This infantry support vehicle is a Sd.Kfz. 250 Light Personnel Carrier, a German Halftrack. It is photographed during a two day event named Militracks in the War Museum Overloon in the Netherlands. The article with additional information on Sd.Kfz. 250 Light Personnel Carrier can be found here.
Sd.Kfz. 250 leichte Schützenpanzerwagen
The Sd.Kfz. 250 was a German half-track armored vehicle used during World War II, primarily designed as a light infantry carrier. Nicknamed the “leichte Schützenpanzerwagen” (light armored infantry vehicle), the Sd.Kfz. 250 was introduced to provide mobile support for German infantry units, allowing them to rapidly move across the battlefield while being protected from small arms fire and shrapnel.
Powered by a Maybach HL 42 engine, producing 100 horsepower, the Sd.Kfz. 250 had a top speed of about 50 km/h (31 mph). Its 6-wheel drive system gave it good off-road mobility, making it suitable for a variety of terrains. The vehicle was relatively lightweight, with a combat weight of around 4.5 tons, allowing for greater maneuverability compared to larger armored vehicles like the Sd.Kfz. 251.
The Sd.Kfz. 250 had a crew of 3-4 soldiers, and could carry up to 6 infantrymen in the rear compartment. Its main armament typically included a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun, mounted in a forward-facing position for defense. Some variants of the Sd.Kfz. 250 were modified for specialized roles, including command vehicles, reconnaissance, and as platforms for anti-tank guns.
This Sd.Kfz. 250 light armored personnel carrier is an ausf. B. This German Halftrack version B was in service with the Wehrmacht until the last days of the war. It was knocked out by Russian Forces in the Halbe Forest near the town of Belzig, south of Berlin. This was one of the last battles of the second World War besides the Battle for Berlin. It was recovered in very good condition in the early 1990’s from a barn near Belzig where it was knocked out. The vehicle is nearly in 100% original state and belongs to a private collection.
