$8.95 Museum Ordnance Special Number 24 Schwerer Panzerspaehwagen (Sd.Kfz.234)Schwerer Panzerspaehwagen (Sd.Kfz. 234) Development History On 5 August 1940, Inspektorat (In) 6 ‘gave Wa Pruef 6 an order to design anew Panzer spachwagen fuer Kolonialzwecke (armored car for use in undeveloped ar- cas). Basic design requirements estab- lished by In6 included: achassis similar to the schwere Panzerspachwagen (8-Rad) (Sd.Kfz.231) but with an air-cooled diesel motor; increased fording ability; an ar- mored hull serving as the chassis instead ofaframe;a superstructurelike thaton the Sd.Kfz.231 but with stronger armor (thirty mm thick front plates); and ventilation for the crew compartment. Wa Pruef 6 so lected Buessing NAG for the detailed de- sign ofthe chassisand superstructure and Tatra Werke for the diesel motor. Inthe description of armored vehicles under development in July 1941, this project was known as the “Actradwagen (ARKY" being designed as a Panzer- spachwagen fuer Kolonialzwecke as well as for mot. Aufklaerung (motorized recon- naissance). Ata weight of twelve metric tons, it was to be capable of a maximum, speed of eighty to ninety kilometers per hour. Frontal armor was to be 30mm thick, while the sides were to be proof against Sm.K. (7.92mm armor-piercing bullets fired from machine guns or rifles) ‘Manned bya crew of four, armament was to consist of a 2cm Kw.K.38 with Flakrohr (1.4 meter long barrel) and an 7.92mm M.G34. Two Entwicklungestueck (devel- ‘opment vehicles), ordered from Buessing, NAG, were to be delivered after Decem- ber 1941. Further details were revealed ina Wa Pruef report on tropical employment of ammunition, weapons, and equipment FRONT COVER BACK COVER ‘Sib.Kf2.234/2, tactical number 111, license numiber WIT1542744, on the Western Front in France in the summer of 1944. The missing whee reveals the lea spring hurdle shared by prs of wheels, The spare wheel fs also missing, revealing the shape of the mounting. (BA) TOP: S4.kfe.234/1, license number WH 612115, was captured by the British and returned to England for examination atthe School of Tank Technology. ‘The front pipe fender, exhaust pipe and mufflers, and the protective screen on the left side ofthe turret are missing. Principally the Sd.Kfe-234/1 was the same as a ‘SiKf.234/2 but with alterations to the amntunition stowage and tothe superstructure top plate fora nex turret withthe 2em Kex.K.38 and 7.92 M.G.42. (TTM) BOTTOM: A photo ofan Sa je. 234/4 (Fgst.Nr.5401 produced in January 1945) looking down te lf side ofthe 7 Sem Pak 40 and the mounting pedestal and frame. Traverse and eleoaton handtwheels are bat foud ‘on this side ofthe gun. This vehicle is inthe collection at Fort Knox, Kentucky. (JM) where the Panzerspachwagen (Tp) 8 Radwagen (Tp = Tropen) was listed under new developments. In this report the fron- tal armor was specified to be 22mm thick and the vehicles fordability as 1.20 meters. ‘The 225 metrichorsepower air-cooled die- sel motor was to propel the vehicle at a ‘maximum speed of eighty-five kilometers perhour. Thevehicles range wasstated to be 500 kilometers on the road with one tank full of fuel. Testing the first Versuchestueck (trial vehicle) was to be- ginatthestartof 1942. Testing special tires Was to start in the Spring of 1942. Thefirstannouncementofachangein armament appears in a report card on the development of the schwere Panzer- spaehwagen Tp (8-Rad) dated 1 July 1942 ‘The reportstated that this heavy armored car was to be armed with a Sem Kw.K.39/ Land a 792mm M.GA2 and that both Daimler-Benz and Schichau, Elbing were responsible for detailed design of the tur- ret. A second report card for this same armored car, dated 1 July 1942, still re- ferred to it by its original name as the Panzerspachwagen fuer Kolonialzwecke and listed thearmamentasa2cm Kw.K.38 and a MG34. As with many of these report cards dated 1 July 1942, whoever filled them out could not resolveapparent contradictions as the projects changed. There were elements of truth in both of these report cards: Schichau was design- ing a turrot for the 2em Kw.K.38 and Daimler-Benz a turret for the Scm Kw.K39/1. Early in 1942, Rheinmetall had been tasked with redesigning the Scm Kw.K 39 L/60 as the Som Kw.K.39/ to fit into a narrower turret being designed by Daimler-Benz for the Luchs, Leopard, and 8Rad TP projects. Project status as of 1 July 1942 was reported as: A Versuchefahrzeug (trial vehicle) in armor had been completed. After short driving trials, improvements and modificationsto thediesel motor were initiated and special measures taken be- ‘cause of its noise. Longer driving trials were to begin on 8 June 1942. The third ‘motor prepared for tropical employment was to be delivered in June 1942, The chassisdesign wasto be ready for produc- tion in July 1942, however, the motor was still uncertain. Whether the third motor ‘was suitable for tropical use could first be determined after completion of trials in Libya. Two Versuchsfahrzeuge had been ordered of which one was available and the second was to be delivered in July 1942, A contract had been awarded for ‘mass production of 500 schwere Panzer- spachwagen Tp (§-Rad). The first five were tobe completed in July 1943 with the rate of production increasing up to about thirty per month. Production The first Sd.Kfz.2§4 from the produc. tion series with a Som Kw.K39/1 were ‘completed in December 1943. The excuse given fornotmeeting the production goals ‘was that there was a shortage of cast ar- mor parts for the turret. This shortage of inner and outer Topfblende (the correct name for this “pot” mantlet which was Schwerer Panzerspaehwagen (Sd.Kfz.234) By ‘Thomas L. Jentz Published by Darlington Productions, Inc, P.O. Box 5884 Darlington, Maryland 21034 www.darlingtonproductions.com Copyright 1998. Allrights reserved. No portion of this publication may be teproduced or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. For more information on this and other Darlington Productions publications, write to the address above. Photo Credits BA Bundesarchiv TTM The Tank Muscum, Bovington NA National Archives JM Jeff McKaughannewly developed weapon systems. (BA) never referred to as Saukopf during the war) for the Sem Kw.K.39/1 delayed pro- duction through February 1944, On 3 November 1943, WaJRue announced that a total of 100 8RTp 234 were to be pro- duced with the 5em Kw.K.39/1 (L/60). ‘Then starting in, April fifty percent were to be completed with the 2em Kw.K.38 as the Sd.Kiz.234/1 and fifty percent with the 75cm K51 as the Sd.Kfz.234/3. By March 1944 the decision had been made to change the production ratio to thirteen Sd.Kfz.234/1 for each three Sd.Kfz.234/3, Further delays had driven the start of deliveries of the Sd.Kiz.234/1 and Sd.Kfz.234/3 back to June 1944 when about sixty were completed. Again in October 1944 the production ratio was changed to nine Sd.Kfz.234/1 for each seven Sd.Kfz.234/3. Production of the Sd.Kfz.234/1 continued to the very end with a total of about 230 completed by the end of March 1945. After completion of about ninety Sd.Kfz.234/3 with the 7.5cm KSI, production was abruptly halted in December 1944. Their chassis were used to mount the 7.5 cm Pak40 as the Sd. Kfz.234/4. About ninety Sd. Kfz.234/4 were completed from December 1944 to April 1945. Chassis Irrespective of the type of armament mounted, the Buessing NAG model 8- RadTP chassis remained virtually un- changed throughout the production se- ries, The Tatra air-cooled, 12-cylinder die- bs neon Sd Kfz.234/2 with Sd.Kf.234/3 in the background being displayed for dignitaries along with other sel motor (rated at 200 horsepower at 2250 rpm) provided power to all eight wheels through a dutch, six-speed transmission, and differential gears, Speedsat 2250 rpm were seven km/hr in first gear, twelve in second, twenty in third, twenty-seven in fourth, forty-nine in fifth, and eighty in sixth. Through a transfer gear and a sec- ond set of controls for the Rueck- wartsfahrer (rear driver) the Sd.Kiz.234 could be driven just as fast in reverse as forward. Steering, linked to all eight wheels, allowed a minimum turning circle diameter of 14.5 meters. A full load of 360 liters of diesel in the fuel tanks was suffi- cient for traveling 1000 kilometers on the road or 600 kilometers on cross-country terrain of average difficulty, The Sd. Kfz.234 was designed to crossa trench up totwometers wide, ford waterup to 1.2 meters deep, climb a thirty degree slope, and clear obstacles up to 0.35 meters high. Tireshad normalinner tubesand werenot filled for running flat after being punc- tured. ‘Thearmored hull consisted of 5.5mm horizontal roof plate, 30mm thick driver’s front plate set at thirty-five degrees to vertical, 15mm glacis plate at seventy de- grees, 30mm thick front hull plates at fifty and thirtydegrees,8mm hull sideplatesat thirty-five degrees, 10mm hull rear plates at twenty-two and forty degrees, 5.5mm. rear deck plates at cighty-cight degrees, and 5mm horizontal belly plates. The front face-hardened armor was designed to be proof against attack from 2em Pzgr. and the side and rear armor against 792mm S.m.K. armor piercing projectiles s.Pz.Sp.Wg. (5 em 39/1 1/60) (Sd.K(z.234) ‘The first 100 production series Sd.Kiz.2§4 were outfitted withanenclosed turret mounting a Sem Kw.K.39/1 gun and coaxial 7.92mmM.G42. I’sdesigna- tion was not officially changed to Sd.Kfz.234/2 until March 1944. It was never officially known as the Puma. The following basic description of the turret was provided by the designer, Dr. Kunze of Daimler-Benz, Technical details of the components have been added /corrected from other original records. ‘The turret was to have been welded out of armor plate, using 30mm plate on the front, 14.5mm plates on the sides and rear, and 10mm plates on the roof. The turret possessed a rectangular shape and had oblique sides. The inclination of the front plate was to have been twenty de- grees, the side and rear plates twenty-five degrees. The turret extended rearward over the turret race so as to provide space for intercommunication equipment or other additional communication equip- ment. A Sem Kw.K.39/1 (L/60) gun was mounted in a pot mantlet and provided with an elevation range of minus 10 to plus 20 degroes. The turret had space for two crew members, of which one was the gunner, on the left of the gun, and the other to be the loader /commander,on the right of the gun. The traversing mechanism was in- stalled on the left of the gun on the rein- forcing ring, It consisted of ahand-wheel withan electrical firing mechanism, abevel gear,a self-checking worm gear, a conical multi-plate clutch, and a rack-pinion. A traversing speed of one rpm through 360 degrees was provided by the reduction of 11to 90 in the mechanism (180 turns of the handwheel traversed the turret through 360degrees). The elevating gear consisted of a hand-wheel with a Bowden cable firing mechanism for the M.G.42 machine ‘gun, abevel-gearand pinion. Onerevolu- tion of the handwheel caused a 2.5 degree change in the gun setting Hatch covers were provided for both members of the crew. Each hatch cover was equipped with ball-bearing mounted Winkelspiegel R periscopes traversable through 360 degrees. An additional ‘T.Rb1.F.3 observation periscope was pro- ed for the commanderin therightfront part of the turret roof, This periscope could be raised (400 mm optical height) and was provided with a sealing cover. %The protruding head could be rotated through 360 degrees by a device fitted to the eye-piece. A reticle with a clock scale in the right eyepiece was coupled by a flexible cable to a pinion gear which meshed with the turret right gear and rotated as the turret was traversed. The scopehad a nine-power magnification (7.7 degree field of view) and thus required that the vehicle remained stationary dur- ing observation. The telescopic sight for thegunner was the TZ, Fb manufactured by Leitz in Wetzlar. The scope was mo- nocular, provided a magnification of 2. times and had a twenty-four degree field of view. TheSd. Kfz.234 /2was6 80meterslong ‘with the gun forward, 2.38 meters wide, and 2.38 meters tall witha firing height for the Sem gun of 1.93 meters. Stowage was provided for fifty-five rounds of Sem (twenty-seven Pzgr 39 and twenty-eight Spgr.38), 2850 rounds of 7.92mm, and 192 rounds of 9mmammunition. The combat loaded weight of 11740 kilogramsresulted in a fairly high power to weight ratio of 175 horsepower/metric ton, Whileall were outfitted withan inter- com set, radio racks, antenna mounts, and Funkeprechgeraet “t”; only thirteen of the twenty-five Sd.Kfz.234 in a Panzer- spachkompaniea were outfitted with the Fu 12 with its 80-watt transmitter capable This Sd.Kfz.234/6, license number WH 17: ARMOR PENETRATION Weapon 2am Kwkas L765 Prgr. 0.148 Kg 830 m/s 23. mun Yo mm Caliber length Ammunition type Weight Initial velo 100m range 500 m range 1000 m range 1500 m range 2000 m range of voice transmissions of twenty-five Kilo- meters and key transmissions of cighty kilometers while on the move. Mounting brackets for radio equipment were in- stalled on the shelf at the rear of the turret and beside the rear driver's seat: sPz.Sp.Wg, (2 cm) (Sd.Kfr.234/1) Without the gun overhangand witha lower profile turret, the Sd.Kfz.234/1 was only 5.86 meters long, 2.33 meters wide, and 2.10 meters high. The 2om Kw.K.38 with a coaxial M.G.4? was mounted in a 2am Hangelafette 38. Armor protection on the open topped turret was 30mm on the front at thirty-five degrees, 10mm on the gun shield, 8mm on the sides at 35, degrees, and 8mm on the rear at 32 de. grees. Withits ball bearing race the turret 5, captured by the British n 1945 has Durelgelb RAL 7028 applied in stripes that only partially cover the red primer. (TTM) 75cm Pak 40 L/46 Prgr.29 6.80 Kg. 750 m/s 98mm 1mm 81mm 72mm 8mm 75cm KSI L/24 Gr38HL/C 4.80 Kg 450 m/s 100mm 100mm 100 mm 100mm Sem Kwk39/1 1/60 Pegr.39 2.05 Kg 835m/s 69mm 59mm 47mm 37 mm ‘was traversable by hand through 360 de- grees, Elevation of the weapons was lim ited to anarcof minus4 to plus 70degrees. The crew of two sat on seats suspended from theturretring with the gunner on the ight and the commander loader on the left. A T.ZF.3a sighting telescope (2.5x, eighteen degree field of view, graduated to 1200 meters) was used by the gunner to ‘engage ground targets. Stowage was pro- vided for 250 rounds for the 2am Kw.K.38 in ten round magazines, 2400 rounds for the 7.92mm M.G.42, and 192 rounds for the 9mm M.P. While all were outfitted with the intercom set and Funk- sprechgeraet “” only those tobeissued to the unit commander or section loaders were outfitted with the Fu 12 long range sets. The loaded combat weight of 11.5 metric tons was slightly less than the SA.Kfz.234/2, sPzSp.Wg. (7,5 cm) (Sd.Kfr.234/3) Alongside the 75 em Kanone (L/24) a M.G.42 was mounted for anti- aircraft defense of the Sd.Kfz.234/3. Only a low 14.5mim-thick shield was mounted around the open topped fighting com- partment. Traverse was limited to an arc of twenty degrees left and twenty degrees right, elevation to an arc of -10 to +16 degrees. An Sf.Z.Flb periscopic sight was graduated in 200 meter increments out to a range of 2200 meters for 7.5m shells and out to 1000 meters for the ma- chine gun. Stowage was provided forfifty rounds of 7.5cm, 1950 rounds of 7.92mm, and 192 rounds of 9am ammunition. A speaking tube was provided for internal and a Funk-sprechgeract “1” radio set for external communication, Still manned by a crew of four, the Sd.Kfz.234/3 weighed the same and had the same length and widthas theSd.Kiz.234/ I but wasslightly higher at 2.213 meters, 8 Pz-Sp.Wa.(7,5 cm Pak40) (Sd. Kf2.234/4) The first mention of a proposal toCOMPARATIVE ACCURACY ‘Weapon Sem Kwk39/1 Caliber length Ammunition Range 200m 400m 600 m 800m 1000 m 1200: 1500.m 2000 m L/60 100 (100) 100 (95) 99 (76) 93 (55) 8137) 64 (24) mountalong 75cm on the Sd. Kfz.234 was found in thenotesof the Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen on a meeting with Hitler on 28 October 1944: Installing the 7.5 1/48 in the m.SPW (Sd.Kfz.251) and 8-Radd (Tp) (Sd.Kfz.234) brings with it a significant increase in theloadon the vehicle. tis doubtful that the vehicle can carry such ant increase in weight. Thorough testing i troop trials must proceed its acceptance. The advantage of the samme type of ammunition will nat be under rata, By 9 November 1944, Buessing NAG had created a drawing for mounting the 7.5cm Pak 40 L/46 on the Sc.kfz.234 Farther advancesinmounting thelong 7.5cm were recorded as discussion point 18 during Speer’s conference with Hitler Pzgr39 ‘Too (100) 100 (100) 100 (100) 100 9) 100 95) 100 (87) 98 (68) 75cm KSI L/24 Gr38HL/C 25am Pak 40 L/46 Pagr.39 1100 (100) 100 (100) 100 (97) 100 (84) 98 (66) 9251) 77(33) 49 (16) ‘on 27 November 1944: Hitler has ordered that development of the Pak 40 on the &- Radwagen be accelerated so that, if pos- sible, mounting the new armament can be accomplished already during the Decem- ber production. During the conference on 28/29 November 1944 as discussion point 1: Hitler again emphasized that he laid decisive value on the immediate start of series production of the Pak 40 on the 3- tonSchuctzenpanzerwogenand the8-Rad- ‘SPW [sic]. Thenas discussion point ton 5 December 1944; In the context of having viewed the demonstration of new weap” onsand equipment today, Hitler made the following points: Hitler called the PanzerGrenadierwagen with the Pak 40 100 (100) 100 (100) 100 (90) 99 (75) 94 (56) 83 (38) 60(21) and the 8-Radwagen with the Pak 40 one of the best technical solutions of this war. Starting in December 1944, the 7.5 em, Pak 40 was mounted on Sd.Kfz.234 chas- siswhich had originally been prepared for mounting the 7.5em Kanone 51. A girder frame with side plates formed the base for mounting a modified Pak 40 carriage at the front of the open crew compartment. Traverse was limited to about twenty de- grees eft and twenty degrees right, cleva- tion to about -5 to +22 degrees, The lower ‘outer edges of the gun shield were cut out to prevent fouling the vehicle during its limited traverse. Armor protection was provided by the normal doubled 4mm spaced armor on the original Pak 40 gun shield and the 14.5mm-thick shield mounted around the open topped fight- ing compartment. The gunner aimed the Pak 40 with the normal Pak-Zielfernrohr Gx magnification, eight degree field of view) telescopic sight with Pak- Zicleinrichtung 38A graduated to 3000 meters for Pzgr.39 armor-piercing shells and 5200 meters for Sprgr.34 high-explo- sive shells. A stowage rack for twelve roundsof?.5am ammunition wasinstalled to the lower right of the gun. Firepower Each of the different guns mounted Sd. Kje. 234), license number WI1175100 many parts, i is stil on display al the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset. (TTM) 5, 0as captured by the Britishand shipped to England for evamination at the School of Tank Technology, Minuson the Sd.Kiz.234 had specific applica tions and functions. Better than the arma- ment carried on any of its rival armored cars, the very accurate Sm Kw.K.39/1 could engage medium armored targets with the Pzgr. 39 and anti-tank guns and other soft targets with the Spgr. high e: plosive shells. The 2cm Kw.K-38 with its high rate of fire was effective in engaging lightly armored targets and gun shields with the Pzgr. and soft targets with the Spgr. The?.5cm Kanone5I provided cov- cering fire with its Spgr. and could also be used engagemediumarmored targets with the Gr38 HL/C hollow charge rounds. The 7.5 cm Pak 40 could penetrate the front of most and the sides of any tank fielded by the Allies with the Pzgr-39 and could also provide covering fire or knock out anti-tank guns with the Sprgr.34. Penetration statistics for armor plate ‘were expressed in termsof the thicknessin ‘mm that could be penetrated (clean perfo- ration) when the plate was laid back at an angle from the vertical of thirty degrees. Theostimated accuracy isgiven asthe probability (in percentage) of hitting a target two meters high and twenty-five meters wide, representing the target pre- sented by the front of a tank. The calow lated accuracy was based on the assump- tions that theactual range to the argethad been correctly determined and the distri- bution pattern of hits was centered on the target. The first column shows the accu- racy obtained during controlled testfiring of the gun to determine the pattern of dispersion. The second column in paren. thesisincludes the variation expected dur- ing practice firing due to differences be- tween guns, ammunition, and gunners. ‘These accuracy tables do not reflect the actual probability of hitting target under battlefield conditions. Due to errors in estimating the range and many other fac- tors, theprobability ofa firstround hit was much lower than shown in these tables, However, after ranging onto the target, the average, calm gunner could achieve theaccuracy shownin the second column, Combat Service On 1 October 1943, K.St.N.1162a was published for the organization of a PanzerspaehEkompanie a with twenty- five s.Pz.Sp.Wg. (Sem) (Sd.Kiz.234). This organization only applied to two units, the LKompanie/Panzer-Aufklaerung- Abteilung 130 of the Panzer-Lehr-Divi- sion and the L.Kompanie/Panzer- Aufklaerung-Abteilung 2 of the 2 Panz Division. (On1 April 194, KSt.N.1109(6.G.) was published for the organization of the Stab ‘und Stabskompanie Panzer-Aufidaerung- Abteilung with thirteens Pz.Sp. Wg. cm) (Gd.Kfz.234/1) and three s.Pz.Sp.Wg. (75cm) (Sa-Kfz.234/3). However, the first two units that were converted under this new organization, SSPanzer-Aufklaerung- Abteilung 1 of the 1.$SPanzer-Division and Panzer-Aufklaerung-Abtcilung 20 of the 20,Panzer-Division were each issued sixteen s.Pz.Sp.Wg. (Sem) (Sd.Kfz.234) in- stead of thirteen Sd.kfz.234/1 and three Sd-Kfz.234/3. Inaddition,a platoon of six sPz.Sp.Wg. Gem) (Sd.Kfz.234) wasissued to the l.Kompanie/Panzer-Aufllaerung- Abteilung 7 of the 7.Panzer-Division. The restof the 100 Sd. Kfz.234/2 wereissued to training units or to the Wa Pruef for test- ing. Starting in June 1944, thirteen sP2.Sp.We, Gem) (Sd Kfz.234/1)and three sP2.Sp.We. (7,5cm) (SA.Kfz,234/3) were issued to the Stab und Stabskompanie Panzer-Aufklaerang-Abteilung for each of the following divisions: 116 Panzer- Division, 9.Panzer-Division, 11.Panzer- Division, 6Panzer-Division, 2.SSPanzer- Division, 8 Panzer-Division, Panzer-Lehr- Division, and 9.SSPanzerDivision. The last unit filled to strength with sixteen, Sd.Kfz.234 was the Panzer-Aufklaerung- Abteilung of the Panzer-Grenadier- Divi- sion Brandenburg which was one of the first units to be issued a few s.Pz.Sp.Wg, 75cm Paka0) (SA.Kfz.234/4) in January 1945, The rest of the Sd.Kiz.234 were issued piecemeal as replacements or to partially fill the establishment of new and Tefurbished units. Examplesof issues that ‘occurred in the closing months of the war were: (2) $a.Kiz.234/1 to 4.P2.Div, on 29Jand5 (6) Sd.Kiz.234/4 to Fuehrer-Begleit-Div. on 16Feb45 4) Sd.Kfz.234/1 to Fuchrer-Gren.Div. on T6FebAS @) Sd.Ki2.234/4 to PzDiv.Juterbog on 21RebAS G) $d.Kfz.234/4 to Pz.Div.Schlesien on 21FebA5 ()Sd.Kfz.234/1 and @G) Sd. Kf2.234/4 to 25.P2.Div. on 14Mard5 (@Sa.Kfz.23/1 and (4) Sd.Kfz.234/4 to Pz.Div.Muencheberg on 29Mar45 (3)Sd.Kéz.234/1 and (3)Sd.Kfz.234/4 to Beg Kp.z.b.V on 1 Apré5 The ability of the 2em Kw.K.38 to effectively engagestrafing aircraft wascon- sidered such an important asset that nine out of sixteen s.Pz. Sp.We, in the Panzer- Aufklaerung-Abteilung were still to be sPzSp.We, (cm) (Sd.Kiz.234/1) in the KStN. dated 1 November 1944 and 1 April 1945. The other seven were s.Pz.Sp.We. (75cm) (Sd.Kfz.234/3) in KSt.N.10%gpMEG) dated 1 November 1944 and s.Pz.Sp.We. (7,5cm Pakd0) (Sd. Kfz.234/4) in KSEN.11624¢6.G.)dated 1 April 1945. But, this last organization was purely theoretical since only fifteen s.Pz.Sp.Wg. (type unidentified) were is- sued in April 1945: three to Pz.Div.H.G.on 10 April, six to the 25,P2.Gren,Div. on 12 April, and six to the 116.Pz.Div. on 15 April A2om Schnwebelafette tas mounted in aconverted Sd -K/z.234]3 chassis, Insufficient information tas recorded in the Allied report written after this unusual vehicle was found and examined to determine if this wasa field conversion or an official experimental variant. (NA)