DEU - Sd.Kfz.250

História vzniku, prehľad produkcie a verzií
Basic platform:
Sd.Kfz.10 - Artillery Tractor



Sd.Kfz.250 version:
light Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250/1), also referred to as Zugführerwagen für le.M.G.Trupp, or Zgkw. für Pak - armored personnel carrier
lightweight Fernsprechpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250/2), Fernsprechfahrzeug - connecting telecommunications vehicle
leichter Funkpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250/3), Funkfahrzeug - reconnaissance and command radio vehicle
leichter Truppenluftschutzpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250/4), Truppenluftschutzpanzerwagen - anti-aircraft vehicle
leichter Beobachtungspanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250/5), Beobachtungs-Fahrzeug für Sturmartillerie - artillery reconnaissance vehicle
light ammunition tanker (Sd.Kfz.250/6), ammunition vehicle for stormtroopers
leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (s.Gr.W.) (Sd.Kfz.250/7) - self-propelled mortar
leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (7,5cm) (Sd.Kfz.250/8) - support vehicle with cannon 7,5cm K51 L/24
light Schützenpanzerwagen (2cm) (Sd.Kfz.250/9) - reconnaissance vehicle
leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (3,7cm Pak) (Sd.Kfz.250/10) - support vehicle with cannon 3,7cm PaK 36
leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (s.Pz.B.41) (Sd.Kfz.250/11) Ausf.A - tank destroyer
leichter Messtrupppanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250/12) Ausf.A - artillery guidance vehicle



Other modifications:
Sd.Kfz.252 - ammunition vehicle
Sd.Kfz.253 - reconnaissance artillery vehicle



Projects, curiosities, field modifications:
Fahrschulewagen Sd.Kfz.250/252 - school vehicle
5cm PaK 38 L/60 auf Sfl. Sd.Kfz 250 - improvised tank destroyer (probably Yugoslav reconstruction)
2 cm MG 151/20 Fla SL 151 (Drilling) auf Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf. B
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-Sd-Kfz-250-t18808#70067 Version : 0
History of the vehicle's creation and development:
The development program for a small armored vehicle intended for infantry units can be dated to the period just after the outbreak of World War II (first requirement in 10/1939). The development was entrusted to Demag and the vehicle was to use the platform of its product, the 1 tonne le.Zgkw. 1 t artillery tractor (Sd.Kfz.10). The D7 (Sd.Kfz.10) platform was modified into the D7p (Sd.Kfz.250). In order to maintain a load-bearing chassis, the D7p had to be shortened by one running wheel compared to the D7 (one track section consisted of a drive, a tensioner and a quadruplet of running wheels). Due to the changed design from an open unarmored body to an armored partially enclosed body, the radiator, steering wheel, fuel tank, exhaust system, etc. had to be modified. The frame-mounted undercarriage parts on the D7p were mounted in an armored hull. Propulsion was provided by a Maybach HL 42 TRKM engine, the transmission was a Maybach VG 102 128 H (seven gears for forward and three gears for reverse). The driver steered the vehicle by turning the steering wheel, where a slight turn of the steering wheel spun the front wheels; if the driver turned the steering wheel more, the belt steering system was activated, which applied the right or left belt according to the direction of the steering wheel turn, making the vehicle turn more sharply. The top speed of the vehicle was up to 76 km/h in seventh gear at an engine speed of 2800 rpm. However, it was recommended not to exceed a maximum speed of 2400 rpm, at which point the vehicle reached a top speed of 65 km/h. One belt consisted of 38 Zpw.51/240/160 (Kgw.51/240/160) cells. Each link had a rubber pad. Behind the right fender the vehicle had a tool box, and as standard the vehicle was equipped with a towing device. An armoured superstructure was bolted to the armoured tub to protect the engine and crew compartment. The crew compartment did not have a ceiling, there was a door in the rear. There was a two-piece hatch on the ceiling of the engine compartment. The armour withstood armour piercing rounds of 7.92mm calibre with a steel core. The driver and passenger had their own seat to sit in, with a view out of the vehicle provided by a porthole in the front and side of the superstructure for each of them. The visor was protected by laminated safety glass, which was protected by armoured armoured screens. The driver could fit a wiper when the visor was removed. The interior equipment of the vehicle varied depending on which modification was involved. A total of 12 official modifications of the Sd.Kfz.250/1 to Sd.Kfz.250/12 were produced.


Production:
A specific feature of the production of this vehicle, due to the fact that it was a compact armoured vehicle, was that a number of suppliers were involved in the production of the individual components of the vehicle.

Production of armoured vans:
The first 15 tubs intended for Series 0 machines were produced by Deutsche Edelstahlwerke in 1940, no further production was carried out by them. Series 0 tubs were produced by welding. The series production of Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.A was made by riveting, the production of Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.B by Czech companies was made by riveting, by Bismarhütte it was made by welding. There was a slight modification in the production of Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.B tubs in mid-1944. The original pair of rainwater drain holes in the rear of the tub was reduced to a single hole.


The company Bismarhütte (manufacturer code "edj") delivered 2079 tubs in the period 4/1943-10/1944. the next planned production was to be 206 tubs per month in the period 11/1944-2/1945 but production was forcibly stopped in 1/1945.
The company Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG, Prag (ČKD Praha) (manufacturer code "aeo") delivered 1560 vans in the period 1-12/1943. Subsequently, production was discontinued.
The company Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, Werk Hannover (manufacturer's code "chh") delivered only 15 Sd.Kfz.250 series 0. It did not take part in series production.
The company Poldihütte Stahlwerk, Komotau (Poldi Kladno) (manufacturer code "dpm") delivered 134 vans in the period 1/1944-3/1944. Subsequently, production was discontinued.
The company Vitkovice Ironworks (manufacturer code "bzs") delivered 847 baths in the period 1/1943-9/1943. Subsequently, production was discontinued.


Production of chassis:
The company Demag AG, Wetter/Ruhr (manufacturer's code "ccd") delivered about 3877 units of D7p chassis (Fgst.Nr.100739-105315) in the period from 1939 to 2/1945. These numbers also include chassis intended for other vehicle types. The first contract for 100 chassis (Fgst.Nr.100739-100838) was for an artillery observation vehicle Sd.Kfz.253 and an ammunition vehicle Sd.Kfz.252. Another 200 chassis were intended for conventional artillery tractors Sd.Kfz.10 (D7) (Fgst.Nr.100839-101038). In the next series, Fgst.Nr.101039-102100, approximately 350 chassis were again allocated for an artillery observation vehicle Sd.Kfz.253 and an ammunition vehicle Sd.Kfz.252.
The company Adlerwerke, Frankfurt am Main (manufacturer's code "arh") delivered about 1950 units of D7p chassis (Fgst.nr.202085-205364) between 1941 and 12/1943. The company did not have separate serial numbers assigned for the D7p platforms and mixed them with the D7 platforms intended for artillery tractors Sd.Kfz.10. Chassis Fgst.Nr.202085-202316 were identified as chassis intended for ammunition vehicles Sd.Kfz.252.
The Büssing NAG, Berlin (manufacturer's code "kan") delivered about 1126 D7p chassis between 1941 and 10/1943. Some chassis were also intended for other types of vehicles e.g. Sd.Kfz.252.
The company Mechanische Werke Cottbus delivered about 636 pieces of D7p chassis (Fgst.Nr.410001-410636) between 7/1944 and 3/1945.


Body production:
The company Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, Werk Hannover (manufacturer code "chh") delivered 15 superstructures for the 0-series vehicles in 1941.
The company Böhler Werk Kapfenberg(manufacturer code "dgz") received orders for 2,100 bodies from 2/1941. Exact production records are missing, but the observed numbers of units delivered suggest that the number of superstructures produced was close to the ordered numbers. An interesting fact is the production of superstructures of a different version than the standard Panzeraufbau Sd.Kfz.250E. It was the Panzeraufbau Sd.Kfz.250Z version. A description of the differences is given below. The Böhler company switched to production of the standard form of the Sd.Kfz.250E before 11/1941, the Sd.Kfz.250Z superstructures were thus probably produced by the first 400 units of the first order of 17/2/1941. So far no documents have been found to explain why the production of this superstructure was approved for serial production for the Sd.Kfz.250. Production of the superstructures by Böhler was stopped in 9/1943. The total number of superstructures delivered is unknown due to the unavailability of production reports for each period.

The company Bismarhütte (manufacturer code "edj") supplied superstructures from 1941 to 2/1945. The total number of superstructures delivered is unknown due to the unavailability of production reports for each period.

Company Ferrum Werk Laurahütte (manufacturer code "kyw"). The start of production is unknown. Production of superstructures by Ferrum ceased in 6/1943. The total number of superstructures delivered is unknown due to the unavailability of production reports for each period.


Final assembly of vehicles:
The final assembly of the Sd.Kfz.250 vehicles took place in six companies.

Büssing NAG, Berlin (manufacturer code "kan")
Deutsche Werke, Kiel (manufacturer code "eak")
Evens und Pistor, Kassel (manufacturer code "lsb")
Eisenwerk Weserhütte, Bad Oyenhausen (manufacturer code "exz")
Wegman, Kassel (kód výrobcu "cvd")
Wumag-Waggon u. Maschinenbau A.G., Görlitz (manufacturer code "fkd")

From 2/1944 production continued only at Evens und Pistor, other firms switched to the production of other vehicles (Eisenwerk Weserhütte, Wumag and Deutsche Werke switched to the production of Sd.Kfz.251).

The number of versions produced was generally determined by a percentage of the total number of vehicles ordered. In the In 6 production plans of 13.11.1943, the percentage distribution was as follows:

Sd.Kfz.250/1 - about 42%
Sd.Kfz.250/2 - 3%
Sd.Kfz.250/3 - 12%
Sd.Kfz.250/5 - 17%
Sd.Kfz.250/7 - 5%

A note in this list stated that 20% of the production did not need any of the additional installation kits of any of the versions. At that time it was planned to use 20% of the production to produce Sd.Kfz.250/9.


Superstructure modifications (Panzeraufbau):
Panzeraufbau 0.series (Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.A):
The components of the tubs were joined by welding. Compared to the standard Sd.Kfz.250E, the driver and passenger front and side visors were positioned 50mm higher. The 0-series machines had larger hinges on the side hatches of the engine compartment, the headlights were bolted to the sides of the engine body section. A shallow base was fitted under the engine, wider and taller mounting brackets for the shock absorbers were fitted, and they had taller and slightly angled rubber front wheel stop brackets. The exhaust cover had 10 ventilation slots in the top row, and 9 ventilation slots in the bottom row.

Panzeraufbau Sd.Kfz.250E (Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.A):
The components of the tubs were riveted together. Holes for rivets were drilled before the heat treatment of the plates, the joining was carried out with the help of angle frames (a specific feature of the companies in the Czech territory - Vítkovice and B.M.M.). A narrower base was mounted under the engine, narrower mounting brackets for the shock absorbers and flat mounts for the rubber stops of the front wheels were fitted. The exhaust cover had 9 (later 7) ventilation slots in the top row, 8 (later 6) ventilation slots in the bottom row. The position of the headlights was in front of the fenders, the mount was in front under the fender.

Panzeraufbau Sd.Kfz.250Z (Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.A):
Design-wise, it closely resembled the superstructure of an artillery observation vehicle Sd.Kfz.253, only without the crew compartment overhead armour. It differed from the standard Sd.Kfz.250E in several details.
The slope of the superstructure's frontal armour in the driver's and passenger's observation portholes, which was 21° (the 0.series machines and standard production Sd.Kfz.250E had a slope of 30°).
The shape and angles of inclination of the rear part of the superstructure were slightly different from the standard. They had a shorter tail with a 26° slope of the rear body armour.
The driver's and passenger's compartments had a pair of viewing slits, the standard had only one full-length slit. Around the visors are visible screws or rivets attaching probably the internal construction of the visors.
There are four hanging hooks on the upper armor protecting the engine compartment, and another four hooks on the superstructure protecting the crew compartment (one hook above the side visor on each side, and one hook at the rear top of the open crew compartment.
There is also a visor on the tailgate, which is not present on standard vehicles.
The exhaust cover is perforated on some vehicles, it does not have slits as on standard vehicles, on some it has the standard form with ventilation slits.
The headlights are mounted on the side armouring of the engine compartment above the front fenders. On standard vehicles, they are mounted on the fenders further forward.
There is a round antenna outlet cover on the upper right rear of the body.

Panzeraufbau Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.B:
In 1943, production of the modified superstructure design began. It was created to simplify production, where the number of armour plates was reduced and the more difficult to produce curved plates were eliminated (see front engine section). The engine section has been simplified, it has been enlarged. The shape of the rear superstructure has also been simplified. It is not known when exactly the production of the Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.B was switched to, the first identified machine is the Fgst.Nr.103506 by Demag from late 6/1943. Production statistics are also unclear, and the total number of Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.B produced can only be estimated at 2975-3175 vehicles (out of a total of 6628 Sd.Kfz.250s documented by Wa J Rue between 6/1941 and 3/1945).

On 4/6/1943, the German armaments authorities announced their intention to produce full-track track links (for Sd.Kfz.10, Sd.Kfz.250 and Sd.Kfz.251). After testing, WaPrüf 6 reported that a top speed of 30 km/h could be reached on the road when using such tracks. Exceeding this speed resulted in damage to both the belts and the suspension components of the chassis. These belts have not been used.
According to the regulation of 3.3.1944, it was forbidden to fit a pair of headlights to newly manufactured vehicles. Only one headlight of the Bosch Le/Ta 120/2 type was to be fitted. Old vehicles undergoing repairs were to be fitted with a single Bosch headlamp (if the vehicle being repaired also had a second headlamp fitted, it was to be retained) and a Tarnscheinwerfer (Notek). A tail light (Abstandsrücklicht) on the left should also have been fitted. The tail or brake light on the right rear and the brake light on the left rear were not to be repaired and fitted.
In the period 7-10/1943 it was introduced that newly produced vehicles would be fitted with a modified Maybach VG 102 128 H gearbox. Originally, the gears were shifted by semi-automatic vacuum assist, which was replaced by mechanical control.
The original standard radio station Fu.Spr.Ger.a (24.11-25.01 MHz) was replaced by Fu.Spr.Ger.f (19.9-21.4 MHz). The dimensions of the radios were the same, and they used the same motor-generator set (Umformer SE a) for power supply.
In order to save time and material, a decision was taken at the 2 February 1945 Special Commission discussion to stop mounting gas mask holders, kitchen utensils, submachine guns, signal pistol and its ammunition, pickaxe, spade, first aid kit, hand grenades, rack, machine gun, rifles, heavy machine gun, bipod, and mortar barrel holders.

Thomas L.Jentz, Hilary Louise Doyle - leichter Schuetzenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250) Ausf.A & B History of Production, Variants, Organization, and Employment in Action from 1941 to 1945, Panzer Tracts No.15-1,year of publication 2008, ISBN: 0-9815382-0-7
Walter Spielberger - Die Halbketten-Fahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres 1909-1945, Motorbuch Verlag 1989, ISBN 3-87943-403-4
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-Sd-Kfz-250-t18808#525691 Version : 0
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