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SdKfz. 250 file photo [7408]

SdKfz 250

CountryGermany
ManufacturerDeutsche Maschinenfabrik AG
Primary RoleOther

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe SdKfz 250 armored half-track vehicles were adopted by the German Army in 1939 to replace their armored car predecessors and to supplement models of half-track vehicles already in use by that time, although production did not began until mid-1941. Most of them were open-topped with access doors in the rear. They were used in various roles, but were mainly used as troop carriers and less frequently ammunition carriers. Their multi-faceted armor plates were considered light, but they were very effective in protecting passengers from small arms fire. Erwin Rommel had a SdKfz 250/3 vehicle modified with additional communications equipment as one of his command vehicles in North Africa. The SdKfz 253 variant design was fully enclosed, and they were mainly used by artillery forward observers. Production ceased in Oct 1943 after a new design that was easier to build was developed; by that time, 4,200 units were built.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Feb 2009

SPECIFICATIONS

SdKfz. 250
MachineryMaybach HL 42TRKM 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 100hp
Armor8-15mm
Crew2
Length4.77 m
Width2.00 m
Height2.15 m
Weight5.0 t
Speed37 km/h
Range300 km

Photographs

German troops in Athens, Greece, May 1941Colonel General Rommel observing smoke on the horizon in his SdKfz. 250/3 command vehicle
See all 42 photographs of SdKfz 250



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
21 Oct 2009 05:26:56 PM

The Wehrmacht was the first army in the world
to develop special armored personnel carriers
so the infantry could keep pace with the tanks. The Sd.Kfz. 250/1 was used for many rolls. Rommel's Sd.Kfz.250/3 known as "Greif" was most photographed while he was in Afrika. By 1945 7,500 vehicles had been built. After W.W.II many vehicles were salvaged, and used by armies for years afterward.

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