Bozza Posted January 6, 2001 Share Posted January 6, 2001 I watched Saving Private Ryan (yet again) tonight and paid special attention to the tracked motorbike thingy that "Ryban" and another bloke head out on to lure the Germans into the village. Question is: What was the actual name of these things and what were they specifically used for? My guess is recon - but maybe something more? What strikes my attention is the fact that this vehicle I have only ever seen in SPR and no other war movies or documentaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Wenman Posted January 6, 2001 Share Posted January 6, 2001 Hi Your talking about the SdKfz 2 - Kettenkrad. Not as far as I am aware used for recce, but liason and towing of light guns, especially in Fallschirmjager units. I have plenty of photos of them in various books I have so it was fairly common. Over 8000 were built, but mainly used on the East Front, but several well known photos of Villers Bocage after Wittmans rampage show one. ------------------ Pete "When Rumania declared war in August 1916, it is said that one of the first army orders, after mobilization, was that only officers above the rank of major were allowed to use make up" The Oxford Book of Military Anecdotes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellros Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 They were also used at airfields as towing vehicles, especially later with the Me262. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olle Petersson Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 After the War they were still produced for use as low cost farm tractors. Also, isn't the full name Kettenkraftrad, usually shortened to just Kettenkrad? Cheers Olle ------------------ Srategy is the art of avoiding a fair fight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 Yes. Pictures and info at Achtung Panzer!. ------------------ Don't talk to me about atrocities in war; all war is an atrocity. --Lord Kitchener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wwb_99 Posted January 16, 2001 Share Posted January 16, 2001 I think BTS has one for snowmobiling around the back woods of Maine. WWB ------------------ Before battle, my digital soldiers turn to me and say, Ave, Caesar! Morituri te salutamus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Fredriksson Posted January 18, 2001 Share Posted January 18, 2001 I drove one at Beltring this summer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 20, 2001 Share Posted January 20, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Olle Petersson: Also, isn't the full name Kettenkraftrad, usually shortened to just Kettenkrad? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> To be really technical, I thought they were the Kleines Kettenkraftrad. But as far as I know, there was no Grosse Kettenkraftrad so the distinction seems unnecessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Clark Posted January 20, 2001 Share Posted January 20, 2001 I asked about this vehicle and it's non-inclusion in the game a couple months ago. BTS reply was something like "Can you imagine the way something like that would be abused in the game?" Makes sense, but still would have been cool to use for Recon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Måkjager Posted January 21, 2001 Share Posted January 21, 2001 Anybody notice the div roundal/sign on the side of the Kettenkraftrad on the bridge in the town. Looks to me like the sign of the Hermann Göering Div ....as far as i know that unit did not fight in France...unless of course it belonged to the Div Training/Replacement unit ??? Any idea's ??? Regards Måkjager ------------------ Once an Ubërcabbage Always an Ubërcabbage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 23, 2001 Share Posted January 23, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Måkjager: Anybody notice the div roundal/sign on the side of the Kettenkraftrad on the bridge in the town. Looks to me like the sign of the Hermann Göering Div ....as far as i know that unit did not fight in France...unless of course it belonged to the Div Training/Replacement unit ??? Any idea's ??? Regards Måkjager <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I imagine the private collector who owned it would not permit the movie makers to repaint it for the movie. I do know the HG Division had elements (from the training unit, I believe, as you mention) that fought in Holland in October part of KG Chill I think - but don't know if they were in France in June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwhit21 Posted January 25, 2001 Share Posted January 25, 2001 Originally posted by Gremlin: Yes. Pictures and info at Achtung Panzer!. HEy gremlin any idea it lookd like one of the pictures the face of the driver is blurred out any reason????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted January 25, 2001 Share Posted January 25, 2001 No clue. ------------------ When men are inhuman, take care not to feel towards them as they do towards other humans. --Marcus Aurelius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted January 28, 2001 Share Posted January 28, 2001 Kettenkraftrad is the correct name. Literally: Tracked Utility Bike. Nifty machine -- I was surprised at its agility turning corners at speed ------------------ When it's my turn to march up to Glory, I'm gonna have one HELL of a story... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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