The SdKfz 222 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 222) was a light armored military vehicle used by the Wehrmacht in World War II. Developed from the SdKfz 221, it entered service with the German Army’s armored reconnaissance battalions in 1938. Daimler-Benz built a very large number of it as it was supplied to every armored division of the Wehrmacht to be used in the scout and reconnaissance role. It saw combat action from the beginning of the war, being used in 1939 Polish Campaign, during the invasion of France, Operation Barbarossa, in North Africa, as well as in other theaters of operation.
Technical Characteristics
The SdKfz 222 was a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle, which was fitted with an independent coil-spring suspension. It was powered by a Horch 75 HP gasoline engine, which was mounted in the rear compartment. Its armor consisted of 14.5mm welded steel plates. On top of the chassis, there was an open-topped turret, which was fitted with a 20mm gun and a 7.92mm machine gun, with anti-grenade grilles on top. The SdKfz 222 would be developed into the Sonderkraftfahrzeug 223, which had about the same features but was armed with a 2.8 cm Panzerbuchse instead.
Below, the SdKfz 222 in North Africa.
The an Afrika Korps reconnaissance company, with Sonderkraftfahrzeugs 222 in the spearhead in Tunisia in 1942.
The turret of the SdKfz 222 exhibiting the 20mm gun.
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