Kraftfahrzeug 11 (Auto-Union/Horch Type 830)

Before the introduction of the standard {Einheit) vehicles, the German army made extensive use of commercial cars as a means of motorizing the various arms and services. The Auto-Union/Horch Type 830 was one of the many commercial passenger car chassis fitted with various military bodies between the late 1920s and early 1930s. V-8 engines with a capacity of 3, 3.2 and 3.5 litres were installed. Since only the rear wheels were driven, larger tyres and different rear axle ratios helped to increase the types cross-country performance. The vehicles saw action in most theatres of war, the majority of them fitted with open superstructures and used as prime movers for light infantry guns, as well as radio communications vehicles.

The Horch Type 830 was one of many commercial designs fitted with military bodies in the 1930s. Originally used as a troop carrier and radio car, the vehicle saw action in most theatres.

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The signal troops also used a variety of enclosed van-type bodies. The Kfz 11 was a closed-bodied communications or radio vehicle based on this chassis with two seats and a boot. The closed body was often made of wood. Later production models were fitted with sheet-metal doors and removable side windows. Eventually production was discontinued in favour of the medium standard cross-country personnel carrier built from 1937 onwards by Horch and, after 1940, by Opel.

The Kfz 11 saw action in Poland as a personnel carrier. Infantry who were not lucky enough to get places in the cars or trucks had to make do with bicycles or their own two feet.

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Specification:
Kfz 11 (Auto-Union/Horch Type 830)

Dimensions:
Length: 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)

Wheelbase: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
Weight: net 990 kg (2,183 lb)
Engine: one Horch V-8 2,98-litre petrol engine developing 70 bhp (52.2 kW)
Transmission: ZF Aphon with four forward and one reverse gears
Tyres: 6.0x18 (metric)