The Tatra T111, also more simply known as the Tatra 111, was a 6 x 6 heavy truck used by Germany during World War II.
Description[]
The T111 was powered by a 180 hp, air-cooled Tatra Model V910 engine, which gave it a top speed of 75 km/h.[1] The Tatra was capable of carrying 10,300 kilograms of cargo and could tow up to a 22 tonne trailer load. The T111 had a selectable 6 x 4 or 6 x 6 wheel drive system and a central backbone tube chassis with a quarter elliptic leaf spring suspension for the front axle, with the rear axles on half elliptic longitudinal leaf spring suspension. It had 4 speed drive, 1 speed reverse gearbox with a 2 x dry clutch plate. The cab of the T111 was originally made out of wood due to the lack of steel during the war. Later, the cab frame was eventually made in steel and finally the entire cab became an all steel construct.
Variants[]
Several variants of the T111 were produced, the first of which was the T111 R, which was the T111, but had flat load bed. The T111 NR was also a flatbed variant but featured an auxiliary gearbox powered winch. The T111 N Special was also exactly the same as the T111 R but featured foldable side on the flatbed. The T111 S was the another notable variant, which featured a tipper load bed with wooden sides, and T111 S2 was exactly the same except that it had an all steel load bed. T111 C was a tanker variant, and the T111 D featured a bodybuilders chassis.
Other variants included the T141 heavy tractor, the M131 railway car, as well as airport tugs and pontoon bridge vehicles. Also, the lighter T128 truck that was used by the Czechs Army was too derived from the T111.
History[]
The T111 was designed in the early years of World War II by the Tatra company designer Hans Ledwinka for the Wehrmacht, and production commenced in 1942. The T111 was very popular throughout the war, and proved to be most capable on the Eastern Front. The T111 remained in service with the Wehrmacht until 1945, when the war ended. These vehicles went on to be very instrumental in rebuilding the countries of eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, and was used by the Czechs and Soviet armies for some time. It's designer, however, was imprisoned for his actions in designing the T111 on ground of collaboration with the Nazi regime. Despite this, the T111 remained in service until 1962, when it was replaced by the Tatra T138. In all, some 34,000 T111s were produced.
References[]
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