Sd.Kfz. 247
Encyclopedia
The Sd.Kfz. 247 was an armored command car used by the Germany during World War II
. Ten were built before the war of a six-wheeled model (Ausf. A) and 58 were built during the war of a four-wheeled model, the Ausf. B. The proper name was schwerer geländegängiger gepanzerter Personenkraftwagen (Heavy All-Terrain Armoured Motor Vehicle).
built ten Ausf. A models on the chassis of its L2H143 Protze 6 x 4 truck in 1937. Its 4-cylinder, 3.5 litres (213.4 cu in) Krupp M305 65 hp, water-cooled gasoline engine gave it a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43.5 mph) and a range of 350 kilometres (217.5 mi). Like all of the other vehicles that used this chassis the Ausf. A had very limited cross-country mobility, drivers being advised to stay on roads and trails. It weighed 5.2 tonne, was 5.2 metres (17.1 ft) long, 1.96 metres (6.4 ft) wide and 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) tall.
3.5 petrol engine, giving it a road speed of 80 kilometres per hour (49.7 mph). It had a maximum range of 400 kilometres (248.5 mi).
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Ten were built before the war of a six-wheeled model (Ausf. A) and 58 were built during the war of a four-wheeled model, the Ausf. B. The proper name was schwerer geländegängiger gepanzerter Personenkraftwagen (Heavy All-Terrain Armoured Motor Vehicle).
Description
The Sd.Kfz. 247 had an open-topped, thinly armored body placed on a wheeled chassis. It was unarmed as its six-man crew was not intended to fight. Rather it was intended for use by the commanders of motorcycle and motorized reconnaissance battalions, although neither version was fitted with any radios. Its armor was intended to stop 7.92 millimetre (0.311811023622047 in) armor-piercing bullets at ranges over 30 metres (32.8 yd). Photographic evidence shows some Ausf. B vehicles were retro-fitted with a star-shaped radio antenna, mounted inside the crew compartment, and an additional armor plate bolted to the lower glacis of the hull.Ausf. A
KruppKrupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
built ten Ausf. A models on the chassis of its L2H143 Protze 6 x 4 truck in 1937. Its 4-cylinder, 3.5 litres (213.4 cu in) Krupp M305 65 hp, water-cooled gasoline engine gave it a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43.5 mph) and a range of 350 kilometres (217.5 mi). Like all of the other vehicles that used this chassis the Ausf. A had very limited cross-country mobility, drivers being advised to stay on roads and trails. It weighed 5.2 tonne, was 5.2 metres (17.1 ft) long, 1.96 metres (6.4 ft) wide and 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) tall.
Ausf. B
Daimler-Benz built 58 of these in 1941—42 on a 4 x 4 heavy car chassis (s.Pkw. Typ 1c). The front-mounted engine was an 8-cylinder, 3.823 litres (233.1 cu in) HorchHorch
Horch was a car brand manufactured in Germany by August Horch & Cie, at the beginning of the 20th century.-History at a Glance:The company was established first by August Horch and his first business partner Salli Herz on November 14, 1899 at Ehrenfeld, Cologne. August Horch was a former production...
3.5 petrol engine, giving it a road speed of 80 kilometres per hour (49.7 mph). It had a maximum range of 400 kilometres (248.5 mi).
Armour
| Thickness/slope from the vertical | Front | Side | Rear | Top/Bottom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superstructure | 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in)/38° | 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in)/35° | 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in)/30° | open |
| Hull | 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in)/35° | 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in)/35° | 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in)/36° | 6 mm (0.236220472440945 in) |