Springer (Tank)

The Springer (Complete name: Mittlerer Ladungsträger Springer, Sd.Kfz. 304) was a demolition vehicle of the German Wehrmacht in World War II.

Based on the well-known NSU Kettenkrad, NSU developed and built around 50 Springer demolition vehicles in the final year of World War II.

To make the vehicle capable of carrying a bigger payload without the front fork, two pairs of road wheels were added to the running gear. The Springer had three outer and three inner running wheels. It was powered by the Opel Olympia engine, which was also used for the Kettenkrad.

The Springer was a demolition vehicle. Its task was to carry a charge of 330 kg high explosives under armor protection into a target and detonate it there.

A driver, who could sit in the back of the Springer, drove the vehicle close to the target. The final approach and the detonation of the charge was controlled by a wire- or wireless remote control unit.

The Springer showed the same problems as other remote-controlled demolition vehicles: They were expensive and they were not very reliable. You could use them only once.