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:

Germany's SdKfz 234/2

Germany's SdKfz 234/2

Germany's SdKfz 234/2

Germany's SdKfz 234/2

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:

Germany's SdKfz 234/3

Germany's SdKfz 234/3

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:

Germany 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'
2.36, 2.4 m2,3

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:

  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. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
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