Sd. KfZ.6: Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t

Published on
Review Author(s)
Book Author(s)
Alan Ranger
ISBN
978-8365281708
Other Publication Information
Softcover 80 Pages; 11.75 x 8.25", numerous B&W photos
MSRP
$25.00
Product / Stock #
1

Prolific military author Alan Ranger introduces his Camera On series with a book on the German 5-ton Sd.Kfz.6 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen (“Medium Tractor”) utility halftrack. The Camera On series can best be described as photographic compilations, filled mostly with images recently made available from private collections.

The attractive, slightly oversized volume contains a short introduction of this relatively rare German halftrack, and then quickly moves into a chronological expose of the vehicle as it was employed throughout the war by the Wehrmacht. In terms of towing capacity, the Sd.Kfz.6 was sandwiched between the (slightly smaller) Sd.Kfz. 11 and (larger, ubiquitous) Sd.Kfz.7, resulting is very short manufacturing run. The type’s real only claim to fame is that it was the first German halftrack to sport interleaved wheels – a standard that would be used throughout the remaining halftrack marks.

Finding images of the Sd.Kfz.6 is not easy, and I was impressed with the sheer number of high-quality B&W pictures the author was able to come up with for this book. Each page of the book contains at least 1 image, and most pages have two or more, all with useful, informative captions.

The book is separated into the following four chapters:

  1. The Early Years
  2. Sd.Kfz.6 BN (DB) I 8 Version
  3. Sd.Kfz.6 BN (DB) 9 Version
  4. Sd.Kfz.6/2 with 3,7cm FLAK 36

The book rounds out with a very handy “German Halftrack Quick Guide Comparison”, showing apples-to-apples comparative images of individual wheels, interleaved wheels, vehicle front, vehicle rear images, and side line-drawings of all the major halftrack marks, from the diminutive Sd.Kfz 10, up through the 11, 6, 7, 8 and the final mark 9. I have referred back to these pages time and time again during my modeling research.

Alan Ranger has provided an excellent go-to resource at a competitive price for this relatively rare German halftrack, as well as several of the others in the German wartime inventory. My hope is that Mr. Ranger completes the set – I know I will be among the first to snap up a copy for my library.

I would like to heartedly thank MMP Books for providing this book for review, and to IPMS USA for giving me the opportunity to review it.

Cover

Reviewer Bio

Eric Christianson

Eric Christianson is a father to two boys (Reed and Dean), the President of the Seattle Chapter of IPMS, and a long-time Little League umpire. He is also a devoted husband and companion to a wonderful woman named Jackie who enthusiastically supports his passions. Recently retired as a programmer, his home office has been scratch-built into ‘a perfect model room’. Modeling since he was a boy, Eric mostly builds armor these days, but still dabbles in 1/32nd aircraft and other types of models from time to time. He also enjoys presenting seminars on weathering and technique at local shows. Many of Eric’s kit reviews can be found on the IPMS USA website.