Sd.Kfz 251 German Half-Track - In The Movies

A breif overview of the Sd.Kfz 251 half-track as seen in popular WW2 movies.

Movies Featured:

The Bridge at Remagen 1969
Battle of the Bulge 1965
Patton 1970
Operation Daybreak 1975
Saving Private Ryan 1998
Black Hawk Down 2001
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin 2001
Band of Brothers 2001
The Star 2002
The Pianist 2002
Downfall 2004
Valkyrie 2008
Inglorious Basterds 2009
Memorial Day 2011
Rommel 2012
Fury 2014
War Pigs 2015
April 9th 2015
Battle of the Bulge: Winter War 2020
The Last Frontier 2020

Video Games:
Sudden Strike 4
War Thunder
Battlefield 5
Tank Mechanic Simulator

#ww2 #armor

[at]

They should be called the “sitting duck” half track. In every movie the guys in these things are doomed .

[blackegret]

I think for another "WW2 Vehicles in movies:" I think it would be cool to talk about the Panzer III/Panzer IV and the Willy's Jeep.

[jerryudonneedtoknow]

There is a reason for so many variants, the unit was supposed to be an armored mobile force, while it could tow artillery pieces, it should have been capable of rapidly engaging in combat to match its speed at which it can reach the combat, unhitching an anti-tank gun then deploying is time consuming and dangerous in the heat of battle, it was vastly necessary for the mechanized infantry to be quickly supported. here is the list of the variants, what they are often organized into and such

Sd. Kfz. 251/1 Schützenpanzerwagen - The basic standard production variant used as the transportation, etc. Practically in all units of a division mechanized forced being the squad, platoon, company, brigade, and battalion levels. They are mainly used in the basic Panzergrenadier units, but may occasionally be used in reconnaissance units as scout vehicles. For example the 505. Schwere Panzerabteilung where its reconnaissance units was issued SPW's

Sd. Kfz. 251/2 Schützenpanzerwagen (Granatwerfer) - The variants with a heavy mortar attached to the unit for fast mobile mortar fire. If put on a truck, precious time would be wasted trying to deploy the mortar, this resolves it by having the mortar attached to the vehicles and could fire basically after the vehicle stopped, then continue on moving from position to position. They were issued in the mortar platoons which were further divided into two mortar groups, the mortar groups co insisted of 2x Sd. Kfz. 251/2, and with 2 groups made a total of 4x 251/4 units for the platoon. (I believe there was 1 platoon for the battalion, or it might be the division, I'm unsure.

Sd. Kfz. 251/3 mittlerer Kommandopanzerwagen (Funkpanzerwagen) - The variants with extra radios equipped. It was meant for providing communications to units whether it be for signaling or command.They were issued in the multiple units of varying sizes, mostly headquarter units. It was included in the Battalion and Company Headquarters, alongside beside in the Signal Platoons. Often 1 or 2 would be assigned in the Battalion, and Company Headquarters

Sd. Kfz. 251/4 Schützenpanzerwagen für Munition und Zubehör des leIG18 - It has a towing hook to tow artillery pieces like infantry guns, Pak 40, Pak 36, Pak 38, Flaks, Light artillery, etc. Used in units which carry the guns. So Anti-Tank Battalion, Anti-Air Battalions, Artillery Battalions, etc.

Sd. Kfz. 251/5 Schützenpanzerwagen für Pionierzug - Equipped only in the Armored engineer battalion of the Panzer grenadier division, it is equipped with disassemblable bridges, it has extra storage space, and stores inflatable boats.

Sd. Kfz. 251/6 mittlere Funkpanzerwagen (Kommandopanzerwagen) - Has more command stuff and better stuff than the 251/3 but was later phased out by the 251/3

Sd. Kfz. 251/7 Pionierpanzerwagen - Equipped only in the Armored engineer battalion of the Panzer grenadier division, similar to 251/5, but equipped with the Sturmbrücke assault bridges on its side.

Sd. Kfz. 251/8 Krankenpanzerwagen - Ambulance version of the SPW, only equipped in the Medical battalion. Not available in every Panzergrenadier Division as some had basic medical trucks opposed to this vehicle. Issued to the Battalion Headquarters aswell.

Sd. Kfz. 251/9 Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5 cm KwK37) - A version with a short 7.5cm howitzer, it was used in 3 different units, (sometimes) the pioneer unit (engineer), with a headquarters unit, and always issued with the cannon groups which is under the Heavy Platoon. The heavy platoon being like the StuGs meaning to support the infantry in the breakthrough or assault.

Sd. Kfz. 251/10 Schützenpanzerwagen (3.7 cm PaK) - A version with a 3.7cm Anti-Tank gun, was issued to platoon leaders in order to support their units.

Sd. Kfz. 251/11 Fernsprechpanzerwagen - A telephone wire laying variant, vary important for communications, it was put with the Signals Battalion and possibly the Reconnaissance Battalion. issued to Feld cable troops of the Signals battalion

Sd. Kfz. 251/12 Messtrupp und Gerätpanzerwagen - Planned artillery surveyor variant with extra measuring tool and equipment for artillery, y never built.

Sd. Kfz. 251/13 Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen - Sound recording variant to air paired with artillery observer and stuff, supposed to aid in finding enemy artillery and doing counter battery fire to attack back at enemy artillery. Never built.

Sd. Kfz. 251/14 Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen - Sound ranging variant, works in conjunction with 251/13 to help determine location and range of enemy artillery so that counter artillery fire can be done. Never Built.

Sd. Kfz. 251/15 Lichtauswertepanzerwagen - Artillery flash spotting variant, also works with the 2 previous to spot enemy artillery so that the German artillery can fire back. Never built.

Sd. Kfz. 251/16 Flammpanzerwagen - Flame thrower version, issued to each Panzergrenadier regiment, about 4-8 per division, 2 regiments per panzer grenadier division, and if each regiment has 2x then it's 4 units, if each regiment has 4x, then it totals 8x, I'm too lazy to find how many are issued.

Sd. Kfz. 251/17 Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) - 2cm Anti-Aircraft version, it was issued to the Anti-Aircraft Battalion with each battery consisting of 4 of these. By late was it was issued as Platoon leader vehicles to replace the 251/10

Sd. Kfz. 251/18 Beobachtungspanzerwagen - Artillery observer/spotter, it goes out, finds target, radios artillery to shell the area to hell, and coordinate more precise strike. issued to the Artillery Battalions of the division, I think either 1 or 2 are issued per Artillery Battalion.

Sd. Kfz. 251/19 Fernsprechbetriebspanzerwagen - Telephone exchange vehicles, basically has communications and telephone stuff, works in conjunction with the telephone wire layer.

Sd. Kfz. 251/20 Schützenpanzerwagen (Infrarotscheinwerfer) - Infrared version of unit, Donna how it was organized.

Sd. Kfz. 251/21 Schützenpanzerwagen (Drilling MG151s) - Anti-Aircraft SPW with triple MG151, used only in the Anti-Aircraft Battalion.

Sd. Kfz. 251/22 7.5 cm PaK40 L/46 auf mittlerem Schützenpanzerwagen - It has a Pak 40 Anti-Tank gun, issued to cannon units, Battalion or Company headquarter units, and Anti-Tank units if any.

Sd. Kfz. 251/23 2 cm Hängelafette 38 auf mittlerem Schützenpanzerwagen - An SPW with a turret and 2cm Autocannon, partially meant to replace the 251/9, but mainly as the new reconnaissance variant, never built.



Making the variants of all of these allowed a faster unit in general, to move and engage in battle.
While truck have to deploy the heavy guns, these could fire on the move not needing to waste precious time deploying or redeploying, they would also do greatly in keeping up with the mechanized infantry giving them full support along the way. And considering how useful StuGs were, the 251/9 was of course very valuable and effective, keeping up with the infantry, firing on the move, and quickly redeploying.
Many of these variant would provide the edge in battle, no matter how many the modification way seem for some, they give the maximum output of the Panzergrenadier division.


I mostly study tank designs, organization, and other things, but this is the simple stuff I know on this vehicle, so it's quite limited, especially since I lack documents on these.

[franciscaine]

I am always surprised to see so few horses in the German army in films. They would be easier and cheaper to use; as well as being more historical.

[rolfagten]

The Hanomag SDKFZ 251 was a cool looking vehicle! In "A Brigde too far" (1977) and "Force 10 of navarone" (1978) there is a strange replica of this vehicle. great video again!👍❤

[panzerivausfg]

I loved the "mocking" you did to yourself with that Downfall scene. I notice you do such things in your late videos and they give a funny tone above the educational video.
Really like it 👍👍

[purpleYamask]

The term Hanomag is like a German soldier seeing a Sherman and shouting "General Motors!"
He's technically right, but nobody called it that.

(The term seems to first pop up as the vehicle name on plastic model kits in the 70s and 80s.)

[titantanic]

5:35 “and could aid in towing of other vehicles”

-last words of German corporal before disaster

[arnijulian]

Johnny at 4:39 is Sd.Kfz. 251/1-II "Stuka zu Fuß/walking stuka is mounted with schwere wurfgerat 41 though the earlier 40 was made of wood in stead of steel.
This vehicle of Nebeltruppe/smoke troop uses many types of Nebelwefer/smoke mortar with Schwere wurfgerat/launch frame being one of many type of this weapon.
The Nebeltuppe was a specialised detachment of the Wehrmacht responsible for operating & dealing with enemy chemical weaponry as well as rocketry.
These launch frame propelled Gas, smoke & so many munition types it is hard to into with rockets just being 1 of many that was less frequently used.
many projectiles didn't uses rocket fuel but pressurized gas or reaction medium that gave off gas to propel the charges for safety reasons.
The Nebeltruppe also used ''flame oil'' early napalm though arguably more effective.

The German pioneers where also allocated this variant of German launch frame half track as smoke was necessary to allow the pioneer to the work they do to make permanent emplacement under fire or crossing over river under fire.
Sd.Kfz with mounted schwere wurfgerat had 350 of this variant mad in 1940 in it's 1st year of production of all 16, 000 Sd'fz's made in ww2 by Germany.
If production remained the same let alone that means 1750 walking stuka's where made minimum in ww2 as production ramped up to it height in 1943/1944 according German command.

1 in 9 to 1 in 8 of the '23' varients Sd.kfz where this launch frame type.

NebelWefer/smoke mortars/fog mortars are rocket artiller yet not & mortars yet not.
A meld that blind the line between rockets & mortars as they use both types of shells & more types of specialised shells.

Apologies for any German spelling mistakes but I haven't used it in about a decade fluently & it was my 3rd language.

[bigblue]

It is somewhat ironic about the cost of the halftrack compared to that of the truck. Many trucks used in the Battle of France were sold off after the defeat of France and replaced by horse drawn wagons to save cost. They then bought halftracks to transport troops in. Also horses did not do well in the Russian winter.

[geordiedog]

Very informative mate. Great video. I didn’t know much about these half tracks. Cheers.

[jirikajzar]

My gradfather actually used one during his compulsory military service but he doesn't remember if it was captured original or post-war one. They were actually impressed by it, especially the gearbox with lot of speeds available.

[stevemercer]

Very good video! It's worth noting that all of the ww2 german 251 variants were open topped. It wasn't until post war production that roofed in bodyshells were seen. It's conversions of these post war versions that pop up most commonly in movies.

[JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The SDKFZ 251 unlike the M3 only had engine power going to the tracks. The M3 had power going to the tracks and optionally the front axle. Having a dead axle up front was not a sound choice in rough terrain. The reason that so many German half tracks were diverted into the transportation role for supplies on the Eastern front was the terrible roads in Russia. The opal blitz, the standard truck for supply had trouble dealing with the mud on the Russian roads.Only tracked vehicles could handle the Russian mud.

[edwardvincentbriones]

@Johnny Johnson Germany had extensive half-track development since the Weimar Republic. Thus, their half-track designs were diverse in design.
The Sd.Kfz.251 is essentially an armored version of the Sd.Kfz. 11, which was primarily used to tow medium sized artillery and was used in many roles throughout the war.
I suggest you watch “German War Files” videos if you’re interested.

[TheSaturnV]

Nicely done. Captured US halftracks were prized by German troops because of the powered front wheels and simple rubber band tracks with virtually no maintenance. German engineers loved their interleaved road wheels and needle bearings in their track links that were absolutely nightmares as far as field upkeep.

[justalex.]

The best thing about the sdkfz is that it can be made into anything.It can be with a at gun (pak 38, 36 or pak 40), an aa gun or a recon vechicle like the puma

[thekhoifish]

‘Further complicating half-track production was the German habit of stashing guns everywhere they could’

American interwar designs shoving machine guns in every crevice imaginable: *chuckle awkwardly*

[ExtremelyAverageMan]

"Who's doing the DOING THE SHOOTING?!"

[mikebrase]

One of my old US Army Company Commanders owns a fully converted OT-810 as well as a 222.