Categories
German

l. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Fu.) (Sd. Kfz. 223): Light Armored Scout Car

l. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Fu.) (Sd. Kfz. 223): Light Armored Scout CarGerman nomenclature: leichter Pan­zer­späh­wa­gen (Fu.) (Sd. Kfz. 223) mit Ein­heits­fahr­ge­stell I für schwerer Pan­zer­kraft­wa­gen.

English designation: Light armored scout car with standard chassis I for heavy armored car.

SPECIFICATIONS

Net weight         3,950 kg         8,707 lb.
Pay load 450 kg 193 lb.
Gross weight 4,400 kg 9,700 lb.
Weight: Front axle 1,650 kg 3,637 lb.
Weight: Rear axle 2,750 kg 6,062 lb.
Length (overall) 4,800 mm 15 ft., 9 ins.
Width (overall) 1,950 mm 6 ft., 5 ins.
Height (overall) 1,750 mm 5 ft., 9 ins.
Ground clearance 230 mm 9 ins.
Tread centers 1,610 mm 5 ft., 3 ins.
Wheelbase 2,800 mm 110 ins.
Wheel width 190 mm 7 1/2 ins.
Angle of approach   50°
Angle of departure   35°
Seating capacity
Fording depth 600 mm 23 ins.
Climbing ability   20°
Overturn gradient (lengthwise)   40°
Overturn gradient (crosswise)   30°
Turning radius 14 meters (front wheel) 46 ft., 4 ins.
  8 meters (all wheels) 26 ft., 3 ins.
Trailer load
Engine horsepower 75 c-v 74 hp
Piston displacement 3,500 cu cm 210 cu. ins.
Fuel tank capacity 110 liters 29 gal.
Highway fuel consumption   6.7 m.p.g.
Average terrain full consumption   4.3 m.p.g.

German: p. 74.62

Categories
German

l. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 222): Light Armored Scout Car

l. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 222): Light Armored Scout CarGerman nomenclature: leichter Pan­zer­späh­wa­gen (Sd. Kfz. 222) mit Ein­heits­fahr­gestell I für schwerer Pan­zer­kraft­wa­gen.

English designation: Light armored scout car with standard chassis I for heavy armored car.

SPECIFICATIONS

Net weight         3,750 kg         8,267 lb.
Pay load 1,050 kg 2,315 lb.
Gross weight 4,800 kg 10,582 lb.
Weight: Front axle 1,850 kg 4,078 lb.
Weight: Rear axle 2,950 kg 6,503 lb.
Length (overall) 4,800 mm 15 ft., 9 ins.
Width (overall) 1,950 mm 6 ft., 5 ins.
Height (overall) 2,000 mm 6 ft., 7 ins.
Ground clearance 230 mm 9 ins.
Tread centers 1,610 mm 5 ft., 3 ins.
Wheelbase 2,800 mm 110 ins.
Wheel width 190 mm 7 1/2 ins.
Angle of approach   50°
Angle of departure   35°
Seating capacity
Fording depth 600 mm 23 ins.
Climbing ability   20°
Overturn gradient (lengthwise)   40°
Overturn gradient (crosswise)   30°
Turning radius 14 meters (front wheels) 46 ft., 4 ins.
  8 meters (all wheels) 26 ft., 3 ins.
Engine horsepower 75 c-v 74 hp
Piston displacement 3,500 cu cm 210 cu. ins.
Fuel tank capacity 110 liters 29 gal.
Highway fuel consumption   6.5 m.p.g.
Average terrain fuel consumption   4 m.p.g.

German: p. 74.62

Categories
German

l. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 221): Light Armored Scout Car

l. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 221): Light Armored Scout Car
German nomenclature: leichter Pan­zer­späh­wagen (Sd. Kfz. 221) mit Einheits­fahr­gestell I für schwerer Pan­zer­kraft­wagen.

English designation: Light armored scout car with standard chassis I for heavy armored car.

SPECIFICATIONS

Net weight         3,750 kg         8,267 lb.
Pay load
Gross weight 4,000 kg 8,818 lb.
Weight: Front axle 1,500 kg 3,307 lb.
Weight: Rear axle 2,500 kg 5,512 lb.
Length (overall) 4,800 mm 15 ft., 9 ins.
Width (overall) 1,950 mm 6 ft., 5 ins.
Height (overall) 1,700 mm 5 ft., 7 ins.
Ground clearance
Tread centers 1,610 mm 5 ft., 3 ins.
Wheelbase 2,800 mm 110 ins.
Wheel width 190 mm 7 1/2 ins.
Angle of approach   50°
Angle of departure   35°
Seating capacity
Fording depth 600 mm 23 ins.
Climbing ability   22°
Overturn gradient (lengthwise)   40°
Overturn gradient (crosswise)   30°
Turning radius 15/8 meters 49 ft., 2 ins./26 ft., 3 ins.
Trailer load
Engine horsepower
Piston displacement
Fuel tank capacity 110 liters 29 gal.
Highway fuel consumption   7.1 m.p.g.
Average terrain fuel consumption   4.3 m.p.g.

German: p. 74.61

Categories
German

s. Pz. Sp. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 231, 232, 263): 8-Wheeled Armored Cars

Panzerspahwagen

The “8 Rad Panzerspahwagen” is the standard heavy armored car now in use by the Germans. It is a highly mobile, cross-country vehicle used by reconnaissance units. The car is armed with one 20 mm automatic cannon and one 7.92 mm machine gun, coaxially mounted in the turret. A 9 mm M.P. 38 or 40 is also carried. It is also equipped with periscope attachments for the camera used on scouting missions.

This vehicle is unusual in that all eight wheels are powered, and a steering control system at each end enables the crew to operate it from either end quite efficiently. The rear end control can be engaged or disengaged, whereas the front end control is permanently engaged.

The wheel suspension is very flexible. It consists of four longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, two on each side of the frame. Each spring is secured to the vehicle frame at its center on a fiber bearing to permit easy maneuvering over rough terrain.

The engine is a water-cooled, V-8, gasoline type of approximately 155 horsepower. The transmission has six speeds that can be used in either direction.

There are several variations of this car: one with radio and antenna and another without; one with a rotating turret; one with a fixed turret; and a turretless type mounting the 75 mm short tank gun, Kw.K.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         8 1/2 tons
Length 19 ft., 2 ins.
Width 7 ft., 3 ins.
Height 7 ft., 10 ins.
Ground clearance (belly) 13.7 ins.
Suspension 8 single wheels; knee action; semi-elliptic springs
Wheel base (overall) 13 ft., 5 1/2 ins.
Size tires 8.27 x 18
Fording depth 2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
    Roads 165 miles
    Cross-country 110 miles
Speed
    Roads 50 m.p.h.
    Cross-country 20 m.p.h.
Armor
    Front plate 15 mm
    Sides 8 mm
Armament 2 cm Kw.K. 30
  7.92 mm M.G. 34
  9 mm M.P. 38 or 40
Ammunition 2.0 cm gun — 180 rds.
  7.92 mm M.G. — 2,100 rds.
  9 mm M.P. — 192 rds.
Engine Bussing-NAG, V-8, 155 B.H.P.
Transmission Constant mesh, helical ear—6 speeds forward, 6 reverse
Steering Worm and nut
Crew 4

German: p. 43

Categories
German

s. Pz. Sp. Wg. (5 cm) Sd. Kfz. 234/2: German 8-Wheeled Armored Car

s. Pz. Sp. Wg. (5 cm) Sd. Kfz. 234/2 Puma: German 8-Wheeled Armored Cars

This armored car is basically the 8-wheeled Model Sd. Kfz. 234 equipped with a 12-cylinder, 75°, air-cooled diesel engine. The armor plate on the front of the turret, superstructure, and hull is heavier than that of earlier models. The vehicle, itself, is also about three tons heavier.

The main armament consists of the 5 cm tank gun, Kw. K. 39/1, fitted with a muzzle brake. This gun has a muzzle velocity of 2,700 f/s, with A.P. ammunition. Its penetration performance with A.P.C. ammunition is estimated at 2.2 inches at 30° from 1,000 yards.

The mantlet is cast in one piece somewhat similar in appearance to that on the latest assault guns, but the casting also includes the coaxial machine gun. This design gives greater protection than the older types. The gun has a vertical sliding block and is of the semi-automatic type. A spring type equilibrator is mounted on the right hand side between the cradle and the turret top plate. The hydropneumatic recoil mechanism is mounted in the mantlet on top of the piece. Elevation is from -7° to +25°. Six smoke projectors are mounted, three on each side of the turret.

The front of the turret is protected by 30 mm armor set at an angle of 20° from the vertical. The sides and rear have 10 mm armor set at 25°, and the top plate is of the same thickness. The gun mantlet is rounded, and is 40 to 100 mm thick. The front of the superstructure has 30 mm armor set at a 35° angle, and the sides 10 mm at 30°. The nose plates of the hull are 30 mm thick, the upper plate being set at a 55° angle and the lower at 30°. The glacis plate is 17 mm at 70° and the sides of the hull 9 mm at 30°.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight       11.5 tons
Length (overall with gun at 12 o’c.) 22 ft., 4 ins.
Length (overall with gun at 6 o’c.) 19 ft., 8 ins.
Width 7 ft., 10 ins.
Height 7 ft., 6 ins.
Ground clearance 1 ft., 2 ins.
Tread centers 6 ft., 4 3/4 ins.
Wheelbase 13 ft., 5 1/2 ins.
Tire size 8.27 x 16
Fuel tank 89 gal. capacity
Fording depth 4 ft., 7 ins.
Speed (maximum) 50 m.p.h.
Engine 12-cylinder, 75°, air-cooled diesel.
  217 BHP at 2250 engine r.p.m.
Bore and stroke 110 mm/130 mm
Ignition Diesel
Battery
Transmission 6 speeds forward: 6 reverse
Steering (Dual control) worm and nut
Crew 4

German: p. 42.1 (April 1, 1945)