SDKFZ 234 /2 Puma and series information sought

Where very few of these ever made? information sought on these largely ignored vehicles. Any info or pictures would be good.

Guite interesting that there was no corropsonding vehicle in any other forces inventory, i wonder how effective and usefull these where.

Kev

 

Jeez, Kev, great minds think alike or what?? I've been wondering about this vehicle as well. Seemed like a great idea at the time. What was the stopping power of the 75mm gun like? Could it take out many allied tanks????

 

It was my favourite Matchbox kit VP, the 234/4 "Puma"

 

Jeez, Kev, great minds think alike or what?? I've been wondering about this vehicle as well. Seemed like a great idea at the time. What was the stopping power of the 75mm gun like? Could it take out many allied tanks????


AS Vp says the 75mm version in the open was a low velocity HE gun for infantry support. The Puma carried the 50mm gun from the Panzer 2 (though i dont recall seeing any P2's with a muzzle brake?). I dont think was terribly effective against other tanks (though it would be interesting to see how it would perfrom against side or rear armour and keeping in mind the puma was at least twice as fast as any allied tank flank attacks are real possability). I think I recall like other German guns a good range of ammunition so be interesting to see if any stories can be dug up.

Its a bit silly but the reason im interested is I was reading another Sven Hassel where the boys have a hellish ride on back of one and I saw the revel 72nd kit in the model shop.

Any suggestions on colour schemes??

Kev

 

Schwere Panzerspahwagen (5cm) (SdKfz 234/2)
101 produced sept. 1943- sept. '44, thats specifically for the 234/2,
8 wheeled AC's in production from 1936 with the 231 & 232.

More complete production figures for type: (all from Chamberlain & Doyle).
231/232 (2cm) - 607.
233 (7.5cm) - 109.
263 (radio) - 240.
234/1 (2cm) - 200.
234/2 (5cm) - 101.
234/3 (7.5) - 88.
234/4 (7.5 PaK40) - 88.

By most accounts well liked by the troops that used 'em.
They're interesting to me in that I consider this is one of the occaisions where Germany got it dead right. This one's not an evolutionary dead-end at all and the '8 rad' form can be seen today in many modern vehicles.
Some pictures; (Credits on right click.)
234/2
234/1

234/3

234/1:

Pirhana:

Stryker:

Rooikat:



wow only a 100 Puma's, expalains it, where did they end up, Russian front??

Kev

 

As ever id be interested in the mechanicals too. Air cooled Diesal. 8 wheel drive, betcha the gearbox is a real dogs dinner.

Kev

 

The Puma carried the 50mm gun from the Panzer 2 (though i dont recall seeing any P2's with a muzzle brake?). I dont think was terribly effective against other tanks (though it would be interesting to see how it would perfrom against side or rear armour...


I reckon you mean the Pz.KpfW III's L/60. If that was what it was, I think it would've been quite capable of defeating the side armour on T34, Sherman or Cromwell and in most cases the hull front as well - at least at close range - though it would have struggled to pierce the mantlet on any of these.

Regards,
MikB

 

KFZ, that novel wouldnt happen to be "The Bloody Road to Death by any chance would it?? Dont know why your post jogged that memory but it did. Obviously it was a retreat and as I recall the Puma was the last German vehicle before the Russians. Sorry having a major nostalgia trip!!!

 

I reckon you mean the Pz.KpfW III's L/60. If that was what it was, I think it would've been quite capable of defeating the side armour on T34, Sherman or Cromwell and in most cases the hull front as well - at least at close range - though it would have struggled to pierce the mantlet on any of these.

Regards,
MikB


Mik, youe compleltly correct I meant P3. Brain failure, to much Sven rubbish.

Kev

 

KFZ, that novel wouldnt happen to be "The Bloody Road to Death by any chance would it?? Dont know why your post jogged that memory but it did. Obviously it was a retreat and as I recall the Puma was the last German vehicle before the Russians. Sorry having a major nostalgia trip!!!


No its OGPU Prison. Yea right though. They bunk onto the puma which then makes a mad dash, two men die from Carbon monoxide poisonsing and loads are thrown off (seems difficult that the Puma could hold so many men but its qute a large vehicle and with the red army wanting perforate your arse youd probl be quite keen too...). At one point its gets a hit from and anti tank gun than knocks a hole in the turret and the whole thing degenerates into a farcical scene with the Puma chasing a lone Soviet infranty man round and round a field, till eventually they get bored and run him over...

I dont know what it is about Hassel, its complete tripe, but it has a grity human element about it thats so opposite saving Private Ryan, i find it more realistic in some ways....

 

Oh god - not Sven Hassel. Everytime I think I can get away from my childhood memories, some one brings him up again. As you said, complete tripe, but oh so addictive. If I'm not careful, I'm going to dig them out again and then you'll be in trouble kfz :p

And I just have to post this:

Porta's Kitchen - Sven Hassel Web Site

 

Oh god - not Sven Hassel. Everytime I think I can get away from my childhood memories, some one brings him up again. As you said, complete tripe, but oh so addictive. If I'm not careful, I'm going to dig them out again and then you'll be in trouble kfz :p

And I just have to post this:

Porta's Kitchen - Sven Hassel Web Site


Im always in trouble mate, just the depth that varies....

 

Where very few of these ever made? information sought on these largely ignored vehicles. Any info or pictures would be good.

Guite interesting that there was no corropsonding vehicle in any other forces inventory, i wonder how effective and usefull these where.

Kev

Back to the initial question, these 8-wheelers were (in general terms, details differ widely) the vehicles for the heavy squadron in the reconnaissance battalion, the light squadrons containing 4-wheelers. The majority vehicles were the 2cm version, the rest being concentrated in the headquarters troop to provide support and help extricate the 2cms from tough situations.

The short-75 version was a tradition with the reconnaissance units, having been used with success on the halftracks. As for the 5cm and long 7.5cm versios, I can't explain the duplication except for the Germanic fascination with things mechanical but we can discuss that later

AS for the Allies not having equivalents, I entirely disagree. Look for instance at the US. M-8 and the Staghound,





and on the British side the AEC armoured cars

 

They Allies tried out the T18 Boarhound 8-wheeled a/c but can't find decent picture that is not a model.

WarWheels.Net - T18E2 Boarhound Armored Car Photos