Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. A Hängelafette

mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.A Hängelafette
mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.A Hängelafette (1943)
mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm Hängelafette 38) (Sd.Kfz.251/23) (1945)


There is very little information about this version. It was supposed to be a reconnaissance vehicle using the armored personnel carrier platform Sd.Kfz. 251, on which the Hängelafette 38 tower with a mounted 2 cm cannon Kw.K.38 and machine gun [was to be mounted] [ url=/topic/view/8270/DEU-MG-42] MG 42[/url] /11462/]Sd.Kfz.234/1 a Sd.Kfz.250/9 Ausf.B ). Hängelafette 38 was created in an effort to simplify the original Sockellafette 38 (used in Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.250/9 Ausf.A). The first design of this vehicle was created in 10/1943 and bore the designation mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.A Hängelafette. This version was to replace the platoon commander's vehicle Sd.Kfz.251/10. However, the vehicle was not accepted into series production and was replaced by a similar version of the use of Hängelafette 38 on a smaller platform Sd.Kfz.250/9 Ausf.B (version Sd.Kfz.250/9 Ausf.A used Sockellafette 38). As part of the considerations on the consolidation of tank production, it was decided to cancel production Sd.Kfz.250 and thus the units would lose this support vehicle of the platoon commander. Therefore, the project of the medium Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.A Hängelafette was renewed in 12/1944. The project of the Hängelafette 38 was redesigned and subsequently renamed the mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm Hängelafette 38) (Sd.Kfz.251/23).
In addition, a small series Sd.Kfz.251 with a mounted 2 cm Kw.K.30/38 Sockellafette was created. Images of one such vehicle are dated to 1943. They show the vehicle during shooting tests in 2.SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich.

Although serial production mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.A Hängelafette was not started, information on this version was found in several resources. In the secret manual D97/1 + prepared on 26.10.1943 by the contractor Mr. Schröder, mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.AH ("H" - Hängelafette) and mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) Ausf.BS (Schwebelafette). It was a pair of design proposals with mounted automatic 2 cm Kw.K.38. The 2 cm Hängelafette 38 was developed as a replacement for the 2 cm Sockellafette 38 (used eg in Sd.Kfz.222, or Sd. Kfz.250/9), Hängelafette had a simplified construction.
On November 15, 1943, the designers of the company Auto-Union visited the Berlin company Appel, where they inspected Sd.Kfz.251 with mounted 2 cm Hängelafette 38 (with mounted 2 cm cannon Kw.K.38 and coaxial machine gun). Auto-Union designers preferred to use 2 cm Flak 38, which they intended to use in the planned program of the new armored personnel carrier Kätzchen. They requested that the drawing documentation (Nr.5-7514-000 (2 cm Hängelafette 38)) be sent to the Werk Horch factory.
Another mention of Sd.Kfz.251/17 (Hängelafette) is in the manual D9020/36 dated 6.12.1943 (Funksprech-Gerät für le. Schtz.Pz.Wg, Sd.Kfz.250/9 und Sd.Kfz.251/17 (Hängelafette)). These vehicles were to be equipped with radio equipment Fu.Spr.Ger.f and Bordsprech-Gerät (internal communication - intercom). A 2 m long antenna Antennenstab d mounted in a holder Antennefuss Nr.2 was used.
Mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) is still mentioned in the Army Technical Bulletin (H.TV.Bl) of 27.1.1944.
No further information on the original design of the Mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) (Sd.Kfz.251/17) or later mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm Hängelafette 38) (Sd.Kfz.251/23 ) are not available.

Hilary L. Doyle, Lukas Friedli, Thomas L. Jentz - Panzer Tracts No.15-4, Vollketten M.S.P. Kätzchen and final development of the Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251), year of publication 2016, without ISBN
Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary L. Doyle - Panzer Tracts no.20-2 Paper panzers (Aufkaerungs-, Beobachtuns-, and Flak-Panzers, year of publication 2002, ISBN 0-9708407-7-2
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Sd-Kfz-251-17-Ausf-A-Haengelafette-t195053#561819 Version : 0
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