German armored vehicle Sd.Kfz. 222 COBI 2657 - World War II 1:28

Did you know:

• The light armored reconnaissance vehicle Sd.Kfz 222 was actually the second generation with improved armor and a rapid-fire KwK cannon.
• The vehicle was based on the universal Horch 801 chassis platform. This affordable solution reduced production costs and simplified maintenance.
• Compared to its predecessor, the vehicle had many improvements. For example, a drip rail was added above the front visor – a small feature that finally solved the issue of rainwater dripping directly on the driver’s head.
• Another interesting feature was the steering of both axles for better maneuverability. The air intake system and independent suspension were also cleverly designed. Many of these technical innovations are still used in modern Audi cars.
• Mass production began in 1938, and over the next 4 years, 989 units were built. Sd.Kfz. 222 thus became the most numerous armored wheeled vehicle in the Wehrmacht.
• Interestingly, the vehicles were not equipped with radios because the German command planned to form small combat groups consisting of several vehicles always accompanied by a designated radio vehicle.
• The armored cars proved very effective in the early months of the war. However, their deployment in Africa and on the Eastern Front was less successful due to limited mobility in difficult terrain, and they were gradually replaced by the 250 type.
• Some units were equipped with dual control systems – one for forward driving and the other for reverse.
• Nazi Germany even sold 12 vehicles to China in 1938, which ironically used them against Germany’s ally – Japan.
• At the time, the purchase price of the armored car was 23,420 Reichsmarks, which would be approximately 97 820 € today.

Technical specifications:

• dimensions 4.8 m, width 1.95 m, height 2.0 m
• weight 4800 kg
• armor thickness 8–14.5 mm
• engine petrol V8 3.8 Horch with 66 kW output
• number of gears 5 forward + 1 reverse
• maximum speed 80 km/h
• fuel tank capacity 100 l
• range 350 km
• armament 1× KwK 30 cannon (20 mm) + 1× MG 34 machine gun (7.92 mm)
• crew 3

From the memoirs of reconnaissance unit commander Major Carl Marzahn:

“During the campaign in France, we reached a large farm near Saint-Gratien with our reconnaissance vehicle Sd.Kfz. At first, it looked like the perfect trap, but after a short, cautious inspection – much to our surprise – it was completely abandoned. The farm workers must have fled as soon as they spotted our vehicles. In some oddly shaped buildings half-sunken into the ground, we found shelves full of maturing cheese. After weeks of monotonous military rations, this was a welcome treat, and we filled every bit of free space with cheese. That was not a good idea. The interior of an armored car can heat up quite a bit under the sun, and some of the cheeses literally melted into gaps and crevices where we never managed to get them out. It didn’t seem that bad to us – until we arrived at a temporary assembly point near Beauvais, got out of the vehicle, and everyone asked what the hell had died in our car.”