World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Leichter Panzerspähwagen, or roughly "Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicles", were lightly-armored 4x4 vehicles developed in 1935 by the firm Eisenwerk Weserhütte. The chassis were built by Auto Union in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing, Poland and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hanover, Germany. They were used by reconnaissance battalions of armored divisions in the German Army during WW2, largely for use for areas where road networks were extensive, as these wheeled vehicles did not perform well off-road. The SdKfz. 221 variant design was the base model, equipped with a single 7.92-mm MG34 machine gun. The SdKfz. 222 variant design which received a 20-mm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon or 28-mm armor-piercing cannon in addition to the MG34 machine gun. The SdKfz. 223 variant design was developed as a radio car which had a large antenna over the roof of the vehicle.

SPECIFICATIONS

SdKfz. 221

Machinery	Horch 3500cc gasoline engine rated at 90hp
Armament	1x7.92mm MG34 machine gun
Armor	5-8mm, later 14.5mm maximum
Crew	2
Speed	40 km/h off-road; 80 km/h on-road
Range	300 km

SdKfz. 222

Machinery	Horch 3500cc gasoline engine rated at 90hp
Armament	1x7.92mm MG34 machine gun, 1x2cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon or 1x28mm armor-piercing cannon
Armor	5-8mm, later 14.5mm maximum
Crew	3
Speed	40 km/h off-road; 80 km/h on-road
Range	300 km

SdKfz. 223

Machinery	Horch 3500cc gasoline engine rated at 90hp
Armament	1x7.92mm MG34 machine gun, radio equipment and roof-top antenna
Armor	5-8mm
Crew	2
Speed	40 km/h off-road; 80 km/h on-road
Range	300 km

Photographs