Leichter Panzerspähwagen

Infobox Weapon
name= Leichter Panzerspähwagen


caption= A knocked-out Sd.Kfz 222 armoured car
origin= Nazi Germany
type= Armored car
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production_date= 1935 - 1944
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crew=3
armour= 5 - 8 mm
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engine= Horch 3.5 petrol
engine_power= 90 horsepower (67 kW)
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vehicle_range= 185 miles (300 km)
speed= road: 50 mph (80 km/h)
cross-country: 25 mph (40 km/h)
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The Leichter Panzerspähwagen (roughly "Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle") were a series of light 4 x 4 armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.

They were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen. Chassis were built by Auto Union in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hanover-Linden.

It used the standard sPkw I Horch 801 (heavy car) chassis with an angled armoured body and turret.

The rear mounted engine was a 90 horsepower (67 kW) Horch 3.5 petrol engine, giving it a road speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a cross-country speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). It had a maximum range of 185 miles (300 km).

Used by the reconnaissance battalions (Aufklärungs-Abteilung) of the Panzer divisions, the type performed well enough in countries with good road networks, like those in Western Europe. However, on the Eastern Front and North Africa, this class of vehicle was hampered by its relatively poor off-road performance. In those theaters, it gradually found itself replaced in the reconnaissance role by the Sdkfz 250 half-track. The Sdkfz 250/9 was the Sdkfz 250 with the same turret as the Sdfkz 222.

The Sdkfz 222 was examined by Soviet designers before they created the similar BA-64 light armoured car.

Armour

Front and sides were made of 8 mm steel; thinner 5 mm plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armour. The open topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens.

Variants

;SdKfz. 221

Base model and first production series of light armoured car built on a standardized chassis for military use. The Sdkfz. 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm "Maschinengewehr" 34 (MG34) machine gun, manned by a two man crew, and had 4-wheel drive. Armour protection was originally 8 mm thick, but increased to 14.5 mm later in production.

;SdKfz. 222

This version of the vehicle was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and a 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun.The third crew member was the gunner, relieving the commander of that task. Some versions included a 28 mm armored piercing cannon. A prototype version included a 50 mm cannon. Two armored prototype versions were completed.

;SdKfz. 223

A radio car version, armed like the 221 with a 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun. Included additional radio equipment, and had a large "bed-frame" antenna over the vehicle.Over 500 of the SdKfz 223 were produced.

External links

* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/germany/armored-cars/sdKfz-222.asp WWII vehicles]