To better meet the logistical and transportation needs in the challenging environmental conditions of the Eastern Front, the Wehrmacht developed tracked tractors capable of towing various types of vehicles and transporting different loads, including ammunition and supplies. The official designation of this series of vehicles, which were highly versatile in operational use, was "Raupenschlepper-Ost" (Crawler Tractor-East). The RSO was predominantly built by the Austrian company Steyr, which also developed an anti-tank version that was simple and cost-effective to produce, armed with the reliable and formidable 75mm PaK40 cannon. The vehicle essentially had the same technical structure as the tractor and featured increased frontal protection, given its operational use in direct contact with the enemy.