Germany
SdKfz 250/ 5 Leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen (Observation Post Vehicle)
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 250/5

Tweet The SdKfz 250/ 5 Leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen was designed in 1940, manufactured by Westerhutte, Deutsche Werke and Wumag based on the existing half track SdKfz 250 Halftrack and was in use from 1941 to 1945. General Details Specifications Operational Date(s) 1941 - 1945 Ordnance classification SdKfz 250/5 Quantity Produced 0 Weight unknown Crew 4 M.G's small 1 M.G's large(>10mm) n/a Length 4.77 mtr Width 1.97 mtr Height 2.15 mtr Engine Details/Performance Max Road Speed 38 mph Max Cross Country Speed 19 mph Range Road 200 miles Range Cross Country 100 miles Fuel Type Petrol Fuel Capacity unknown Horse Power 100 hp Power/Weight unknown General Information The SdKfz 250/ 5 Leichte Beobachtungspanzerwagen was designed in 1940, manufactured by Westerhutte, Deutsche Werke and Wumag based on the existing half track SdKfz 250 Halftrack and was in use from 1941 to 1945. The vehicle was powered by Maybach 'HL42TUKRM' petrol powerplant producing 100 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 38 mph with a range of about 200 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 19 mph and a range of about 100 miles. It was armed with 1 light machine gun , a 7.92mm MG 34. Armour Details Turret Front n/a Side n/a Rear n/a Top n/a Superstructure Front 10mm @ 30° (12mm) Side 8mm @ 35° (10mm) Rear 8mm @ 17° (8mm) Top n/a Hull Front 15mm @ 12° (15mm) Side 8mm @ 30° (9mm) Rear 8mm @ 45° (11mm) Top 6mm @ 90° (6mm) Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°) Effective Armour - Maximum 15 mm - Minimum 6 mm Weapon Details 7.92mm MG 34 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34 (translates as Machine Gun) History Derived from the Solothern Maschinengewehr Modell 30, it became the main machine gun for the German army. It could be fitted with a bipod for infantry use, an Anti Aircraft mount, or a heavy tripod to turn the gun into a heavy machine gun. Manufacturer Mauser-Werke Manufactured 1936 - 1943 Calibre 7.92mm Length L/79 Rate of Fire 800 rpm Number of Rounds  2010     Ammunition Details Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content S.m.K.H tungsten cored (AP Standard Small Arms) 7.92mm 0.013Kg 910M/Sec Quoted Penetration 13mm@100m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 0.33 1.04 Penetration(mm@30°) 15 11 6 Penetration(mm@0°) 18 13 7 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 S.m.K (BALL Standard Small Arms) 7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec Quoted Penetration 8mm@100m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.2 Penetration(mm@30°) 5 Penetration(mm@0°) 6 Hit Probability(%) 98

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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Page Last Updated: 2023-04-13 14:58:56