Sd.Kfz.325

In 1942, Adler developed a special heavy-duty off-road tractor designed for hauling loads in difficult terrain. Under the name Sd.Kfz.325, two prototypes were created in 1943. The rigid frame of the vehicle was electrically welded from steel sheets, the rigidity was ensured by cross braces. The rigidity of the structure was also conditioned by the fact that the vehicle did not have a sprung chassis. The front wheel with a diameter of 1200 mm and a width of 400 mm was made of pressed sheet metal, which could be replaced by a wheel with a tire of dimensions 11.25-24. The rear wheels had a diameter of 2365 mm, with chains a diameter of 2605 mm, their width was 1200 mm. Wheelbase was 3575 mm, front wheelbase was 650 mm, rear wheelbase was 190 mm. The turning radius of the vehicle was 16.44 m and the ground clearance above the center of the frame was 1000 mm. As no 2-cylinder or 4-cylinder tractor engine was available, a 6-cylinder petrol engine Maybach HL 42 TRKM with an output of 87 PS (63.99 kW) was used. The engine power was transmitted via a dry disc clutch to a three-speed manual transmission (of which one reverse gear). The machine had a hydraulic brake system with brake discs with a diameter of 200 mm and a brake lining width of 40 mm. The control mechanism was ZF-ROSS type 700. The fuel supply consisted of 180 liters of gasoline. The crew cabin for two people was all-metal. The machine could carry up to 12 people on a frame structure located on the sides of the vehicle. The vehicle was able to tow an 1880 kg load.
At first glance, the prototypes differed from each other in the type of rear wheels. One had chains across the circumference of the wheels across the width of the wheel. The second prototype already had wheels with a profiled relief.
After testing the prototypes, some advantages of the design were appreciated, but the machine itself was not accepted into series production. Similar large wheel tractor projects were directed by Lauster-Wargel.


*source:
Walther J. Spielberger - Die Rad- Und Vollketten-Zugmaschinen Des Deutschen Heeres 1870-1945, Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, ISBN-10: 3879435286, ISBN-13: 9783879435289
www.ebay.at