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19-427: The Sd.Kfz. 221 was the first in a series of light reconnaissance vehicles designed to meet operational requirements including reliability, an ability to run on a variety of grades of fuel, simple construction and good off-road performance. However, this type proved too small and too lightly armed, so in 1936-37 a heavier version was planned, using one of two standard chassis for four-wheeled armoured cars - one with

38-415: A Maschinengewehr (MG) 34 . It had a two-man crew (driver and commander/gunner), and was equipped with four-wheel drive . Production ran from 1935 to 1940 with at least 339 vehicles produced. It was only produced with Ausf. A chassis and a maximum frontal armour of 14.5 mm. Some Sd. Kfz 221 were rearmed with a 2.8 cm sPzB 41 heavy anti-tank rifle in a modified turret. This version of

57-531: A German light machine gun developed by converting the Dreyse Model 1918 heavy water-cooled machine gun into an air-cooled version. Dreyse Model 1918 Machinegun: In 1907 Louis Schmeisser of Erfurt patented a machine-gun named in honor of the inventor of the needle gun by the heads of the factory where it was made which was founded by Dreyse . The Dreyse machine-gun was a heavy, usually tripod mounted, belt-fed and water cooled machine-gun. The 1907 model

76-568: A front-mounted engine, the other rear-mounted. The latter was used in the Sd.Kfz. 222 , which then became the standard light armoured 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 (one of the Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht standardised designs of heavy off-road car for

95-701: A large "bed-frame" antenna over the vehicle. Generally for signals use, three were used as armoured cars in Finland . The Sd. Kfz 260 was equipped with radio sets to communicate with aircraft, and the Sd.Kfz. 261 with radio sets to communicate with other ground 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 produced. List of Sd.Kfz. designations Sonderkraftfahrzeug (abbreviated Sd.Kfz. , German for "special purpose vehicle")

114-579: 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 in the deserts of

133-464: The North African campaign , this class of vehicle was hampered by its relatively poor off-road performance. The Sd.Kfz. 222 was fitted with heavier armament and a 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. The machine gun

152-572: The Sd. Kfz. 221, but with the addition of a frame antenna and a 30-watt FuG 10 medium-range radio set; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (Fu) . Later versions of the vehicle were equipped with an improved 80-watt FuG 12 radio set. It was originally armed with an MG 13 machine gun, but in 1938 this was changed to an MG 34. The three-man crew consisted of a driver, commander and radio operator. Production ran from 1936 to January 1944, with at least 567 vehicles produced. Unarmed radio car versions with long-range radio equipment and

171-447: The Sd.Kfz 222 fitted to the half-track) Captured Sd.Kfz 222s were examined by Soviet designers before they created the similar BA-64 light armoured 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 armour. The open-topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti- grenade screens. Beginning in 1939,

190-573: The armed forces) with an angled armoured 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 Litre Horch V8 with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) (Ausf. A chassis); from 1942, this was replaced by a 3.8 Litre with 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) (Ausf. B chassis), giving it

209-540: The front armour was increased to 14.5 mm (0.6 in). In 1942, the Ausf. B chassis was introduced; this had 30 mm of frontal armour, as well as a more powerful engine. Base model and first production series of light armoured car built on a standardised chassis for military use; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.) The Sd.Kfz. 221 was armed with a single 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr (MG) 13 machine gun , replaced from 1938 onwards with

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228-661: The need for a fire mode selector switch. Pressing the upper segment of the trigger produced semi-automatic fire, while holding the lower segment of the trigger produced fully automatic fire. It also fired from a closed bolt . MG 13s were sold to Spain where they retained the designation of MG13 and to Portugal which used them into the late 1940s as the Metralhadora 7,92 mm m/1938 Dreyse. Those MG 13's that were not sold but rather were placed into storage later saw use in World War II by second line German units. As it

247-399: The numbered series was as follows: Some combat vehicles, often based on existing vehicles in the Sd.Kfz. series and produced in relatively small numbers, weren't allocated a number and were only described with a name. [REDACTED] Media related to Vehicles by Sonderkraftfahrzeug number at Wikimedia Commons MG 13 The MG 13 (shortened from German Maschinengewehr 13 ) is

266-605: The vehicle was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and one MG 13 machine gun; full designation was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (2 cm) . 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 an MG 34, and in 1942 the KwK 30 was replaced by the faster-firing KwK 38 of the same calibre. Production ran from 1937 to late 1943, with at least 990 vehicles produced. An armoured car with similar features to

285-547: The weapons. When the limitations of the vehicle were highlighted during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 the Sd.Kfz. 222 was gradually replaced in the reconnaissance role by the Sd.Kfz. 250 half-track, but the turret and armament of the Sd Kfz 222 was sometimes retained, despite its shortcomings (the Sd.Kfz. 250/9 variant was a Sd.Kfz. 250 fitted with a top plate surmounted by the same turret and gun combination of

304-469: Was easy to handle and reload, many second line troops could use the MG 13 with efficiency. On later examples a 75-round saddle drum was also used. It was equipped with a folding butt stock and a carrying handle. It was used in the turret of the Panzer I tank. The Chinese Nationalist Government also imported the MG 13 with the Panzer I Ausf A. tanks from Germany in 1936. The MG 13 was also used against

323-402: Was mounted co-axially with the autocannon, and 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 breeches of

342-638: Was succeeded by the 1912 and later 1918 models. It was ordered the Model 1918 to be modernized by the company Simson in Suhl. It became the MG13. The MG 13 was introduced into service in 1930, where it served as the standard light machine gun until 1935. It was superseded by the MG 34 and then later the MG 42 . An unusual feature of the MG 13 was its double-crescent trigger, which provided select fire capability without

361-729: Was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany before and during World War II for military vehicles ; for example Sd.Kfz. 101 for the Panzer I , and Sd.Kfz. 251 for the armored personnel carrier made by Hanomag . The Reichswehr and its successor, the Wehrmacht began systematically allocating numbers to its vehicles from around 1930, including horse-drawn vehicles, cars and trucks, combat vehicles, and trailers. Sd.Kfz. numbers were assigned to armored , tracked , and half-tracked vehicles. Cars and trucks were allocated Kfz. numbers and trailers were designated with Anh. ( Anhänger ) and Sd.Anh. numbers. Allocation of

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