LWS Land-Wasser-Schlepper (early production)

The Land-Wasser-Schlepper, or LWS for short, was an amphibious tractor produced in small numbers for the German armed forces. Its development and operational history are poorly documented, so reliable information about the vehicle is scarce. In May 1935, requirements were issued for an amphibious cargo tractor capable of travelling both on land and in water while towing a trailer carrying an armoured vehicle or other military cargo. Rheinmetall-Borsig AG was awarded the contract to design and build the prototype. The first three prototypes were demonstrated to General Franz Halder on August 2, 1940.

Powered by a Maybach HL 120 TRM engine, the LWS shared many components with the Panzer IV, including its engine and transmission. A transfer gearbox driven by the engine powered two four-bladed propellers at the stern. On land, the vehicle was steered using a lever-operated clutch-and-brake system. In water, a steering wheel was used to control two synchronized rudders at the stern. The LWS had a top speed of 40 km/h on land and 12.5 km/h in water and weighed about 16 tonnes. It had a crew of three to five men, while the cabin could accommodate up to 20 passengers. Additional personnel could be carried on the external deck if necessary. The total number of Land-Wasser-Schleppers built by the end of the war is believed to have been either 21 or 23. Photographic evidence confirms the existence of at least 19 vehicles.

LWS 300 was built as the third prototype. During the second half of 1940, it underwent extensive testing at Ostend in Belgium. In July 1941, LWS 300 was assigned to Pi.Ldgs.Kp. 777, and in September of the same year, the entire unit was transferred to Riga. From there, the unit travelled via Pärnu and Paatsalu before beginning operations to capture Estonia’s main islands in mid-September.

Muhu Island was captured without resistance on September 16, and Kõinastu Islet was taken after brief fighting on September 17. At the end of the month, the unit was stationed at Küdema on Saaremaa, where it carried out amphibious landing exercises in the bay. On October 11, a landing operation was carried out at Külaküla on Hiiumaa. Another landing was made at the same location the following night.

The unit continued to carry out landing exercises and transport operations in the Väinameri area until the end of October. It then moved first to Rohuküla and later to Virtsu. On November 9, responsibility for the area was handed over, and the unit returned to Riga for repairs and maintenance. Pi.Ldgs.Kp. 777 was later transferred to Lindau and then to the Sea of Azov. The later fate of LWS 300 remains unknown.

The model depicts LWS 300 as it appeared during German military operations on the Estonian islands in September and October 1941.

More about the model and its construction can be found at this link

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