Sd.Kfz. 251/20 (infraznačkovač)

mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (Uhu) (Sd.Kfz.251/20)

This remarkable version Sd.Kfz.251 was equipped with a powerful infrared reflector and was to serve to increase the range of tank infrared reflectors mounted on a small series of tanks Panther. The tanks were equipped with active infrared sights and infrared reflectors with insufficient power.

"Uhu" - this is how this modification was called Sd.Kfz.251, resp. the whole program for the development of infrared devices was hidden under this pseudonym. Sd.Kfz.251 was equipped with an infrared reflector with a diameter of 60 cm and observation "Beobachtungsgerät" BG 1251. The driver had mounted next to his window another infrared reflector with a diameter of 20 cm and one observation "Fahrgerät" FG 1252.
An 8.5 kW generator was placed behind the driver and radio operator to power the 60 cm reflector. To the right behind the generator is a heat shield that hides the exhaust from the generator, which drains through the right storage boxes at the rear. The inner cabinets for the infrared device are located on the right and right.
According to the plan from 10/1944, 10 pieces of Sd.Kfz.251 were sent to the authorized production company Wumag-Waggonfabrik Görlitz for the assembly of infrared equipment. Long-term plans counted from 1/1945 to 5/1945 with a monthly production of 35 pieces Sd.Kfz.251/20. However, there are only records of the production of 15 pieces of this machine in 1/1945. However, the reports on production Sd.Kfz.251 do not include references to Sd.Kfz.251/20 in the following months of collapsing industrial production. Further production is not excluded, but the reports contain only the total numbers of machines produced, not the numbers of individual versions.
On March 7, 1945, six machines were moved to the training area in Putlos, the remaining 9 pieces to the training area in Fallingbostel near Bergen. This is probably a production from 1/1945.
In addition to the full-fledged Sd.Kfz.251/20 with full headlight equipment, the temporary conversion of Sd.Kfz.251/20 to version á "Falke" is also clearly documented. "Falke" was Sd.Kfz.251/1 with experimental installation of FG 1252 for vehicle driver and FG 1250 mounted on a machine gun MG 42.
The US report after the occupation of Falingbostel states the capture of a training unit (Kampfgruppe Uhu?), In which there were 16 vehicles "Falke", 4 vehicles "Uhu" and 3 passenger vehicles (in the photo documentation is one vehicle with infrared camera FG 1252 mounted in front of the folding front passenger glass). A pair of "Uhu" vehicles were sent to the USA (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland), the other pair to Great Britain (Farnborough).
The only recorded combat deployment of these machines took place on March 26, 1945. Three machines supported the night action 1st Company/Panzer-Abteilung 101 assigned to the Führer-Grenadier-Division, which had in its arsenal 10 Panthers equipped with infrared devices FG 1250.

Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary Louis Doyle - Panzer Tracts no.11-1, Panzerbeobachtungswagen Sd.Kfz.253 to Pz.Beob.Wg. Panther, ISBN 0-9708407-9-9
Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary L. Doyle - Panzer Tracts No.15-3, mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) Ausf.C & D, year of publication 2006, ISBN: 0-9771643-5-7
Hilary L. Doyle, Lukas Friedli, Thomas L. Jentz - Panzer Tracts No.15-4, Vollketten M.S.P. Kätzchen and final development of the Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251), year of publication 2016, without ISB

N

NARA
www.ebay.de