Leichter Panzerspähwagen
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The Leichter Panzerspähwagen (roughly "Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle") were a series of light 4 x 4 armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.
They were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen. Chassis were built by Auto Union in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hannover-Linden.
It used the standard sPkw I Horch 801 (heavy car) chassis with an angled armoured body and turret.
The rear mounted engine was a 90 horsepower (67 kW) Horch 3.5 petrol engine, giving it a road speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a cross-country speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). It had a maximum range of 185 miles (300 km).
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[edit] Armour
Front and sides were made of 8 mm steel; thinner 5 mm plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armour. The open topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens.
[edit] Variants
[edit] SdKfz. 221
Base model armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun.
[edit] SdKfz. 222
Armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and a 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun. A third crew member as the gunner, relieving the commander of that task. Some versions included a 28 mm armored piercing cannon. A prototype version included a 50 mm cannon. Two armored prototype versions were completed.
[edit] SdKfz. 223
A radio car version, armed like the 221 with a 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun. Included additional radio equipment, and had a large "bed-frame" antenna over the vehicle. Over 500 of the SdKfz 223 were produced.
[edit] External links
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