The SdKfz 251 half-track was built by Germany during World War II. 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 troops to the battlefield protected from enemy fire. The open top meant that the crew was still vulnerable.

The first 2 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 utilised a much simpler design, and can be easily recognised 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 personal carrier version was equipped with a 7.92mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun mounted at the front of the open compartment, above and behind the driver.

Variants were produced for specialised purposes, including anti-aircraft guns, rocket launching (with 3 large rockets fitted on either side of the vehicle) 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 - Standard Company machine.

• Sdkfz 251/1 - Rocket launcher equipped with six side mounted frames for launching 280mm or 320mm Wurfkoper rockets .

• Sdkfz 251/2 - 80mm Mortar carrier

• Sdkfz 251/3 - Communications vehicle, fitted with extra radio equipment.
  • 251/3 I FuG8 and FuG5 Radio's
  • 251/3 II FuG8 and FuG5 Radio's
  • 251/3 III FuG7 and FuG1 Radio's
  • 251/3 IV FuG11 and FuG12 Radio's (mit zusätzlichem 9m-Teleskopantennenmast)
  • 251/3 V FuG11 Radio

• Sdkfz 251/4 - Infantry tractor for towing guns, such as the 50mm Pak 38 , 75mm Pak 40 , 105mm Light Field Howitzer .

• Sdkfz 251/5 - Assault engineer's vehicle with inflatable boats, assault bridges.

• Sdkfz 251/6 - Command version (known as Kommandopanzerwagen) equipped with map boards, cypher and encoding machines etc..

• Sdkfz 251/7 - Pioneerpanzerwagen. Another assault engineer's vehicle with fittings to carry assault bridge ramps on the side.

• Sdkfz 251/8 - Armoured ambulance.

• Sdkfz 251/9 - Equipped with a 75mm L/24 low velocity gun.

• Sdkfz 251/10 - Equipped with a 37mm Pak 36 mount.

• Sdkfz 251/11 - Telephone line layer.

• Sdkfz 251/12, 13, 14, 15 - Specialist artillery vehicles.

• Sdkfz 251/16 - Flammpanzerwagen Fitted with Flame thower .

• Sdkfz 251/17 - Anti aircraft use with either a 20mm Flak 30 or Flak 38 .

• Sdkfz 251/18 - Armoured artillery observation vehicle.

• Sdkfz 251/19 - Telephone exchange vehicle.

• Sdkfz 251/20 - Mounted an Infrared searchlight for night fighting.

• Sdkfz 251/21 - Flakpanzerwagen. Contained three 15mm Drilling MG151 machine guns.

• Sdkfz 251/22 - Fitted with a 75mm Pak 40 gun.

Cultural Impact

In the years after the Second World War the Sdkfz 251's was mentioned in many books and after the rise of the Internet, on many online web pages. It has also appeared in a number movies and computer games. For example it appeared in the film Saving Private Ryan and was depicted the computer game Call of Duty (2004) among others.

External Links

• Information about the mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) at Panzerworld
• SdKfz 251 pictures
• diagrams