Springer (vehicle)
{{Short description|German ww2 demolition vehicle}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Springer
(Mittlerer Ladungsträger Springer, Sd.Kfz. 304)
| image = File:NSU Springer SdKfz 304.jpg
| image_size = 300
| alt =
| caption = Springer at The Tank Museum, Bovington
| type = Demolition vehicle
| origin = Nazi Germany
| is_vehicle = yes
| is_UK =
| service = 1944–1945
| used_by =
| wars =
| designer =
| design_date =
| manufacturer = NSU
| unit_cost =
| production_date =
| number = 50
| variants =
| spec_label =
| weight = 2.4 ton
| length = {{convert|3.17|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| part_length =
| width = {{convert|1.43|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1.45|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| armour = 10mm maximum
| primary_armament = {{convert|330| kg|lb|abbr=on}} explosive
| engine = 1.5L Opel Olympia
| engine_power =
| pw_ratio =
| payload_capacity =
| transmission =
| suspension = torsion bar
| clearance =
| fuel_capacity =
| vehicle_range =
| speed =
| guidance = wireless, up to 2 km
| steering =
}}
The Mittlerer Ladungsträger Springer (Sd.Kfz. 304) was a demolition vehicle of the German Wehrmacht in World War II.
Description
Based on the NSU Sd.Kfz. 2 Kettenkrad light tracked vehicle, NSU Werke at Neckarsulm developed and built around 50 Springer demolition vehicles from October 1944 to April 1945.http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/Homepage_english/Miscellaneous/Kfz-Numbers/Sd__Kfz__Numbers/Sd_Kfz__304_m__Ladungstrager/sd_kfz__304_m__ladungstrager.html
To make the vehicle capable of carrying a bigger payload without the motorcycle-style front fork of the original, two pairs of overlapping and interleaved road wheels were added to the aft end of the running gear on each side; giving three outer and three inner running wheels. It was powered by the same Opel Olympia engine of the Kettenkrad.{{Cite web|url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/mittlerer-ladungstrager-sd-kfz-304-springer/|title=Mittlerer Ladungsträger (Sd.Kfz.304) ‘Springer’|date=September 11, 2024|website=Tank Encyclopedia}}
A driver, sitting in the back of the Springer, drove the vehicle close to the target before dismounting. The final approach and the detonation of the {{convert|330|kg|lb|abbr=on}} high explosive charge was controlled by a wired or wireless remote control device.{{Cite web|url=https://www.landmarkscout.com/medium-demolition-vehicle-nsu-springer-sd-kfz-304-mittlerer-ladungstrager/|title=Medium Demolition Vehicle – NSU Springer – Sd.Kfz. 304 Mittlerer Ladungsträger|date=August 28, 2023|website=LandmarkScout}}
Springers were operated by "Radio Control Armoured Companies", a company made up of three Sturmgeschütz 40 armoured control vehicles, each controlling three Springers and a Sturmgeschütz command vehicle.Tank Museum
The Springer showed the same problems as other remote-controlled demolition vehicles: They were expensive and not very reliable. As the explosive charge was an integral part of the vehicle, it could only be used once.
Survivors
File:Springer Demolition Vehicle.jpg
An NSU Springer is displayed at The Tank Museum, UK. Another example is preserved at the MM PARK near Strasbourg, in France.
See also
- {{lwc|Goliath tracked mine}}
- {{lwc|Borgward IV}}
- {{lwc|Mobile Land Mine}}
- {{lwc|Teletank}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- Jaugitz, Markus: Die deutsche Fernlenktruppe 1940–1943. Waffen-Arsenal Special Volume 10, 1994, Podzun-Pallas-Publishers, Germany
{{WWIIGermanAFVs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Springer (Tank)}}
Category:World War II vehicles of Germany