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Germany's SdKfz 250 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen, half track

SdKfz 250 half track: Picture donated by Jonathan Cuschieri (OT810)	SdKfz 250 half track:	SdKfz 250/1 half track:	SdKfz 250/2 half track:
SdKfz 250/2 half track:	SdKfz 250/5 half track: Imperial War Museum, MH10101	SdKfz 250/5 half track, part of Artillerie Regiment 74 of the 2nd Panzer Division at Kursk in 1943. Passing a Russian 76.2 ZiS-3:	SdKfz 250/7 half track, with forward facing mortar:
SdKfz 250/8 half track, with a 7.5cm KwK37 L/24:	SdKfz 250/9 half track: Imperial War Museum - MH8957	SdKfz 250/10 half track:	SdKfz 250/10 half track: Imperial War Museum, MH6107
Captured, SdKfz 250/10 half track, with Polish 13th Self Propelled Artillery Regiment in Pomerania, 1945:	SdKfz 250/50 half track:	SdKfz 250 half track with a radio aerial:	SdKfz 252 half track: Imperial War Museum, PC411

Design

In the mid 30s requirements went out for a 1 ton half track. It was first produced by Demag AG of Wetter in the Ruhr.

Most of the sub-varients were issued to Panzer Aufklärungs detachments of Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions. The light reconnaissance company of a Panzer division had 28 issued to them and a Panzergrenadier division had 18.

Production

• SdKfz 250: 6,500
  • 1941: 389⁴
  • 1942: 1,337
  • Production: 1939 - 1944
• SdKfz 250 Alte: 4,250²
  • Production: June 1941 - October 1943²
  • Manufacturer: Büssing-NAG², Weserhütte², Wumag², Wegmann², Ritscher², Deutsche Werke²
• SdKfz 250 Neu: 2,378²
  • Manufacturer: Weserhütte², Deutsche Werke², Wegmann (to 1945)², Wumag (to July 1944)²
• SdKfz 252: 413²
  • 1941: 414⁴
  • Manufacturer: Demag/Wegmann (June 1940 -? )², Deutsche Werke (January 1941 - September 1941)²
• SdKfz 253: 413²
  • 1941: 285⁴
  • Manufacturer: Demag/Wegmann²
  • Production: March 1940 - June 1941²

Variants

• Alte ("Old"): Early models. In 1939 the Army put out a requirement for a vehicle that could transport a Halbgruppe (1/2 platoon) for the purpose of reconnaissance. Büssing-NAG developed the armored body, and Demag made the chassis based on the SdKfz 10. Delays caused production to not start until June 1941 when 39 vehicles were completed. Only minor modifications were made up until October 1943.
  It was built on a modified Demag D7 tractor chassis. The chassis was shortened and the forward wheel and torsion bar were removed.
• Neu: The Alte models were complex in shape and required many man hours to build. In mid-1943 it was decided to use as many straight armored plates as possible. The 19 main armor plates were reduced to 9. This model also had permanent storage boxes placed along side. The new model entered production in October 1943.

• SdKfz 250/1 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen, Gerält 891: Used to transport the Halbgruppe of 4. Was armed with 2 MG34s with 2,010 rounds. The height with the MG shield was 1.98 m.
• SdKfz 250/1 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (s MG): Carried the support Halbgruppe of 4 with 2 MG34s in heavy field mountings.
• SdKfz 250/2 leichter Fernsprechpanzerwagen, Gerält 892: Equipped with telephone cable. Had 1 MG34.
• SdKfz 250/3 leichter Funkpanzerwagen, Gerält 893: Equipped with FuG12 radio for controlling motorized formations. Initially had a 2 m rod and later with a 2 m star aerial. Had 1 MG34.
  Luftwaffe ground units used a version that had the FuG7 radio for air support control. Used a 2 m rod.
  Luftwaffe had a version that was a ground-to-air communications unit that used a FuG7 and a FuG8 for divisional command link-up. The FuG8 antenna was a frame in early models and later a 8 m star aerial.
• SdKfz 250/4 leichte Truppenluftschützpanzerwagen, Gerält 894: Was going to be a light antiaircraft vehicle armed with a dual mount MG34 (Zwillingslafette), however it was never put into production.
• SdKfz 250/4 leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen: In 1943 this model was to act as an observation vehicle for a Sturmgeschütz detachment. Radios that were installed were the FuG15 and FuG16. It also had a MG34 or MG42.
• SdKfz 250/5 leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen, Gerält 895: Armored observation post with FuG4 and FuG8. Early models had frame antenna and later had 2 m star for the FuG8.
• SdKfz 250/5 leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen: FuG12 replaced earlier radio. In 1944 name was changed to Leichter Aufklärungspanzerwagen.
• SdKfz 250/6 leichte Munitionspanzerwagen Ausf A für Sturmgeschütz 7.5 cm Kanone Ausf A bis E, Gerält 896: Had 1 MG34 with 1,100 rounds. This replaced the SdKfz 252 in September 1941. Ammunition carrier that carried 70 StuK L/24 75 mm rounds. Most times had an ammunition trailer. Had a FuG16 radio.
• SdKfz 250/6 leichte Munitionspanzerwagen Ausf B für Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausf F and G: Carried 60 rounds of 7.5 cm StuK40 L/48. Had 1 MG34 or MG42.
• SdKfz 250/7 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer), Gerält 897: Issued to 4th platoon of Leichter Panzer Aufklärungs companies. The 8cm GrW34 was used to support the other platoons. Carried 42 rounds. Also had a MG34 or 42.
• SdKfz 250/7 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (Munitionsfahrzeug): Carried 66 rounds of mortar ammunition. Had 2 MG34s with 2,010 rounds. These were issued to section leaders or platoon commanders. Often it had additional radio equipment.
• SdKfz 250/8 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5cm), Gerält 898: Had a 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 installed in early models and a 7.5cm K51(Sf) in later models. Carried 20 rounds. Some using the Alte chassis were issued in the spring 0f 1943. In October 1944 the 205/8 was reintroduced with the K51 gun.
  Issued to the 4th Platoon of the Leichter Panzer Aufklärungs companies.
• SdKfz 250/9 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (2cm), Gerält 883: In March 1942 30 were ordered. Three of the prototypes were sent to Russia to see if their cross country performance was better than armored cars. As a result the SdKfz 222 was discontinued and mass production for the 250/9 was started in May 1943.
  Had a 20 mm KwK 38 installed with 100 rounds of ammunition. Also had a MG34 or MG42. Early models had the turret from the SdKfz 222 and later models had the Hängelafette (swinging mount) 38. It also had a FuG12 radio.
• SdKfz 250/10 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (3.7cm PaK), Gerält 881: A 37 mm PaK 35/36 was installed with 216 rounds of ammunition and had a 7.92 mm MG34 with 1,100 rounds. Issued to platoon leaders to provide heavier support.
• SdKfz 250/11 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen (schwere Panzerbüchse 41), Gerält 882: Had a 2.8cm sPzB41 taper bore (168 rounds) and a 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 with 1,100 rounds installed. It was issued to platoon leaders. The field carriage was also carried and the main gun could be dismounted.
• SdKfz 250/12 leichte Messtruppanzerwagen, Gerält 899: Had a 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 installed. It was used as a survey and artillery range spotting vehicle with artillery troops. The radio was a FuG8 in early models and the FuG12 in later models.
• SdKfz 252 leichte Gepanzerte Munitionskraftwagen: The initial order for 30 was built between June and August 1940. Production ended in September 1940 and was replaced by SdKfz 250/6.
  Ammunition carrier for Sturmgeschütz. Had a closed roof with 2 hatches. Rear was considerably sloped to reduce weight. Pistol ports were under the side vision ports. Usually a Sonder Anhänger 3 1/1 was towed.
  Used the FuG15 or FuG16 radio.²
  Was issued to Sturmartillerie batteries. Served with Sturmartillerie Batterien 640, 659, 660, and 665 in France in 1940. Was used in Sturmgeschütz batteries.
• SdKfz 253 leichte Gepanzerte Beobachtungskraftwagen: The initial order was for 25 and were built between March and June 1940. Observation was through a circular hatch in the roof. The FuG15 and FuG16 aerial was on the right and folded down into a channel when not in use. Had the FuG15 and FuG16 installed.²
• 5cm Pak 38 Auf leichter Schuetzenpanzerwagen SdKfz 250:

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. Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43, Peir Paolo Battistelli, 2008
5. Halbkettenfahrzeuge, German Half-Track Vehicles 1939-1945, J. Williamson, 1972