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Germany
SdKfz 234/2 (Puma)
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 234-2

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The SdKfz 234/2 was designed in 1940, manufactured by Bussing-NAG based on the existing 8 x 8 drive 8 Wheel Armoured Car and was in use from 1943 to 1944.

Flag of World War 2 Germany
Photo of SdKfz 234/2 (Puma)
SdKfz 234/2(Puma) scale illustration

General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)1943 - 1944
Ordnance classificationSdKfz 234-2
Quantity Produced101
Weight11.74 tonne
Crew4
M.G's small1
M.G's large(>10mm)n/a
Length6.02 mtr
Width2.31 mtr
Height2.28 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed51 mph
Max Cross Country Speed25 mph
Range Road563 miles
Range Cross Country253 miles
Fuel TypeDiesel
Fuel Capacityunknown
Horse Power220 hp
Power/Weight18 hp/tonne
General Information
The SdKfz 234/2 was designed in 1940, manufactured by Bussing-NAG based on the existing 8 x 8 drive 8 Wheel Armoured Car and was in use from 1943 to 1944.

The vehicle was powered by Tatra '103' diesel powerplant producing 220 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 51 mph with a range of about 563 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 25 mph and a range of about 253 miles.

It was armed with 1 light machine gun , a 7.92mm MG 42. Its main armament consisted of a 5.0cm KwK 39 L/60 which could penetrate 97 mm of flat plate at 100 metres

The SdKfz 234 series of heavy armoured cars was a development of the earlier SdKfz 231 series. These armoured cars had all wheel drive and steering, but were more heavily armoured than the 231 series, and were therefore heavier at around 11 tonnes.

The 234/2 was called the Puma and was armed with a 5.0cm KwK 39 L/60 AP in a fully enclosed turret. The vehicle could be driven in reverse by the radio operator in the rear of the vehicle.

Armour Details
Turret
Front30mm@20°(32mm)
Side10mm@25°(11mm)
Rear10mm@25°(11mm)
Top10mm@90°(10mm)
Superstructure
Front30mm@35°(37mm)
Side8mm@30°(9mm)
Rear10mm@22°(11mm)
Top7mm@88°(7mm)
Hull
Front30mm@30°(35mm)
Side8mm@30°(9mm)
Rear10mm@40°(13mm)
Top5mm@90°(5mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 37 mm - Minimum 5 mm



Weapon Details
Flag
 7.92mm MG 42
7.92mm Maschinengewehr 42
(translates as Machine Gun) 		Blank
History
In 1943 as Germany started to run short of raw materials, a new machine gun design was created, based on the MG34 but designed for simple manufacture and less raw materials. It became the German Army main machine gun, and again had the bipod, the Anti Aircraft and tripod for heavy machine gun use. It was simpler and more reliable than the MG34 especially in conditions on the Eastern Front. It had a very high rate of fire 1200rpm.
Percentage of bullet types used during the war were SmK(8%) SmK(H)(1.5%)
ManufacturerMauser-Werke
Manufactured1942 - 1945
Calibre7.92mm
Rate of Fire1200 rpm
 
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)1002004008001200160020002400
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)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.2
Penetration(mm@30°) 5
Penetration(mm@0°) 6
Hit Probability(%) 98


Weapon Details
Flag
 5.0cm KwK 39 L/60
5.0cm Kampfwagenkanone 39 L/60
(translates as Tank Gun) 		Blank
History
Used on the later models of the Panzer III and the SdKfz 234 Puma
Calibre50mm
LengthL/60
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
5.0cm PzGr. 39 L/60
(AP Armor Piercing) 		50mm 2.06Kg 840M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 102mm @ 100mtr/0°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.12 0.25 0.52 1.13 1.88 2.8 3.97 5.5
Penetration(mm@30°) 84 76 68 57 47 38 30 23
Penetration(mm@0°) 97 88 79 66 55 44 35 27
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 96 74 39 22 6


 
5.0cm PzGr. 40 L/60
(AP40 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored) 		50mm 0.98Kg 1198M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 149mm @ 100mtr/0°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.09 0.18 0.38 0.86 1.5 2.4 3.76 6.02
Penetration(mm@30°) 109 98 85 69 54 41 29 19
Penetration(mm@0°) 126 114 99 80 63 48 34 23
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 98 88 54 22 3



5cm Sprgr Patr
(HE High Explosive) 		50mm 1.78Kg 550M/Sec 0.165Kg explosive
Maximum Range not shown as gun elevation is limited
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.19 0.38 0.79 1.73 2.87 4.28 6.06 8.39
Direct Fire
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.19 0.38 0.79 1.73 2.87 4.28 6.06 8.39
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 77 34 15 3 2
Blast/Fragmentation Effects
Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill2 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill4 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill11 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr0 mm
An explosion within 2 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 99% casualties - lethal.
An explosion within 4 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's.
An explosion within 11 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 33% casualties.
The blast effect of this shell exploding within 1 mtr of an armoured vehicle will not cause any significant armour damage.

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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