The Odd Looking German Light Armored Cars in 19 Images

SdKfz. 222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen
SdKfz. 222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen

The Treaty of Versailles, which limited Germany’s military production and strength, made no specific mention of armored cars, allowing Germany to design them at will. They started this early in the 1930s, giving them an advantage in during the first half of the war in terms of armored car quality.

One group of cars made were the Leichter Panzerspähwagen series; light-armored vehicles intended primarily for reconnaissance missions. The need for reliable and adaptable vehicles meant they could run on a various amount of different fuel grades, and worked well on many types of terrain.

The first of these four wheeled vehicles, the Sd Kfz 221, entered production in 1935.

A Leichter Panzerspähwagen Sd. Kfz. 221 lies knocked out in Bredevad on April 9th, 1940
A Leichter Panzerspähwagen Sd. Kfz. 221 lies knocked out in Bredevad on April 9th, 1940

This version deemed insufficient, both offensively and defensively. This realisation led to a new variant with a rear mounted 3.5 L 75 hp V8 engine. This vehicle was designated the Sd Kfz 222.

This would go on as Germany’s standard light armored car during the war, all the way up until their defeat in 1945.

The Sd Kfz 221

As mentioned previously, this vehicle was the first variant to be made, and was built with the Einheits-PKW chassis. Frontal armour was only around 14.5 mm on the front, which provided just enough protection to resist small arms fire and shrapnel. A turret housed a 7.92 mm MG 13 machine gun to begin with, which was later swapped with an MG 34.

The 221 had a crew of two, meaning the commander had a rather intense job of operating the gun while commanding the driver. About 340 were built in total between 1935 and 1940, where its lacklustre offroad performance and light armament meant an upgraded was needed, based on the chassis of the Sd Kfs 221.

 

German armored cars Sd Kfz 221 during the battle in Tuchola Forest.
German armored cars Sd Kfz 221 during the battle in Tuchola Forest.

 

German armored cars enter the city of Aussig in the Sudeten. 9.10.1938 Aussig. Sudetenland.Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1976-033-20 CC-BY-SA 3.0
German armored cars enter the city of Aussig in the Sudeten. 9.10.1938 Aussig. Sudetenland.Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1976-033-20 CC-BY-SA 3.0

 

German troops and fleet in the newly joined to the Reich Memele, March 1939. In the foreground are German light armored cars Sd.Kfz.222
German troops and fleet in the newly joined to the Reich Memele, March 1939. In the foreground are German light armored cars Sd.Kfz.222

 

Panzer Division in movement on unpaved road, in the front Spähpanzer (Sd.Kfz. 221). Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-216-0401-25 Dieck CC-BY-SA 3.0
Panzer Division in movement on unpaved road, in the front Spähpanzer (Sd.Kfz. 221). Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-216-0401-25 Dieck CC-BY-SA 3.0

 

SdKfz. 222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen light armored car
SdKfz. 222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen light armored car

 

British soldiers inspecting a captured German SdKfz 222 armoured car, 24 June 1941.
British soldiers inspecting a captured German SdKfz 222 armoured car, 24 June 1941.

 

Motorized troops of the Panzergrenadierdivision “Greater Germany”, u.a. light armored infantry fighting vehicle (Sd.Kfz. 250/1, Sd.Kfz. 250/3 radio armored car, Spähpanzer Sd.Kfz. 222, Sd.Kfz. 263).Photo: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-748-0100A-16 / Kempe / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Motorized troops of the Panzergrenadierdivision “Greater Germany”, u.a. light armored infantry fighting vehicle (Sd.Kfz. 250/1, Sd.Kfz. 250/3 radio armored car, Spähpanzer Sd.Kfz. 222, Sd.Kfz. 263).Photo: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-748-0100A-16 / Kempe / CC-BY-SA 3.0

The Sd Kfz 222

The idea of improving the 221 came in 1936, and resulted in the Sd Kfz 222.

This vehicle abandoned the Einheits-PKW chassis of the 221, and instead used the chassis of the Horch 108 heavy off road car. The armored body was well sloped, and ranged from 5-14.5 mm in thickness.

The armament was significantly improved, with a 20 mm KwK 30 L/55 cannon placed next to the 7.92 machine gun. With this, vehicle gained a dedicated gunner, relieving the commander of some responsibility.

About 990 units of this vehicle were produced.

 

Russia, SS-Kavallerie-Divisison, Panzerspähwagen 222. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101III-Bueschel-022-05 Büschel CC-BY-SA 3.0
Russia, SS-Kavallerie-Divisison, Panzerspähwagen 222. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101III-Bueschel-022-05 Büschel CC-BY-SA 3.0

 

Sd.Kfz. 222 light armored car.
Sd.Kfz. 222 light armored car.

 

Turret of SdKfz 222, near Yad Mordechai battlefield reconstruction. Photo Bukvoed CC BY 2.5
Turret of SdKfz 222, near Yad Mordechai battlefield reconstruction. Photo Bukvoed CC BY 2.5

 

Turret of SdKfz 222, near Yad Mordechai battlefield reconstruction. Photo Bukvoed CC BY 2.5
Turret of SdKfz 222, near Yad Mordechai battlefield reconstruction. Photo Bukvoed CC BY 2.5

 

Italy, Spähpanzer 222 in the city. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-304-0634-30A Funke CC-BY-SA 3.0
Italy, Spähpanzer 222 in the city. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-304-0634-30A Funke CC-BY-SA 3.0

 

Liberated Sudetenland, concrete bunker of the Schöber line with German Strassenpanzerwagen at Karlsbad. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-H13396 CC-BY-SA 3.0
Liberated Sudetenland, concrete bunker of the Schöber line with German Strassenpanzerwagen at Karlsbad. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-H13396 CC-BY-SA 3.0

The Sd Kfz 223

The Sd Kfz 223 was essentially a Sd Kfz 221, that came with a frame antenna and a 30-watt FuG 10 medium-range radio set. An extra crewman was included to operate the radio. Production of these vehicles
The Sd Kfz 223 was basically the Sd Kfz 221 with some extra features like a frame antenna and a medium range radio. Like the 221, it only carried a 7.92 mm machine gun. 560 units were built between 1936 and 1944.

 

Russia, motorized Troops Division Großdeutschland. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-748-0100A-19 Kempe CC-BY-SA 3.0
Russia, motorized Troops Division Großdeutschland. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-748-0100A-19 Kempe CC-BY-SA 3.0

 

Russia, motorized unit of SS Totenkopf Division Recolored. Photo Wiegand CC BY-SA 4.0
Russia, motorized unit of SS Totenkopf Division Recolored. Photo Wiegand CC BY-SA 4.0

 

An abandoned German SdKfz 223, Leichter Panzerspähwagen (light armoured car) which has been captured by advancing allied troops in North Africa. The vehicle has been fitted with a folding frame antenna for use with a long range wireless set which is fitted inside the vehicle.
An abandoned German SdKfz 223, Leichter Panzerspähwagen (light armoured car) which has been captured by advancing allied troops in North Africa. The vehicle has been fitted with a folding frame antenna for use with a long range wireless set which is fitted inside the vehicle.

 

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North Afrika, Spähpanzer 223. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-424-0269-17 Böcker CC-BY-SA 3.0
North Afrika, Spähpanzer 223. Photo Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-424-0269-17 Böcker CC-BY-SA 3.0

Jesse Beckett

Jesse Beckett is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE