LWS

[Aufklarung]

Here's one I never heard of:

In 1936, Rheinmetall Borsig AG was approached by the German army general staff to build a special amphibious tracked vehicle for landing operations. The tractor would be able to two behind it a floating trailer capable of accommodating vehicles or other cargo weighing up to 18,000kg. On water the tractor would function as a tug for the floating cargo trailer. After landing the tractor would still have to move the trailer to a safe place to unload the cargo.

http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/2833/ ... s/lws.html



and a couple of other sources:

http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/amphi/P_P.html
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/FVL.HTM

Any ideas as to who used them on the Ost front?

regards
A

[MadderCat]

the only thing I know about the LWS ist that they were used in the
Landungspionierbataillon's
they were used for instance in the occupation of the baltic isles in 1941

my 2 cents

MadderCat

[ChrisMAg2]

IIRC it was also (seldomly) used in the mediteranian (north Africa) and more in the black sea parts of the eastern front.
Regards

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement.............................

The LWS - Landwasserschlepper.

It was orderd by the Heereswaffenamt in 1935 for the use by the sappers of the German army, the Landwasserschlepper (LWS) was conceived as a light river tug, with some ability to operate inland. Designed to assist in the river crossings and bridge-building operations, it was designed by Rheinmetall-Borsig in Düsseldorf from 1936 onwards. The hull was similar to that of a motor boat with twin rear-mounted propellers, tunneled and twin rudders. On land, it moved on a steel-shod caterpiller with four bogies per side.

The Landwasserschlepper was shown to General Franz Halder on August 2, 1940 on the island of Sylt, and although he was critical of high silhouette, recognized the general utility of the design. It was intended to build enough so that each invasion barge would have assigned one or two of these vehicles, but mass production difficulties prevented the execution of this plan.

In the autumn of 1940 three prototypes had been completed (a four on Dec 1940) and were assigned to Pz Abt 100 as part of Operation Sealion. The intention was to use them to pull the assault barges without engine to the shore during the invasion and towing others vehicles across the beaches. They would also be used to deliver supplies directly on the ground within the six hours of falling tide when the barges were stranded. It was planned that would tow also an amphibious trailer (capable of carrying 10 to 20 tons of cargo) behind the LWS.

Due to the lengthy development, the Landwasserschlepper not entered regular service until 1942 and, although it proved to be useful in Russia and North Africa, only were produced in small numbers.

Sources: Pre Order Built HOBBY BOSS 1/35 German LWS Land-Wasser Schlepper Mid Prod.
http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.com.ar/20 ... ailer.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more.............................

The LWS - Landwasserschlepper - Trials 1940.

Here the LWS 2 99 and 3 00 carrying out operational trials on a beach near by Ostende in September 1940 in preparation for Operation "Seelöwe" (Sea Lion). At that time the amphibious vehicles were assigned to the 3. / Pz. Abt. 100 (Fl) . Note the emblem on the LWS, consisting of a mouse with a square at the end of its tail. The Commander of the Panzerabteilung (Fl) at that time was Hauptmann von Zezschwitz .............

Sources: http://www.zeepreventorium.org/histo/1940-1945.htm

Anyone has on hand more info of this trials/tests? Cheers. Raúl M .

[reinaart]

Hi Raul, unfortunately there do not seem to be any reports on these LWS trials. There is another pic, though, of an LWS (299 ?) in Terneuzen, probably taken in September 1940. You can find the pic here and anything else I have managed to find about Pz.Abt. (F)100 during its stay at the North Sea coast.

http://www.forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/in ... 038.0.html

Regards,

Arjan

[tigre]

Thank you very much for your asnwer and the link Arjan . Cheers. Raúl M .

[SIS 5]

Hi,

here a drawing of a LWS with the special trailer and two pics of other LWS (source of the pics: Ground Power No. 017 "W.W.II German Military Vehicles 6").

Regards

Bert

[tigre]

Thank you very much Bert . Cheers. Raúl M .

[SIS 5]

Hi Raúl,

here two more pics of LWS and some more information about the LWS out of the book ""Kraftfahrzeuge und Panzer der Reichswehr, Wehrmacht und Bundeswehr ab 1900" by Werner Oswald:
The LWS had a Maybach V 12 engine, partly with 250 hp of the 18t halftrack tractor, partly with the 300 hp of the Panzer IV. There were two different versions of the LWS. There were built altogether 21 vehilces by the company Rheinstahl on the inland shipyard Boizenburg of the brothers Sachsenberg. The company Alkett (Berlin) delivered the chassis of this vehicle. During the first two years of the war two vehicles of the other model were built by Magirus in Ulm. At least two LWS were used on a trial basis already in Poland 1939 on the tributary of the Vistula, Bug. In autumn 1940 LWS took part in the preparations of the operation "Sea lion" ("Seelöwe") in Le Havre. Since 1941 one LWS was detached to each engineer lasnding batallion (Pionier-Landungsbataillon). Some operations (employments) took place in Russia, for example at the occupation and later evacuation of the island Ösel. At least one vehicle has been in Africa, one on the Balkans and one on the front near to the polar sea ("Eismeerfront"). The last LWS were in Denmark at the end of the war. Before two or three of these vehicle fell into the hands of the Russians.

[SIS 5]

Hi,

here two pics of the LWS in Northern Africa (source of pic 1: "Panzers in the desert" by Bruce Quarrie; pic 2: Armes Militaria Magazine Hors-Serie No. 6 "La guerre du desert (II) Bir Hakeim" by Yves Buffetaut.

Regards

Bert

[Natter]

A Molch midget submarine being launched from a German beach (ref "Weapons of Desperation - German Frogmen and Midget Submarines of World War II". Lawrence Paterson, 2006). Caption says it's a Panzerfähre IV tractor?

[tigre]

Hello to all ; and thanks for all these complements ..................

Caption says it's a Panzerfähre IV tractor?

for my point of view it's a LWS. Here a Panzerfähre http://www.panzerbaer.de/types/wh_panzerfaehre-a.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more............................

The LWS - Landwasserschlepper in action.

One of the first versions of the LWS (prototype?) had 7 road wheels, 3 return rollers and small fenders. Later versions (standard) no longer brought fenders, had 8 road wheel and 3 return rollers and there are even pictures of versions with 4 return rollers (see the LWS WM).

The LWS WM 29789 was used by the Kriegsmarine.

Source: Panzer Tracts 14-gepanzert Pionier-Fahrzeuge - Combat Engineer Vehicles

About the LWS WM any idea which unit? Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[Natter]

and there are even pictures of versions with 4 return rollers (see the LWS WM).

Like the one in my photo, and a couple of SIS's photos above.