Main Menu
Germany's Panzerspähwagen (6-Rad) SdKfz 231 armored car
Panzerspähwagen (6-Rad) SdKfz 231 armored car: |
Panzerspähwagen (6-Rad) SdKfz 231 armored car: |
Panzerspähwagen (6-Rad) SdKfz 232 Fu armored car: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
Design
The Army Weapons Department in 1929 issued specifications for 6 wheeled motor trucks with rear 4 wheel drive. Magirus produced M 206, Büssig the G 31, and Daimler-Benz the G 3. Based on preliminary tests on the G 3 it was determined that the chassis might be able to be used with an armored frame on it. Daimler-Benz installed the 68 hp M 09 engine, and Büssig used a 65 hp engine, while Magirus used a 70 hp engine.
In 1932, the Army Weapons Department ordered 37 Daimler-Benz chassis of the G 3a version. Büssig also received a contract for 12 chassis for armored cars.
The superstructures were built by Deutsche Werke of Keil and Deutsche Edelstahl.
These were basically 6 wheeled trucks with 3 rigid axles on longitunal leaf springs.
These formed the major portion of the reconnaissance units from 1933. Were only going to be issued until the new 8 wheeled armored cars were delivered to units.
Basically these were modified 6x4 truck chassis with an armored body fitted. The chassis was strengthened and another steering control was added in the rear.
Production
- SdKfz 231 and SdKfz 232: 1232
- Production: 1932-19372
- Panzerspähwagen (6-Rad) SdKfz 231:
- Production:
- Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz2, Büssing-NAG2, Magirus2
- Schwere Panzerspähwagen (Fu) (SdKfz 232) 6 rad:
- Production: 19334
- Manufacturer: Bussing NAG2,4, Deutche-Werke4, Keil4 , Daimler-Benz2, Magirus2
- Panzerfunkwagen (SdKfz 263) 6 rad:
282
- Production: 1932 - 19372
- Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz2, Büssing-NAG2, Magirus2
Variants
- Panzerspähwagen (6-Rad) SdKfz 231:
- Schwere Panzerspähwagen (Fu) (SdKfz 232) 6 rad: Radio version fitted with 100 watt long range radio and frame aerial. Hand traversing turret could still move beneath frame. The 20 mm gun fired a 5.2 oz AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,625'/sec.4
- Panzerfunkwagen (SdKfz 263) 6 rad: Turret was fixed and had singe MG13. Had extra radio equipment and extra radio operator.
Usage
Issued to Aufklärungs detachments. Used in Poland and France but then withdrawn for training and internal security.
SdKfz 232 Fu
Issued to Aufklärungs detachments.
SdKfz 263 Fu
Issued to Nachrichten (signals) units.
| SdKfz 231 | SdKfz 232 Fu | SdKfz 263 Fu | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 41,2,3 | 44 | 51 |
| Radio | FuG Spr Ger 'a' | ||
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 12,320 lb 5 tons, 5.61 tons1, 5.35-6 tons2, 5.7 tons3 5,700 kg1 |
13,788 lb4 | |
| Length w/gun | 18' 8.5", 18' 3.3"1, 18' 6.75"3 5.61 m, 5.57 m1,2,3 |
18' 4"4 | |
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 7' 6", 7' 4.5"3, 7' 4.6"1 2.24 m, 2.25 m1,2,3 |
9' 6" to top of antenna4 | |
| Width | 6' 2.5", 5' 11.5"3 5' 11.6"1 1.82 m1,2,3, 1.85 m |
6' 1"4 | |
| Width over tracks | |||
| Ground clearance | 25 cm | 9.5"4 | |
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure | |||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 20 mm KwK30 L/552 20 mm1 |
20 mm KwK4 | |
| Secondary | |||
| MG |
7.92 mm MG1 7.92 mm MG132 |
||
| MG - coaxial | 7.9 mm MG344 | ||
| Side arms | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 2002 | 2004 | |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 1,5002 | 3,0004 | |
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 14.51 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 8@25°2 14.5 |
0.6"@0°4 | |
| Hull Front, Lower | 8@25°-35°2 14.5 |
||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 8@37°2 | 0.28"@0°4 | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 8@35°2 | ||
| Hull Rear | 8@30°2 & 80@25°-42°2 | ||
| Hull Top | 5@80°-90°2 | ||
| Hull Bottom | None2 | ||
| Turret Front | 8@0°2 Mantlet: 8@0°2 14.5 |
0.6"@0°4 | |
| Turret Sides | 8@30°2 | 0.28"@0°4 | |
| Turret Rear | 8@30°2 | ||
| Turret Top | 5@75-90°2 | ||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Daimler-Benz MO91,2, Daimler-Benz3 | Bussing N.A.G.4 | |
| OR | Büssing-NAG3, Büssing-NAG G2 | ||
| OR | Magirus s882, Magirus3 | ||
| Bore / stroke | |||
| Cooling | Water3 | Water4 | |
| Cylinders | 64 | ||
| Net HP | 60 - 803 | 1004 | |
| Power to weight ratio | |||
| Compression ratio | |||
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse.2 Sliding pinion, 6 forward, 6 reverse |
Constant mesh4 6 forward, 6 reverse4 |
|
| Steering | Front wheels only, worm and nut4 | ||
| Steering ratio | |||
| Starter | |||
| Electrical system | |||
| Ignition | |||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline3 | Gasoline4 | |
| Octane | |||
| Quantity | 26.4 gallons4 | ||
| Road consumption | 5.6 mpg4 | ||
| Cross country consumption | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360°, hand.2 | 360°4 Hand4 |
|
| Max speed | 40 mph3, 44 mph, 40.4 mph1 70 kph2,4, 60 kph, 65 kph1,3 |
45 mph4 | |
| Cross country speed | |||
| Road radius | 150 miles3, 156 miles, 124 miles1 300 km2, 250 km3, 200 km1 |
156 mph4 | |
| Cross country radius | 125 miles3 150 km, 200 km3 |
||
| Turning radius | 13.5 m | 56' 6"4 | |
| Elevation Limits | -12° to +20°2 | ||
| Fording depth | 2'3 0.6 m3 |
1' 11"4 | |
| Trench crossing | |||
| Vertical obstacle | |||
| Climbing ability | 13° slope4 | ||
| Suspension (Type) | Semi-elliptical springs4 | ||
| Wheels each side | 3 | ||
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Tracks (Type) | |||
| Length | |||
| Width | |||
| Diameter | |||
| Number of links | |||
| Pitch | |||
| Tire tread | |||
| Track centers/tread | 2.7 m | ||
| Wheel arrangement | 6 x 64 | ||
| Tire size | 8.27 x 184 | ||
| Wheel centers | Front: 67"4 Rear: 72"4 |
||
| Wheel base | 98" + 35"4 |
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
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
