Armored Cars

Armour: 14.5mm

Weight: 4.5 tons.

Armament: 20mm KwK 30 canon and 1 x 7.92mm Mg.

Speed: 80kmh (50mph) on road and 40kmh (25mph) cross country.

Range: 300km (187 miles) on road and 180km (110 miles) cross country.

Crew: 3, comander/gunner, radio operator/loader and driver.

The restrictions imposed on Germany as part of the Versailles treaty saw it focus on wheeled armored cars. The SdKfz 222 was a four wheeled light armored car, which was used as a mobile observation post by reconnaissance units. Introduced in 1938, the SdKfz 222 suffered from poor performance on the Russian front due to the harsh terrain and weather conditions. The vehicles combat effectiveness was also reduced due to the commander also having to fill the gunners role and the radio operator doubling as the loader. Due to these failings the vehicle had been largely replaced by the SdKfz 250/9 half track by mid 1942. A further variant, the Sdkfz 223 radio car was also introduced in 1938. It had a smaller turret than the SdKfz 222 and carried a frame type antenna mounted on the hull. However this type of antenna was rather cumbersome and was soon replaced by a pole antenna. A light version of the SdKfz 222 was also introduced, the SdKfz 261, for use as a command vehicle. It featured a more cut away superstructure than the SdKfz 222 and the turret was set further back to allow more room in the fighting compartment for additional radio equipment. The vehicle mounted no main armament and again carried a frame type antenna mounted on the hull.

Armour: 10mm

Weight: 8 tons.

Armament: 20mm KwK 30 canon and 1 x 7.92mm .

Speed: 85kmh (53mph) on road and 30kph (19mph) cross country.

Range: 270km (170 miles) on road and 150km (95 miles) cross country.

Crew: 4, commander, gunner, radio operator and driver.

The SdKfz 8 rad series replaced the earlier six wheel series of vehicles. Designed with all wheel drive and steering, the chassis was extremely advanced for its time and gave the vehicle excellent cross country performance. The first vehicle in the series was the SdKfz 231 (8 rad). Introduced in 1937, by late 1940 it had all but replaced its predecessor, the SdKfz 231 (6 rad). Improvements over the earlier series included a new superstructure, which was of all welded construction and following combat experience the armor thickness was also increased to 30mm. In addition the vehicle was also fitted with a radio, where its predecessor had not. A further variant was also introduced specifically for use as a radio vehicle, the SdKfz 232 Fu (8 rad). It was identical to the SdKfz 231 and differed only in that it was fitted with a large frame antenna over the turret. Again as in other radio vehicles, the frame antenna was later replaced with a rod antenna or a star antenna, both of which were less cumbersome. The final variant produced was a dedicated command vehicle, the SdKfz 263. It differed from the SdKfz 231 in that it had no turret and the superstructure was widened to allow space for additional radio equipment inside the fighting compartment. The only armament was a ball mounted Mg in the front of the hull. Production of this variant ended in 1941 when its function was replaced by half tracked vehicles.

Armour: 10mm

Weight: 8 tons.

Armament: 75mm KwK 37 L/24 (55 rounds) and 1 x 7.92mm .

Speed: 85kmh (53mph) on road and 30kmh (19mph) cross country.

Range: 270km (165 miles) on road and 150km (95 miles) cross country.

Crew: 3, commander/gunner, radio operator and driver.

The SdKfz 233 was introduced to provide mobile fire support within the reconnaissance units. The gun, which had previously been used on early PzKfw IV vehicles, was mounted in the front of the vehicle superstructure. The turret and upper hull from the SdKfz 231 were omitted and replaced with a lower superstructure leaving the vehicle open topped. The crew was reduced to three men with the commander also fulfilling the role of the gunner. This reduced the vehicles combat efficiency slightly, as did the guns limited traverse.

Armour: 30mm

Weight: 10.5 tons.

Armament: 20mm KwK 30 canon and 1 x 7.92mm.

Speed: 80kmh (50mph) on road and 31kmh (20mph) cross country.

Range: 600km (375 miles) on road and 250km (156 miles) cross country.

Crew: 4, commander, gunner, radio operator and driver.

The final variant of the type was the SdKfz 234, which entered production in 1943 and was introduced in the following year. The vehicle had been redesigned with a monocoque hull instead of a separate chassis. The steering system remained the same but the bogies were attached directly to the hull. The separate mudguards on the earlier models were replaced by a one piece mudguard with integral stowage space. Armor thickness was increased to 30mm and an improved fuel capacity extended the vehicles range to 370 miles.
The SdKfz 234 was produced in four sub variants, the first of which was fitted with the 20mm Kwk 30 canon and was designated SdKfz 234/1.The gun was fitted in an open topped, six sided turret. The improved chassis gave the vehicle an excellent cross country performance, almost equal to that of tracked vehicles.
The next variant, the SdKfz 234/2 was equipped with a 50mm KwK 39/1 L/60 Pak, fitted in the same turret but mounted with an armored mantlet. The gun had a semi automatic action, which was very effective for its calibre and the compact mantlet incorporated a recoil system for the gun. This increased the weight of the vehicle to 11.5 tons and subsequently reduced the vehicles range to 500 miles.
To supplement these vehicles, a more heavily armed type was produced. The SdKfz 234/3 was fitted with a 75mm KwK 51 L/24 gun, mounted in an open topped turret similar to that on the SdKfz 233. The vehicle carried 55 rounds of ammunition and due to its open top construction only weighed 9.8 tons.
The final variant of the type was the SdKfz 234/4. The vehicle was similar in construction to the SdKfz 234/3 but was fitted with a 75mm Pak 40 gun. The complete gun and carriage were mounted onto the vehicle in the fighting compartment. The guns traverse was limited to the traverse of the carriage and the gun shield was retained to provide limited protection for the crew. The vehicle benefited from a low profile, high speed and good off road performance.