The Sd.Kfz. 234 were eight-wheeled armored cars used by the German Army in the Second World War. The final series of heavy armoured cars.
The combat experience of the existing 8-wheeled armored cars during the German invasions of Poland and France indicated some deficiencies in the current design. Therefore, in August 1940, an improvement program was started based upon a new set of requirements learned from combat experience. The result was the Sd.Kfz. 234. Protracted engine development meant the desert campaign was over before the Sd.Kfz. 234 arrived, but it nevertheless proved useful on the Eastern and Western Fronts.
The success lead to four variants. The Sd.Kfz. 234/1, Sd.Kfz. 234/2 "Puma", Sd.Kfz. 234/3 and the Sd.Kfz. 234/4 "Pakwagen"
Sd.Kfz. 234/2[]
Sd.Kfz. 234/2 "Puma" | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | Germany |
Category | Armored car |
Speed | 85 km/h |
Main armament | 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 55 rounds |
Coaxial weapon | 7.92 mm MG 42 17 x 150 rounds |
General Ingame Information | |
Used by | Germany |
Crew in‑game | 1 |
Historical Picture | |
In FHSW, we have the Sd.Kfz. 234/2, nicknamed "Puma". They weighed nearly 12 tons and came equipped with the 5 cm Kwk 39/1 L/60 gun, the same as in the Pzkpfw Ausf. J¹, but with a muzzle brake attached. The turret was originally designed for the VK 16.02 light tank. Even then, it was still capable of reaching speeds as high as 85 km/h, which is only 5 km/h slower than the American M8 Greyhound. Despite these qualities, the production of the Puma stopped in mid 1944 in favor of the other turret-less Sd.Kfz. 234's. At this time, only 101 Pumas were made and none have survive the war.
Ingame it's a very fast and maneuverable armored car. The speed makes it a fast killer, but the gun makes it a weak killer when it saw action on the Eastern Front against the Russian medium and heavy tanks. However, it's a very good vehicle to break through the lines and capture the flags. It's a perfect vehicle in Capture the Flag matches.
Sd.Kfz. 234/3[]
The former main gun of the Panzerkampfwagen IV and Sturmgeschütz III were mounted on lighter and more mobile vehicles such as the Sd.Kfz. 233, 234/3 and the Sd.Kfz. 251/9 "Stummel". This Sd.Kfz. 234/3 was made by Sakaya0632 and made it first debut in the map Operation Sea Lion.
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