Sd.Kfz. 234

Sd.Kfz. 234
Wartime view of a Sd.Kfz. 234/2
TypeArmoured car
Place of originNazi Germany
Production history
Produced1943–1945
No. built478 (all types)
Specifications
Mass10,500 kg (23,100 lb)
Length6.02 metres (19 feet 9 inches)
Width2.36 metres (7 feet 9 inches)
Height2.10 metres (6 feet 11 inches)
Crew4

Armour9–30 mm (0.35–1.18 in) rolled homogeneous armour
Main
armament
•(234/1) 20mm autocannon
•(234/2) 50mm L/60 KwK 39/1[1]
•(234/3) 75mm L/24 K 51
•(234/4) 75mm L/46 PaK 40
Secondary
armament
7.92 mm MG 42 machine gun
Engine14,825 cc (905 in3) Tatra 103[2] V12 diesel
157 kW (211 hp)
SuspensionIndependent on each wheel
Operational
range
1,000 km (620 mi) on-road; 600 km (370 mi) off-road.
Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph)

The Sd.Kfz. 234 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234, Special Purpose Vehicle 234), was a family of armoured cars designed and built in Germany during World War II. The vehicles were lightly armoured, armed with a 20, 50 or 75 mm main gun, and powered by a Tatra V12 diesel engine.[3] The Sd.Kfz. 234 broadly resembles the appearance of Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 rad).[2]

  1. ^ Hogg, Ian V. Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book (London: Greenhill Books, 2000), p.221, "Sd.Kfz. 234/2".
  2. ^ a b Hogg, p.221, "Sd.Kfz. 234/2".
  3. ^ Fletcher, David. Hup, Two - Three - Four. Classic Military Vehicle, 2001, Volume 1 Issue 4 p. 48-51.