1943 German NSU Kettenkrad
HK 101 Tracked Motorcycle
- OFFICIAL DESIGNATION: Kleines Kettenkraftrad SdKfz. 2
- MANUFACTURER NSU Werke of Neckarsulm, Germany
- CHASSIS NUMBER 4907946
- CREW Three – Driver and two passengers
- ENGINE Opel water-cooled four cylinder in-line with overhead valves
- HORSEPOWER 36
- DRIVE 6-speed transmission, with two ranges
(high and low) - SPEED 44 miles per hour
- GROSS WEIGHT 3,444 pounds
- NUMBER BUILT 8,345 during World War II (10% of production was built under license by Stoewer from Stettin)
Conceived and patented by German inventor, Heinrich Ernst Kniepkamp, in June of 1939, Kettenkrads saw service on the Eastern Front, North African theater and throughout Europe. Their primary uses included laying communication cables, pulling heavy loads, carrying soldiers through deep mud and towing aircraft such as the Messerschmitt 262 jet fighter.