VW 276 Schlepperfahrzeug
Encyclopedia
The Volkswagen Type 276 Schlepperfahrzeug was a derivative of the Kübelwagen Type 82
which was modified to enable it to tow a load, gun or a trailer, that would be deployed in a unit which comprised two modified Kübelwagen, a small caliber anti-tank gun (37 PaK
), an ammunition trailer laden with 16 cases of three rounds of A. P. shell
, and seven men (drivers included). The Type 276 only saw light at the end of 1944 and never went into mass production. It is thus not surprising that collectors have remained largely unaware of its existence.
was beefed-up, and the car shod with bigger tyres
(BF 200C16) on 7.00C16 rims (with a smaller offset inwards: 13 mm. instead of 33 mm). These were the same tyres and rims fitted on the VW 166 'Schwimmwagen'
.
boxes (14:29 = 1:2.07 instead of 15:21 = 1:1.4); this increased the ground clearance by 15 mm. (19/32") at the rear, brought the top speed down from 80 km/h. (50 Mph) to 54 km/h.(34 Mph) at an engine speed of 3300 rpm., and lowered the mileage to 37 mpg. on the road.
on the generator shaft (as fitted on the Type 155 static engine).
, 700 kg. (1550 Lbs.) when starting from a stand, and 500 kg. (1100 Lbs.) at a speed of 8 km/h.(5 Mph) and the Type 276 would pull a load of about 550 to 565 kg (1210 to 1250 Lbs.) at top speed.
Volkswagen Kübelwagen
The Volkswagen Kübelwagen was a military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military...
which was modified to enable it to tow a load, gun or a trailer, that would be deployed in a unit which comprised two modified Kübelwagen, a small caliber anti-tank gun (37 PaK
Anti-tank warfare
Anti-tank warfare was created by the need to seek technology and tactics to destroy tanks and their supporting infantry during the First World War...
), an ammunition trailer laden with 16 cases of three rounds of A. P. shell
Armor-piercing shot and shell
An armor-piercing shell is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate armor. From the 1860s to 1950s, a major application of armor-piercing projectiles was to defeat the thick armor carried on many warships. From the 1920s onwards, armor-piercing weapons were required for anti-tank missions...
, and seven men (drivers included). The Type 276 only saw light at the end of 1944 and never went into mass production. It is thus not surprising that collectors have remained largely unaware of its existence.
Suspension and tyres
On the first model, the rear suspensionRear suspension
For front-wheel drive cars, rear suspension has few constraints and a variety of beam axles and independent suspensions are used.For rear-wheel drive cars, rear suspension has many constraints and the march to the superior but more expensive independent suspension layout has been a long slog...
was beefed-up, and the car shod with bigger tyres
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
(BF 200C16) on 7.00C16 rims (with a smaller offset inwards: 13 mm. instead of 33 mm). These were the same tyres and rims fitted on the VW 166 'Schwimmwagen'
Volkswagen Schwimmwagen
The VW Type 128 and 166 Schwimmwagen were amphibious four-wheel drive off-roaders, used extensively by the German Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during the Second World War...
.
Gearing
To improve traction which proved to be grossly inadequate when towing off-road, these Type 276 were later fitted with different gears in the rear axle reductionReduction drive
A reduction drive is a mechanical device to shift rotational speed. A planetary reduction drive is a small-scale version using ball bearings in an epicyclic arrangement instead of toothed gears....
boxes (14:29 = 1:2.07 instead of 15:21 = 1:1.4); this increased the ground clearance by 15 mm. (19/32") at the rear, brought the top speed down from 80 km/h. (50 Mph) to 54 km/h.(34 Mph) at an engine speed of 3300 rpm., and lowered the mileage to 37 mpg. on the road.
Governor
To prevent over-revving, especially when driving without a trailer, the engine was fitted with a governorGovernor (device)
A governor, or speed limiter, is a device used to measure and regulate the speed of a machine, such as an engine. A classic example is the centrifugal governor, also known as the Watt or fly-ball governor, which uses a rotating assembly of weights mounted on arms to determine how fast the engine...
on the generator shaft (as fitted on the Type 155 static engine).
Drawbar pull
With these modifications, the drawbar pull reached, on tarmacTarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
, 700 kg. (1550 Lbs.) when starting from a stand, and 500 kg. (1100 Lbs.) at a speed of 8 km/h.(5 Mph) and the Type 276 would pull a load of about 550 to 565 kg (1210 to 1250 Lbs.) at top speed.