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Sd.Kfz. 252
Sd.Kfz. 252 01
Type Ammunition Carrier
Place of origin Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service history
In service 1940
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Demag AG
Manufacturer Demag, Wegmann and Deutsche Werke
Produced June thru December 1940 (Demag and Wegman), January thru September 1941 (Deutsche Werke)
No. built 413
Specifications
Mass 5.73 tons
Length 4.7 meters (with gun)
Width 1.95 meters
Height 1.8 meters
Crew 2

Armor 18 millimeters (see chart)
Main
armament
MG 34
Engine Maybach HL 42 TRKM
Operational
range
320 kilometers (road), 175 km (off-road)
Maximum speed 65 kilometers per hour

The Sd.Kfz. 252 leichte Gepanzerte Munitionskraftwagen was a light armoured ammunition carrier used by Nazi Germany during World War II as early as the Battle of France in June 1940.

History[]

The Sd. Kfz. 252 was based on the Sd.Kfz. 250 half-track and used the same chassis. Initially built by the Demag and Wegmann firms from June through December 1940, production shifted to Deutsche Werke from January to September 1941.[1] A total of about 413 units were manufactured before production ceased on this variant. All 413 were issued for use as ammunition resupply vehicles to Sturmartillerie batteries and saw operation on both European fronts.

Additional load capacity was required beyond that capable of the Sd.Kfz.252. Accordingly, the Sonder-Anhänger (Sd. Ah.) für Munition (7,5 cm) (Sd. Ah. 32/1) was developed for use as an ammunition transport trailer for towing behind the Sd. Kfz. 252. The Sd. Ah. 32/1 trailer carried an additional 36 rounds of 75mm ammunition.[2]

During the Battle of France, SdKfz 252s were used by Sturmartillerie Batteries 640 and 659. Due to production delays with the new Sd. Kfz. 252, Sturmartillerie Batteries 660 and 665 went into battle using “turretless” Panzerkampfwagen I munitions carriers.[3]

On the Eastern front, units using the Sd. Kfz. 252 included the Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 184, 190, 191, and 210.

The Sd.Kfz.252 was eventually replaced by the Sd.Kfz.250/6.[4]

Armour breakdown[]

Armour Chart
Upper Front Hull Lower Front Hull Upper Hull Sides Lower Hull Sides Rear Hull Top Hull Bottom Hull
18 mm at 30 degrees 18 mm at 12 degrees 8 mm at 30 degrees 8 mm at 30 degrees 8 mm at 45 degrees and 8 mm at 55 degrees 8 mm at 90 degrees 8 mm at 90 degrees

Miscellaneous facts[]

  • Used the FuG15 or the FuG16 radio system
  • Transmission had 7 forward and 3 in reverse
  • Was armed with a 7.92 MG34
  • Six-cylinder, water-cooled, 3000 RPM, engine

Gallery[]

References[]

Sources[]


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Sd.Kfz. 252 and the edit history here.
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