Sd.Kfz. 250

Sd.Kfz. 250
Sd.Kfz. 250/2
Type	Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1941–45
Used by	Nazi Germany Kingdom of Romania
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Demag
Designed	1939–40?
Manufacturer	Demag, Adlerwerke, Büssing-NAG, MWC
Produced	1941–45
Number built	Approx. 6,628
Variants	see list below
Specifications (Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Ausf. A)
Weight	Load: 5,800 kg (12,800 lb)
Length	4.56 m (15 ft 0 in)
Width	1.945 m (6 ft 5 in)
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Crew	2 + 4

Armor	5.5–14.5 mm (0.22–0.57 in)
Main armament	1 or 2 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34 machine guns
Engine	Maybach 6-cylinder, water-cooled HL42 TRKM petrol 100 PS (99 hp, 74 kW)
Power/weight	17.2 hp/ton
Transmission	7 + 3 speed Maybach VG 102128 H
Suspension	torsion bar
Ground clearance	28.5 cm (10 in)
Fuel capacity	140 l (37 US gal)
Operational range	Road: 300–320 km (190–200 mi) Cross Country: 180–200 km (110–120 mi)
Speed	Road: 76 km/h (47 mph)

The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured halftrack, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear.

The Sd. Kfz 250 was adopted in 1939 to supplement the standard halftrack. Production delays meant that the first 250 did not appear until mid-1941.^[1]

Development

In 1939, the Inspectorate for Motorized Troops (AHA/In 6) decided that it would be useful for small armored half-tracks to accompany tanks in the attack. They could satisfy requirements for which a larger vehicle wouldn't be needed, such as headquarters, artillery forward observer, radio, and scout vehicles. Demag, the designer of the smallest half-track in service, the Sd.Kfz. 10, was selected to develop the "light armored troop carrier" (leichter gepanzerter Mannschafts-Transportwagen) or Sd.Kfz. 250. The D7 chassis of the Sd.Kfz. 10 was shortened by one roadwheel station, an armored hull (Panzerwanne) replaced the sheet steel bodywork and almost every component was specially designed for the D7p, as the armored chassis was designated.^[2]

Description

Power for the Sd.Kfz. 250 was provided by a Maybach 6-cylinder, water-cooled, 4.17-litre (254 cu in) HL 42 TRKM gasoline engine of 100 horsepower (100 PS). It had a semi-automatic pre-selector transmission with seven forward and three reverse gears: Maybach SRG, type VG 102 128 H, (SRG=Schaltreglergetriebe, VG=Variorex-Getriebe, H=Hohlachse). Gears were first selected and then the clutch depressed to change the ratio, the next gear could then be selected in advance. In effect, the clutch acted as a gear change 'switch'. It could attain 76 km/h (47 mph), but the driver was cautioned not to exceed 65 km/h (40 mph).^[3]

Both tracks and wheels were used for steering. The steering system was set up so that shallow turns only used the wheels, but brakes would be applied to the tracks when the steering wheel was turned more. The drive sprocket had rollers, rather than the more common teeth. The rear suspension for its continuous track consisted of four double roadwheels, overlapping and interleaved in the so-called Schachtellaufwerk design used by nearly all German half-tracked vehicles, mounted on swing arms sprung by torsion bars. An idler wheel, mounted at the rear of the vehicle, was used to control track tension. The front wheels had transversely mounted leaf springs and shock absorbers, the only ones on the vehicle, to dampen impacts.^[3]

The Sd.Kfz. 250 was unique among German half-track designs as it, and its parent Sd.Kfz. 10, used a hull rather than a frame.

Armor

Thickness/slope from the vertical	Front	Side	Rear	Top/Bottom
Superstructure	14.5 mm (0.57 in)/30°	8 mm (0.31 in)/35-30°	10 mm (0.39 in)/10°	5.5 mm (0.22 in)/?°
Hull	14.5 mm (0.57 in)/12°	10 mm (0.39 in) to 14.5 mm (0.57 in)/0°	8 mm (0.31 in)/45°	5.5 mm (0.22 in)

Service history

A Sd.Kfz. 250/3 radio vehicle

The vehicle was used in a wide variety of roles throughout World War II. The basic troop carrier version was used as an armored personnel carrier for reconnaissance units, carrying scout sections. This basic variant usually mounted one or two MG34 machineguns. Later variants carried 20 mm, 37 mm, and even 75 mm guns to support the more lightly armed versions (see table below).

Several special-purpose variants were seen early in the war. The 250/3 and 250/5 were command variants, with fewer seats but equipped with long-range radio equipment. These were used by battalion and higher commanders as personal command vehicles, most famously the 250/3 used by Erwin Rommel in the North African campaign. Early versions had large 'bedframe' antennas, which were easy to spot at long range, making them more vulnerable to artillery fire. Later variants dispensed with this and used a whip antenna instead.

The Sd.Kfz. 253 variant was fully enclosed, and was used by artillery forward observers to accompany tank and mechanized infantry units.

The initial design had an armoured body made of multi-faceted plates, which gave good protection against small arms fire,but made this design both expensive to manufacture and quite cramped. Production of this early version stopped in October 1943 with some 4,200 built,^[1] and a second version (neue Art or "new version"), greatly simplified to speed up manufacture, began replacing it. In both variants, the armour was useful only for stopping small-arms fire and small artillery fragments. Heavy machinegun fire, anti-tank gun fire, or almost any tank gun could penetrate the Sd.Kfz. 250 at long range.

Variants

Rommel amidst advancing units in his Sd.Kfz. 250 command vehicle "GREIF" (Engl. 'Griffin').

German soldiers fire the 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle on the Sd.Kfz. 250/11. The vehicle was assigned to the elite Großdeutschland Division engaged on the Eastern Front.

Sd.Kfz. 250/1 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen: The standard troop carrier.

Sd.Kfz. 250/2 leichter Fernsprechpanzerwagen: Equipped with cable-laying gear.

Sd.Kfz. 250/3 leichter Funkpanzerwagen

Command variant, equipped with radio equipment and a "bedstead" aerial frame.

Sd.Kfz. 250/3-I (Fu 7, Fu 18) (Luftwaffe)

Sd.Kfz. 250/3-II (Fu 5, Fu.Spr. f)

Sd.Kfz. 250/3-III (Fu 8, Fu 4, Fu.Spr. f)

Sd.Kfz. 250/3-IV (Fu 8, Fu.Spr. f)

Sd.Kfz. 250/3-V (Fu 12, Fu.Spr. f)

Sd.Kfz. 250/4

Sd.Kfz. 250/4 leichter Truppenluftschutzpanzerwagen

Antiaircraft variant armed with a dual MG 34 machine gun; never reached production.

Sd.Kfz. 250/4 leichter Beobachtungspanzerwagen

Observation vehicle for Sturmgeschütz detachments.

Sd.Kfz. 250/5 leichter Beobachtungspanzerwagen: Command variant with additional radio equipment.

Sd.Kfz. 250/6 leichter Munitionspanzerwagen: Ammunition carrier for assault guns.

Sd.Kfz. 250/6 Ausf A

carried 70 rounds for 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun.

Sd.Kfz. 250/6 Ausf B

carried 60 rounds for 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 gun.

Sd.Kfz. 250/7

Sd.Kfz. 250/7 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer)

mounted an 81 mm mortar.

Sd.Kfz. 250/7 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (Munitionsfahrzeug)'

Ammunition transporter - carried 66 rounds for 81 mm mortar.

Sd.Kfz. 250/8 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5 cm): Support variant armed with a 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun and an MG 34.

Sd.Kfz. 250/9 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm): Reconnaissance variant with a 2 cm KwK 38 autocannon and a coaxial MG (MG 34 or MG 42) in a low, open-topped turret identical to the Sd.Kfz. 222 armoured car.

Sd.Kfz. 250/10 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (3.7 cm PaK): Reconnaissance platoon leader's variant with 3.7 cm PaK 35/36. This was the same as the antitank gun used in a towed mode early in the war. Occasionally, the gun was fitted with a small shield to protect the gunners.

Sd.Kfz. 250/11 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (schwere Panzerbüchse 41): With a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle and an MG 34.

Sd.Kfz. 250/12 leichter Messtruppanzerwagen: Survey and artillery range spotting vehicle.

Sd.Kfz. 252 leichter gepanzerter Munitionskraftwagen: Ammunition carrier for Sturmgeschütz.

Sd.Kfz. 253 leichter gepanzerter Beobachtungskraftwagen: Artillery forward observer vehicle, with fully enclosed armoured body and artillery radios.

References

Notes

1 2 Hogg, Ian V.; Weeks, John (1980). Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles. London: Hamlyn. p. 251.
↑ Jentz, p. 2
1 2 Jentz, p. 3

Bibliography

Chamberlain, Peter, and Hilary L. Doyle. Thomas L. Jentz (Technical Editor). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: A Complete Illustrated Directory of German Battle Tanks, Armoured Cars, Self-propelled Guns, and Semi-tracked Vehicles, 1933–1945. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1978 (revised edition 1993). ISBN 1-85409-214-6
Hogg, Ian V. Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book, p. 274, "Sd Kfz 250 (alte) APC". London: Greenhill Books, 2000. ISBN 1-85367-391-9.
Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles, p. 251, "SdKfz 10 Light (One-ton) Military Tractor)". London: Hamlyn, 1980. ISBN 0-600-33195-4.
Jentz, Thomas L. Leichter Schutzenpanzerwagen: (Sd.Kfz. 250) Ausf.A and B: History of Production, Variants, Organization and Employment from 1941 to 1945 (Panzer Tracts No. 15-1) Boyds, MD: Panzer Tracts, 2008. ISBN 0-9815382-0-7
Niehorster, Leo W. G. German World War II Organizational Series, Vol. 4/II: Mechanized GHQ units and Waffen-SS Formations (28 June 1942) Milton Keyes, Buckinghamshire: Military Press, 2004
Spielberger, Walter J. Halftracked Vehicles of the German Army 1909–1945. Atlgen, PA: Schiffer, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7643-2942-5

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250.

German armoured fighting vehicles of World War II

Tanks	Panzer I Panzer II Panzer III Panzer IV Panther Tiger I Tiger II Panzer 35(t) Panzer 38(t)

Self-propelled artillery	Wespe 10.5cm leFH18(Sf) LrS 15cm sFH13/1 (Sf) LrS Sturmpanzer I Sturmpanzer II Grille Hummel Panzerwerfer 42 Wurfrahmen 40 Karl-Gerät

Assault guns	StuG III StuG IV StuH 42 StuIG 33B Brummbär Sturmtiger

Tank destroyers	Panzerjäger I Marder I II III RSO/PaK 40 Nashorn Elefant Jagdpanzer IV Hetzer Jagdpanther Jagdtiger

Half-tracks	Maultier SdKfz 2 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 250 251 252 253 254 sWS

Armored cars	Kfz 13 Sdkfz 221/22/23 Sdkfz 231/32/33/34/63 SdKfz 234 Sd.Kfz. 247 ADGZ

Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns	Flakpanzer I Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen Wirbelwind Ostwind Kugelblitz Flakpanzer 38(t)

Demolition vehicles	Leichter Ladungsträger Mittlerer Ladungsträger Schwerer Ladungsträger

Prototypes	Maus Entwicklung series Leichttraktor Panther II Heuschrecke 10 Neubaufahrzeug Sturer Emil 10.5 cm K (gp.Sfl.) Pz.Sfl. II Flakpanzer Coelian Kugelpanzer VK 4501(P) VK 4502(P)

Proposed designs	Panzer III/IV Löwe Panzer IX Panzer X Ratte Monster VK 1602 Leopard Gep. MTW Kätzchen VK 4502(P) VK 20 series

German armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

World War II armored fighting vehicles of Romania

Tanks	T-3 T-4 R-2 T-38 Renault R-35 Renault FT-17 R-1

Tank destroyers	TACAM T-60 TACAM R-2 Vânătorul de care R-35

Assault guns	TAs

Half-tracks	Sd.Kfz. 250 Sd.Kfz. 251

Armored cars	Sdkfz 221/22/23 AB-41 OA vz. 27 OA vz. 30

Armoured carriers	Renault UE Komsomolets

Prototypes	Mareșal T-1

Proposed designs	R-3 TACAM R-1 TACAM T-38

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