Sd.Kfz 222/223 Armoured Car

Germany's highly effective blitzkrieg tactics during the early years of WWI in Europe, Africa, and the Eastern Front required fast, manoeuvrable vehicles. German blitzkrieg was made infamous at the start of the war and continued to prove effective in the deserts of North Africa. Spearheading these rapid and highly mobile attacks were the Wehrmacht’s Aufklärungsabteilungen (reconnaissance battalions). They ranged ahead of the main Panzer divisions, seeking safe routes and pinpointing enemy positions for elimination.

The Sd.Kfz 222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen (light armoured reconnaissance vehicle) was a four-wheeled drive armoured car built by Horch and armed with a 2cm light autocannon and co-axial MG34 machine gun. The Sd.Kfz 223 command variant removed the autocannon and added radio equipment with distinctive aerial frame. Seeing action in all theatres of war in which German forces participated it was also fielded by Romanian, Bulgarian and Nationalist Chinese armies.