- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:SPW 221 PzB41
SPW 221 PzB41 is a German Transport unit.
Overview[ | ]
The Leichter Spahwagen (Light recon vehicle) was a series of armored cars used by Nazi Germany, designed with a focus on reliability, tolerance for various fuel grades, and good off-road performance.
The first version was the Sd.Kfz. 221, using a rear-mounted Horch V8 engine with up to 14mm of armor and an MG 34 machine gun. Although fast and with excellent range, the off-road performance was well below expectations, a serious problem in North Africa and the Soviet Union. Although it was gradually replaced in service with more modern designs basing on the Sd.Kfz. 222, many remained in use especially in the well developed Western Europe.
To compensate for its minimal firepower, a number of 221s were rearmed with a 28mm light anti-tank rifle, the Panzerbüchse 41. Working on the squeeze-bore principle, the gun had an effective caliber of 20mm and was capable of punching through up to 50mm of armor at a distance of up to 500m. The crew was reduced to just two, the driver and the gunner, turning the old armored car into a light AT platform.
Strategy[ | ]
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