WORLD WAR 2 IN REVIEW: 09/22/24

Sd.Kfz.221 crossing the Austrian border in 1938 during the Anschluss (colorized).

The Leichter Panzerspähwagen (light armored reconnaissance vehicle) was a series of light four-wheel drive armored cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.

Designed to meet operational requirements including reliability, run on a variety of grades of fuel, simple construction and good off-road performance the first such vehicle was the Sd Kfz 221 but this proved too small and too lightly armed, so in 1936-37 a heavier version was planned, using one of two standard chassis for four-wheel armored cars, one with a front-mounted engine, the other rear-mounted version, was used in the SdKfz 222, which became the standard light armored car in German army service until the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The vehicles were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen by using the chassis of the type Horch 108 standard heavy off-road car with an angled armored body and turret.

Chassis were built by Horch (Auto Union) in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hanover-Linden.

The rear-mounted petrol engine was originally a 3.5 Liter Horch V8 with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) (Ausf. A chassis); from 1942, this was replaced by a 3.8 Liter with 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) (Ausf. B chassis), giving it a road speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). It had a maximum range of 300 km (186 mi).

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.

The SdKfz 222 was fitted with heavier armament and larger turret than the Sd Kfz 221 but it was still comparatively cramped and lacked top protection other than a wire screen designed to allow grenades to roll off, but this made using the main armament problematic. Co-axially mounted with the machine gun both weapons were pintle-mounted, and fitted with an elevation and traverse mechanism and floor-mounted firing mechanisms. The turret was rotated by the traversing weapons rather than the weapons being fixed to a traversing turret. There was thus no bearing-ring and no turret basket, only a fighting compartment largely obstructed by the breaches of the weapons.

When the limitations of the vehicle were highlighted during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 the SdKfz 222 was gradually replaced in the reconnaissance role by the SdKfz 250 half-track, but the turret and armament of the SdKfz 222 was sometimes retained, despite its shortcomings (the SdKfz 250/9 variant was a SdKfz 250 fitted with a top plate surmounted by the same turret used for the SdKfz 222 with the same pintle-mounted guns refitted to the half-track) and captured SdKfz 222s were examined by Soviet designers before they created the similar BA-64 light armored car.

Front and sides were made of 8 mm (0.3 in) RHA; thinner 5 mm (0.2 in) plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armor. The open-topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens. Beginning in 1939, the front armor was increased to 14.5 mm (0.6 in). In 1942, the Ausf. B chassis was introduced; this had 30 mm of frontal armor, as well as a more powerful engine.

Variants

SdKfz 221

Base model and first production series of light armored car built on a standardized chassis for military use. The SdKfz 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 13 machine gun (from 1938 a Maschinengewehr 34), manned by a two-man crew, and had 4-wheel drive. Production ran from 1935 to 1940 with at least 339 vehicles produced for the army. Some Sd. Kfz 221 were rearmed with a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 "heavy anti-tank rifle" in a modified turret. Its full name was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.). It was only produced with Ausf. A chassis and a maximum frontal armor of 14.5 mm.

SdKfz 222

This version of the vehicle was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and a 7.92 mm MG 13 machine gun. The crew was increased to three by the addition of a gunner, relieving the commander of that task. In 1938, the MG 13 was replaced by a Maschinengewehr 34, in 1942 the KwK 30 was replaced by the faster firing KwK 38 of the same caliber. Production ran from 1937 to late 1943, with at least 990 vehicles being produced for the army. Its full name was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (2 cm).

SdKfz 223

An armored car with similar features to the Sd. Kfz. 221, but with the addition of a frame antenna and a 30-watt FuG 10 medium-range radio set. Later versions of the vehicle were equipped with an improved 80-watt FuG 12 radio set. It was originally armed with a 7.92 mm MG 13 machine gun, but in 1938 this was changed to a Maschinengewehr 34. The crew was increased to three by the addition of a radio operator. Production ran from 1936 to January 1944, with at least 567 vehicles being produced for the army. Its full name was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (Fu).

Kleiner Panzerfunkwagen SdKfz 260/261

Unarmed radio car versions with long range radio equipment and a large "bed-frame" antenna over the vehicle. Generally used for signals use, three were used as armored cars in Finland. The Sd. Kfz 260 was equipped with radio sets to communicate with aircraft, the Sd. Kfz 261 with radio sets to communicate with other Heer units. By 1 September 1940, the manufacturers had orders for 36 Sd. Kfz 260 and 289 Sd. Kfz 261. Production ran from April 1941 to April 1943, with 483 vehicles of both types being produced.

Details

Type: Armored car

Place of origin: Nazi Germany

Used by:

Nazi Germany

Republic of China

Bulgaria

Romania

Wars:

World War II

Second Sino-Japanese War

Designer: Eisenwerk Weserhütte

Manufacturer: Auto Union, F. Schichau

Produced: 1935 - 1944

Weight: 4,000 kg

Length: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)

Width: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)

Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)

Crew: 3

Armor: 5 - 14.5 mm

Main armament:

1 × Maschinengewehr 34 (for Sd.Kfz 221)

1 × 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon (for Sd.Kfz 222)

Secondary armament: 1 × Maschinengewehr 34 (for Sd.Kfz 222)

Engine: Horch 3.8 V8 petrol; 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp)

Suspension: 4x4

Operational range: 300 km (186 mi)

Speed: road 80 km (50 mi); cross-country 40 km (25 mi)

The following is a reprint of Appendix B to Preliminary Report #8, D.T.D. No. 3022, D.T.D. Project No. V.7047, April 1944, which was prepared by British intelligence after examination of an example of this vehicle.

Owing to the deficiency of the installations, very little can be reported regarding the wireless equipment in this vehicle, its most important feature. Certain conclusions have been drawn as to the position of the sets and their auxiliaries and this information is included in this report.

The chassis is of the SdKfz 222 type and in design is identical to the German four-wheeled armored cars previously reported upon. The engine and transmission embody the modifications reported in Appendix "A" to Preliminary Report #8. Details of the adaptation of the vehicle for command purposes are noted together with particulars of its armament and a brief summary of its condition.

Condition

The vehicle is a non-runner. It has certain mechanical defects not yet diagnosed.

Constructionally the vehicle is in fairly good order. The tires are badly cut and generally present the appearance of having been subjected to considerable rough usage.

The electrical equipment both internal and external is badly damaged, and the majority of the components have been removed and the wiring torn away.

Weight

The vehicle was weighed as received and the following readings were obtained:

Front axle: 1 ton 7 cwt. 2 qtr.

Rear axle: 2 tons 10 cwt. 0 qtr.

Total: 3 tons 17 cwt. 1 qtr.

Armor

The thickness and angles of the plate conform to the information given in Preliminary Report #8, with the exception of the nose plate which is 30-mm thick.

Turret

The vehicle has a seven-sided pyramidal turret of SdKfz. 221 type. This is smaller than the normal SdKfz. 222 turret, having a width of 3 feet 5 inches and measuring 4 feet 1 inch from front to rear. It is constructed of nine 8-mm plates and is welded.

A vertical slot is formed in the turret front plate to permit elevation and depression of the 7.92-mm machine gun. The top of the turret is open at the rear. The front half of the top is covered by a pair of doors, hinged to the sides and consisting of light angle section frames with square mesh panels. The mesh is formed of light steel strip 10-mm wide.

Armament

The armament consists of one 7.92-mm machine gun (ground pattern), six stick-type hand grenades, and one 9-mm machine carbine.

Mounting: Dual-pedestal type, for use against ground and air targets, centrally positioned on the fighting compartment floor. The gun mounting itself consists of a grooved semi-circular collar, similar to that on the MG 34 bipod, which engages with the rear mounting groove on the gun. The collar is universally jointed to a toothed rack, which is a sliding fit in the forward end of a swan-necked arm welded to the rotating portion of the pedestal. The rack teeth mesh with a rack pinion under the arm, the shaft of which is keyed to a 4-inch radius hand crank. The gun is elevated by this hand crank for anti-aircraft and lowered into the slot in the turret wall for use against ground targets.

The mounting collar may be locked at any elevation by means of a small fraction disk operated by a knob on the left. The rack itself may be locked at any height either by a clamp on the slide, which prevents raising or lowering, or by a spring-loaded bolt operating on the teeth of the rack pinion, which prevents lowering, but not raising of the rack.

The vertical movement of the rack is 17.75 inches and is covered by six turns of the hand crank.

When not in use the rear of the gun is supported in a pivoted "U" bracket on the rear of the swan-necked arm. This engages the pistol grip on the gun. The open turret is carried on two tubular arms welded to the rotating portion of the pedestal, and on four rollers on the superstructure roof which take the radial thrust. The tubular supports are used by the gunner as handles to swing the turret. No mechanical traverse gear is provided.

The gunner's seat is secured to the rotating portion of the pedestal. The gunner is the sole occupant of the turret, and is seated behind the gun facing the line of sight. Two belt box fittings on the left, and a large capacity empty cartridge bag on the right, are mounted on the swan-necked arm underneath the gun. The empty cartridge bag is deficient.

Firing gear: Firing is by the trigger on the gun.

Elevating gear: Elevation is free and is controlled by gunner's hand on pistol grip.

Arc of elevation: -10° to +69° = 79°.

Traverse gear: 360° traverse, the turret being pushed or pulled around by the gunner. Independent traverse of gun on mounting:

Anti-aircraft—approximately 20° left and right, limited only by twisting of belt.

Ground—2° left and 2° right, limited by slot in turret wall.

Wireless

There are mountings for two wireless sets and their associated rotary transformers. One set, a receiver, is carried in a mounting to the right of the driver, whilst the second mounting is secured to the roof plate slightly to the rear of the nearside access door. The rotary transformer mounting for this set is bolted to the fighting compartment wall, below the set. A nine-way distributor box adjacently mounted probably carries the aerial and earth connections for the sets. The outgoing cables terminate in a double pole concentric socket but there is no plug in the vehicle. The cables from the remaining terminals apparently connect to the set.

A grid aerial constructed of rubber-covered tubing is mounted on and insulated from the hull. It is pivotally mounted and may be folded towards the rear of the vehicle. Rests are provided on the hull to support the aerial in its lowered position. The aerial lead-in is deficient but it would appear that it is carried through the open top of the vehicle.

Circuit Protection

Circuits are protected by the usual German open cartridge fuses carried in a box mounted on the steering wheel.

Identification and Manufacturer's Markings

Vehicle Markings

On front plates and offside and nearside rear mudguards: WH 1313 359

On rear offside and nearside mudguards: 4.25 atu.

On side top plates and tail plate: German cross

On side plates: "31"

Manufacturer's Markings

On plate under offside access door on chassis (the chassis number is also stamped under this plate on chassis itself):

Auto Union A.G.-werk-HORSCH

Abn.stamp Wa A 614

Baujahr: 1942

Lieferdat: 29.8.42

Fahrgestell Nr: 8110323

Fahrgest. Einh. Fahrgestell Raumuster: Fs.Pkw.Typ.

Leistung: P.S. 90

Betrieb fer tiges Eigen gew. des Fahrgest: Kg 2070

Eigengewicht: Kg 4050

Zul. Gesamtgew: Kg 5000

Humbraum: cm 3823

Zullassige Achsdruke worn Kg 2000 Hintern Kg 3000

On plate on inside front vertical plate to right of driver:

SdKfz 223

Fahrgestell 8110323

Aufbau 17

Schutschild 17 Wa A 814

Sights

The sights on the gun are used. The anti-aircraft cartwheel, when not in use, is carried on a clip on the right of the gun.

Ammunition Carried

7.92-mm: 12 belt boxes each holding 100 rounds

9-mm: unknown number of 32-round magazines

Signal: 12 rounds

Grenades: six stick-type

Where Stowed

7.92-mm: nearside wall of fighting compartment (four boxes); nearside rear bulkhead (two boxes); offside wall of fighting compartment (four boxes); left of mounting (two boxes).

Signal: 12 rounds are stowed in a lidded box on the offside wall of the fighting compartment.

Grenades: these are vertically stowed in clips on the offside rear bulkhead.

Seating

The crew of three is seated as follows:

Gunner: The gunner's seat is deficient, but the adjustable mounting is present on the pedestal. Spring compensated height adjustment from 8.5 to 17 inches above floor is provided, operated by a lever on the pedestal.

Driver: The driver is provided with a non-adjustable spring seat mounted on the floor in the forward nearside corner of the hull.

Wireless Operator: The wireless operator's seat is deficient but appears to have been mounted with longitudinal adjustment, in the forward offside corner of the hull, slightly to the rear of the driver.

Vision

The vision ports with slots of 130-mm × 4-mm are of standard German armored car type, with readily removable laminated glass blocks measuring 70-mm × 150-mm × 54-mm thick. The driver's visor also is of standard pattern with a glass block 70-mm × 270-mm × 4-mm. The vision devices are distributed as follows:

Hull: Driver's visor in front of driver. One vision port in offside wall. One vision port in nearside wall. One vision slit in offside of front plate.

Turret: Two vision slits each in offside and nearside walls.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 223 Fu.

SdKfz. 223.

SdKfz 260.

SdKfz 221.

The PzSpWg (SdKfz 221) was only armed with a MG 34 in the rotating turret. 1,050 rounds of ammunition were carried. The early vehicles did not have the wire grill to protect the open turret from hand grenades. Two SdKfz 221 of the Division "Grossdeutschland" are simultaneously fueled by a Henschel (Kfz 384) three-ton tank truck. Fuel capacity of the scout car was 100 liters (29 gallons).

Two leichte Panzerspähwagen (light armored scout cars) (SdKfz 222) during a reconnaissance operation during the Polish Campaign, September 1939. The SdKfz 222 had a 2 cm KwK L/55 as its main armament with a 7.9 mm MG 34 coaxial machine gun in the open turret.

SdKfz 223.

SdKfz 260, North Africa.

Leichter Panzerspähwagen (SdKfz 261) of the 7th Panzer Division with the tactical symbol of an armored reconnaissance unit (Aufklärungs Kompanie) and a SdKfz 250/3 radio version of the Heeresgruppe von Kleist, Russia 1942.

German women doing their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street, a knocked out German scout car stands beside them. 3 July 1945.

Light armored car SdKfz 221 with 2cm gun.

A Panzerspähwagen (SdKfz 221) mounting a 2.8 cm anti-tank rifle in the open turret. This vehicle belongs to a s.Aufklärungs Kompanie of the SS Division "Reich" near Lemberg, July 1941.

Poland, 1939.

24th Panzer Division, Russia, June 1942.

Poland, 1939.

North Africa.

A SdKfz 221 of Panzer Group Kleist reaches the English Channel near St. Valery, France, 18 June 1940.

The thinly armored turret (8 mm) gave the commander/machine gunner only minimum protection. The gasoline cap and engine cover are located on the rear of the vehicle. An eight cylinder AU/ Horch 3.5 liter V-engine of 75 hp powered the four-ton vehicle. Note the open wire grill and the fire extinguisher attached to the left lower side of the superstructure.

A German column enters an unidentified town in Libya. The column consists primarily of soft-skinned vehicles, but is led by a Leichter Panzerspähwagen (MG) SdKfz 221.

A German reconnaissance unit checks for signs of enemy activity near Gazala, April 1942. The vehicle is the Leichter Panzerspähwagen (MG) SdKfz. 221 armored car. The vehicle was light in weight, which gave it a good cross country performance, but its single 7.92mm MG 34 armament meant that it was usually operated alongside the 2cm-armed SdKfz 222 armored car.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221 mounting a 2.8 cm sPzB 41.

SdKfz 221 followed by an SdKfz 222, North Africa.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221, Polish Campaign.

SdKfz 221 with 28mm sPzB41.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221, Waffen-SS.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221, Poland, 1939.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221, Poland, 1939.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221, 6th Panzer Division, Russia.

SdKfz 221, Eastern Front.

SdKfz 221 with sPzB 41, North Africa.

SdKfz 221, Poland, 1939.

SdKfz 221.

SdKfz 221, Poland, 1939.

Production of the SdKfz 222 Ausf B began in June 1941. The vehicle had a four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. A row of six Nebelkerzen (smoke candles) are installed in front under a protective armor shield. Ammunition boxes, steel helmets, spare tire, tow rope and fire extinguisher are cluttering the vehicle belonging to the 23rd Panzer Division operating with the 6th Army near Charkow, May 1942.

The final version of the leichte Panzerspähwagen (2 cm) (SdKfz 222) awaiting shipment on board a Messerschmitt Me 323D-1 six engine transport to Tunisia in early 1943. The 5 gallon jerrycans are marked with a white 10 cm band, indicating that they contain water.

SdKfz 222 armored car and infantry in action against Bosnian partisans.

SdKfz 222.

British soldiers inspecting a captured German SdKfz 222 armored car, North Africa, 24 June 1941.

Sherman tanks pass a knocked-out German SdKfz 222 armored car, 25 January 1944.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222, Afrika Korps.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222, Polish Campaign.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222 after tire change.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222 in Bulgarian service.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222, Russia.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222 of the 69th Panzergrenadier Regiment, 10th Panzer Division, France, 1942.

SdKfz 222, Greece.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222, Kharkov, 1943.

SdKfz 222.

SdKfz 222, Italy, 1943.

SdKfz 222, Rome, 1943.

SdKfz 222.

Captured SdKfz 222 armored cars in use by No. 2 Armoured Ca Company, Royal Air Force, North Africa.

SdKfz 222 in Italian Army service, Rome, 1943.

Sockellafette mount featuring the 2cm KwK38 and MG 34 removed from a SdKfz 222 armored car for inspection.

SdKfz 222 in a private collection, circa 2007.

Turret of SdKfz 222, near Yad Mordechai battlefield reconstruction.

Restored Leichter Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 222.

Gerät 82 Leichte Panzerspähwagen (Fu) SdKfz 223. In order to provide a light armored car with a long range radio set, the SdKfz 221 design was slightly modified and became the SdKfz 223. Six series were produced up to early 1944 when production ceased in favor of semi-track radio vehicles.

A Luftwaffe officer positioned within advancing tank units is guiding Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers from his SdKfz 223 during the fighting around Woronesch, Russia, July 1942.

SdKfz 223 light armored cars pass in review.

SdKfz 223 with a PzKpfw II.

A column of motorcycle recon troops crosses the border into Luxembourg, May 1940, accompanied by an SdKfz 223 communications car as high ranking Wehrmacht officers watch on the left. Heavily retouched, could be a composite photo.

German motorized forces advancing in France, May 1940. The vehicle in the foreground is a Luftwaffe SdKfz 223 Fu radio car providing air-ground liaison.