Raupenschlepper Ost
| Raupenschlepper, Ost (RSO) | |
|---|---|
 RSO towing 105 mm howitzer | |
| Type | Prime mover |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 2 (including Driver assistant) |
| Armor | None |
Main armament | None |
| Engine | Steyr V8 3.5l / 8-cylinder Petrol/ 85hp (RSO/01)
5.5l / 4cyl Deutz diesel / 66hp (RSO/03) 66/85 hp |
| Suspension | Fully Tracked |
| Maximum speed | 30 km/h (12 mph) |
Raupenschlepper Ost, literally "Crawling Tractor - East", is more commonly abbreviated to RSO. This fully tracked, lightweight vehicle was conceived in response to the poor performance of wheeled and half-tracked vehicles in the mud and snow during the Wehrmacht's first winter on the Soviet Front. It may have been inspired by very similar full-tracked small tractors in use in other armies, most notably the Red Army's STZ-3 NATI artillery tractor.
The RSO eventually served in a wide variety of roles. The original version had a pressed steel cab with a truck-like configuration. This was used for general transport duties. The RSO/03 had a simpler, slab-sided metal cab. Both had wooden, drop-side cargo beds typical of light trucks of the era.
Germany's desperation for mobile artillery led to the RSO being fitted with a 7.5cm PaK 40/1 anti-tank gun. The result was a lightweight, mobile but highly exposed expedient anti-tank weapon. The RSO/PaK 40 combination was manufactured during 1944/45.
Approximately 23,000 of all versions were produced.
See also
External links
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