Hobby Master Archive
Ground Power 1/72
German trucks
These trucks started out as a two-wheel drive vehicle and eventually evolved into four-wheel drive. The 4X2 vehicles were designated Type S (S- Standard) and the 4X4 were designated Type A (A- Allradentrieb or All Wheel Drive). From 1937 to 1944 there 127 sub-variants produced with the 4X4 going into production in 1940. By simply changing the body these trucks became cargo and troops transports, fire engines, fuel tenders and buses. The most important variant was the Einheitskofferansbau (house-type body) that could be used as an ambulance, radio and communication vans, work-shops on wheels, laundry or laboratory and countless other adaptations. Towards the end of WWII steel became a scarce commodity in Germany so the cabs were made from wood and pressed card that were called “Ersatz”. These trucks became the main cargo truck used by the Germans and appeared on every battle front. Approximately 140,000 of these trucks were manufactured in the different variants.
The 3-ton cargo trucks became the back bone of the German military transports. The military designation for these 3-ton trucks was Kfz. 305. Originally designed as a 4X2 rear-wheel drive but in 1940 a 4-wheel design was made available and it became very much appreciated by its crew for the cross country abilities. This variant of the 3-ton was used primarily for cargo transportation but could easily be adapted to handle troops. These 3-ton trucks continued to be manufactured even when WWII was declared ended and the S type became the most used truck for German commercial transport. From 1937 to 1944 approximately 82,000 of the Type “S” were built and another 14,000 with a long wheel-base and 8,300 with a low-level base.
