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Germany's Leichte Panzerspähwagen (2cm), SdKfz 222

Leichte Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 222): Aberdeen Tank Museum	Leichte Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 222):	Leichte Panzerspähwagen (Fu) SdKfz 223: Aberdeen Tank Museum	Leichte Panzerspähwagen (Fu) SdKfz 223:
Leichte Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 222) at El Alamein:	Leichte Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 222), Libya 1941:

Design

Was a modified version of the SdKfz 221 with a larger turret.

There were 7 series. The 1st 5 series had the sPkw I Horch 801 chassis with the 3.5 liter engine. In May 1942, the sPkw I Type V chassis with the 3.8 liter engine.

Had a 10 sided turret.⁴

Early models had an anti-grenade screen on top of the turret. Late models had a redesigned turret which allowed the 20 mm and MG to be elevated almost vertically.

The 20 mm gun fired a 5.2 oz AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,625'/sec.⁴ The 20 mm KwK 30 was fully automatic and could fire 280 rpm, and the 20 mm KwK 38 480 rpm.⁴

Production

• SdKfz 222: 989², 1,000, 1,801¹
  • Production: 1936 - 1945, 1936 - June 1943², 1938⁴
  • Manufacturer: Weserhütte², Schichau², MNH², Büssing-NAG², Horch⁴
• SdKfz 223: 550²
  • Production: 1935 - January 1944², 1937⁴
  • Manufacturer: Weserhütte², MNH², Büssing-NAG², Horch⁴

Variants

• Leichte Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 222):
• Leichte Panzerspähwagen (Fu) SdKfz 223: Was intended to carry the FuG10. There were 6 in the series. In May 1942 then new chassis and larger engine used in the SdKfz 222 was used also. The turret was placed towards the rear. Had a 9 sided turret.⁴ Radio version (funkkraftwagen) which mounted frame aerial around hull.

Usage

SdKfz 222

Was issued to the Panzerspähwagen squadrons of the Aufklärungs battalions.

SdKfz 223

Was issued to the Panzerspähwagen squadrons of light, Panzer, and motorized infantry divisions.

		SdKfz 222	SdKfz 223
Crew	3	31,2,3,4	32
Radio		FuG Spr Ger 'a'2	FuG102, FuG Spr Ger 'a'2
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10,500 lb	10,582 lb4 4.8 tons2,3, 4.72 tons1 4,800 kg1	9,700 lb4, 9,856 lb 4.4 tons2
Length w/gun	15' 7", 4.8 m	14' 8.5" 3, 15' 9"1,4 4.8 m1,2,3	15' 9"4 4.8 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	5' 11.5"	5' 11"1, 6' 6.75"3 , 6' 7"4 2 m2,3, 1.8 m1	5' 7"4 1.75 m2
Width	6' 3.5" 1.95 m	6' 4.75"3, 6' 4.8"1, 6' 5"4 1.95 m1,2,3	6' 5"4 1.95 m2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	7.75" 25 cm	7.75", 9"4 25 cm	7.75", 9"4 25 cm
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main		20 mm KwK30 or 38 L/552 20 mm1 20 mm KwK30, later models KwK384	7.92 mm MG342,4
OR		28 mm1
Secondary
MG		7.92 mm MG1 7.92 mm MG342
MG - coaxial		7.92 mm MG344
Side arms		9 mm MP 38 or MP 40 submachinegun4	9 mm MP 38 or MP 40 submachinegun4
Quantity
Main		1802, 2204	1,0502, 2,0004
Secondary
MG		1,0502, 1,100, 2,0004
Side arms		3504 12 hand grenades4	3504
Armor Thickness (mm)		14.51
Hull Front, Upper	8@37°	0.3"@0°4, 8@37°2	0.3"@0°4, 8@37°2
Hull Front, Lower	8@36°	8@36°2	8@36°2
Hull Sides, Upper	8@35°	0.3"@0°4, 8@35°2	0.3"@0°4, 8@35°2
Hull Sides, Lower	8@35°	8@35°2	8@35°2
Hull Rear	5@31° & 8@31°	5@31°2 & 8@31°2	5@31°2 & 8@31°2
Hull Top	5@90° & open	5@90°2 & Open2	5@90°2 & Open2
Hull Bottom	None	None2	None2
Turret Front	8@35° Shield: 8@35°	0.3"@0°4, 8@35°2 Shield: 8@35°2	0.3"@0°4, 8@35°2 Shield: 8@35°2
Turret Sides	8@35°	0.3"@0°4, 8@35°2	0.3"@0°4, 8@35°2
Turret Rear	8@35°	8@35°2	8@35°2
Turret Top	open	Open2	Open2
Engine (Make / Model)	Horch 3.5 or 3.81/Auto-Union V-8 108	Horch 3.5 or 3.8.2 Horch/Auto-Union V8-108 Auto-Union/Horch4	Horch 3.5 or 3.8.2 Auto-Union/Horch4
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water	Water3,4	Water4
Cylinders		V-84	V-84
Capcity
Net HP		813, 854	854
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Sliding pinion, 5 forward, 1 reverse	Crash type4 5 forward, 1 reverse2,4	Crash type4 5 forward, 1 reverse2,4
Steering		2 or 4 wheels4	2 or 4 wheels4
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)		Gasoline4	Gasoline4
Octane
Quantity	110 liters	29 gallons4	29 gallons4
Road consumption	34 liters/100 km	7.1 mpg4	6.7 mpg4
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand	360°2,4 Hand2,4	360°2,4 Hand2,4
Max speed	50 mph 80 kph, 85 kph	30 mph4, 46.6 mph1, 50 mph3 75 kph1, 80 kph3, 85 kph2	30 mph4 85 kph2
Cross country speed	25 mph	25 mph3 40 kph3
Road radius	187 miles 300 km, 320 km	174 miles1, 175 miles4, 187 miles3 280 km1, 300 km2,3 Cross country 110 miles3 180 km3, 200 km	175 miles4 300 km2
Cross country radius
Turning radius		Front wheels turning: 46' 4"4 All wheels turning: 26' 3"4	Front wheels turning: 46' 4"4 All wheels turning: 26' 3"4
Elevation limits	-4° to +87°	-4° to +87°2
Fording depth	2' 60 cm	2'3,4 0.6 m3
Trench crossing	0
Vertical obstacle	25 cm
Climbing ability		20° slope4	20° slope4
Suspension (Type)		Independent springing4	Independent springing4
Wheels each side	2
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread
Wheel arrangement		4 x 44	4 x 44
Tire Size		8.27 x 184	8.27 x 184
Wheel centers		63"4	63"4
Wheel base		110"4	110"4

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
4. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969

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