kfz.1 `Kübelwagen` - Amazon Web Services

The Schwimm
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© 1978 Almark Publishing Co. Ltd.
Text & Photographs© Tony L. Oliver
Colour & Line Illustrations by Kenneth M. Jones
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
by any means electronic, mechanical, or by photocopying, without prior permission of the publishers.
First Published 1978.
ISBN 0 85524 303 1
kUIJalwagen
SCH\NIMM\NAGEN & TRIPPEL
by Tony Oliver
Distributed in the U.S.A. by
Squadron/Signal Publications Inc.,
3461 East Ten Mile Road,
Warren, Michigan 48091.
Printed in Great Britain by
Staples Printers Kettering Ltd.,
Trafalgar Road, Kettering,
Northamptonshire,
for the publishers, AI mark Publishing Co. Ltd.
49 Malden Way, New Malden,
Surrey KT3 6EA, England.
A/mark Publishing Co. Ltd., London
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INTRODUCTION
Perhaps one of the most easily recognisable vehicles that
was in service with the German Wehrmacht was the
Volkswagen Type 82 Kubel, or Ieichter Personenkraftwagen
Kfz 1. Its distinctive box-like shape and lightweight utility
appearance make it very easy to identify in wartime
photographs, films, or even in current motion pictures and
television programmes where some of the preserved and
restored versions can be seen 'puttering' around emitting
the unique Volkswagen air-cooled engine rattle sound.
The Volskwagen kube/ was put into mass production
from 1940 onwards and continued so up to the wars end. In
fact the occupying forces used these Volkswagen cars
long after hostilities ceased in Europe. The precise
production figure of kubels does not appear to have
survived the war, some authorities claim 52,(X)() units built,
whilst others approximate around 55,(X)().
The kubel was designed by Professor Ferdinand Porsche
and was really a development of his earlier Porsche Type
62, which is considered to be the prototype of the
Volkswagen kubel. The name kube/ or kiJbelwagen (bucket
car, literally) became synonymous with all makes of utility
bodied cars and does not pertain specifically to the
Volkswagen model, although it is a name that ·perhaps
most people will readily equate to this square-shaped light
car.
The Volkswagen kiJbel used the Nr. 82 chassis of the
civil sedan models and was a lightweight, rear-engined,
two-wheeled drive (with a lock differential) cross-country
vehicle. Early models were fairly well appointed inside and
out, though later production models outwardly indicated
that the war was making some impression on German
industry, in the reduction of such fittings as windscreen
wipers and spotlamps, considered too luxurious for a
military vehicle. The engine was uprated in March 1943 to
1131 cc, the original unit had been a 985 cc engine. Both
were air-cooled, four cylinder, horizontally-opposed
engines. The clutch did not last very long under field
conditions and military styles of driving.
The kiJbel served on all fronts with the German
Wehrmacht and SS. Its air-cooled engine suited desert
conditions and the freezing cold of Russia, though teething
troubles and mechanical faults were numerous, especially
with the problems of sand in North Africa. Special wheels
and tyres were developed for desert use, and as a light
utility the Volkswagen had an uncanny capability of
crossing boggy and muddy ground, and snow, all
encountered in Russia. Although to be fair the vehicle was
BELOW: The author in one of his kiibels with a camera and crew
mounted on it during the making of the film, The Battle of Britain.
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designed for European use, and, as with most things, had
to be adapted to operate in conditions that it was not
designed for by local on-the-spot methods. A half track
version was built during the war though it was probably
only an experimental model. Tyres were made to run on
railway track that could be fitted to the kube/ as was extra
bodywork to convert the vehicle into a light armoured car
mounting a machine-gun turret.
Germany had been experimenting with amphibious
BELOW: A kubel which was evaluated by the allies. This late
production model has longer rear mudguards and folding front tow
hooks. No trafficators were fitted and only one windscreen wiper is
mounted although the screen mount is drilled out for the passenger's
wiper. Small diameter head/amps are fitted.
ABOVE: The prototype Porsche type 62 car on trials. This small
veh icle differed considerably from the later Volkswagen 82 in
various respects. Note the recessed spare wheel and body-mounted
head/amps. The vehicle on the right carries a Berlin civil number
plate.
vehicles in the nineteen thirties and some enterprising
designs were produced, especially from the Trippel
concern based in the Saar. Professor Porsche's
schwimmwagen, the Type 128, was put on field trials in
1940, in fact 150 were built according to authoritive
sources. The 128 was replaced by another design which
was eventually put into production in 1942, this was the
Volkswagen Type 166, the ubiquitous 'Schwimm' which
remained in production until 1944, and is the most
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Type 82 Interior
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Windscreen wiper motor.
Horn pu sh.
Fusebox.
Speedometer.
Petrol tank .
Petrol gauge.
Spot lamp.
Choke .
Handbrake.
Gear shift lever.
Accelerator.
Brake.
Clutch.
Headlight dips w itch.
Horn.
Trafficator.
Document holder.
Technical Data
ENGINE
-
VW Type 1 4 cyli nder 985 cc
(or 1131 cc from March 1943)
Length
- 3740mm
Width
- 1600mm
Height
- 1650mm
Wheelbase - 2400mm
Tyres
- Continental 5.25-16 (or 690-200 for
desert version)
Weight
- 685kg
OVER 52,000 units produced.
commonly encountered schwimmwagen. The 166 was
dubbed, schwimmwagen or kradshutzen ersatzwagen, and
could, by using a retractable propeller, cross water
obstacles and also negotiate marshy ground having a
boat-shaped body, sealed mechanics and four-wheeled
drive transmission. Power to the geared self contained
propeller unit was supplied via a dog-clutch arrangement
on the engine which automatically coupled the propeller
unit to the engine when the screw was lowered by a long
metal rod, manually, from the rear compartment of the
vehicle.
Unlike the larger amphibians used by t he allied force
towards the war's end, the schwimmwagen carried only
four men which subjugated it s assault capabilities
somewhat to a basic reconnaissance role, where it
appeared in great numbers serving with the Wehrmacht,
and also SS divisions, who had an abundant stock of
'Schwimms' on their inventory.
The Trippel-designed vehicles, classed as mediums,
were taken into service by the Germans. Hans Trippel had
produced amphibians for the civil market, but w ith the
war's imminence, the designs were mil itarised and the
Trippel SG 6 appeared in 1938. Whereas the Volkswagen
166 had an external propeller unit and rear mounted engine,
the Trippels were of conventional automotive layout with
an internally retractable propeller unit that folded into the
bodywork. Another version appeared in 1941 which closely
resembled the civilian Trippels of the early thirties and
these were used on the Eastern Front; its appearance being
more refined and streamlined than the early 1938 military
patterns, and slightly lighter in weight.
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LEFT: A kiibe/ adapted for radio duties by
the Wehrmacht. The rear compartment has
the radio equipment stowed, the aerials for
the radio are stowed down the body side.
This necessitates fixing the rear right-hand
side door shut. Note the head/amp covers,
the small spot lamp and the brackets for a
shovel.
BELOW RIGHT: This standard Wehrmacht
handbook shot shows the hood raised and
the side screens in place. This vehicle has
different pattern hub caps to the photograph
at top left.
ABOVE LEFT: Another handbook photograph of the kiibel with its
hood down. This vehicle has rifles stowed in the rear compartment.
LEFT: A Wehrmacht photograph of the kiibel radio car. This
photograph shows only one position (and there were many
variations) for mounting the rod antenna, which was normally
stowed as shown in the picture at the top of this page. The radio
equipment is visible through the rear compartment window.
LEFT: A kiibel fitted out for pioneer work.
The right -hand side of the rear compartment
is taken up by a stowage locker, the other
half contains oxy-acetylene welding
equipment, the cylinders of which are
clearly visible. Two canisters for petrol or
water are carried on the locker top. The
Volkswagen was adaptable to many
specialist roles including an ambulance
version.
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Kfz 1
Ieichter gf. Personenkraftwagen Typ 1
(Vo.lkswagen Type 82 'kiibelwagen')
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PREVIOUS PAGE TOP: What easily could
be a scene on a wartime Lufwaffe station is
really a line up of four of the author's kubels
at Tab/ada Airfield in Spain (which was an
ex-Condor Legion base) for the filming of
The Battle of Britain film.
ABOVE: A handbook drawing showing the basic body parts which made up the Volkswagen
type 82. Also shown are the hood frame and sidescreens which slotted into the door tops.
The sidescreens could be used either when the hood was up or down.
PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: Another
photograph taken at Tab/ada Airfield
showing one of the Author's kubels which
took part in the film, The Battle of Britain. A
shipping data panel has been painted on the
door and the vehicle fitted out with
Luftwaffe pennants.
RIGHT: A
kubel of the Luftwaffe
photographed in
the
Crimea. Eas y
accessibility to the vehicle is facilitated by
the large doors, as shown, enabling these
Luftwaffe officers encumbered with charts
to alight with ease.
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