Sd.Kfz.251/22 (7.5cm PaK 40) info???

[JACK-BOOT]

Ive been researching the Sd.Kfz.251/22 (7.5cm PaK 40) and i cant find anything about it! I Cant find how many were built? How they performed in combat? Where were they used most at? I cant even find a picture of a real one! All i find is drawings of them. Was it just a prototype? Because im finding nothing on it. Help on this would be greatly appreciated

[carius]

Here:
SdKfz 251/22(7.5cm PaK40)Mittlere Schutzenpanzerwagen
Specifications:
Ammo 75 mm 22 rounds
Armament 75 mm Pak 40 L/46
Armor 6/15 mm
Crew 4
Engine Maybach HL42TUKRM/6 cylinder /100hp
Fuel Capacity 160 litres
Height 1.75 m
Length 5.98 m
Range Road 300 km
Cross Country 150 km
Speed Road 50 km/h
Cross Country 10 km/h
Weight 8,000 kg
Width 2.10 m

[carius]

SdKfz251/22 (one kill ring on the barrel)

[carius]

Here more.....

[Martin Block]

If you are interested in units using the Sd.Kfz. 251/22 please have a look at this:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/th ... ing+251-22+-

Martin Block

P.S.: My listing of units in that thread needs the following correction

Pz.Div. FHH (1) (ex Pz.Gren.Div. FHH) (possible use of Sd.Kfz. 251/22 since late March 1945, not 100% confirmed yet)

[FKDeane]

Hi Jack-boot

I probably sound like a broken record when I respond to such queries. For me the first source to check is always the Panzer Tracts series. Their publications have all the latest definitive information that is available from primary sources and that is the best place to start. Obviously armed with such historical facts one can better interpret secondary sources such as photographs.

In this case have you checked out Panzer Tracts No.15-3? This is their book about the Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D and it covers all the variants including your Sd.Kfz.251/22. There are several pages of history and production details specifically on the Sd.Kfz.251/22 and one of Hilary Doyle’s four view drawings.

Fred

[JACK-BOOT]

Wow thank you so much for all the information and photos. So i should go get panzer tracts and it will tell me all the info about it i want? or is there a website that possibly has the history for the Sd.Kfz.251/22 (7.5cm PaK 40). I really want to know there performance in battle, how many were made? When, where and who used them? Ill check around for panzer tracts and see what i can find. Thanks agian guys

[Kelvin]

Sdkfz 251/22 was possibly replacement for 251/9 since the latter was too powerless.

7.5 cm infantry gun was very outdated weapon by 1944. In Normandy, two elite German Heer divisons : Pz Lehr and 2. Pz division did not possess any 7.5 cm infantry guns and only possessed 7.5 cm L46 Pak.

[Alanmccoubrey]

Kelvin, Lehr certainly had SdKfz 251/9 in Normandy so perhaps you mean that they didn't have any of the little 7,5cm leIG 18's ?

[Kelvin]

Yes, I mean both did not have 7.5 cm towed infantry guns.

[JACK-BOOT]

Ive been reading about it and everytime i see it mentioned, they really dont say much about it. Was the Sd.Kfz.251/22 (7.5cm PaK 40) an effective weapon? I know the Pak 40 was nasty anti-tank gun but did it serve well ontop of the Sd.Kfz.251/22? Was there ever an ace of the weapon system? and on what front did it see the most combat?

[Yoozername]

It really is no more than an ad-hoc Marder. Its ammunition is very limited and I think the crew is actually vulnerable from the sides. I suppose it gives the panzergrenadiers a mobile AT asset to quickly move up and help them hold ground that is taken. But in any offensive situation, it would be easily knocked out if it was at the front of an attack.

I think the 8 wheeled armored cars with the same weapon may have had better luck with thier better manuverabilty. these halftracks have very large turning radius and this over-loaded halftrack probably had slow acceleration.

EDIT: Does anyone know the gun depression for this vehicle? This would certainly have made it a great reverse slope AT asset if it could depress the gun enough and just show very little shield to its targets.

[Kelvin]

sdkfz 251/22 was German desperate attempt to make up for her shortage of tank and Jagdpanzer in the later stage of the war. They needed these ad hoc mobile AT vehicles to stop Russian armored thrust.

[Kelvin]

Hello, I would like to know the location of sd.kfz.251/22 in PanzerGrenadier Division Grossdeutschland on Dec 30 1944 ? I./Pz.Gren.Regiment Grossdeutschland and III./Pz.Fus.Regiment Grossdeutschland ? Thank

[yantaylor]

It really is no more than an ad-hoc Marder. Its ammunition is very limited and I think the crew is actually vulnerable from the sides. I suppose it gives the panzergrenadiers a mobile AT asset to quickly move up and help them hold ground that is taken. But in any offensive situation, it would be easily knocked out if it was at the front of an attack.

I think the 8 wheeled armored cars with the same weapon may have had better luck with thier better manuverabilty. these halftracks have very large turning radius and this over-loaded halftrack probably had slow acceleration.

EDIT: Does anyone know the gun depression for this vehicle? This would certainly have made it a great reverse slope AT asset if it could depress the gun enough and just show very little shield to its targets.

I think it could depress, elevate and traverse like this;

Main Armament: 75 mm Pak 40 L/46
Elevation: -3° to +32°
Gun Traverse: 20° Left & 18° Right

Did it have any secondary weapons like an MG42?
And what month was it first produced and how many.