List of Sd.Kfz. designations

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Sonderkraftfahrzeug (abbreviated Sd.Kfz., [1] German for "special purpose vehicle") was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany during World War II for military vehicles; for example Sd.Kfz. 101 for the Panzer I.

Contents

Sd.Kfz. numbers were assigned to armored, tracked, and half-tracked vehicles in military service with Nazi Germany prior to and during World War II.

Sd.Kfz. numbering system

There were no strict rules regarding number series. For example, the Pz. Kpfw. II Ausf. L was designed and named as a reconnaissance vehicle, yet was placed in the 100-series rather than the 200-series. Overall, the vehicles were placed in these categories:

Designations

Sd.Kfz. 1 to 99

Sd.Kfz. 100 to 199

Sd.Kfz. 200 to 299

Sd.Kfz. 300 and above

Sd.Kfz. 303 version of the Goliath used a petrol engine as a cost-saving measure Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1980-053-53, Sprengpanzer "Goliath".jpg
Sd.Kfz. 303 version of the Goliath used a petrol engine as a cost-saving measure

See also

Equivalent systems of other countries

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panzer IV</span> German WWII medium tank

The Panzerkampfwagen IV, commonly known as the Panzer IV, is a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panzer 38(t)</span> Czechoslovak light tank used by Germany during WW2

The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), originally known as the ČKD LT vz. 38, was a tank designed during the 1930s, which saw extensive service during World War II. Developed in Czechoslovakia by ČKD, the type was adopted by Nazi Germany following the annexation of Czechoslovakia. With the German Army and other Axis forces, the type saw service in the invasions of Poland, France and the USSR. Production ended in 1942, when its main armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over 1,400 Pz. 38(t)s were manufactured. The chassis of the Pz. 38(t) continued to be produced for the Marder III (1942–1944) with some of its components used in the later Jagdpanzer 38 (1944–1945) tank destroyer and its derivative vehicles.

<i>Leichter Panzerspähwagen</i> Armored car / Scout car

The Leichter Panzerspähwagen was a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half-track</span> Land vehicle with both regular wheels and continuous tracks

A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cross-country capabilities of a tank and the handling of a wheeled vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sd.Kfz. 251</span> Half-track armored personnel carrier

The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was a World War II German armored personnel carrier designed by the Hanomag company, based on its earlier, unarmored Sd.Kfz. 11 vehicle. The Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the Panzergrenadier into battle. Sd.Kfz. 251s were the most widely produced German half-tracks of the war, with at least 15,252 vehicles and variants produced by seven manufacturers. The utility of this vehicle led the German Army to develop the similar looking but shorter and lighter Sd.Kfz. 250 as a supplement.

<i>Schwerer Panzerspähwagen</i> Armoured car

The Schwerer Panzerspähwagen, is a series of six- and eight-wheeled armoured cars that were used by Germany during the Second World War.

<i>Sd.Kfz. 250</i> Half-track armoured personnel carrier

The Sd.Kfz. 250 was a light armoured half-track, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear.

<i>Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper</i> Half-track

The Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper was a German World War II half-track vehicle used in various roles between 1943 and 1945. The unarmored models were used as supply vehicles and as tractors to haul artillery. Armored versions mounted anti-aircraft guns or a 10 barrel rocket launcher (Nebelwerfer). Fewer than a thousand were built before the end of the war, but production continued after the war of an improved model in the Tatra plant in Czechoslovakia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 cm KwK 30</span> German 2 cm cannon

The 2 cm KwK 30 L/55(2 cm Kampfwagenkanone 30 L/55) was a German 2 cm cannon used as the main armament of the German Sd.Kfz.121 Panzerkampfwagen II light tank and various reconnaissance vehicles. It was used during the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. It was produced by Mauser and Rheinmetall-Borsig from 1935.

<i>Sd.Kfz. 10</i> Light half-track

The Sd.Kfz. 10 was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for small towed guns, such as the 2 cm Flak 30, the 7.5 cm leIG, or the 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank gun. It could carry eight troops in addition to towing a gun or trailer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7.5 cm KwK 37</span> German tank gun

The 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24(7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24) was a short-barreled, howitzer-like German 75 mm tank gun used during World War II, primarily as the main armament of the early Panzer IV tank. Slightly modified as StuK 37, it was also mounted in early StuG III assault guns.

The Panzerkampfwagen I was a light tank produced in Germany in the 1930s. The Panzer I was built in several variants and was the basis for a number of variants listed below.

<i>Sd.Kfz. 234</i> Armoured car

The Sd.Kfz. 234, was a family of armoured cars designed and built in Germany during World War II. The vehicles were lightly armoured, armed with a 20, 50 or 75 mm main gun, and powered by a Tatra V12 diesel engine. The Sd.Kfz. 234 broadly resembles the appearance of Sd.Kfz. 231 .

The 8.8 cm Flak 18 (Sfl.) auf Zugkraftwagen 12t , also known as the Bunkerflak or Bufla, was a German Wehrmacht half-track self-propelled gun developed before World War II and used in the first half of the war. It was used during the Invasion of Poland but is best known for its use during the Battle of France, where it was the only German self-propelled gun capable of destroying the heavier Allied tanks such as the French Char B1 and the British Matilda II. Remaining vehicles were used on the Eastern Front. The last Bufla was destroyed in 1943.

References

  1. ↑ Chamberlain, Peter; Doyle, Hilary (1978). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: A complete illustrated directory of German battle tanks, armoured cars, self-propelled guns and semi-tracked vehicles, 1933-1945. Arco Pub. Co. p. 17. ISBN   978-0668045650.

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