R87084 GOLIATH

Goliath (full name: Leichter Ladungstrager Sd.Kfz.302, 303) was a German light self-propelled landmine from the Second World War. The mine was powered by two electric motors or a single 12.5 hp internal combustion engine. Serial production of this atypical weapon was carried out in the years 1942-1944, a total of about 7,700 self-propelled mines of this type were produced. Depending on the version, it could carry from 75 to 100 kg. explosive charge. The design of the Goliath self-propelled mine was based on a captured, prototype vehicle developed by the French engineer Adolphe Kegresse, which was taken over by the Germans after the fall of France in June 1940. On this basis, the Borgward plants developed an improved version intended for the German armed forces. Two versions of the Goliath were developed in the course of production: the first ( Sd.Kfz.302) was powered by two electric motors, and the other (Sd.Kfz.303) had a much less reliable internal combustion engine as a drive. The mine was controlled and detonated by means of a special cable pulled behind it. The downside of this weapon (in the Sd.Kfz.302 version) were the highly emergency engines, and the general drawback - the wired steering, which was very susceptible to damage and destruction. The production cost was also relatively high for a single-use weapon. German troops used Min Goliath during the siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942), the battles at Anzio and during the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.