The newly published workbook Panzerwrecks VI published beautiful photographs of several Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf.D during their conversations US Army soldiers on Calliope rocket launchers (Rocket Launcher T34 (Calliope)).
The installation of the rocket launcher required quite large interventions in the original construction of the vehicle. In addition to the installation of the necessary modifications to the interior of the body, the photographs also show interventions in the construction of the driver's "booth", engine and the like. On two vehicles, a strip of armor is cut in front of the driver, and a new hatch (remotely resembling an M8 Greyhound hatch) is made by installing hinges and tilted to the side.
An armor plate is welded behind the driver. Anti-tank 7.5 cm PaK 40 served as mounts. However, against the established opinion that it was a modification of Sd.Kfz.251/22 Ausf.D "Pakwagen", I state that it was "ordinary" anti-tank cannons - towed. In the version Sd.Kfz.251/22 was not one of the modified vehicles.
The camouflage and markings of both the divisions, as well as the identification marks and numbers on the side, all Sd.251 retained the original ones.
Commencement of modifications - 4.12.1944
Completion of reconstructions - 9.12.1944
15.12.1944 - practice/test shooting (Norweiden ?? - Broichweiden, Germany). It is possible that only one vehicle WH-1787961 was used for them
The vehicles belonged to the new 743rd Tank Batilion, 30th Inf.Div. 7th armored group.
According to the photos, it is possible to identify 5 different pieces (this is not a finite number - based on available photos) Sd.Kfz.251 in the form of this carrier.
1 - Sd.Kfz 215/3 "white-yellow ?? 2311" with the name on the side of the body "Heinrich Hötiger" Registration number - WH-1713787 with a shark emblem in a black (?) Rectangle. The boarding took place again by unfolding the modified armor in front of the driver to the side !! Most likely, this machine is also captured in the photo below (sfdkz251.jpg). The number (American) is written on the front and side of the body.
2 - Sd.Kfz 251/21 (in the vehicle the remains of the Drilling base) without much of the armor.
3 - Sd.Kfz 251/1? - the vehicle does not show signs of any special equipment "white 405", license plate WH-1749412, a shot on the left armor roughly behind the driver's head
4 - Sd.Kfz 251 /? (version similar to the previous one), license plate WH-1787961. This Sd.251 has two holes on the right side of the engine compartment and one is on the front armor in front of the engine.
It does not have a belt on the right side (behind the "passenger") and armor is welded behind the driver! The boarding took place again by unfolding the modified armor in front of the driver to the side !! The engine compartment and front are heavily muddy - it was pulled into combat positions by mud tank M5 Stuart and Sd.251 not many of the fenders remained.
5 - Sd.Kfz 251 /? "white - yellow XX32 (part of the number is cut off - probably 2332), again a sign with a shark motif as in the vehicle under point 1.
DEVELOPED !!
Source :
PANZERWRECKS VI, Lee Archer, W.Auerbach,
ISBN US: 978-0-9754783-6-9
ISBN UK: 978-0-9555940-3-8
www.geocities.com
modelforum.upce.cz
Foto jednoho z Sd.251 - na obrněnci jsou naloženy odřezané (?) nohy z PaK40
modelforum.upce.cz
Sd.251 - v textu pod číslem 4 (asi nejznámější vozidlo ze všech takto upravených)
modelforum.upce.cz
The installation of the rocket launcher required quite large interventions in the original construction of the vehicle. In addition to the installation of the necessary modifications to the interior of the body, the photographs also show interventions in the construction of the driver's "booth", engine and the like. On two vehicles, a strip of armor is cut in front of the driver, and a new hatch (remotely resembling an M8 Greyhound hatch) is made by installing hinges and tilted to the side.
An armor plate is welded behind the driver. Anti-tank 7.5 cm PaK 40 served as mounts. However, against the established opinion that it was a modification of Sd.Kfz.251/22 Ausf.D "Pakwagen", I state that it was "ordinary" anti-tank cannons - towed. In the version Sd.Kfz.251/22 was not one of the modified vehicles.
The camouflage and markings of both the divisions, as well as the identification marks and numbers on the side, all Sd.251 retained the original ones.
Commencement of modifications - 4.12.1944
Completion of reconstructions - 9.12.1944
15.12.1944 - practice/test shooting (Norweiden ?? - Broichweiden, Germany). It is possible that only one vehicle WH-1787961 was used for them
The vehicles belonged to the new 743rd Tank Batilion, 30th Inf.Div. 7th armored group.
According to the photos, it is possible to identify 5 different pieces (this is not a finite number - based on available photos) Sd.Kfz.251 in the form of this carrier.
1 - Sd.Kfz 215/3 "white-yellow ?? 2311" with the name on the side of the body "Heinrich Hötiger" Registration number - WH-1713787 with a shark emblem in a black (?) Rectangle. The boarding took place again by unfolding the modified armor in front of the driver to the side !! Most likely, this machine is also captured in the photo below (sfdkz251.jpg). The number (American) is written on the front and side of the body.
2 - Sd.Kfz 251/21 (in the vehicle the remains of the Drilling base) without much of the armor.
3 - Sd.Kfz 251/1? - the vehicle does not show signs of any special equipment "white 405", license plate WH-1749412, a shot on the left armor roughly behind the driver's head
4 - Sd.Kfz 251 /? (version similar to the previous one), license plate WH-1787961. This Sd.251 has two holes on the right side of the engine compartment and one is on the front armor in front of the engine.
It does not have a belt on the right side (behind the "passenger") and armor is welded behind the driver! The boarding took place again by unfolding the modified armor in front of the driver to the side !! The engine compartment and front are heavily muddy - it was pulled into combat positions by mud tank M5 Stuart and Sd.251 not many of the fenders remained.
5 - Sd.Kfz 251 /? "white - yellow XX32 (part of the number is cut off - probably 2332), again a sign with a shark motif as in the vehicle under point 1.
DEVELOPED !!
Source :
PANZERWRECKS VI, Lee Archer, W.Auerbach,
ISBN US: 978-0-9754783-6-9
ISBN UK: 978-0-9555940-3-8
www.geocities.com
modelforum.upce.cz
Period | - |
Type | - |
Camouflage | - |
Country | - |
Production No. | - |
Poznávací značka / evidenční číslo | - |
Tactical marking | - |
Name | - |
Unit | - |
Date (DD.MM.RRRR) | DD.MM.RRRR |
Author | - |
Print size / 300 DPI | - |
Published with authors permit | - |
Author Website | - |
Foto jednoho z Sd.251 - na obrněnci jsou naloženy odřezané (?) nohy z PaK40
modelforum.upce.cz
Period | - |
Type | - |
Camouflage | - |
Country | - |
Production No. | - |
Poznávací značka / evidenční číslo | - |
Tactical marking | - |
Name | - |
Unit | - |
Date (DD.MM.RRRR) | DD.MM.RRRR |
Author | - |
Print size / 300 DPI | - |
Published with authors permit | - |
Author Website | - |
Sd.251 - v textu pod číslem 4 (asi nejznámější vozidlo ze všech takto upravených)
modelforum.upce.cz