SdKfz 251

The half-track vehicle Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 (SdKfz 251) was a Armored vehicle of combat built by Germany during the Second world war. It was produced throughout the war.

The first models of this vehicle put in production were allotted to the 1e Pz. Division in 1939. There existed four versions (AD) with many alternatives. The initial idea was to have a vehicle which could transport a group of infantry to the battle field by protecting it from the light weapons of the enemy and also offered a certain protection against artillery. The absence of roof meant that the crew remained in spite of very vulnerable, particularly with the high-explosive shells and the glares.

The first two versions were built with a reduced number of specimens. The version C was built in greater number, but always constituted a vehicle complexes to assemble, in particular because of its many tilted armor-plates which were to give an acceptable protection against the shootings of light weapons. The version D was of a design definitely simpler and can be easily identified thanks to its back in only one tilted part and of the doors punts.

Although conceived to operate in cross-country conditions, this vehicle was however prone to certain limitations in its evolutions because the nose gear wheels did not have motricity.

The standard version of the conveyer of troops was equipped with a Mitrailleuse MG34 or MG42 of 7,92 mm assembled in front of the opened compartment, above and behind the driver. One second machine-gun was generally assembled on the back of provision of anti-aircraft shooting.

There be 22 official alternatives of this vehicle, without counting the transformations and installations carried out on the ground by the troops:

  • SdKfz 251/1 - Conveying of standard troops

  • SdKfz 251/1 - Rocket launchers (called Wurfrahmen 40) equipped with six framework side for launching Wurfkörper rockets of 280 or 320 mm
  • SdKfz 251/1 - Team of the infra-red equipment of detection Falcke which was to be used in combination with SdKfz 251/20 Uhu
  • SdKfz 251/2 - Conveying of mortar of 81 mm
  • SdKfz 251/3 - Vehicle of communication with additional radio operator equipment for the needs for the command
    • SdKfz 251/3 I with radios FUG8 and FUG5
    • SdKfz 251/3 II with radios FUG8 and FUG5
    • SdKfz 251/3 III with radios FUG7 and FUG1
    • SdKfz 251/3 IV with radios FUG11 and FUG12 (equipped with a telescopic aerial of 9 m)
    • SdKfz 251/3 V with radio FUG11
  • SdKfz 251/4 - Tractor of gun. Used with the gun PaK 38 of 50 mm, PaK 40 of 75 mm and the light howitzer of campaign 105 mm
  • SdKfz 251/5 - Vehicle of attack of the genius with inflatable boats and let us bridge
  • SdKfz 251/6 - Command vehicle (known under the name of Kommandopanzerwagen ) equipped with tables with charts and material of encryption
  • SdKfz 251/7 - Pionierpanzerwagen . Another vehicle of attack of the genius equipped to transport let us bridge on its sides
  • SdKfz 251/8 - armor-plated Ambulance
  • SdKfz 251/9 - Vehicle equipped with a gun of 75 mm L/24 to low swiftness, called “Stummel” (stock)
  • SdKfz 251/10 - Vehicle equipped with an anti-tank gun PaK 36 of 37 mm
  • SdKfz 251/11 - Vehicle intended for the installation of phone lines
  • SdKfz 251/12, 13,14 and 15 - specialized Vehicles intended for the artillery
  • SdKfz 251/16 - Flammenpanzerwagen . Equip with two flame throwers and initially with another Lance-flame placed at the back, detachable but nevertheless connected to the vehicle, intended to be used by the unloaded infantry. This equipment was added to standard machine-gun MG34.
  • SdKfz 251/17 - Vehicle of anti-aircraft fight equipped with a gun with Flak 30 or Flak 38 of 20 mm
  • SdKfz 251/18 - Vehicle of artillery observation
  • SdKfz 251/19 - Vehicle for telephone exchange
  • SdKfz 251/20 - Vehicle provided with the equipment Uhu (infra-red system of research for combat of nights)
  • SdKfz 251/21 - Flakpanzerwagen. Equip with triple machine-guns MG151; the first versions were naval machine-guns MG151 of 15 mm, later replaced by machine-guns MG151 of 20 mm of Luftwaffe.
  • SdKfz 251/22 - Vehicle equipped with an anti-tank gun PaK 40 of 75 mm
  • OT-810 - Version produced in Czechoslovakia by the companies Praga and Tatra. This version had of a diesel engine cooled by air and a starter of roof above the reserved compartment with the crew. He was not appreciated those which used it and was called the “revenge on Hitler”.

See too

External bonds

  • Information butt the mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) At Panzerworld

  • SdKfz 251

References

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