Schwerer Panzerspähwagen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term Schwere Panzerspähwagen (Heavy Armoured Vehicle), covers the 6 and 8 wheel armoured cars Germany used in during the Second World War.
In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the vital role of reconnaissance, scouting ahead of the Panzer tank units to assess enemy strength and intentions.
Contents |
[edit] History
The heavy Panzerspähwagens were a large and ungainly but a very fast addition to the German mobile arsenal of the early war years. The original 6-rad (6 wheels) versions were based on a 6x4 truck with armoured body, but by 1937 they were being replaced by the 8-rad versions. During the replacement, the SdKfz numbers were carried directly over; differentiation is made by the addition of 6-Rad or 8-Rad (Ger: "6 wheel" or "8 wheel") in the vehicle name.
These vehicles first saw combat with the campaign against Poland and in the Battle of France. The radio communication cars proved their ability in infantry support, especially during street fighting. Later they saw use in both Russia and North Africa. Extreme climatic conditions in both these areas proved too severe for the vehicle. In Russia, adverse ground conditions immobilized 150 SdKfz. 232s during the first wet season of the campaign. In the desert, heat and sand created serious maintenance problems. Still, the eight-wheeled cars turned out to be the best vehicles that Rommel had for long raids in across the wide desert territory .
[edit] Six wheels
All 6-rad versions were produced from 1932 to 1937. The designation SdKfz is Sonderkraftfarhzeug (special purpose vehicle) - many used for reconnaissance in force.
[edit] SdKfz. 231
The first of the German armored cars, the SdKfz. 231 was based on a modified 6x4 truck chassis. The 231 was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon, and a Maschinengewehr 13 machine gun. It had a second driver in the rear so that the vehicle could be driven either forwards or backwards with relative ease. The 231 was introduced into service in 1932 and was replaced in 1937 when the German Army switched to 8-wheeled armoured cars instead of 6-wheeled. Despite being replaced, they were used by Aufklärungs (reconnaissance) units during the Invasion of Poland and in the Battle of France, they were withdrawn afterwards for use in internal security and training. The crew consisted of a commander, gunner, driver, and a radio operator/rear driver.
[edit] SdKfz. 232
The 232 carried a Fu. Ger.11 SE 100 medium range radio and a Fu. Spr. Ger. "a" short range radio. This model was visually distinctive because of the heavy "bedstead" antenna over the body of the car. At the point where the antenna was connected to the turret a special joint was installed which supported the aerial but still allowed the turret a full 360° traverse.
[edit] SdKfz. 263
A radio vehicle "Funkspähwagen" equipped with extra radio equipment and an additional radio operator. To support the additional equipment, the turret had to be fixed in position.
[edit] Eight wheels
[edit] SdKfz. 231
[edit] SdKfz. 232
The SdKfz. 232 (8-Rad) was produced from 1938.
SdKfz. 232 (8-Rad) production was stopped in 1943 with the appearance of the SdKfz. 234/2 "Puma". The 232 were not withdrawn from service; many of the old vehicles were upgraded with new radio communication equipment, replacing the "bedstead" with more modern and compact wire antennae. These vehicles are often referred to as SdKfz. 232 (Fu) (8-Rad) (Fu; Funkapparat; radio, Rad;wheel) It was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon that had a muzzle velocity of 899 m/s, the 232 also carried a 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun.
[edit] SdKfz. 233 "Stummel"
Converted 232's, adding the short barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun in an open fixed superstructure. Due to the short length of the barrel this gun earned the nickname of "Stumpy". One hundred and nine of these vehicles were built at the Büssing-NAG plant, between December 1942 and October 1943. A further 10 were converted from 231/232 chassis' in October 1942. This variant of the Sd. Kfz. series entered service during 1942 and remained in use throughout the war. They were issued as a platoon of six vehicles in support of reconnaissance battalions.
[edit] SdKfz. 263
An 8 wheeler with a fixed superstructure and a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun. A dedicated radio vehicle with the bedstead frame aerial. This was based on the SdKfz. 232/3 series.
[edit] SdKfz. 234
The SdKfz. series were all eight wheel drive, of a similar size and appearance to the SdKfz. 232/3 series which they replaced. The most obvious visible difference is the single-piece mudguards compared to the two-piece mudguards on the 232/3 series.
[edit] SdKfz. 234/1
The SdKfz. 234/1 was fitted with a 2 cm KwK 38 L/55 gun and coaxial 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun in a rotating six-sided open turret (the open turret was protected from grenades by a mesh-covered frame).
[edit] SdKfz. 234/2 "Puma"
This version was armed with a 5 cm KwK 39/1 L/60 gun. It weighed nearly 12 tons but was capable of 85 km/h (53 mph). It was one of the best armored cars available, and, with its cannon, powerful for an armored car, it was capable of countering some light tanks as well as the infantry.
[edit] SdKfz. 234/3 "Stummel"
This version, like the SdKfz. 233, carried the short 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun, in a raised open superstructure.
[edit] SdKfz. 234/4
Another variant of the 8 wheeler, but mounting a 7.5 cm PaK 40 L/48 anti-tank gun in a fixed mount.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| German armored fighting vehicles of World War II | |
|---|---|
| Tanks | |
| Panzer I | Panzer II | Panzer III | Panzer IV | Panther | Tiger I, II | Panzer 35(t) | Panzer 38(t) | |
| Self-propelled artillery | |
| Wespe | Hummel | Grille | Panzerwerfer | sIG 33 | Wurfrahmen 40 | |
| Assault guns | |
| StuG III | StuG IV | StuH 42 | Brummbär | Sturmtiger | |
| Tank destroyers | |
| Panzerjäger I | Marder I , II , III | Hetzer | Jagdpanzer IV | Jagdpanther | Nashorn | Jagdtiger | Elefant | |
| Half-tracks | Armored cars |
| SdKfz 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 250 | 251 | 252 | 253 | 254 | Sdkfz 221/22/23 | Sdkfz 231/32/34/63 | ADGZ |
| Self propelled anti-aircraft | |
| Flakpanzer IV: Möbelwagen, Wirbelwind, Ostwind, Kugelblitz | Flakpanzer 38(t) | |
| Prototypes | |
| Maus | E- series | Panther II | Waffenträger | Neubaufahrzeug | |
| Proposed designs | |
| Panzer VII 'Löwe' | Panzer IX | Panzer X | Ratte | Monster | |
| German armored fighting vehicle production during World War II | |
