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German WWII SdKfz 251 Halftrack (Mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen)

There were four major WWII versions of the German SdKfz 251: Ausf A, Ausf B, Ausf C, and Ausf D. A wide range of both factory and field modifications existed, and twenty-three SdKfz 251 variants were officially designated.
  • SdKfz 251/1: Standard personnel carrier version. Also includes modifications for heavy machine gun team or Wurfrahmen.
  • SdKfz 251/2: Modified to carry 8 cm mortar (Granatwerfer) and crew.
  • SdKfz 251/3: Funkpanzerwagen. Modified to carry additional radio equipment.
  • SdKfz 251/4: Ammunition carrier and tractor.
  • SdKfz 251/5: Engineer version.
  • SdKfz 251/6: Command version equipped with varied radio equipment and antennas.
  • SdKfz 251/7: Pionierpanzerwagen. Modified to carry Pionier heavy equipment.
  • SdKfz 251/8: Krankenpanzerwagen. Ambulance version.
  • SdKfz 251/9: Modified to carry short 75mm gun (7.5cm KwK L/24). Nicknamed Stummel.
  • SdKfz 251/10: Modified to carry 37mm gun (3.7cm PaK 35/36). Intended for platoon leader's vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/11: Signal cable laying vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/12: Artillery survey vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/13: Modified to carry artillery sound-recording equipment.
  • SdKfz 251/14: Artillery sound-ranging vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/15: Artillery flash spotter vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/16: Flammpanzerwagen. Modified to carry flamethrowers.
  • SdKfz 251/17: Armed with 2cm FlaK. Early versions were extensively modified with folding sides. Later versions incorporated gun in a smaller mount in the normal body.
  • SdKfz 251/18: Beobachtungspanzerwagen. Observation vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/19: Fernsprechbetriebspanzerwagen. Telephone exchange vehicle.
  • SdKfz 251/20: Infrared searchlight vehicle. Nicknamed Uhu.
  • SdKfz 251/21: Modified to carry "Drilling" (3 MG151/15) antiaircraft gun.
  • SdKfz 251/22: Modified to carry 7.5cm PaK40 L/46 antitank gun.
  • SdKfz 251/23: Exact status of this vehicle is unknown. Allegedly, this version was to carry a 2 cm KwK38 in Hängelafette mount.

Related Lone Sentry Links:
• Tactics of Personnel Carriers Mounting Flame Throwers (Sd.Kfz. 251/16)
• Field Patching of Armored Troop Carriers
• Reorganization of Rifle Company of German Armored Reconnaissance Bn.
• Germany's WWII Rocket and Recoilless Weapons

References:

• Chamberlain, Peter and Hilary L. Doyle. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two. Arco Publishing Company, New York, 1978.

• Culver, Bruce. The SdKfz 251 Half-Track, Osprey Publishing.

• Kliment, Charles. SdKfz 251 in Action, Squadron Signal.

• Hanomag Sd.Kfz. 251 website, at URL: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/3515/251/.

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