SdKfz 251

Infobox Weapon
name=SdKfz 251


caption=SdKfz 251 Ausf.D
origin=Nazi Germany
type=Halftrack
is_vehicle=yes
length= 5.80 m (19 ft 0.3 in)
width= 2.10 m (6 ft 10.7 in)
height= 1.75 m (5 ft 8.9 in)
weight= 7.81 tonnes (8.61 short tons)
suspension= Half track
speed= 52.5 km/h (32.5 mph)
vehicle_range=300 km (186 mi)
primary_armament= various (see text)
secondary_armament= various (see text)
armour= 6-12.5 mm (0.24-0.57 in)
engine= one Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder petrol engine
crew=12 (including passengers)
engine_power=100 hp (74.6 kW)
pw_ratio=12.8 hp/tonne

The Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 (SdKfz 251) half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Nazi Germany's Hanomag company during World War II. They were produced throughout the war.

The early production models of this vehicle were issued to the 1st Panzer Division in 1939. There were four main models (A - D), with many variants. The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to transport a squad of infantry to the battlefield protected from enemy small arms fire, and with some protection from artillery fire. The open top meant that the crew was still vulnerable, especially to high explosive rounds and shell fragments.

The first two models were produced in small numbers. The C variant had a larger production run, but was a quite complex vehicle to build, involving many angled plates that gave reasonable protection from small arms fire. The D version utilized a much simpler design, and can be easily recognized by its single piece sloping rear (with flat doors).

Although designed for cross country work, it had some limitations as the front wheels were not powered.

The standard personnel carrier version was equipped with a 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun mounted at the front of the open compartment, above and behind the driver. A second machine gun was usually mounted at the rear on an anti-aircraft mount.

These vehicles were meant to enable panzergrenadiers to accompany panzers and provide infantry support as required. In practice, there were never enough of them to go around, and many panzergrenadier units had to make do with trucks for transport. Only a very few favored divisions like Panzer Lehr received enough to fully equip their infantry units.

Variants were produced for specialized purposes, including with anti-aircraft guns, light howitzers, anti-tank guns and mortars or even large unguided artillery rockets as well as a version with an infra-red search light used to spot potential targets for associated Panther tanks equipped with infrared detectors.

Variants

There were 23 official variants, and sundry unofficial variants. Each variant is identified by a suffix to the model number. There was however some overlap in the variant numbers.

*Sdkfz 251/1 - "Schützenpanzerwagen". Standard personnel carrier.
**251/1-I - As above, but with intercom facilities
**251/1-II - Rocket launcher (called "Stuka zu Fuß" (Walking Stuka) or Wurfrahmen 40) equipped with six side mounted frames for launching 280 mm or 320 mm Wurfkoerper rockets.
**SdKfz 251/1 - "Falke" Infrared detection equipment, to be used in combination with SdKfz 251/20 "Uhu". Mostly Ausf. D variants.

*Sdkfz 251/2 - "Schützenpanzerwagen (Granatwerfer)". 81 mm Mortar carrier

*Sdkfz 251/3 - "Funkpanzerwagen". Communications vehicle, fitted with extra radio equipment for command use.
**251/3 I FuG8 and FuG5 Radios
**251/3 II FuG8 and FuG5 Radios
**251/3 III FuG7 and FuG1 Radios
**251/3 IV FuG11 and FuG12 Radios (with 9 m telescopic mast); Command vehicle variant ("Kommandowagen")
**251/3 V FuG11 Radio

*Sdkfz 251/4 - "Schützenpanzerwagen für Munition und Zubehör des leIG18". Gun-towing tractor, initially for use with the 7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18. Later used with the 50 mm Pak 38, 75 mm PaK 40 and 105 mm Light Field Howitzer.

*Sdkfz 251/5 - "Schützenpanzerwagen für Pionierzug". Assault Engineer vehicle with inflatable boats, assault bridges. Command Vehicle for Pioneer platoons ("Pionierzug").

*Sdkfz 251/6 - "Kommandopanzerwagen". Command version equipped with map boards, cipher and encoding machines.

*Sdkfz 251/7-I - "Pionierpanzerwagen". Another assault engineer vehicle with fittings to carry assault bridge ramps on the sides.
**251/7-II - As above but with different radio.

*Sdkfz 251/8-I - "Krankenpanzerwagen". Armoured ambulance.
**251/8-II - As above but with different radio.

*Sdkfz 251/9 - "Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5cm KwK37)". Equipped with a 75 mm L/24 low velocity gun, nicknamed "Stummel" ("stump").

*Sdkfz 251/10 - "Schützenpanzerwagen (3.7cm PaK)". Equipped with a 37 mm Pak 36 anti-tank gun mount.Platoon commander's variant.

*Sdkfz 251/11 - "Fernsprechpanzerwagen". Telephone line layer.

*Sdkfz 251/12 - "Messtrupp und Geratpanzerwagen". Survey and instrument carrier for artillery units.

*Sdkfz 251/13 - "Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen". Sound recording carrier for artillery units.

*Sdkfz 251/14 - "Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen". Sound recording carrier for artillery units.

*Sdkfz 251/15 - "Lichtauswertepanzerwagen". Flash spotting carrier for artillery units.

*Sdkfz 251/16 - "Flammpanzerwagen". Fitted with two flame projectors and initially a rear mounted flamethrower, detachable but still connected to the vehicle, to be operated by dismounted infantry. This was in addition to the standard MG34 machine gun and mount.

*Sdkfz 251/17 - "Schützenpanzerwagen (2cm FlaK38)". Anti-aircraft use with either a 20 mm Flak 30 or Flak 38. Also a variant called "Schwebenlafette", rare- but used.

*Sdkfz 251/18-I - "Beobachtungspanzerwagen". Artillery observation vehicle.
**251/18-Ia - Differences unknown, likely different radio fit.
**251/18-II - Armored observation vehicle.
**251/18-IIa - Different radio.

*Sdkfz 251/19 - "Fernsprechbetriebspanzerwagen". Telephone exchange vehicle.

*Sdkfz 251/20 - "Schützenpanzerwagen (Infrarotscheinwerfer) Uhu" Mounted an Infrared searchlight for night fighting.

*Sdkfz 251/21 - "Schützenpanzerwagen mit Fla MG Drilling". Equipped with a triple-mount (in the style of a "drilling" hunting gun) of MG151 autocannon; early version being MG151/15mm cannon, later being MG151/20mm Luftwaffe cannon.

*Sdkfz 251/22 - "7.5cm PaK40 L/46 auf Mittlerem Schützenpanzerwagen". Fitted with a 75 mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun.

*Sdkfz 251/23 - "2cm Hängelafette 38 auf Mittlerem Schützenpanzerwagen". Recon version, rare- same turret as a 234/1 or a 222.Fact|date=June 2007

*OT-810 - Czechoslovakian produced version, made by Praga and Tatra. This version had an air cooled diesel engine, and an armored roof over the troop compartment. The vehicle was not liked by those who used it and was nicknamed "Hitler's revenge".

ee also

*SdKfz 250
*Wurfrahmen 40
*Type 1 Ho-Ha

External links

* [http://www.panzerworld.net/mspw.html Information about the mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) at Panzerworld]
* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/germany/half_tracks/sdKfz251.html SdKfz 251]
* [http://www.sdkfz251.com photos of SdKfz 251 and czech post war OT-810]