To replace the first generation tank transporter then in use, as well as to be able to haul the armoured vehicles then in service (among them the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank), the German Army asked Faun GmbH to develop a new all-terrain heavy tractor, and in parallel Krupp was asked to develop the tank transport semi-trailer.

The result was the SLT 50-2 tractor and the 52-ton SaAnh semi-trailer.

Some 324 were built up to 1979, in one series, with tractor by Faun, and trailer by Kässbohrer, under Krupp license.

[1] To be able to cope with the newest versions of the Leopard 2 MBT, the vehicles were upgraded from 1994 to the standard SLT 50-3.

This modernization program was completed in 2000, with the vehicles expected to operate until 2015.