- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest the Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.B Teilgepanzert mit 7,5 cm Pak 42 L/70 auf Kreuzlafette.
It was essencially a Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.B where the whole back side armor and frontal plate was removed to create space for a 7,5 cm Pak 42 L/70 on a cruciform carriage/mount. It had the ability to shoot 360° and was to be able to dismount the gun for continued use as a field gun.
It was not taken into full production because the long gun made traversing difficult, using the travel lock and dismounting was difficult. Along that there simply werent enove carriers to spare additional production.
Similar to Waffenträger later on this was to be (as sayed above) a cheap platform for 360° effective AT fire as well as fire support (relatively limited in this case with merely a 75mm gun).
There isnt much history to it with exception to that it was planned in a discussion with Hitler on 30th September 1943 and the prototype shown on 28th January 1944. With pruposed improvement, that to make dismounting easyer a jib boom (Bockkran) should be mounted to it. It didnt enter production.
History of the Sd.Kfz.251:
The AHA IN6 (Inspectorate of Motorized Troops) requested a 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 a bigger version to the then also in development Sd.Kfz.250, its smaller brother.
It was an development of the Sd.Kfz.11, 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.11 were around 12.000 produced until 1945 and additional 15.252 of the armored version Sd.Kfz.251. The armored body was designed and produced by Büssig-NAG abd called Mittlerer gepanzerter Mannschafts Transportwagen (medium armored troop transporter) with the number Sd.Kfz.251.
Where exactly its place is in game is somewhat difficult, as it offers relatively good mobility, very few armor protection but with great fire power 360° around. And be the stronger brother to the Sd.Kfz.251/22 Ausf.D
Pictures:(Click to show)
The Gun:
7,5 cm Pak 42 L/70 allready familiar to from the Panther.
360° Traverse at 20°/Sec -10° to + 25° Elevation
Unknown ammo amount (possibly not even mounted on the prototype, as such perhaps gaijin needs to make it up like on the Chi-Ha LG)
Ammo:(Click to show)
Pzgr. 39/42 (Apcbc) 6,8 kg 17g Np.10 (28,9g) 935m/s 192mm/10m
Pzgr. 40/42 (Apcr) 4,75 kg 1120m/s 228mm/10m
Sprgr. 42 (He) 5,74 kg 720g Fp.02 and Np.10 700m/s 13mm/10m 11mm/all
(Couldnt find the correct picture, however its simply a Sprgr. 34 with a 2nd driving band)
The Vehicle:
Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.B Teilgepanzert
Armor: Front 14,5mm sides and top 8mm
Gunshield: 14,5mm
Speed: 53 km/h
Weight: 7 ton (?)
Engine: 100 Ps/2800 Rpm
Crew: 4
Source:
Geschossringbuch II
Sd.Kfz.251 Manual
Spielberger Halbkettenfahrzeuge 1989
Waffen des zweiten Weltkrieges: eine Enzyklopädie