The Sd.Kfz. 4 Gleisketten-Lastkraftwagen ("tracked truck"), was a 4.5-ton military truck of Maultier ("mule") half-track family developed during World War II by Germany. Its manufacturer designation was Mercedes-Benz L4500R.

The Sd.Kfz. 4 was developed after the 1941 invasion of the USSR to deal with the ice and mud, which bogged down the wheels-only road-bound commercial vehicles that were used to supply German forces. It was a modified Standard Mercedes-Benz L4500S (4x2) with Horstmann suspension instead of a rear axle. Another manufacturer of 4.5-t truck, Bussing planned a similar conversion of its Bussing-NAG L4500S but did not proceed. A total of 22,500 Maultier halftracks were produced by 1944, among which 1480 were 4.5-t. Sd.Kfz. 4, others 2-t. Sd.Kfz. 3. In 1943, Opel was directed to build armored vehicles outfitted with 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 rocket launchers. These vehicles were designated Sd.Kfz. 4/1, with around 300 produced. Given the extra weight of the Panzerwerfer, the top speed was only 24 mph (40 km/h). Another multiple rocket launching system, the 8 cm Raketen-Vielfachwerfer, was also fitted to the Sd.Kfz. 4 chassis.

The vast majority of Maultiers operated using British-pattern Carden-Loyd running gear, with the exception of the Type L4500R, which used PzKpfw. II running gear. The 6-cylinder engines were mated to a transmission with five forward gears plus reverse and could attain a maximum forward speed of 40 km/h. Each halftrack was equipped with the FuG Spr G f radio.

Aside from the Sd.Kfz. 4/1, the Sd.Kfz. 4 was armed only with a light 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun with a traverse of 270 degrees and elevation limits of -12 degrees to +80 degrees.

Pictured here is a 1:43 scale replica of a German Sd.Kfz.4/1 Panzerwerfer 42 auf Maultier rocket launching halftrack. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: August 2023