The Sd.Kfz. 234 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234, Special Purpose Vehicle 234), was a family of armoured cars designed and built in Germany during World War II. The vehicles were lightly armoured, armed with a 20, 50 or 75 mm main gun, and powered by a Tatra V12 diesel engine. [3] The Sd.Kfz. 234 broadly resembles the appearance of Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 rad). [2]

The armoured car could be driven backwards by the radio operator in an emergency. Series production started in December 1943 and ended in July 1944, with production switching to 234/1 and 234/3. Many publications use the name "Puma" for this vehicle, but this was neither officially used nor was it a nickname. Sd. Kfz. 234/3

On the second version, famously known as the Puma, the main gun was a 50 mm (1.97 in) KwK 39/1 L/60. The turret had a manual traverse due to its small size, and -10° to +20° depression/elevation. Smoke dischargers were often mounted on top.

May 21, 2018 · The SdKfz 234 (generally known as the "Puma") was a key 8-wheeled, armed reconnaissance platform utilized by the German Army during World War 2. Utilizing revolutionary ideas, the SdKfz 234 fitted ever improving armament onto a highly-adaptable hull to create a fast-moving, hard-hitting weapon.

Mar 22, 2023 · It was powered by a unique Tatra 103 V12 air-cooled diesel – the only German combat vehicle to have this power plant – as the platform was intended for tropical/hot weather use. This engine displaced nearly 15 litres (903 cu in), and produced 220 bhp. The 220 hp Tatra 103 air cooled V12 used in all models of the Sd.Kfz.234.

The Puma was the SdKfz 234/2 with a turret shaped like a horse’s hoof from above. It should fight the Russian armored reconnaissance vehicles at the Eastern front and the turret with 5-cm-cannon was originally developed for the never put into service light main battle tank Leopard.

Apr 13, 2019 · 234/2 “Puma” – 1 x 5 cm KwK 39 L/60, 1 x MG34. Employed a fully enclosed turret originally designed for the VK1602 Leopard light tank. The turret front was protected by 30 mm armor set at an angle of 20° from the vertical.

The SdKfz 234 (commonly known as "Puma") was the primary eight-wheeled armed reconnaissance platform used by the German Army during World War II. The adaptable hull creates a fast-moving, powerful weapon.

May 13, 2023 · No surprise, Germany entered the Second World War with some pretty advanced armored cars, that means fast and dangerous recon forces. The biggest of these was the Sd.Kfz.231 family, the 8-rad versions having 8 wheel drive and 8 wheel steering. The Sd.Kfz. prefix identifies the armored car as a “Special Purpose Vehicle”.

Dec 12, 2012 · This imbalance was corrected to some degree in the SdKfz 234/2 Schwere Panzerspähwagen (50mm) Puma which mounted the same KwK 39 50mm L/60 gun as carried by the PzKpfw III Ausf J and L medium tanks, with the very necessary addition of a muzzle brake.