Germany's Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234 (8 rad) armored cars

Photos

Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/2 (8 rad) armored car:	Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/2 (8 rad) armored car:	Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/2 (8 rad) armored car:	Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/2 (8 rad) armored car:
Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/3 (8 rad) armored car:	Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/3 (8 rad) armored car:	Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234/4 (8 rad) armored car:
Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 234 (8 rad) armored car:

Design

In 1940 it was decided to develop armored cars that could be used in hot climates and Tatra was asked to do the design.³

Büssing developed the hull and superstructure and Daimler-Benz and Schichau were to develop the turret. Improvements were made to the engine and a third engine that was tropically proofed was delivered in June 1942. However, this engine was canceled.

Hull

On the hull side were mudguards that went along the complete side of the armored car.³ Four storage compartments were located in the mudguards.³

Engine

It was requested that the engine be air cooled which made it usable in hot and cold climates.³

Prototype

Prototypes were ready in July 1942.

Production

Production on the series started in July 1943.

• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 234/1), Gerät 95: 200^1,2
  • Production: June 1944 - January 1945²
  • Manufacturer: Büssing-NAG²
• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (5cm) (SdKfz 234/2), Gerät 93: 101^1,2
  • Production: September 1943 - September 1944²
  • Manufacturer: Büssing-NAG²
• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm KwK) (SdKfz 234/3), Gerät 94: 88^1,2
  • Production: June 1944 - December 1944²
  • Manufacturer: Büssing-NAG²
• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm PaK40) (SdKfz 234/4), Gerät 96,
  Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm lang) SdKfz 234/4: 89², 98¹
  • Production: December 1944 - March 1945²
  • Manufacturer: Büssing-NAG²

Variants

• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (2cm) (SdKfz 234/1), Gerät 95: Had the same hull as the SdKfz 234/2 but with a different turret. The Hängelafette 38 (turret) was similar to the SdKfz 222, but had a simpler construction. Range was later increased to 625 miles by adding a larger fuel tank. The turret contained the 20 mm and a machine gun which allowed them to be raised to a high elevation.³ The turret had a wire mesh screen on top.³
• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (5cm) (SdKfz 234/2), Gerät 93: On August 5, 1940, an order was given to develop an 8-wheeled armored car similar to the SdKfz 231 but with the armored body as the chassis. The 234/2 was only one with turret. Turrets were originally designed for Leopard tank.
• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm KwK) (SdKfz 234/3), Gerät 94: Had a short barrelled75 mm gun installed in an open topped fighting compartment.
• Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm PaK40) (SdKfz 234/4), Gerät 96,
  Schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm lang) SdKfz 234/4: Hitler ordered PaK 40 to be installed. Had a complete carriage and shield of a PaK 40 75 mm antitank gun installed in an open topped fighting compartment.

Usage

SdKfz 234/1

There were 19 issued to the Panzerspähwagen company of the Panzer Aufklärungs battalions.

SdKfz 234/2

Organized into Panzerspähwagen companies of 25. These were issued to 4 Panzer divisions which fought on the Eastern and Western fronts.

SdKfz 234/3

6 made up a platoon of the Panzerspähwagen company to support the SdKfz 234/1s.

Specifications

	SdKfz 234/1 (8 rad)	SdKfz 234/2 (8 rad)	SdKfz 234/3, 234/4 (8 rad)
Crew	42,3	41,2,3	42
Radio	FuG Spr Ger 'a'2, FuG122	FuG Spr Ger 'a'2, FuG122	FuG Spr Ger 'a'2, FuG122
Physical Characteristics
Weight	25,760 lb 10.33 tons3, 10.5 tons, 11.5 tons2	10.83 tons3, 11 tons, 11.5 tons1, 11.74 tons2 11,700 kg1	25,882 lb 11.5 tons2
Length w/gun	19' 9"3, 20' 6 m2, 6.02 m	19' 8.2"1 6 m1, 6.02 m, 6.8 m2	22' 7" 6 m2
Length w/o gun		19' 9"3
Height	6' 11"3, 7' 2.1 m2,3	7' 6"3, 7' 9.6"1 2.28 m2, 2.29 m, 2.33 m1	7' 7" 2.21 m2
Width	7' 9"3, 8' 2.36 m, 2.4 m2	7' 7.7"1, 7' 9"3 2.36 m, 2.33 m1, 2.4 m2	8' 2.4 m2
Ground clearance	36 cm	36 cm	1' 1.75"
Ground contact length
Ground pressure (psi)
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	20 mm KwK38 L/552,3	50 mm KwK 39/1 L/602,3 50 mm1	/3: 75 mm KwK 51 L/242 /3: 7.5 cm StuK L/243 /4: 75 mm Pak 40 L/462 /4: 7.5 cm Pak L/483
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm MG422	MG3 7.92 mm MG422 7.92 mm MG1
MG - coaxial	MG3	MG423
Side arms			7.92 mm MG342
OR			7.92 mm MG422
Quantity
Main	280, 4802	101, 552,3	/3: 502,3 /4: 122,3
Secondary
MG	2,4002	1,0502 1,980	1,050 1,9502
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	303	301,3
Hull Front, Upper	30@40°2	30@35°2	30@35°2
Hull Front, Lower	30@35°2 & 30@50°2	30@30° & 30@55°2	30@30°2 & 30@55°2
Hull Sides, Upper	8@35°2	8@30°2	8@30°2
Hull Sides, Lower	8@35°2	8@30°2	8@30°2
Hull Rear	10@31°2 & 10@38°2 & 10@46°2	10@22° & 10@40°2	10@22°2 & 10@40°2
Hull Top	6@87°-90°2	6@87°-90°2	6@88°2
Hull Bottom	5@90°2	5@90°2	5@90°2
Turret Front	30@40°2 Gun shield: 10@40°2	30@20°2	shield: 15@40°2
Turret Sides	8@40°2	10@25°2	shield: 15@0°2
Turret Rear	8@38°2	10@25°2	shield: 15@38°2
Turret Top	Open2	10@90°2	shield: Open2
Engine (Make / Model)	Tatra3, Tatra 102	Tatra,3 Tatra 1031,2	Tatra 1031,2
Cylinders
Net HP	220@2,250 rpm3	220@2,250 rpm3	220
Transmission	Claw 6 forward, 6 reverse.2	Claw, 6 forward, 6 reverse	Claw 6 forward, 6 reverse.2
Fuel type	Diesel3	Diesel3	Diesel
Octane
Capacity	240 liters Fuel used per 100 km road traveled: 40 liters	240 liters Fuel used per 100 km road traveled: 40 liters
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand.2	360°, hand.2	12° left, 12° right.2 /3: 12° left, 12° right.3
Speed - Road	50 mph, 52 mph3 80 kph2, 85 kph	50 mph, 52 mph3, 55.5 mph1 80 kph2, 85 kph, 90 kph1	80 kph2
Speed - Cross Country	31 kph	31 kph
Range - Road	372 miles3, 375 miles 600 km, 900 km2	372 miles3, 559 miles1 600 km, 900 km1,2	559 miles 900 km2
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius	14.9 m	14.9 m
Elevation limits	0° to +75° -4° to +70°2	-10° to +20°2 -7° to +25°	/3: -10° to +12°2 /4: -3° to +22°2
Fording depth	1.2 m	1.2 m
Trench crossing	1.24 m	4' 0.5" 1.24 m	4' 0.5"
Vertical obstacle
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires	8	8	8
Track width
Track centers/tread	1.4 m	1.4 m	/2: 1.4 m