In August 1940, comes out a new version improved of first Büssing-NAG, with a monocoque hull replacing the separate chassis. The direction is identical there but the bogie are directly attached to the bottom of the hull. The chassis of this vehicle will be manufactured by Büssing-NAG whereas the hull (simpler than the preceding ones) is it by Deutschen Werke. This vehicle was to be operational under any climate and the Czechoslovakian firm Tatra was charged to develop an engine with great power (12 cylinders out of V, 14.8 L, compactness) intended to replace the gasoline engine equipping its predecessors hitherto. The first vehicle will be finished in July 1941, but the new engine was too noisy to operate in the desert and was too complicated. A quieter improved version must thus be developed. During this time the situation is degraded in Africa and the priority is put on the tanks and the assault guns to the detriment of the development of the armoured cars. The production will thus begin only in 1943, to propose appreciable rates only in 1944

schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.234 (8-rad)

The maximum shielding was 30 mm to front and 10 to 14 on the others faces. The autonomy of the vehicle was led to 600 km (against 265 kms) thanks to a larger tank. The later vehicles will be able to reach an autonomy of 1,000 kms! The performances any ground of these vehicles are equal to those of a tank and speed on road is of course largely higher. Approximately 2,300 specimens of this new vehicle indicated as Sd.Kfz.234 will be manufactured from 1944 until March 1945. This machine also baptized ARK will be built in several forms:

schwere Panzerspähwagen (8-rad) Sd.Kfz.234/1 (2 cm KwK)

Heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle with gun of 20 mm - The hexagonal turret does not have roof which allows a vertical pointing of 75°. The turret also lays out of mesh wires folding anti-grenades. A machine-gun MG34 is also installed on the shield of the gun. The vehicle also embarks radio equipment.

schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.234/1 (8-rad) mit 20 mm KwK 30/38

src: site "Panzer Page von Reitsch"

schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.234/1 (8-rad) mit 20 mm KwK 30/38

src: Italeri.

[Profiles]

schwere Panzerspähwagen (8-rad) Sd.Kfz.234/2 (5 cm) Puma

Heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle with gun of 50 mm - vehicle has a new turret, initially intended for the light reconnaissance tank "Leopard" armed with the gun of 50 mm KwK 39/1 L/60 in a shield out of face mask of pig " saukopf ". The gun of 50 mm in spite of its modest caliber is very effective thanks to its semi-automatic operating mode and its speed of mouth of 823 m/s.

schwere Panzerspähwagen 234/2 (8-rad) mit 50 mm KwK

src: Italeri

A coaxial machine-gun MG34 and a telescopic sight supplement the armament of the Puma as well as a pair of 3 generators of smoke laid out on the sides of the turret. The Puma has radiotelephones but can be equipped with a station radio FU12. The crew is of 4 men. It is without the most famous question of the " 8 wheels " and all the reconnaissance vehicles.

The Puma was equipped with the turret initiallement developed for the VK 1602 (prototype of Panzer II).

src: Italeri

[Profiles]

schwere Panzerspähwagen (8-rad) Sd.Kfz.234/3 (7.5 cm KwK)

Heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle with gun of 75 mm - Destined to be used as support fire for the Puma this version strongly armoured was equipped with the short gun of 75 mm KwK 51 L/24 at low initial speed.

schwere Panzerspähwagen 234/3 (8-rad) mit 75 mm KwK

src: Connaissance de l'Histoire (Hachette), n°5 - Août-Septembre 1978, Véhicules blindés allemands 39-45

The machine has neither roof, nor turret. The gun of 75 mm laid out only one of a very reduced horizontal field of fire. The vehicle transported with him 55 projectiles for its gun of 75 mm.

schwere Panzerspähwagen 234/3 (8-rad) mit 75 mm KwK

src: site "Germany's Vehicle History"

[Profiles]

schwere Panzerspähwagen (8-rad) Sd.Kfz.234/4 (7.5 cm Pak 40)

Heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle with gun of 75 mm - Identical to Sd.Kfz.234/3, this version nevertheless was equipped with the long gun of 75 mm very effective Pak 40. It is here about an excellent anti-tank vehicle.

schwere Panzerspähwagen 234/4 (8-rad) mit 75 mm Pak 40

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

schwere Panzerspähwagen 234/4 (8-rad) mit 75 mm Pak 40

src: Italeri

[Profiles]

Polizei-Panzerkampfwagen ADGZ

During Anschluss in 1938, the Germans captured the Austrian heavy armoured car 27 Steyr M35 (ADGZ = Austro-Daimler Puchwerke AG). The production started in 1934 and continued until 1937. The first vehicles entered in service the units of Police force and SS in September 1939. In 1941, 25 new specimens were produced for the use of the SS. They will be provided in 1942 to be useful in Eastern Europe and in Balkans against the partisans.

Polizei-Panzerkampfwagen ADGZ.

src: site "Achtung Panzer"