Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251)
Combat Use
The mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/1) was designed to transport Panzer-Grenadiere (armored infantry) into battle alongside tanks. Using a half-tracked vehicle, it was possible to drive in terrain where trucks could not go, while its armor offered some protection against small arms fire and scrapnel.
It was allowed for the mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen to attack with the Panzer-Grenadiere mounted, but did so at great risk. Anti-tank guns, mortars, artillery, hand grenades, fighter-bombers, etc. were all a serious risk for the lightly-armored, open-topped vehicles.
When the Panzer-Grenadiere dismounted, they were to stay in the vicinity of the vehicle. The mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen advance with the Panzer-Grenadiere, providing close fire support by making 15-30 second stop to fire its two machine guns. When stopped, the machine guns could be fired at ranges up to 600 meters. When firing on the move, the range was limited to 400 meters. Shots were fired in bursts of six to eight shots for the MG 42, and three to eight shots for the MG 34.
Variants
The mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251) chassis was used for a number of different specialized vehicles, in addition to the basic armored personnel carrier version. These variants included:
| Designation | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/1) | Armored personnel carrier. |
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Gr W) (Sd Kfz 251/2) | Self-propelled 8 cm Gr W 34. |
| Mittlere Funkpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/3) | Radio vehicle. |
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (J G) (Sd Kfz 251/4) | Artillery tractor for the 7,5 cm le I G 18. |
| Mittlere Pionierpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/5) | Combat engineer vehicle. |
| Mittlere Kommandopanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/6) | Armored command vehicle. |
| Mittlere Pionierpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/7) | Combat engineer vehicle with Panzerbüchse 39. |
| Mittlere Krankenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/8) | Armored ambulance. |
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (7,5 cm K 51 L/24) (Sd Kfz 251/9) | Self-propelled 7,5 cm Kw K (L/24). |
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (3,7 cm Pak) (Sd Kfz 251/10) | Self-propelled 3,7 cm Pak 36 (L/45). |
| Mittlere Fernsprechpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/11) | Mobile switchboard and cable laying vehicle. |
| Mittlere Flammpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/16) | Self-propelled flamethrower. |
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd Kfz 251/17) | Self-propelled 2 cm Flak 38. |
Production Costs
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251) | |
|---|---|
| Price | 22 560 Reichmark |
| Production time | 12 months |
Technical Information
| Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/1) | |
|---|---|
| Crew | |
| Crew |
|
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight |
|
| Length | 5.80 m |
| Width | 2.10 m |
| Height | 1.75 m |
| Armor | |
| Hull, front | 14.5 mm |
| Hull, sides and rear | 5.5-8 mm |
| Hull, bottom | 5.5 mm |
| Performance | |
| Maximum speed | 52.5 km/h |
| Road speed |
|
| Cross-country speed |
|
| Maximum grade | 24° |
| Trench crossing | 2 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 32 cm |
| Fording depth | 050 cm |
| Fuel capacity | 160 l |
| Mileage (road) | 0.53 l/km |
| Mileage (cross-country) | 1.07 l/km |
| Cruising range | 300 km |
| Cross-country range | 150 km |
| Turning radius | 11 m |
| Payload | 1.5 t |
| Towing capacity | 2.7 t |
| Engine | |
| Make and model | Maybach HL 42 TUKRM |
| Type | Water cooled |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 4170 cc |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Max. governed speed | 2800 rpm |
| Net h.p. | 100 |
| Track | |
| Track model |
|
| Track pads | W 302 |
| Track links |
|
| Track length |
|
| Armament | |
| Main weapon | MG 42 or MG 34 (3) |
| Ammunition Storage | |
| Main weapon | 2010 |
Additional Reading
- Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen photographs (external link)
- Photographs of the Mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd Kfz 251/1) at Panzerphotos.
Sources
- Merkblatt für Ausbildung im Schießen mit le. MG vom Schützenpanzerwagen. Berlin : Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen, 1943. Merkblatt 75/4.
- Panzer hilfen Dir : Was der Grenadier vom gepanzerten Kampffahrzeuge wissen muß. Berlin : Heereswaffenamt, 1944. 40 p. Merkblatt 18b/38.
- Holzhäuer. Mittlerer gepanzerter Kraftwagen (Sd. Kfz 251) auf Fahrgestell des Zgkw 3 t Typ Hkl 6 p (Grundfahrzeug der mittleren Schützenpanzerwagen und Abarten), Heft I : Gerätbeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung zum Fahrgestell. Berlin : WaA, 1943. 56 p. D 660/4.
- PAWLAS, Karl R. Waffen-Revue W 127 - Datenblätter für Heeres-Waffen, -Fahrzeuge und Gerät. Nurnberg : Publizistisches Archiv für Militär- und Waffenwessen, 1976. 248 p. ISBN 3-88088-213-4.