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Leichter Panzerspahwagen Sdkfz.223

(Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle)

 

The Sdkfz.223 is produced by Andrew Designs, a much respected company specialising in fine quality and accurate armour. All the radio controlled vehicles they produce have a metal chassis and running gear, with injection moulded plastic, etched brass and resin detail parts. The 223 have 4 wheel drive and four wheel steering as standard, this together with suspension makes it an all terrain vehicle capable of going most places a tank can.

Available in kit form they include comprehensive and clear instructions with step by step illustrations and text. The detail on these miniature works of art is breathtaking with plenty of scope to personalise your model with 3rd party accessories such as bags and helmets. Although not included in the kit, there is the possibility of motorising the turret and gun traverse, along with lighting and crew. The all metal bottom half makes for a very strong vehicle that should give hours of trouble free use.

 

Sdkfz.223

Armour: 14.5mm

Weight: 4.5 tons.

Armament: 20mm KwK 30 canon and 1 x 7.92mm Mg.

Speed: 80kmh (50mph) on road and 40kmh (25mph) cross country.

Range: 300km (187 miles) on road and 180km (110 miles) cross country.

Crew: 3, comander/gunner, radio operator/loader and driver.

They were developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen. Chassis were built by Auto Union in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hannover-Linden.

It used the standard sPkw I Horch 801 (heavy car) chassis with an angled armoured body and turret. The rear mounted engine was a 90 horsepower (67 kW) Horch 3.5 petrol engine, giving it a road speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a cross-country speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). It had a maximum range of 185 miles (300 km).

The restrictions imposed on Germany as part of the Versailles treaty saw it focus on wheeled armored cars. The SdKfz 222 was a four wheeled light armored car, which was used as a mobile observation post by reconnaissance units. Introduced in 1938, the SdKfz 222 suffered from poor performance on the Russian front due to the harsh terrain and weather conditions. The vehicles combat effectiveness was also reduced