V3000S/SSM Maultier ‘Einheitsfahrerhaus’

WWII German Truck

The
V3000S with a 95 hp V8 gasoline engine was launched at the Ford plant
in Cologne in 1941. Production continued until the end of World War II,
with a total production run of more than 25,000 vehicles. This truck was
used by the German army, air force and navy. The vehicle had only
rear-wheel drive, so it had insufficient off-road capability. To solve
this problem, about 14,000 of these trucks were produced in the Maultier
semi-tracked version, designated V3000S/SSM. Along with the tracks, the
Maultier was also equipped with brake levers, which allowed the truck
to turn on the spot like a tank. Starting in 1943, simplified cabs
(‘Einheitsfahrerhaus’) were installed on Wehrmacht trucks to simplify
and reduce the cost of production. In turn, the V3000S/SSM Maultier
semi-tracked trucks were equipped with such cabs.