porpoise]

What makes you thing a German version of the universal carrier would not have a complex drive train?

[@bencejuhasz6459]

@Tom Sanders They did. Major Alfred Becker's unit was charged with the conversions of captured equipment. Some of their half-tracks used Carden-Loyd and Universal Carrier parts,mostly running gear.

[@bencejuhasz6459]

It is not the equivalent of the UC. The UC is an armored personnel carrier and utility vehicle, while the Kettenkrad is just an all-terrain vehicle with no armor,half the weight of the UC and less than half the loading capacity.

[@88porpoise]

Bence Juhász It isn’t an equivalent, but there was significant overlap. While significantly lighter, the Kettenkrad served as a versatile vehicle in many of the same roles. Both functioned as artillery tractors, supply transports, and light troop transports capable of moving through difficult terrain and keeping up with mechanized forces, just with smaller loads and greater mobility.

[@mickmaxtube]

Excellent vid, I know researching can be problematic so thanks for the effort. If Mad Max ( Road Warrior to Americans ) played golf, he'd ride this beast from hole to hole. P.S 5:40 B1 lol

[@absalomdraconis]

The character is Mad Max to Americans too, "Road Warrior" was only the middle film in the original three.

[@satriorama4118]

I wonder if someone would make Kettenkrad with modern engine and sell it worldwide. I'm sure many people would buy it for sure. And Schwimmwagen too.

[@jpavlvs]

Opel's All Terrain Vehicle. Opel made the engine for a long time after the war.