Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234 (8 rad) Armored Cars:
On August 5, 1940, the Weapons Department received a contract for an 8 wheeled armored car that would be on a monocoque hull instead of a chassis. It was mainly intended for use in the desert. Tatra was asked to develop an air cooled engine that would be ready by the end of 1941.
Büssig developed the hull and superstructure and Daimler-Benz and Schichau were to develop the turret. Prototypes were ready in July 1942. Improvements were made to the engine and a third engine that was tropically proofed was delivered in June 1942. However, this engine was canceled.
Production on the series started in July 1943.
Schwere Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 234/1), Gerät 95:
Had the same hull as the SdKfz 234/2 but with a different turret. The Hängelafette 38 (turret) was similar to the SdKfz 222, but had a simpler construction. Range was later increased to 625 miles by adding a larger fuel tank.
Had a FuG Spr Ger 'a' and a FuG12 radio installed.2
There were 19 issued to the Panzerspähwagen company of the Panzer Aufklärungs battalions.
Schwere Panzerspähwagen (5cm) (SdKfz 234/2), Gerät 93:
On August 5, 1940, an order was given to develop an 8-wheeled armored car similar to the SdKfz 231 but with the armored body as the chassis. The 234/2 was only one with turret.
Turrets were originally designed for Leopard tank.
Had a FuG Spr Ger 'a' and a FuG12 radio installed.2
Organized into Panzerspähwagen companies of 25. These were issued to 4 Panzer divisions which fought on the Eastern and Western fronts.
Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm KwK) (SdKfz 234/3), Gerät 94:
Had a short barreled 75 mm gun installed in an open topped fighting compartment.
Had a FuG Spr Ger 'a' and a FuG12 radio installed.2
6 made up a platoon of the Panzerspähwagen company to support the SdKfz 234/1s.
Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm PaK40) (SdKfz 234/4), Gerät 96,
Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm lang) SdKfz 234/4:
Hitler ordered PaK 40 to be installed.
Had a complete carriage and shield of a PaK 40 75 mm antitank gun installed in an open topped fighting compartment.
Had a FuG Spr Ger 'a' and a FuG12 radio installed.2
| SdKfz 234/1 (8 rad) | SdKfz 234/2 (8 rad) | SdKfz 234/3, 234/4 (8 rad) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 42 | 41,2 | 42 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 25,760 lb 10.5 tons, 11.5 tons2,3 |
11 tons, 11.74 tons2, 11.5 tons1 11,700 kg1 |
25,882 lb 11.5 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 6 m2,3, 6.02 m |
6.02 m, 6.8 m2, 6 m1 19' 8.2"1 |
22' 7" 6 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 7' 2.1 m2,3 |
7' 9.6"1 2.28 m2, 2.29 m, 2.33 m1 |
7' 7" 2.21 m2 |
| Width |
8' |
7' 7.7"1 2.36 m, 2.33 m1, 2.4 m2 |
8' 2.4 m2 |
| Ground clearance | 36 cm | 36 cm | 1' 1.75" |
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure (psi) | |||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 20 mm KwK38 L/552 20 mm KwK383 |
50 mm KwK 39/1 L/602 50 mm KwK 39 L/603 50 mm1 |
/3: 75 mm KwK 51 L/242 /3: 75 mm L/243 /4: 75 mm Pak 40 L/462,3 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 7.92 mm MG422 MG42, coaxial3 |
7.92 mm MG422 7.92 mm MG1 MG42, coaxial3 |
|
| Side arms | 7.92 mm MG342 or MG422 | ||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 280, 4802,3 | 101, 552,3 | /3: 502,3 /4: 122,3 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 2,4002 | 1,0502 1,980 |
1,050 1,9502 |
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 303 Side: 83 |
301 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 30@40°2 | 30@35°2 | 30@35°2 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@35°2 & 30@50°2 | 30@30° & 30@55°2 | 30@30°2 & 30@55°2 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 8@35°2 | 8@30°2 | 8@30°2 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 8@35°2 | 8@30°2 | 8@30°2 |
| Hull Rear | 10@31°2 & 10@38°2 & 10@46°2 | 10@22° & 10@40°2 | 10@22°2 & 10@40°2 |
| Hull Top | 6@87°-90°2 | 6@87°-90°2 | 6@88°2 |
| Hull Bottom | 5@90°2 | 5@90°2 | 5@90°2 |
| Turret Front | 30@40°2 Gun shield: 10@40°2 |
30@20°2 | shield: 15@40°2 |
| Turret Sides | 8@40°2 | 10@25°2 | shield: 15@0°2 |
| Turret Rear | 8@38°2 | 10@25°2 | shield: 15@38°2 |
| Turret Top | Open2 | 10@90°2 | shield: Open2 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Tatra 102 Tatra 1032 |
Tatra 1031,2 | Tatra 1031,2 |
| Cylinders | |||
| Net HP | 2203 | 220 | 220 |
| Transmission | Claw 6 forward, 6 reverse.2 |
Claw, 6 forward, 6 reverse | Claw 6 forward, 6 reverse.2 |
| Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel | Diesel |
| Octane | |||
| Capacity | 240 liters Fuel used per 100 km road traveled: 40 liters |
240 liters Fuel used per 100 km road traveled: 40 liters |
|
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360°, hand.2 | 360°, hand.2 | 12° left, 12° right.2 /3: 12° left, 12° right.3 |
| Max Speed | 50 mph 80 kph2,3, 85 kph |
50 mph, 55.5 mph1 80 kph2, 85 kph, 90 kph1 |
80 kph2 |
| Cross Country | 31 kph | 31 kph | |
| Road radius | 375 miles 600 km, 900 km2 |
559 miles1 600 km, 900 km1,2 |
559 miles 900 km2 |
| Turning Radius | 14.9 m | 14.9 m | |
| Elevation Limits | 0° to +75° -4° to +70°2 |
-10° to +20°2 -7° to +25° |
/3: -10° to +12°2 /4: -3° to +22°2 |
| Fording depth | 1.2 m | 1.2 m | |
| Trench crossing | 1.24 m | 4' 0.5" 1.24 m |
4' 0.5" |
| Vertical Obstacle | |||
| Suspension (Type) | |||
| Wheels each side | |||
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Track length | |||
| Tires | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Track width | |||
| Track centers/tread | 1.4 m | 1.4 m | /2: 1.4 m |
| Production |
| Manufacturer | Date | # | Chassis nos. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 234/1 | Büssing-NAG2 | 6/1944-1/19452 | 2001,2 | 3001-2 |
| 234/2 | Büssing-NAG2 | 9/1943-9/19442 | 1011,2 | 3001-2 |
| 234/3 | Büssing-NAG2 | 6/1944-12/19442 | 881,2 | 3001-2 |
| 234/4 | Büssing-NAG2 | 12/1944-3/19452 | 892, 981 | 3001-2 |
Sources:
- 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
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
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