SdKfz 251
Encyclopedia : S : SD : SDK : SdKfz 251
 SdKfz 251 Ausf.D | |
| SdKfz 251 | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 12 (including passengers) |
| Length | 5.80 m (19 ft 0.3 in) |
| Width | 2.10 m (6 ft 10.7 in) |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 8.9 in) |
| Weight | 7.81 tonnes (8.61 short tons) |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 6-12.5 mm (0.24-0.57 in) |
| Main armament | varies (see test) |
| Secondary armament | varies (see text) |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | one Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder petrol engine 100 hp (74.6 kW) |
| Suspension | Half track |
| Road speed | 52.5 km/h (32.5 mph) |
| Power/weight | 12.8 hp/tonne |
| Range | 300 km (186 mi) |
The SdKfz 251 half-track was an armoured fighting vehicle built by Germany during World War II. The early production models of this vehicle were issued to the 1st Panzer Division in 1939.
There were four main models (A - D), with many variants. The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to transport a squad of troops to the battlefield protected from enemy fire. The open top meant that the crew was still vulnerable.
The first 2 models were produced in small numbers. The C variant had a larger production run, but was a quite complex vehicle to build, involving many angled plates that gave reasonable protection from small arms fire. The D version utilised a much simpler design, and can be easily recognised by its single piece sloping rear (with flat doors).
Although designed for cross country work, it had some limitations as the front wheels were not powered.
The standard personal carrier version was equipped with a 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun mounted at the front of the open compartment, above and behind the driver.
Variants were produced for specialised purposes, including anti-aircraft guns, rocket launching (with 3 large rockets fitted on either side of the vehicle) as well as a version with an infra-red search light used to spot potential targets for associated Panther tanks equipped with infrared detectors.
Variants
There were 23 official variants, and sundry unofficial variants. Each variant is identified by a suffix to the model number. There was however some overlap in the variant numbers.
- Sdkfz 251/1 - Standard Company machine.
- Sdkfz 251/1 - Rocket launcher (called Wurfrahmen 40) equipped with six side mounted frames for launching 280 mm or 320 mm Wurfkoerper rockets.
- SdKfz 251/1 - Falke Infrared detection equipment, to be used in combination with SdKfz 251/20 Uhu.
- Sdkfz 251/2 - 80 mm Mortar carrier
- Sdkfz 251/3 - Communications vehicle, fitted with extra radio equipment.
- *251/3 I FuG8 and FuG5 Radio's
- *251/3 II FuG8 and FuG5 Radio's
- *251/3 III FuG7 and FuG1 Radio's
- *251/3 IV FuG11 and FuG12 Radio's (with 9 m telescopic mast)
- *251/3 V FuG11 Radio
- Sdkfz 251/4 - Infantry tractor for towing guns. Used with the 50 mm Pak 38, 75 mm PaK 40 and 105 mm Light Field Howitzer.
- Sdkfz 251/5 - Assault Engineer vehicle with inflatable boats, assault bridges.
- Sdkfz 251/6 - Command version (known as Kommandopanzerwagen) equipped with map boards, cypher and encoding machines etc.
- Sdkfz 251/7 - Pionierpanzerwagen. Another assault engineer's vehicle with fittings to carry assault bridge ramps on the side.
- Sdkfz 251/8 - Armoured ambulance.
- Sdkfz 251/9 - Equipped with a 75 mm L/24 low velocity gun.
- Sdkfz 251/10 - Equipped with a 37 mm Pak 36 anti-tank gun mount.
- Sdkfz 251/11 - Telephone line layer.
- Sdkfz 251/12, 13, 14, 15 - Specialist artillery vehicles.
- Sdkfz 251/16 - Flammpanzerwagen Fitted with a with two flame projectors and initially a rear mounted flamethrower, detachable but still connected to the vehicle, to be operated by dismounted infantry. This was in addition to the standard MG34 machine gun and mount.
- Sdkfz 251/17 - Anti-aircraft use with either a 20 mm Flak 30 or Flak 38.
- Sdkfz 251/18 - Armoured artillery observation vehicle.
- Sdkfz 251/19 - Telephone exchange vehicle.
- Sdkfz 251/20 - Uhu Mounted an Infrared searchlight for night fighting.
- Sdkfz 251/21 - Flakpanzerwagen. Equipped with three 15 mm Drilling MG151 machine guns.
- Sdkfz 251/22 - Fitted with a 75 mm PaK 40 gun.
- OT-810 - Czechoslovakian produced version, made by Praga and Tatra. This version had an air cooled diesel engine, and an armored roof over the troop compartment.
See also
External links
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