The Kettenkrad: Halftrack Motorcycle

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  • Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
  • The legendary Kettenkrad probably the oddest and cutest of all German WW2 vehicles. This half-track motor bike is still quite common at events, as such you will see some footage from Tankfest and Militracks 2019 in this video.
    Disclaimer: I was invited by the Tank Museum at Bovington and also by the Panzermuseum Munster.
    Footage recorded at the Tank Museum at Bovington, at Tankfest 2018 & 2019, Panzermuseum Munster & Militracks 2019 (War Museum Overloon).
    www.tankmuseum...
    / daspanzermuseum
    www.militracks.nl
    www.oorlogsmus...
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    » SOURCES «
    Spielberger, Walter; Doyle, Hilary Lous, Jentz, Thomas L.: Halbkettenfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres
    Spielberger: Halftracked Vehicles of the German Army 1909-1945 (Spielberger German Armor and Military Vehicle)
    Hahn, Fritz: Waffen und Geheimwaffen des deutschen Heeres 1933-1945. Dörfler Verlag: Eggolsheim, o.J.
    Beech Restorations Vehicles Profiles. Profile #1: NSU HK101 Sdkfz 2 Kettenkrad, UK
    Abel, Friehelm: Kleines Kettenkraftrad Sd. Kfz. 2- Typ HK-101. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GmbH: Dorheim, 1984
    U.S. Military Intelligence Service: Technical & Tactical Trends No. 19. War Department: February 1943.
    www.kettenkrad.de
    #Kettenkrad #WW2 #MilitaryHistory

Комментарии • 556

  • @sctm81
    @sctm81 5 лет назад +114

    Expensive, complex, limited production and unique. German Ww2 engineering at its best. I love it.

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +8

      You forgot "so good, it was even used after the war".

    • @Joesolo13
      @Joesolo13 5 лет назад +5

      @@mandernachluca3774 almost every bit of kit was if it wasn't total crap.
      The m22 locust had a variant in use until recently by Taiwan.
      Nobody's throwing away perfectly operational equipment when they could use it or sell it

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +4

      @@Joesolo13
      Yes but no, the technology was reused but very rarely was the actual item reused, as it was almost always outdated.
      The M22 Locost and the late Sherman models and the Jagdpanzer 38T as well as the Stug 3 or the PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV are rare examples of that, as well as the V2 missile and the "Wasserfall" missile. Even rarer examples of equipement pieces that are still in use today are the M2 Browning, The MG42 (respectively the various copies and conversions to 7,62 Nato) and that was basically it.
      However, technology wise, a lot of WW2 development went directly into new concepts, like the Germans late Uboat designs or Frank Whittles jet turbine or Franz Anshelms axial flow turbine design or even the prototype jet turbine of Daimler Benz wich was effectively a high bypass turbine (used today in jet fighters as well as airliners). Or think about the british advances in radar technology or the german supersonic research, or the knowledge gathered by Britain and the USA when developing the nuclear bomb.

    • @dongilleo9743
      @dongilleo9743 5 лет назад +3

      In contrast, the U.S. built the Jeep, in the tens if not hundreds of thousands, which was probably cheaper to build and easier to maintain. The sturdy little Jeep served all over the world from desert, to mountains, the artic, to Pacific islands, in countless roles. It could be transported by glider, used as a scout vehicle, an ambulance, supply car, pull a trailer or anti tank gun, etc.

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +1

      @@dongilleo9743
      Yes and no. It is true, that the Jeep was a true allrounder but it had it's weaknesses regarding the ability to pull artillery pieces or overall transportation on rought terrain.
      However it made up for them by being light anouth to parashute out of an aircraft.
      That was an ability that the americans had to relie on, the germans on the other hand usually
      did not make make much less use of paratroopers.
      They needed a vehicle that could go through every terrain without major issues, that could tow artillery pieces in such an enviroment and be relatively comfortable for said conditions.

  • @putbye1
    @putbye1 5 лет назад +840

    Good for exploring a post-apocalyptic world.

    • @cheng3580
      @cheng3580 5 лет назад +89

      Ik that reference. Girls Last Tour XD

    • @Machomanne8
      @Machomanne8 5 лет назад +43

      *dab*

    • @MegaSegawa
      @MegaSegawa 5 лет назад +29

      Yes, and Read the manga

    • @tyberfen5009
      @tyberfen5009 5 лет назад +8

      You bet it is

    • @der7tezwerg921
      @der7tezwerg921 5 лет назад +7

      Ask the guys from ''7 Days to Die'' to implement it in their game.

  • @gokissasickmonkeyswetass
    @gokissasickmonkeyswetass 5 лет назад +171

    The Germans really misunderstood the Golf Cart market.

    • @steffenrosmus1864
      @steffenrosmus1864 4 года назад +2

      Nope they invented the ATV aka "Kraftkarren" which was built as a light vehicle for airborne troops in the mid 1960ies . but German engineers could not imagine the demand in the USA or Canada so they sold the concept to Japan and the rest is history

    • @Maxfr8
      @Maxfr8 4 года назад +1

      Hitler gave up golf for dictatorin' and mayhem.

  • @redknight1322
    @redknight1322 5 лет назад +21

    It's really nice to see a historical content creator willing to admit that the sources used should be taken with a grain of salt due to the dearth of authoritative sources and the lack of footnoting by other authors. As a professional military historian, I find this rare level of historical integrity very refreshing and hopefully will become a standard for future historical content creators. Well done MHNV well done indeed!

  • @namelesscurmudgeon9794
    @namelesscurmudgeon9794 3 года назад +4

    If the Kettenkrad went back into production, I am certain that it would sell, especially in cold climates. The Kettenkrad would be one hell of a snowmobile.

  • @Abe_Hiroshi
    @Abe_Hiroshi 5 лет назад +97

    I had a big Kettenkrad toy when I was a kid. 1:16th scale, no idea where it went. Had a Kubel too.

    • @krautandsalo
      @krautandsalo 5 лет назад +3

      There, take an "ü" :)

    • @ninaakari5181
      @ninaakari5181 5 лет назад +4

      Here are wild 'ä' and 'ö' for future use

    • @indridcold8433
      @indridcold8433 5 лет назад

      I had a Junkers Ju-87 and a P51 Mustang. I still have the Ju-87 in the attic. But the P-51 has been long lost.

    • @Gorilla_Jones
      @Gorilla_Jones 4 года назад

      @Herbert Norkus yup, got all the 21st century toys vehicles.

  • @AFnord
    @AFnord 5 лет назад +85

    Kettenkrad, in some circles known as the cutenkrad for being so small and cute.

  • @sonicy22
    @sonicy22 5 лет назад +64

    Ugoku ugoku...

  • @shayak3236
    @shayak3236 5 лет назад +282

    When BMW builds a toy tank in their bike factory

    • @Keckegenkai
      @Keckegenkai 5 лет назад +5

      NSU aint BMW

    • @Chironex_Fleckeri
      @Chironex_Fleckeri 5 лет назад +9

      @@Keckegenkai I think he said BMW as a reference to its great capabilities but extremely involved or annoying maintenance .

    • @Freimopp777
      @Freimopp777 5 лет назад +1

      BMW Schneekrad for winter

    • @razor1uk610
      @razor1uk610 5 лет назад +4

      @@Keckegenkai Indeed, if anything, NSU is Audi (since one of the 4 rings, represents NSU).

    • @indridcold8433
      @indridcold8433 5 лет назад +1

      BMW used to build airplane engines for Nazi warplanes. This is what the symbol of BMW represents. It is supposed to be a propeller whirling around with the blue sky behind it. After Nazi Germany fell, BMW was not allowed to build airplane engines anymore. That was when they started giving some thought to building car engines instead using fuel injector technology for airplanes and othef advancements made for airplanes.

  • @rolandfelice6198
    @rolandfelice6198 5 лет назад +3

    Nice one. Without a doubt one of my favourite WW2 vehicles. When I started assembling models of that period , it was one of the first built.

  • @GeraltofRivia22
    @GeraltofRivia22 5 лет назад +5

    Thanks for reminding me of one of my favourite anime

  • @WRX3
    @WRX3 5 лет назад +8

    I would really recommend going to Militracks and taking a ride in one, it's the second-best military vehicle drive I ever had :D

    • @TheMrFu
      @TheMrFu 5 лет назад +1

      What's your first?

    • @WRX3
      @WRX3 5 лет назад +3

      @@TheMrFu Standing in the commander seat of a scorpion with only my hands as safety. Damn that thing is fast, and standing there is trully epic. Was at the Flywheel Festival, really great if you like pre 1950 cars, bikes or planes. (or a bit more modern/old)

  • @edi9892
    @edi9892 5 лет назад +37

    Please cover light tanks concept and reality. I'd wonder if it depends on the country and if so how.

    • @Joesolo13
      @Joesolo13 5 лет назад +3

      Pretty much.
      In places like the Pacific with rough terrain they were particularly useful, having a weak tank was better than no tank

    • @edi9892
      @edi9892 5 лет назад +1

      @@Joesolo13
      Light tanks can go through narrow streets, use light bridges, or even swimm.
      I bet they do well in traversing forests and cities, but that doesn´t mean that they can fight effectively there...
      Against average infantery, they should do very well, even if they lack firepower, but again they are also very vulnerable.
      The Soviets had BTs with amazing mobility and speed (record holder of the longest jump in a tank up to date!), but rather than hit and run, they seem to have wasted them holding their lines...
      It seems that 30mm auto cannons proved to be the best against masses of soft targets, but when we look at WWII, we see mostly 45, or 50mm cannons, which proved woefully inadequate for any purpose really. The Germans used 75 and later 105 , 155mm SPGs and later even came up with the monster of 380mm Sturmtiger (and various improvised mortars with giant projectiles). Soviets used 122 and 152mm and later introduced 240mm mortars.
      As a War Thunder player I like them a lot (Obj 906, BMP2 and Begleitpanzer 57mm all pack enough of a punch to deal even with MBTs and are fast).
      Speaking of the BMP, or Bradley: having a battlefield taxi could actually help in dangerous missions or transport VIPs.

    • @Joesolo13
      @Joesolo13 5 лет назад

      @@edi9892 yea they had uses a lot of places but most medium tanks could cross most bridges as well, and street fighting is a rough place for any tank.
      Also agree with you on APCs/battle taxis but they're a different class from light tanks, and VIP transport is a very specify situation to be accounting for.

  • @MaxCruise73
    @MaxCruise73 5 лет назад +3

    A Kettenkrad was featured in the beginning of the end battle of "Saving Private Ryan." As the Kettenkrad sped off, one can see it go up on one track as it made a left hand turn.

    • @Patriotusa44
      @Patriotusa44 5 лет назад

      Riben, get on the rabbit.

    • @MaxCruise73
      @MaxCruise73 5 лет назад +2

      @@Patriotusa44 Edward Burns portrayed Private Reiben, the squat BAR gunner. Ironically one of the few that survived the battle.

  • @Feiora
    @Feiora 4 года назад +2

    If you extend a protective mounting around the seating in the back, slap a light AT gun to one side and with a handful of rounds, this thing could have made for a decent force multiplier, or at the very least a WW2 version of the rebel Snowspeeder... Something to plink and draw attention away from where the bigger AT gun its just dropped off is deployed! ;)

  • @Oscuros
    @Oscuros 9 месяцев назад

    04:46 This example is from the famous Ramke Parachute Brigade, note the Luftwaffe number-plate. There is a very famous photo of a Kettenkrad being operated by the Brigade in Tunisia. They also had way cooler Luftwaffe Tropical uniforms, which came in tan already, so did not need to be faded or bleached and their trousers were really baggy and had the special map pockets in the thigh. Cool AF.

  • @sevenproxies4255
    @sevenproxies4255 5 лет назад +14

    So it's a tracked proto-ATV?

  • @billd.iniowa2263
    @billd.iniowa2263 5 лет назад +2

    Thank you so much for this video. I have always wondered about it, but I had no idea it weighed that much!

  • @fdsdh1
    @fdsdh1 5 лет назад +3

    The German "Universal Carrier", it just struck me!

  • @bradster1708
    @bradster1708 5 лет назад +5

    Th e Kettenkrad made a cameo appearance in the movie “Saving private Ryan”

  • @fmikuru
    @fmikuru 5 лет назад +53

    precious potato girls carrier

  • @bosto23
    @bosto23 5 лет назад +9

    That's adorable

  • @jkoeberlein1
    @jkoeberlein1 3 года назад

    Wow this thing was actually useful! I've always thought this vehicle was fever dream of some over worked German engineer.

  • @thebullmoose8316
    @thebullmoose8316 4 года назад +1

    I’d kill to get to drive one of those around a ranch.

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron 5 лет назад

    I confess to never laying eyes upon this craft in my 50 years of living! Where has this been hiding itself all this time?
    Seriously though I've not seen any in all the hours of documentaries nor the doubled books I've read regarding WW2 and I feel like one who was left in Pompey whilst the Heroes headed for Normandy... Thanks again for informing us all my German friend. Dave Cambridge U.K.

    • @agr2190
      @agr2190 2 года назад

      You need to play video ganes you Will see It a lot

  • @cnlbenmc
    @cnlbenmc 5 лет назад +17

    The Kettenkrad; it Krads Ketten!l.

  • @rancidink7069
    @rancidink7069 5 лет назад +3

    Footnote doctrine I love that quote

  • @SgtMjr
    @SgtMjr 5 лет назад +5

    Oil leaks! It's a Harley!

    • @moss8448
      @moss8448 5 лет назад

      as a proud owner of MGB's for yrs the joke was ...why doesn't England sell TV sets?....cuz they can't figure out a way to make 'em leak oil.....batta boom

    • @bronsonperich9430
      @bronsonperich9430 4 года назад

      Bill Bird or an old Triumph

  • @avnrulz
    @avnrulz 5 лет назад +1

    My friend is a Docent at a aviation museum which has one.

  • @adcaptandumvulgus4252
    @adcaptandumvulgus4252 4 года назад

    Damn, those look useful for what's coming.

  • @GrasshopperKelly
    @GrasshopperKelly 5 лет назад

    2:10 The same problem occurred with the Sd.kfz 250 chassis, and other German half tracks like the Famo half track variant. The tracks relying on a gearbox as their primary source of steering. Which admittedly, allowed them more agility cresting a ridge, or when towing heavy loads (or for any reason weighted significantly towards the rear). Where as the US half tracks, really was just tacking the existing truck chassis, and replacing the rear wheel, with a drive sprocket for the rubber tracks. The rear axle was simple an axle, and a differential. Relying on the front wheels for steering.

  • @DavidSmith-yc6lm
    @DavidSmith-yc6lm 2 года назад

    Seen a die cast model small and big of this vehicle at Eden Camp today

  • @havokvladimirovichstalinov
    @havokvladimirovichstalinov 5 лет назад

    I want one. I dont know what I would do with it if I ever got one, but I want one.

  • @rexmundi3108
    @rexmundi3108 5 лет назад

    Dual wheel steering would have been an improvement i think. This was basically a cross between a small tractor and early ATV. 3 wheel ATVs had limitations similar to this vehicle.

    • @nunyabidniz2868
      @nunyabidniz2868 5 лет назад

      The front wheel does the steering until you turn the handlebars more than ~ 15deg off to either side, when differential braking of the tracks [ie, normal tank steering] kicks in. It was entirely possible to drive one w/ no front wheel at all, you just didn't have the fine control that came with the standard setup.

  • @Biker_Gremling
    @Biker_Gremling 5 лет назад +3

    OMG these things go for 50 000€ to 80 000€ used!

    • @Mrtweet81
      @Mrtweet81 5 лет назад +5

      50 to 80 used!? How much are the brand new then?

    • @Biker_Gremling
      @Biker_Gremling 5 лет назад

      @@Mrtweet81 I was meant to be on the second hand market, but knowing Ze Germanz, probably new was kind of the same.

  • @mitchellvliem6200
    @mitchellvliem6200 5 лет назад

    Congratulations on 72k Subs 🍾

  • @maade9642
    @maade9642 5 лет назад

    I wish you would have said that the smallest gear with only 1-2km/h is made for marching aside of infantry. And because a man can only walk with 1-2km/h over a longer distance this gear was made. It's a important aspect I think for what this kinda things were made for. The motorcycles had this small gear, too. The Kübelwagen I'm not sure but I think.

  • @DeezNuts-cg9gl
    @DeezNuts-cg9gl 5 лет назад +224

    Girls last tour gang

  • @thenomadrhodes
    @thenomadrhodes 5 лет назад +2

    I must have one...
    I dont think you understand just how bad i need one..

  • @punman5392
    @punman5392 4 года назад

    So that’s what’s been tearing up the snowmobile trails.

  • @wesleybickel2869
    @wesleybickel2869 4 года назад

    It looks fun, I want one

  • @DodAederen
    @DodAederen 5 лет назад

    In 1978 I was going to buy one of these in White Plains NY. $4,500 and in very good condition. I didn't, because I would have had to use it to commute (silly, but true) and I knew it just wasn't possible to drive this 25 miles each day on the highway. I was stupid, and should've bought it anyway.

  • @Warentester
    @Warentester 3 года назад +2

    They don't follow the footnote doctrine? So you don't have Axis to good sources?

  • @charleswindsor7835
    @charleswindsor7835 5 лет назад

    i've had a ride as a pillion in/on one of these, there great fun but a little bumpy at speed

  • @almontepaolilli4909
    @almontepaolilli4909 4 года назад

    Great video.

  • @adrian_zombturtle148
    @adrian_zombturtle148 4 года назад +1

    11:33 the tracks look like they are going backwards

  • @ME-hm7zm
    @ME-hm7zm 5 лет назад

    My favorite German light vehicle of the time!

  • @danilorainone406
    @danilorainone406 5 лет назад +2

    tree stump puller fun funfun

  • @jamesscott5407
    @jamesscott5407 5 лет назад +1

    How do you spell the vehicle at the end...the 1950s mountain barrow?? Great video,I love the kettenkrad...cute and clever!!

    • @jonathanmoeg1202
      @jonathanmoeg1202 4 года назад

      I was wondering this myself and went searching. Think it's 'gebirgskaretten'. Found some pictures but only german text.

  • @p.istaker8862
    @p.istaker8862 5 лет назад +1

    The ultimate machine. Ditch the Opel engine for a nice basic four cylinder diesel engine and it will become indestructible !

  • @blitzblutz
    @blitzblutz 4 года назад

    I'm surprised that the Germans didn't put a turret on the top with some kind of cannon.

  • @robinderoos1166
    @robinderoos1166 5 лет назад +1

    Why don't we have a modern version of this? It is awesome!

  • @georgetur3511
    @georgetur3511 5 лет назад +3

    I wonder if the germans would have been better served building something like the british universal carrier instead of the kattengrad, the kattengrad has a complex drive train, and is unstable in certain situations. While it looks good and the troops liked it I think a light tracked vehicle like the universal carrier would have been better in terms of performance, and cost.

    • @88porpoise
      @88porpoise 5 лет назад +3

      What makes you thing a German version of the universal carrier would not have a complex drive train?

    • @bencejuhasz6459
      @bencejuhasz6459 5 лет назад

      @Tom Sanders They did. Major Alfred Becker's unit was charged with the conversions of captured equipment. Some of their half-tracks used Carden-Loyd and Universal Carrier parts,mostly running gear.

    • @bencejuhasz6459
      @bencejuhasz6459 5 лет назад

      It is not the equivalent of the UC. The UC is an armored personnel carrier and utility vehicle, while the Kettenkrad is just an all-terrain vehicle with no armor,half the weight of the UC and less than half the loading capacity.

    • @88porpoise
      @88porpoise 5 лет назад

      Bence Juhász It isn’t an equivalent, but there was significant overlap.
      While significantly lighter, the Kettenkrad served as a versatile vehicle in many of the same roles. Both functioned as artillery tractors, supply transports, and light troop transports capable of moving through difficult terrain and keeping up with mechanized forces, just with smaller loads and greater mobility.

  • @jpavlvs
    @jpavlvs 5 лет назад

    Opel's All Terrain Vehicle. Opel made the engine for a long time after the war.

  • @shnek5143
    @shnek5143 4 года назад

    If a company made a reproduction of this for the North American market at a decent price, they would sell like crazy

  • @dylanmilne6683
    @dylanmilne6683 5 лет назад

    Bovington has a springer in its collection.

  • @johnsamu
    @johnsamu 5 лет назад

    Contradtictory statements could still be all true at the same time. Because it could have been originally a forest/agricultural towing vehicle which was changed into a military vehicle. This crossbreeding of military and civilian use has happened many times in the past. Even the original (military)halftrack was probably derived from an agricultural tracked vehicle.

  • @alexv6324
    @alexv6324 5 лет назад +1

    Who's a good little half track motorbike?

  • @frankus54
    @frankus54 3 года назад

    I want one. But they must fix the gearbox and oil leak problems first.

  • @tedhodge4830
    @tedhodge4830 5 лет назад

    Can it capture requisition points?

  • @QoraxAudio
    @QoraxAudio 4 года назад

    While the Germans considered the radio controlled Goliath useless, it was feared by the Allies.

    • @MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized
      @MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized  4 года назад

      source?

    • @QoraxAudio
      @QoraxAudio 4 года назад

      @@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized Can't remember the source, all I know is that the version using a cable was useless, so the Germans assumed there was no potential for the radio controlled prototype version. Some of the wired ones have been used during the invasion of Normandy, but in most cases the cables got damaged by shrapnel of artillery fire, rendering them useless.
      Shortly before the arrival of the soviets, these have also been used against the protests of '44 in Warsaw.
      The resistance fighters often managed to overheat the device by using Molotovs on it, because the metal housing had no insulation (the internal cooling fan was only sufficient to cool the motor under normal operating conditions). Either it detonated because of the heat, the internal cable roll melted or it just came to a halt (engine failure), making it an easy target for resistance members to cut the lengthy wire. Cable insulation was often made of asbestos back then (also in home appliances and installations until the 60s) which handles heat very well, but the cores were stranded copper (often mixed with tin near the end of the war), which melts at a relatively low temperature compared to the heat of a Molotov.
      The cables where also restrictive to maneuverability in the urban terrain of Warsaw.

  • @cheng3580
    @cheng3580 5 лет назад +14

    I'm actually working to get one irl.

  • @archery805
    @archery805 5 лет назад

    Thank you for video

  • @13gladius28
    @13gladius28 5 лет назад

    Thank You for citing the USCS (US Customary System) measures and not only metric

  • @shingshongshamalama
    @shingshongshamalama 5 лет назад

    You can tell it's german because it's one hell of a wheee-icle.

  • @FloofyTanker
    @FloofyTanker 5 лет назад +13

    So this is what the girls from Girl's Last Tour were riding

    • @MsZsc
      @MsZsc 5 лет назад

      I mean you prob searched it?

    • @FloofyTanker
      @FloofyTanker 5 лет назад

      @@MsZsc I haven't, I finished the series depressed af thinking of the ultimate fate that they would be lead to. I just so happened to find this video on my recommendations and clicked immediately because it was so familiar.

    • @MsZsc
      @MsZsc 5 лет назад

      Even if you missed its name being mentioned in the anime already you’d at least totally recognize it it was just a weird phrasing that you did as if it was a big mystery to you maybe idk maybe i’m just being dumb. Yuuri wears a fat stalhelm.

  • @ptonpc
    @ptonpc 5 лет назад

    I have seen one 'in the flesh' It was incredibly noisy for its size.

  • @Jay-ln1co
    @Jay-ln1co 5 лет назад

    Kettenkrad a cute. Cute!

  • @amirlach
    @amirlach 4 года назад

    Why bother with the bike wheel?

  • @waynejones3428
    @waynejones3428 5 лет назад

    Wunderbar! 👍 😯 🍻

  • @mashirohakase
    @mashirohakase 5 лет назад

    11:36 what is the name again? die Bergs... what? my german is so bad i cant decipher it :P

  • @Joe-fc4ee
    @Joe-fc4ee 5 лет назад +3

    Ha lol my dad's in this

  • @pistonar
    @pistonar 5 лет назад

    The part I've never understood is why there's a front wheel. Why not just have a steering handle and not bother with a front wheel? It just doesn't seem to add any advantage to it.

    • @nunyabidniz2868
      @nunyabidniz2868 5 лет назад

      See my reply to fortunatejeremy just a few posts above yours [when sorted newest to oldest.]

    • @pistonar
      @pistonar 5 лет назад

      @@nunyabidniz2868 Hm. I guess I'd have to drive one to understand how much, as you say, fine directional control you get with the wheel. But, it must have done something otherwise it wouldn't be there. Thanks for your response. :)

  • @richardorta8960
    @richardorta8960 5 лет назад

    This was very interesting, I had never heard of this little thing until now.
    I would like to see more videos for motorcyles, and odd little vehicles, in the WWII era that were used by the military.

  • @benjaminschabel4847
    @benjaminschabel4847 4 года назад

    Footnote Doctrin got burned by Scorched Earch Doctrin - PE is very sorry

  • @gings4ever
    @gings4ever 5 лет назад

    so that's why Germany's motorcycle infantry are called "Kradschutzen"~
    I get this feeling the single seat (how do you recon with this? I mean weren't German motorcycles heavy as hell and ran a good acoustic signature?) and sidecar motorcycle infantry pretty much looked at the driver of the kettenkrad with curious looks

    • @benediktroschel2274
      @benediktroschel2274 5 лет назад

      "so that's why Germany's motorcycle infantry are called "Kradschutzen"" - yes, that´s right

    • @DmdShiva
      @DmdShiva 5 лет назад +1

      There is a bench seat across the back that can carry two soldiers (or more, depending on how insistent they are about not having to walk), with racks to store their rifles (or other weapons, like Panzerfausts) on the rear handrails; if you search on "kettenkrad" in Google and look at the images, you'll see any number of pictures with people sitting on the rear bench.

  • @moonshinerman
    @moonshinerman 5 лет назад

    the cannon at 6:35. That looks like it might be a Russian gun. I know it's not a German PAK 50 for sure. Anyone know?

    • @DmdShiva
      @DmdShiva 5 лет назад

      That is, I believe, the 8.8cm Raketenwerfer 43 "Puppchen", basically a bazooka on a wheeled carriage. The unit could be broken down into seven pieces for transport, and in an amusing bit of recognition that the troops using it might not have been trained in its use, operating instructions were printed on the inside of the gun shield.

  • @hxvjaa
    @hxvjaa 5 лет назад

    You can dig up potatoes with it

  • @theq-1
    @theq-1 4 года назад

    If anyone has one for sale in the UK , reply to me please. Thanks

  • @thomasbiel7741
    @thomasbiel7741 5 лет назад

    How to bring the beer.

  • @williamhogan4031
    @williamhogan4031 5 лет назад

    first quad...

  • @bencejuhasz6459
    @bencejuhasz6459 5 лет назад

    For those, who wants to hear the engine from closer(HMFest 2019):
    ruclips.net/video/i2vHtMDR8fk/видео.html

  • @jokuhunaify
    @jokuhunaify 5 лет назад

    Talking about full circle here you go:
    www.panzerbaer.de/helper/bw_atv_polaris_mv_850-a.htm

  • @cameronrothwell9395
    @cameronrothwell9395 5 лет назад

    Thought this was some drugged crazed German adventure by the title of the video

  • @milleniumsword1558
    @milleniumsword1558 5 лет назад

    I want one.
    Ich brauch eins.

  • @karlmadsen3179
    @karlmadsen3179 5 лет назад

    Kraftwerk needs to write a song about this thing. Nazi golf cart.

  • @matthewexline6589
    @matthewexline6589 5 лет назад

    I just can't imagine any practical purpose for the front wheel. Why not just get rid of it an just use the tracks? It's not as if turning that dinky wheel steered the vehicle-- those tracks would still definitely need to turn at different speeds to create rotation. Seems to me like the wheel did little more than remind the driver that the vehicle has limitations. Less likely to get it stuck if see a need to go in reverse because you see that you're bending/breaking your bicycle tire trying to run over a fallen log or something.

    • @siobhra4096
      @siobhra4096 5 лет назад

      The front wheel was for fine steering control (like that needed to prevent the camber of a road sending your vehicle into the ditch)

  • @nriab23
    @nriab23 5 лет назад

    It seems so slow and weird.

  • @josephkool8411
    @josephkool8411 Год назад

    That thing doesn't look stable and if it falls on you then forgetaboutit you're gonna feel it

  • @gso619
    @gso619 5 лет назад +375

    Is it me or can half the german vehicles be summed up with "Innovative, versatile and highly efficient until the gearbox explodes."?

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +40

      Well, yes and no, Uboats usually did not have gearbox problems, as well as the aircraft ;D.

    • @kirknay
      @kirknay 5 лет назад +23

      for land vehicles, it was either that or the engine catching fire *stares at Tiger (P)*

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +8

      @@kirknay
      Not really, it was not the engine that caught fire but the electric motors that simply overheated.

    • @kirknay
      @kirknay 5 лет назад +2

      @@mandernachluca3774 is that not still the powerplant?

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +7

      @@kirknay
      No, in the case of sequencial hybrids (the Porsche Tiger is one of the first vehicles ever to implement this technology) the electric motor and generator act as a transmission.
      The whole system of engine and electric transmission is still one drivetrain but the "powerplant" is the engine ;D.

  • @martinrking
    @martinrking 5 лет назад +86

    wait, ketten doesnt mean "kitten"? I thought it was the Kitten Cart, y'know, Panther, Tiger, Kitten :D

    • @derb7462
      @derb7462 5 лет назад +14

      I think we should change history. That's genius

    • @SiliconBong
      @SiliconBong 5 лет назад +8

      The kettenkrad was an upgrade to the katzchenvagon.

    • @aspielm759
      @aspielm759 5 лет назад +6

      Jesus...
      but ok... we can call it Kätzchen

    • @SiliconBong
      @SiliconBong 5 лет назад +2

      @@aspielm759 apologies, I lost my A4 sheet with all the ASCII codes on it

  • @rooseveltbrentwood9654
    @rooseveltbrentwood9654 5 лет назад +38

    “Cute” “German” and “WW2” are not words you often hear in the same sentence.

    • @torp6845
      @torp6845 5 лет назад +8

      are you familiar with Girls und Panzer?

    • @MsZsc
      @MsZsc 5 лет назад +2

      Maus is cute
      Goliath is too fat tbh

    • @torp6845
      @torp6845 4 года назад +1

      @The Yangem glt is arguably my favorite anime, but I'd argue that it doesn't fulfill the 'ww2' category

  • @jaroslavstava3704
    @jaroslavstava3704 5 лет назад +176

    A comparison with the Universal Carrier would be nice, since it's probably the closest relative.

    • @MakeMeThinkAgain
      @MakeMeThinkAgain 5 лет назад +15

      Thank you. That's what I was thinking. The Universal Carrier was a much more flexible design but this was perfect for the Heer given the shortage of fuel.

    • @williammagoffin9324
      @williammagoffin9324 5 лет назад +20

      The related Loyd Carrier might be closer to this, as it was more of a tractor than a weapons carrier like the Universal Carrier. Although I would say the M29 Weasel is more the Allied equivalent to the Kettenkrad.

    • @jakedee4117
      @jakedee4117 5 лет назад +5

      And also repurposed by civilians after the war for agriculture.

    • @bificommander7472
      @bificommander7472 5 лет назад +2

      The Jeep was my first comparison, but obviously as a wheeled vehicle there's a lot more differences.

  • @Wallyworld30
    @Wallyworld30 5 лет назад +77

    I want one of these for Christmas. They need to put these back into production I would buy one. They look amazing and appear to be very useful.

    • @Riceball01
      @Riceball01 5 лет назад +26

      They should, just fix the problems with the original, put in a modern engine and transmission and I could see it selling fairly well.

    • @Wallyworld30
      @Wallyworld30 5 лет назад +17

      @@Riceball01 I wonder if this would be street legal? If not it would still sell well for it's off road capabilities and retro goodness. You could easily do your outdoors man stuff in one of these instead of a Modern ATV. Only this thing looks 10x more badass than any Modern ATV. Men love Tanks and this might be the closest to actually owning one your average Joe will ever get.

    • @mandernachluca3774
      @mandernachluca3774 5 лет назад +3

      They have, it is called a Wiesel reconnaissance vehicle, is a closed vehicle, looks even cuter and runs on the most reliable engines that VW ever build, a 2,5L 5 cylinder Diesel or a 1,9L 4 cylinder engine. It can carry AA missiles, TOW missiles, HOT 3 missiles or a 20 mm auto cannon.
      Actually, there was a prototype with a 30mm recoilless revolver auto cannon (mind you the first and only in the world ;D) build by Rheinmetall.
      There is only one question renaining, why aren't they already modeled in Warthunder?

    • @fearthehoneybadger
      @fearthehoneybadger 5 лет назад +2

      @@Wallyworld30 unfortunately, because of its instability caused by its height to width ratio, the liability lawyers would have a field day with anyone who tried to produce this wonderful machine. This is what happened to the three-wheeled ATVs.

    • @lordterra1377
      @lordterra1377 5 лет назад

      @@fearthehoneybadger
      Can't you just have customers sign a waver?

  • @plusequalminusk4203
    @plusequalminusk4203 5 лет назад +30

    When the world ends I want one of these

    • @oberstkarl6640
      @oberstkarl6640 4 года назад +1

      Make sure to stock on up on food and try to make sure your friends dont die.

  • @Osvath97
    @Osvath97 5 лет назад +47

    0:53
    "Where as kraftrad is the old German word ..."
    Oh old German, like what they spoke during the Middle Ages?
    "... for motorcycle."
    Wait a second...

    • @David-eh9le
      @David-eh9le 5 лет назад +1

      Well, its still used as an official designation on your driverslicense

    • @obelic71
      @obelic71 5 лет назад +2

      They called it a Pferd ( horse )😉

    • @fremejoker
      @fremejoker 5 лет назад

      That would be Old High German not old German.

    • @Osvath97
      @Osvath97 5 лет назад

      @@fremejoker It is interchangeable, but Old High German is the more official term. Old German can be used for it though.

    • @fremejoker
      @fremejoker 5 лет назад

      @@Osvath97 Old High German is a language different to modern German. If you just use old German for it, you blur the difference between an old German word which is just old and an Old High German word, that's a difference of 1000 years of language evolvement. Old High German has no speakers since 1050 AD anymore.

  • @endlesnights3817
    @endlesnights3817 5 лет назад +17

    Based on all the cat nicknames for German AFVs I think we should move to give the Kettenkrad the nickname of Kitten-krad or Kätzchen-krad.
    EDIT: And here is the picture of the Georg von Küchler riding on the back of the Kettenkrad i.imgur.com/onwbAvI.jpg

    • @nichtvorhanden5928
      @nichtvorhanden5928 5 лет назад

      But it is only tracked and neither armoured or armed.

    • @pommeterre5198
      @pommeterre5198 5 лет назад +1

      @@nichtvorhanden5928 that why it's a kitten and not a full cat.
      Ps: I love this name, I kind of want to experience a new world war just to name things:
      Kitten-krad
      Rainbow-howitzer (it use gaz munitions and it looks like a rainbow)
      Panda Canon...

    • @endlesnights3817
      @endlesnights3817 5 лет назад +1

      You get it! it's not some giant predictor cat, only a small little cute kitty :3
      Maybe it plays hunt by pulling around some light artillery or anti tank gun. But it's no King of the Jungle.

    • @nichtvorhanden5928
      @nichtvorhanden5928 5 лет назад

      @@endlesnights3817 Yes but the cats are for fighting vehicles not a little Kettenkrad.

  • @EvanRobertsonHD1
    @EvanRobertsonHD1 5 лет назад +22

    These were kinda randomly used by the US Army in Germany into the Cold War as well; my uncle was passenger in one during a tank exercise in like 78 or something, having to throw smoke grenades at "dead" tanks. Well, they crashed and flipped it and he has a pretty gnarly scar from it.

  • @VictorianTimeTraveler
    @VictorianTimeTraveler 5 лет назад +33

    "M1 can referr to dozens of things from tank's to rifles "We English speakers can be weird sometimes I know.

    • @mattislindehag3065
      @mattislindehag3065 5 лет назад +22

      If a ww2 drill sergeant told a recruit to "go get the M1" would he get the M1 submachinegun, the M1 carbine, the M1 Garand, the M1 flamethrower, the M1 mortar, the M1 helmet or the M1 bayonett? I think the only right thing to do would be to bring them all in the M1 combat car.

    • @Predator20357
      @Predator20357 5 лет назад +1

      Mattis Lindehag Yep, that’s how America is and I love it.

  • @yaldabaoth2
    @yaldabaoth2 5 лет назад +137

    2 machine guns on the front and you have one amazing Mad Max vehicle.

    • @sabotabby3372
      @sabotabby3372 5 лет назад +5

      Until literally anything flies your way, no armor or cover

    • @Ralphieboy
      @Ralphieboy 5 лет назад +1

      Remember in Saving Private Ryan it had Reiben on his BAR on the back

    • @sabotabby3372
      @sabotabby3372 5 лет назад

      @@Ralphieboy remember how that ended

    • @anonymousstout4759
      @anonymousstout4759 5 лет назад

      Unless it could only goes 44mph at best

    • @fuzzydunlop7928
      @fuzzydunlop7928 5 лет назад

      @Jace Baker Aye but his acting career was a casualty.