The most widely produced German half-track, Sd. Kfz. 251 was introduced in 1939 and remained in production throughout the war, with at least 15,252 units produced. The popular Hanomag, as it was called by both Allied and Axis soldiers, was distinguished by its heavily angled armored hull and a very large track area with no return rollers, providing good traction and performance. The use of Schachtellaufwerk, overlapping and interleaved road wheels, contributed to it, at the cost of increased maintenance and severe vulnerability to Soviet winters and mud seasons, where they could be frozen solid.
Model 251/2 was designed as a mortar carrier and fitted with a strengthened floor to accommodate the standard 81mm Granatenwerfer 34. The mortar could be removed from the vehicle and used on foot, as it carried the base plate on board.
Usage[ | ]
In each Armored Panzer Grenadier Company's heavy platoon there should be 8-cm Mortar Group each with two 251/2.
Panzer-Aufklarungsabteilung the reconnaissance asset of the Panzer Division has a 8-cm Mortar Platoon added to the Heavy Company in March/April 1944.
