World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe SdKfz 250 armored half-track vehicles were adopted by the German Army in 1939 to replace their armored car predecessors and to supplement models of half-track vehicles already in use by that time, although production did not began until mid-1941. Most of them were open-topped with access doors in the rear. They were used in various roles, but were mainly used as troop carriers and less frequently ammunition carriers. Their multi-faceted armor plates were considered light, but they were very effective in protecting passengers from small arms fire. Erwin Rommel had a SdKfz 250/3 vehicle modified with additional communications equipment as one of his command vehicles in North Africa. The SdKfz 253 variant design was fully enclosed, and they were mainly used by artillery forward observers. Production ceased in Oct 1943 after a new design that was easier to build was developed; by that time, 4,200 units were built.

SPECIFICATIONS

SdKfz. 250

Machinery	Maybach HL 42TRKM 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 100hp
Armor	8-15mm
Crew	2
Length	4.77 m
Width	2.00 m
Height	2.15 m
Weight	5.0 t
Speed	37 km/h
Range	300 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  Bill says:
21 Oct 2009 05:26:56 PM

The Wehrmacht was the first army in the world
to develop special armored personnel carriers
so the infantry could keep pace with the tanks. The Sd.Kfz. 250/1 was used for many rolls. Rommel's Sd.Kfz.250/3 known as "Greif" was most photographed while he was in Afrika. By 1945 7,500 vehicles had been built. After W.W.II many vehicles were salvaged, and used by armies for years afterward.