Schwerer Panzerspähwagen
| Schwerer Panzerspähwagen | |
|---|---|
Sd.Kfz. 231 8 rad at the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz | |
| Type | Armoured car |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1932-1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Unit cost | 57,290 ℛ︁ℳ︁ |
| Produced | 1932–1936 (6-rad) 1937–1943 (8-rad) 1943–1945 (234) |
| No. built | 6-rad: about 130 8-rad: 947 234 family: 478 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8.3 tons |
| Length | 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in) |
| Width | 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, driver, secondary driver) |
| Armor | 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) |
Main armament | 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 |
Secondary armament | 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun |
| Engine | 8-cyl petrol 155 PS (153 hp; 114 kW) |
| Suspension | 6 or 8 wheels |
Operational range | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) (on road) / 31 km/h (19 mph) (off-road) |
.jpg){kind=link}
The Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (German for 'heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle'), is a series of six- and eight-wheeled armoured cars that were used by Germany during the Second World War.
In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the traditional cavalry missions of reconnaissance and screening. They scouted ahead and to the flank of advancing mechanized units to assess enemy location, strength and intention. Their primary role was reconnaissance, but they would engage similar or light units and at times attempt to capture enemy patrols.