Schwerer Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 234/3 7,5-cm-K 51 L/24-Stummelkanone is an eight wheeled Armored Car with a 7,5 short barreled gun (Stummelkanone). The Sd.Kfz 234 was an upgraded version of the earlier Sd.Kfz 231 armored car.
The name Schwerer Panzerspähwagen is German for Heavy Armored Scout Car. These Special Purpose Vehicles Sd.Kfz.234 came in four variants.
- 234/1 – 2 cm Autocannon
- 234/2 – 5 cm gun and 1 MG42 nicknamed Puma
- 234/3 – 7,5 cm gun
- 234/4 – 7,5 PaK (Panzerabwehrkanone or Anti Tank Gun).
The Schwerer Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 234/3 was photographed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, England 2017.
Schwerer Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 234/3
The Schwerer Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 234/3 was a German heavy armored reconnaissance vehicle used during World War II. Part of the Sd.Kfz. 234 family, it was designed to provide both reconnaissance and fire support for German armored units, particularly on the Eastern and Western Fronts. The Sd.Kfz. 234/3 variant was specifically equipped with a 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun, a low-velocity weapon typically mounted on early versions of the Panzer IV, giving it the capability to engage infantry, fortifications, and lightly armored vehicles.
Powered by a 220-horsepower Maybach HL 120 TRM engine, the Sd.Kfz. 234/3 had a top speed of about 50 km/h (31 mph) and a range of 500 km (310 miles) on roads, which made it highly mobile for a vehicle of its class. Its weight of approximately 18 tons and advanced suspension system allowed it to operate across rough terrain with good maneuverability.
The vehicle had armor ranging from 8 mm to 30 mm in thickness, offering protection against small arms fire and shrapnel but leaving it vulnerable to heavier anti-tank guns. With a fully rotating turret, the Sd.Kfz. 234/3 provided its crew excellent visibility and versatility. While it was effective in its role as a support vehicle, it was eventually overshadowed by more heavily armed tanks. Only around 200 units were produced.
