SdKfz 234

Infobox Weapon
name=SdKfz 234


caption=Model of an "SdKfz" 234/2 "Puma"
origin=Nazi Germany
type=eight-wheeled amoured car
is_vehicle=yes
length=6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
width=2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
height=2.10 m (6 ft 10 in)
weight=10,500 kg (23,148 lb)
suspension= wheeled
speed=85 km/h (53 mph)
vehicle_range=1,000 km (625 mi)
primary_armament= (Puma) 1x50mm L/60 "KwK" 39/1 [Hogg, Ian V. "Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book" (London: Greenhill Books, 2000), p.221, "SdKfz 234/2".] (234/1) 1x20mm autocannon (234/3) 1x75mm K51
secondary_armament= 1x7.92mm machinegun
armour=9-30 mm (.35-1.18 in)
engine= 14,825 cc (905 in³) Tatra 103 [Hogg, p.221, "Sd Kfz 234/2".] V12 diesel
engine_power=157 kW (210 hp)
pw_ratio=
crew=4

The "SdKfz" 234/2 ("Sonderkraftfahrzeug" 234/2, or special purpose vehicle 234 model 2) was an eight-wheeled armoured car used by the German Army in the Second World War. It broadly resembles the "SdKfz" 231 (8 "rad"). [Hogg, p.221, "SdKfz 234/2".]

Developed from the Büssing-NAG "SdKfz" 232, which appeared in 1936, [Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles" (London: Hamlyn, 1980), p.184.] design of the "Sd Kfz" 234 began in 1940. [Hogg and Weeks, p.185, "SdKfz 232, 233, and 234 (8 rad) Armoured Cars".] It was to have a monocoque chassis with eight wheels, like its predecessors, and an aircooled engine for use in North Africa. [Hogg and Weeks, p.185, "SdKfz 232, 233, and 234 (8 rad) Armoured Cars".]

Chassis were built by Büssing-NAG in Leipzig-Wahren, while armoured bodies were provided by Deutsche Edelstahlwerke of Krefeld and turrets by Daimler Benz in Berlin-Marienfeld and Schichau of Elbing, with engines from Ringhoffer-Tatra-Werke AG of Nesseldorf. [Hogg and Weeks, p.185, "SdKfz 232, 233, and 234 (8 rad) Armoured Cars".]

ervice history

Protracted engine development meant the desert campaign was over before the 234 arrived, but it nevertheless proved useful on the Eastern Front. [Hogg and Weeks, p.185, "SdKfz 232, 233, and 234 (8 rad) Armoured Cars".] It was quite formidable, but only about 100 were built before it was replaced by the simpler 234/1, with a 20mm gun, in 1944. [Hogg, p.221, "Sd Kfz 234/2" & "Sd Kfz 234/1".]

Variants

;234/2 "Puma" - 1x50mm "KwK" 39, 1xMG;234/1 - 1x20mm autocannon;234/3 - 1x75mm K51 L/24 in open-topped superstructure replacing the turret. 88 built between June and December, 1944. [Hogg, p.221, "Sd Kfz 234/2".] ;234/4 - 1x75mm "PaK" 40 L/46 in open-topped superstructure replacing the turret. 89 built between December 1944 and March 1945. [Hogg, p.221, "Sd Kfz 234/2".]

References

Notes

ources

* Hogg, Ian V. "Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book", p.221, "Sd Kfz 234/1", "Sd Kfz 234/2", "Sd Kfz 234/3", & "Sd Kfz 234/4". London: Greenhill Books, 2000. ISBN 1-85367-391-9.
* ____, and Weeks, John. "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles" , p.185, "SdKfz 232, 233, and 234 (8 rad) Armoured Cars". London: Hamlyn, 1980. ISBN 0-600-33195-4.