Leichter Panzerspahwagen

The Leichter Panzerspahwagen (roughly "Light Amoured Vehicle") were a series of light 4 x 4 armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944.

They were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen Chassis were built by Auto-Union in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hannover-Linden.

It used the standard sPkw I Horch 801 (heavy car) chassis with an angled armoured body and turret.

The rear mounted engine was a 90 horsepower (67 kW) Horch 3.5 petrol engine, giving it a road speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a cross-country speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). It had a maximum range of 185 miles (300 km).

Armour

Front and sides were made of 8 mm steel; thinner 5 mm plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armour. The open topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens.

Variants

SdKfz 221

Base model armed with a single 7.92mm MG34.

SdKfz 222

Armed with a 20 mm autocannon and a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun. A third crew member as the gunner, relieving the commander of that task.

SdKfz 223

A radio car version, armed like the 221 with a 7.92 mm machine gun. Included additional radio equipment, and had a large "bed-frame" antenna over the vehicle. Over 500 of the SdKfz 223 were produced.