Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz
| Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz | |
|---|---|
Schützenpanzer Kurz at the German Tank Museum in Munster. | |
| Type | Armoured reconnaissance vehicle / infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | France and West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1959–1987 |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hotchkiss et Cie |
| Designed | 1950–1956 |
| Produced | 1959–1967 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8,200 kg (18,100 lb) |
| Length | 4.51 m |
| Width | 2.28 m |
| Height | 1.97 m |
| Crew | 5 |
| Armor | 15 mm at 62° of chrome-nickel-molybdenum |
Main armament | 1 x 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 820/L85 Cannon |
Secondary armament | 3 x Smoke grenade launchers |
| Engine | 1 x Hotchkiss et Cie 6-cylinder petrol engine 164 hp (122 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 390 km (244 miles) |
| Maximum speed | 58 km/h |
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The Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz armoured infantry fighting and reconnaissance vehicle was developed for the West German army and was a minor modification of a French-designed vehicle (Hotchkiss SP1A). During the period between 1959 and 1967, the West German army received some 2,374 of these light armoured vehicles with the SPz 11-2 Kurz being developed as the reconnaissance version. The SPz 11-2 was replaced in the IFV role by the Marder and in the reconnaissance role by the Spähpanzer Luchs. The SPz 11-2 saw service with the West German army only.
Its designator "Schützenpanzer Halbgruppe" already hinted on its combat role as the Infantry Fighting Vehicle ("Schützenpanzer") of a Squad ("Halbgruppe", literally "half a section", or Trupp). It was introduced besides the Schützenpanzer lang HS-30.