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SdKfz 250 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SdKfz 250

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SdKfz 250

SdKfz 250 in the Svidník war museum, Slovakia.
Type Half-track amoured personnel carrier
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Specifications
Weight 5.5 t
Length 4.77 m
Width 2.0 m
Height 2.15 m
Crew 4

Armor 8-15 mm
Primary
armament
various
Secondary
armament
various
Engine Maybach HL 42 petrol
100 hp (75 kW)
Suspension Half track
Operational
range
300 km
Speed 37 mph (60 km/h)

The SdKfz 250 was a light armoured half track, similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sdkfz 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II. The "250" had 4 roadwheel axles, compared to 6 for the 251. The SdKfz-251 had a three-ton cargo capacity, compared to one ton for the smaller and lighter SdKfz-250. Viewed from the front, the two vehicles appear very similar.

Compared to US halftracks, the SdKfz 250 series was less mobile, with unpowered front wheels. However, its tracks made it far more mobile than the armoured cars it replaced, and it was a popular vehicle. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear.

[edit] Service history

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 20mm, 37mm, and even 75mm 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, equipped with fewer seats but 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 that were easy to spot at long range, making them vulnerable to artillery fire. Later variants dispensed with this antenna 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-faced angled plates which gave good protection against small arms fire, but which made the design both expensive to manufacture and quite cramped. The second version (neue art or "new version") appeared late in 1943, and was greatly simplified to speed up manufacture. 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. The oblique lower body plates' V-shape deflected the energy from anti-tank mines. It was common on many WWII German light armoured vehicles, like Sd.Kfz 222 and Sd.Kfz 231 - and perfected in the modern South African CSIR Casspir.

[edit] Variants

SdKfz 251 with 5cm Pak 38 L/60, Belgrade Military Museum, Serbia.
SdKfz 251 with 5cm Pak 38 L/60, Belgrade Military Museum, Serbia.
SdKfz 250/1 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen
The standard troop carrier.
SdKfz 250/2 leichter Fernsprechpanzerwagen
Equipped with cable-laying gear.
SdKfz 250/3 leichter Funkpanzerwagen
Command variant, equipped with radio equipment and "bedstead" aerial frame.
SdKfz 250/4
  • SdKfz 250/4 leichte Truppenluftschützpanzerwagen
Antiaircraft variant armed with a dual MG34, never reached production.
  • SdKfz 250/4 leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen
Observation vehicle for a Sturmgeschütz detachment.
SdKfz 250/5 leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen
Command variant with additional radio equipment.
SdKfz 250/6 leichte Munitionspanzerwagen
Ammunition carrier for assault guns.
  • SdKfz 250/6 Ausf A
carried 70 rounds for 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun.
  • SdKfz 250/6 Ausf B
carried 60 rounds for 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 gun.
SdKfz 250/7
  • SdKfz 250/7 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer)
With 80 mm Mortar.
  • SdKfz 250/7 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (Munitionsfahrzeug)'
Ammunition transporter, carried 66 rounds for 80 mm mortar.
SdKfz 250/8 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5cm)
Support variant armed with a 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun and an MG 34.
SdKfz 250/9 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (2cm)
Reconnaissance variant with a 2 cm KwK 38 autocannon coaxial with an MG34 or MG42 in a low, open topped turret identical to the SdkFz-222 armoured car (early version) and the sdkfz-234/1 armoured car (late version).
SdKfz 250/10 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (3.7cm PaK)
Reconnaissance platoon leader's variant with 3.7 cm PaK 35/36. This was the same antitank gun used in a towed mode early in the war. It was normally without protection shield, if any it was a small one.
SdKfz 250/11 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (schwere Panzerbüchse 41)
With 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle and an MG-34.
SdKfz 250/12 leichte Messtruppanzerwagen
Survey and artillery range spotting vehicle.
SdKfz 252 leichte Gepanzerte Munitionskraftwagen
Ammunition carrier for Sturmgeschütz.
SdKfz 253 leichte Gepanzerte Beobachtungskraftwagen
Artillery forward observer vehicle, with fully-enclosed armoured body and artillery radios.

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