- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest this unique Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.A armed with a 7,5 cm Le.I.G. 18 L/12.
It would certainly be similar to the rather improved Sd.Kfz.250/8 Ausf.B which is armed with a K.51 L/24 and coax MG 42, this however armed with an Le.I.G. 18 L/12 would have possibly an faster reload and a far lower velocity with higher arcing making it possible to shoot over many obsticals or even behind it and over hills. They would fit together, as unilke the other main variants with /x number, the /8 was not build on the Ausf.A chassis, as the universal mount didnt fit on the armored body. The Le.I.G.18 would have a bigger weaker gunshield, lower velocity, but basically the same performance in terms of Chemical rounds and no frontal MG.
History:
The AHA IN6 (Inspectorate of Motorized Troops) requested a small armored Half track to accompany tanks on the offensive and perform auxiliary mission in 1939. These tasks were (not limited to) Scouting, mobile HQ, command vehicle, radio vehicle, forward observer and ammo carrier. And be smaller compared to the then also in development Sd.Kfz.251, its bigger brother.
It was an development of the Sd.Kfz.10, which was made by Demag, who was allready recognized for their expertise in very small and fast half tracks, which was recently accepted into service. Of these Sd.Kfz.10 were around 12.000 produced until 1945 and additional 6.628 of the armored version Sd.Kfz.250. The armored body was designed and produced by Büssig-NAG abd called Leichter gepanzerter Mannschafts Transportwagen (light armored troop transporter) with the number Sd.Kfz.250. Build from 1939-1944.
In Game it would offer a fast (up to 75 km/h) playstyle with a relatively (for its size) powerfull gun not yet in game. With a relatively high survivability, because of good armor (for the class of the vehicle, 14,5mm/30°) and the big engine compartment in the front, while also having good armor penetraiton of 115mm at the downside (or upside) of low velocity of 220-250 m/s.
It was most likely modified, to fire the Le.I.G.18 directly from the vehicle to let it keep up over the far stepps of the African desert. The modification included the removal of the wheels of the gun as well as removal of both the front MG and its gunshield, it is not visible if the back AA MG was retained. Sadly there arent many pictures, nor of good quality, but a side by side line drawing can help with the identification.
The Gun:
7,5 cm Le.I.G 18 L/12
Elevation: -10° to +75° Traverse: +/-12° Reload: 3 secs (or faster for ballancing, since it is very small ammo, no kinetic rounds and very low velocity) and 8mm Armored shield.
Ammo:
I leave out some double shells and instead show only the best of each.
initally it had 1-5 Charges, which were later on changed to 1-3, with 3 being in general stronger than the 5th, the velocity was increased, i wrote them both with a / inbetween.
Ammo: Click to show
Ap:
7,5 cm I.Gr.38 Hl/A (HEAT (no Tracer)) 2,85 kg 520g H.5 (884g TnTa) 250 / 330 m/s 115mm/10m
He:
7,5 cm I.Gr.18 (Bo.Pr) (HE-TF (no Tracer)) 5,45 kg 680g Fp.02 und Np.10 (870,4g TnTa) 93-221 / 172,5-260 m/s
Bo.Pr stands for Bohr Pressstrahl (Drilled and pressed steel, these were cheap alternatives to increase production beyond standart ammo)
7,5 cm I.Gr.18 Al (Bo.Pr) (HEI-TF (no Tracer)) 5,45 kg 680g Fp.02 und Np.10 (870,4g TnTa) 93-221 / 172,5-260 m/s
Bo.Pr stands for Bohr Pressstrahl (Drilled and pressed steel, these were cheap alternatives to increase production beyond standart ammo)
With Added Aluminium shavings in the HE filler for additional Incendary effect (and faster detonation speed).
Utility:
7,5 cm I.Gr.18 Nb (Smoke (no Tracer)) 5,5 kg 50g Smoke stuff 93-221 / 172,5-260m/s
The smaller brother to the allready in game 15 cm s.I.G 33 L/12.
It was a light infantry support weapon and even smaller and lighter than the allready familiar 7,5 cm KwK 37 L/24, just even smaller and special in multiple ways.
With development in 1927, the name 18 was a mere trickery duo the versailles treaty prohibiting the german army to develop new guns and making it instead look like a late WW1 development.
It came with a armored shield with round edges and in 2 variants, with wooden wheels or pneumatic. There was also a Gebirgs variant that could be broken down into 6 to 10 pieces for easy transport.
Designed to be used along the 3,7 cm Pak L/45 to support infantry and multy tasking (with Heat shells later on) it could be used in a multitude of rolls duo to its designe.
Its designe is quite special as it doesnt have a moving breechblock, instead the Barrle is like a break action, moving up.
In a sence it could be considdered a keypiece between mortars and guns, because of its elevation of -10° to 75° and its Semi fixed ammo (except HEAT shells had fixed shells as they were allways fired at full charge as well as to speed up) with 1-5 charges the ammo could be fired at 95 m/s and 500m range to 221 m/s and 3500m as such it could be prepared to fire at high angle indirectly like a mortar with charge 1 rounds with up to 20 rpm (3 sec reload or even higher cince it lacks any kinetic rounds and is very low velocity)
In game it could be then used to fire HEAT shells with great penetration (115mm/all ranges) at high RPM from good positions or over obsticals at singe enemys or multiple as well as fire a great amount of smoke shells to obstuct enemys, create smoke screens to either hinder the enemy or conseal your own troops advances. If you feel lucky you could even try shooting some biplanes.
The Vehicle:
Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf. A
Length / Width / Height: 4,56 m / 1,95 m / 2,13 m
Crew: 4-5
Engine: HL 45 TRMK 100 Ps at 2800 rpm
Speed: Max speed by trails 75 km/h (drivers were told to not go faster than 65 km/h duo wear)
Weight: 5,8 ton
Armor:
Front 14,5mm angled, Angled plates, sides and back 8mm, top and bottom 5,5mm
Gunshield (couldnt find the thickness)
Source:
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two – Revised Edition P. Chamberlain and H. Doyle
Panzer Tracts No. 15-1: Leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.250) Ausf.A & B
Sd.Kfz.250 Manual