TRAILER
The Hanomag SS-100 was built by Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG of Hannover, a German company originally dedicated to the construction of steam locomotives, which later expanded its production to trucks, cars and tractors. With Hitler coming to power and the subsequent rearmament of Germany he devoted his efforts to the production of military vehicles. Of all of them, the most well-known is the Hanomag 251 half-track.
This company was a benchmark in the construction of tractors for agricultural and civil use, highlighting its first designed model, the WD 26, with a 26-hp four-cylinder benzine engine. Based on their experience in the field, they made a military version of one of their popular four-wheel drive tractors, the SP-100 Heavy Agricultural Tractor, which they named the SS-100 Gigant. This was produced from 1936 to 1944 for the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe and to a lesser extent, the Kriegsmarine, proving to be one of the most heavily used heavy tractors in Germany during World War II.
The traction was provided by a powerful six-cylinder 8550 cc D85 diesel engine that guaranteed 100 horsepower with a total vehicle weight of 20 tons. It could carry one driver and five passengers.
The vehicle cabin was assembled following the instructions. The interior of the roof has ejector pin marks, which I covered with 0.3 mm plastic strips. The other two present in the back are covered with two plastic circles made with a punch of the appropriate diameter and subsequently reviewed with fine sandpaper.
Two versions with two and four doors were manufactured.
The Luftwaffe used the SS-100 primarily to tow aircraft, bombs, and fuel containers. The special units assigned to the V2 missiles used it for the Vidalwagen trailer that carried the rocket from the transport railways to the launch crews and to tow the Meillerwagen A-4 mobile launch ramp.
The Hanomag was also used to tow the tanks with the volatile fuel components for the V-2 -C-Stoff and T-Stoff.
The Heer used it extensively as a recovery vehicle and as an artillery tow tractor. The Kriegsmarine also used it, albeit not as intensively, based on the few vintage photos available on towing and manning at port facilities.
I painted the interior before closing the cabin.
With the end of the war and fuel shortages, many SS-100s, especially the two-door versions, were converted to use gas with the incorporation of the Holzgas system.
TAKOM’S HANOMAG SS-100