SdKfz. 251 file photo [8610]

SdKfz 251

CountryGermany
ManufacturerHannoversche Maschinenbau AG
Primary RoleTransport

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe SdKfz 251 half-track vehicles, initially built by Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG or Hanomag for short, were built specifically to quickly transport a squad of infantrymen to the front lines with adequate armor protection from small arms fire. The first examples were assigned to the 1st Panzer Division in 1939, and later examples were similarly assigned to armor units for the purpose of helping troops stay right behind the fast moving tanks. Over the design's production life, at least 15,252 vehicles were built. A number of them were converted to specialized vehicles for communications, engineering, and self-propelled guns.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Oct 2009

SPECIFICATIONS

SdKfz. 251
MachineryOne Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 100hp
SuspensionHalftrack
Armament1x7.92mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun, space for 10 passengers
Armor6-12.5mm
Crew2
Length5.80 m
Width2.10 m
Height1.75 m
Weight7.8 t
Speed53 km/h
Range300 km

Photographs

SdKfz. 251/3 communications vehicle, northern Russia, Jun 1941German Panzer I, Panzer II, and SdKfz. 251 vehicles in Poland, circa 3 Sep 1939; the officer in the SdKfz. 251 halftrack vehicle might be Heinz GuderianSdKfz. 251 ausf. A halftrack vehicle at the Lustgarten in Berlin, Germany, 1940SdKfz. 251/1 ausf. A halftrack vehicles, Unter den Linden, Berlin, Germany, 1940
See all 108 photographs of SdKfz 251 Transport



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
6 Nov 2009 04:04:59 PM

The first SdKfz.251's were used by the German
Army in 1939 during the Polish Campaign.
The vehicle carried ten troops, this made it
possible for the infantry to keep up with the
tanks.
The 251 was built in 22 different variants,if
any one vehicle could define the Wehrmacht it
was the SdKfz.251. Where German troops could
found,the 251 was found with them.
By 1945 over 16,000 had been built. After the
war, many continued to be used by armies in
post-war Europe.
2. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
28 Nov 2009 03:04:27 PM

After World War II Czech Industry built a copy of the World War II German Sd.Kfz.251
it was called the OT-810, the vehicle was
powered by a Tatra diesel engine.
Like many countries in Post-War Europe, the
Czechs continued to use second-hand German military equipment, until replaced by Russian arms.
The French Army Museum,has a fine collection
of World War II German Military Vehicles that
are in running condition, and have a number
of Sd.Kfz. 251's

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SdKfz. 251/3 communications vehicle, northern Russia, Jun 1941
See all 108 photographs of SdKfz 251 Transport


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