The following intelligence report on German half-tracks was originally published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 1, June 18, 1942. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

GERMAN HALF-TRACKS USED AS TRACTORS The Germans make considerable use of half-tracked vehicles as tractors. In many cases they are more nearly three-quarter tracked. It is suggested it would be advantageous for us to develop a fully tracked tractor utilizing the American rubber track and the Cletrac transmission with suitable reduction gear. It is realized that the rubber track would probably be useless elsewhere than in the desert. Such vehicles should be capable of pulling recovery trailers to most places which can be reached by a tank, and it is considered they would be of great value in the forward areas. The vehicle should be fitted with a winch. It is not suggested that vehicles of this type would replace normal wheeled tractors and trailers for use in rear areas. A Churchill tank chassis is under development in the United Kingdom for similar use as a recovery vehicle. (M/A Report, London, No. 47672.)

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