Sonderkraftfahrzeug (abbreviatedSd.Kfz. ,[ 1] German for "special purpose vehicle") was theordnance inventory designation used byNazi Germany before and duringWorld War II formilitary vehicles ; for exampleSd.Kfz. 101 for thePanzer I , andSd.Kfz. 251 for thearmored personnel carrier made byHanomag .
TheReichswehr and its successor, theWehrmacht began systematically allocating numbers to its vehicles from around 1930, including horse-drawn vehicles, cars and trucks, combat vehicles, and trailers.[ 2] Sd.Kfz. numbers were assigned toarmored ,tracked , andhalf-tracked vehicles. Cars and trucks were allocated Kfz. numbers[ 3] and trailers were designated with Anh. (Anhänger ) and Sd.Anh. numbers.[ 4]
Sd.Kfz. numbering system [ edit ] Allocation of the numbered series was as follows:[ 5] [ 2]
Sd.Kfz. 1 to 99: Unarmoured half-tracked vehicles Sd.Kfz. 100 to 199: Tanks and tank variants, including tank destroyers and self-propelled artillerySd.Kfz. 101 to 120: Panzer I and variants Sd.Kfz. 121 to 140: Panzer II and variants[ a] and Panzer 38(t) and variants Sd.Kfz. 141 to 160: Panzer III and variants Sd.Kfz. 161 to 170: Panzer IV and variants Sd.Kfz. 171 to 180: Panzer V (Panther) and variants Sd.Kfz. 181 and above: Panzer VI (Tiger) and variants Sd.Kfz. 200 to 299: Armored cars (reconnaissance), armored half-tracked personnel carriers, and command tanks Sd.Kfz. 300 and above: Radio-controlled mine-clearing tanks and demolition charge-laying vehicles Some combat vehicles, often based on existing vehicles in the Sd.Kfz. series and produced in relatively small numbers, weren't allocated a number and were only described with a name.[ 6]
Sd.Kfz. 1 (Krupp/Daimler Geschützkraftwagen Kraftwagen 19; number later deleted)Sd.Kfz. 2 (Krupp/Daimler Tractor; number later reassigned)Sd.Kfz. 2 (Kettenkrad light half-track "tracked motorcycle")KettenkradSd.Kfz. 2 in Russia Sd.Kfz. 2/1 (Field cable-laying variant for long distance field cableFeldfernkabel )Sd.Kfz. 2/2 (Field cable-laying variant for heavy field cableSchweres Feldkabel )Sd.Kfz. 3 (Armored version of Daimler DZVR; number later reassigned)Sd.Kfz. 3 (Maultier 2-ton half-track truck)Sd.Kfz. 3 (Maultier) unloaded from aMesserschmitt Me 323 "Gigant" transport aircraft Sd.Kfz. 3a (Maultier based onOpel Blitz 3.6)Sd.Kfz. 3b (Maultier based onFord V 3000)Sd.Kfz. 3c (Maultier based onMagirus Type S)Sd.Kfz. 3/4 (Maultier with closed body; based on Ford or Opel chassis)Sd.Kfz. 3/5 (4.5-ton half-track truck based on Mercedes-Benz L 4500; sometimes called Sd.Kfz. 4)Sd.Kfz. 4 (3-ton aviation fuel tanker, based on Mercedes-Benz LG 3000; possibly introduced as Kfz.384)Sd.Kfz. 4 (2-ton armored version of Maultier half-track truck as ammunition carrier)Sd.Kfz. 5 (3-ton aviation fuel tanker, based on Krupp L3 H63/H163; likely only a prototype)Sd.Kfz. 6 (5-ton medium halftrack with engineer superstructure)Sd.Kfz. 6 Sd.Kfz. 6/1 (5-ton medium half-track with artillery superstructure)Sd.Kfz. 6/2 (self-propelled37 mm antiaircraft gun )Sd.Kfz. 6/3 "Sd.Kfz. 6 mit 7.62 cm FK 36(r)", half track carrying a captured Soviet76mm M1936 (F-22) gun portee in an armored superstructure)Sd.Kfz. 7 (8-ton medium half-track)Sd.Kfz. 7/1 (self-propelled20 mm quadruple anti-aircraft gun )Sd.Kfz. 7/2 (self-propelled 37 mm antiaircraft gun)Sd.Kfz. 7/3 (armored fire-control vehicle for V-2 rockets on 8-ton towing vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 7/6 (variant for anti-aircraft range finding)Sd.Kfz. 7/8 (variant with engineer superstructure)Sd.Kfz. 7/9 (variant with artillery superstructure)Sd.Kfz. 8 (12-ton heavy half-track)Sd.Kfz. 8 half-track towingGotha Go 242 glider Sd.Kfz. 8/1 (12-ton heavy half-track)Sd.Kfz. 8/5 (12-ton heavy half-track with artillery superstructure)Sd.Kfz. 9 (18-ton heavy half-track)Sd.Kfz. 9/1 (halftrack mounted 6 ton crane)Sd.Kfz. 9/2 (halftrack mounted 10 ton crane)Sd.Kfz. 9/6 (tractor with 40-ton winch)Sd.Kfz. 10 (1-ton light halftrack)Sd.Kfz. 10 Sd.Kfz. 10/1 (light gas detection vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 10/2 (light decontamination vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 10/3 (light decontamination sprayer vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 10/4 (self-propelled 20 mm Flak 30 antiaircraft gun)Sd.Kfz. 10/5 (self-propelled 20 mm Flak 38 antiaircraft gun)Sd.Kfz. 11 (3-ton light halftrack)Sd.Kfz . 11Sd.Kfz. 11/1 (carrier for10 cm Nebelwerfer 35 and10 cm Nebelwerfer 40 mortars)Sd.Kfz. 11/1 (designation re-issued in 1944: self-propelled 20 mm Flak 38 antiaircraft gun)Sd.Kfz. 11/2 (medium decontamination vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 11/3 (medium decontamination spraying vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 11/4 (smoke-generation vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 11/5 (medium gas detection vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 20 (35-ton armored recovery vehicle; based on Russian T-34 and KV-1)
Sd.Kfz. 101 Panzer I Ausf . A, B, C and F light tankSd.Kfz. 111 Panzer I ammunition carrier variantSd.Kfz. 121 Panzer II Ausf . a to F light tankSd.Kfz. 122 Panzer II (Flamm)flame tank Sd.Kfz. 123 Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs" reconnaissance tankSd.Kfz. 124 Wespe self-propelled10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer on Panzer II chassisSd.Kfz. 128 Panzer II (50 mm KwK 39 L/60),VK 16.02 Leopard Sd.Kfz. 131 Marder II self-propelled7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun on Panzer II chassisSd.Kfz. 132 Marder II self-propelled Soviet7.62 cm Pak 36(r) antitank gunSd.Kfz. 135 -Marder I Panzerjäger tank destroyer on captured FrenchLorraine 37L tracked carrierSd.Kfz. 135/1 (self-propelled 150 mm howitzer)Sd.Kfz. 136 Bergepanzerwagen 38Sd.Kfz. 138 (Marder III self-propelled 75 mm anti-tank gun)Marder III Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138) Sd.Kfz. 139 - Marder III self-propelled 76.2 mm anti-tank gunSd.Kfz. 140 -Flakpanzer 38(t) (Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) Ausf M) self-propelled 20 mm anti-aircraft gun on a Panzer 38(t) chassisSd.Kfz. 140/1 - armored reconnaissance vehicle based on the Panzer 38(t)Sd.Kfz. 141 -Panzer III medium tank with 37 mm or 50 mm L/42 main gunPanzer III Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 141) Sd.Kfz. 141/1 - Panzer III medium tank with 50 mm L/60 main gun)Sd.Kfz. 141/2 - Panzer III medium tank withshort-barrelled 75 mm KwK 37 main gunSd.Kfz. 142 -Sturmgeschütz III assault gun with 75 mm L/24 main gunSd.Kfz. 142/1 - Sturmgeschütz III assault gun with 75 mm L/43 or L/48 main gunSd.Kfz. 142/2 -StuH 42 assault gun with 105 mm L/28 main gunSd.Kfz. 143 - Panzer III based artillery observation postSd.Kfz. 144 - Bergepanzerwagen IIISd.Kfz. 161 -Panzer IV medium tank with 75 mm L/24 main gunPanzer IV Sd.Kfz. 161 withSchurzen side skirts Sd.Kfz. 161/1 - Panzer IV medium tank with 75 mm L/43 main gunSd.Kfz. 161/2 - Panzer IV medium tank with 75 mm L/48 main gunSd.Kfz. 161/3 -Möbelwagen self-propelled 37 mm antiaircraft gunSd.Kfz. 161/4 -Wirbelwind self-propelled 20 mm x 4 antiaircraft gunSd.Kfz. 162 -Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer with 75 mm L/48 main gun on Panzer IV chassisSd.Kfz. 163 -Sturmgeschütz IV for Sturmkanone 40 (L/48)Sd.Kfz. 164 -Nashorn (until 1944 known asHornisse )panzerjäger tank destroyer with 88 mm Pak 43 main gun)Sd.Kfz. 165 -Hummel self-propelled 150 mm artillerySd.Kfz. 166 -Brummbär self-propelled 150 mm infantry gunSd.Kfz. 167 -Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun with 75 mm L/48 main gunSd.Kfz. 171 -Panther tank Panther Sd.Kfz. 171 Sd.Kfz. 172 - proposed assault gun variant of Panther tankSd.Kfz. 173 -Jagdpanther (Panzerjäger Panther) tank destroyerSd.Kfz. 179 -Bergepanther recovery variantSd.Kfz. 181 -Tiger I heavy tankSd.Kfz. 182 -Tiger II ("Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B") heavy tankSd.Kfz. 184 - Ferdinand/Elefant "Panzerjäger Tiger (P)" tank destroyerSd.Kfz. 185 -Jagdtiger tank destroyer with 88 mm L/71 main gun due to lack of supply of 128mm gunSd.Kfz. 186 - Jagdtiger tank destroyer with12.8 cm Pak 44 main gun
Sd.Kfz. 221 (Leichter Panzerspähwagen with 7.92 mm machinegun)Sd.Kfz. 222 (Leichter Panzerspähwagen with 2 cm KwK 30 gun)Sd.Kfz. 223 (Leichter Panzerspähwagen with radio gear)Sd.Kfz. 231 6-rad (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (6 wheel) with2 cm KwK 30 gun) Sd.Kfz. 231 Sd.Kfz. 231 8-rad (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (8 wheel) with 2 cm KwK 30 gun)Sd.Kfz. 232 6-rad (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (6 wheel) with medium range and short range radios)Sd.Kfz. 232 8-rad (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (8 wheel) with radio gear)Sd.Kfz. 233 (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen with7.5 cm KwK 37 gun)Sd.Kfz. 234 (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen )Sd.Kfz. 234/1 (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen with 20 mm gun)Sd.Kfz. 234/2 (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen with 50 mm gun)Sd.Kfz. 234/3 (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen with 75 mm gun)Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (Schwerer Panzerspähwagen with 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun)Sd.Kfz. 247 (armored staff car)Sd.Kfz. 250 (armored light halftrack)Sd.Kfz. 250/1 (with communications gear)Sd.Kfz. 250 Sd.Kfz. 250/2 leichter Fernsprechpanzerwagen light armored halftrack with cable-laying gearSd.Kfz. 250/3 (with radio gear)Sd.Kfz. 250/4 ( with twin antiaircraft machineguns)Sd.Kfz. 250/5 leichter Beobachtungspanzerwagen observation post)Sd.Kfz. 250/6 (reconnaissance vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 250/7 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (schwerer Granatwerfer) (mortar carrier)Sd.Kfz. 250/8 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5 cm) with7.5 cm KwK 37 gunSd.Kfz. 250/9 ( with 20 mm L/55 gun)Sd.Kfz. 250/10 (with 37 mm antitank gun)Sd.Kfz. 250/11 (with2.8 cm sPzB 41 anti-tank "rifle")Sd.Kfz. 250/12 (for survey crews)Sd.Kfz. 251 (medium armored halftrack) Sd.Kfz. 251 carrying troops in southern Russia in 1942 Sd.Kfz. 251/1 (with communications gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/2 (mortar carrier)Sd.Kfz. 251/3 (with radio gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/4 Schützenpanzerwagen für Munition und Zubehör des leIG18 -artillery tractor Sd.Kfz. 251/5 (medium armored halftrack for engineers)Sd.Kfz. 251/6 (medium armored halftrack command post)Sd.Kfz. 251/7 (medium armored halftrack for engineers)Sd.Kfz. 251/8 (medium armored halftrack ambulance)Sd.Kfz. 251/9 (medium armored halftrack with 75 mm L/24 gun)Sd.Kfz. 251/10 (medium armored halftrack with 37 mm antitank gun)Sd.Kfz. 251/11 (medium armored halftrack with telephone equipment)Sd.Kfz. 251/12 (medium armored halftrack with survey gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/13 (medium armored halftrack with artillery sound recording gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/14 (medium armored halftrack with artillery sound ranging gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/15 (medium armored halftrack with artillery flash spotting gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/16 (medium armored halftrack with flamethrower)Sd.Kfz. 251/17 (medium armored halftrack with 20 mm L/55 gun)Sd.Kfz. 251/18 (medium armored halftrack observation post)Sd.Kfz. 251/19 (medium armored halftrack with telephone exchange gear)Sd.Kfz. 251/20 (medium armored halftrack with infrared searchlight)Sd.Kfz. 251/21 Schützenpanzerwagen (Drilling MG151s). with triple 15mm or 20mmMG151 autocannon )Sd.Kfz. 251/22 (with 75 mm L/46 Pak-40 gun)Sd.Kfz. 251/23 (reconnaissance vehicle - possibly never produced. Was to have a 20mm gun in turret similar to Sd.Kfz. 234/1)Sd.Kfz. 252 (light halftrack ammunition carrier)Sd.Kfz. 253 leichter Gepanzerter Beobachtungskraftwagen (artillery observation post)Sd.Kfz. 254 (medium track or wheel observation post)Sd.Kfz. 260 (light armored radio car)Sd.Kfz. 261 Kleiner Panzerfunkwagen equipped with radios for army communicationThe Sd.Kfz. 261 had a large frame aerial over the vehicle Sd.Kfz. 263 6-rad (heavy armored radio car - 6 wheel)Sd.Kfz. 263 8-rad (heavy armored radio car - 8 wheel)Sd.Kfz. 265 (Panzerbefehlswagen Panzer I command tank)Sd.Kfz. 266 (Panzer III command tanks with FuG 6 and FuG 2 radios)Sd.Kfz. 267 (Panzer III,Panther tank , andTiger I command tanks with FuG 6 and FuG 8 radios)Sd.Kfz. 268 (Panzer III, Panther, and Tiger I command tanks with FuG 6 and FuG 7 radios)Sd.Kfz. 280 gepanzerter Munitionsschlepper (armored ammunition tractor, also known as Sonderschlepper III)Sd.Kfz. 300 and above [ edit ] Sd.Kfz. 303 version of the Goliath used a petrol engine as a cost-saving measure Sd.Kfz. 300 -Minenräumwagen (Borgward I and Borgward II) remote-controlled mine destroyerSd.Kfz. 301 -Borgward IV heavy remote-control demolition layerSd.Kfz. 302 -Goliath tracked mine (Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath ) light remote-control demolition vehicle with electric motorSd.Kfz. 303 -Goliath tracked mine light remote-control demolition vehicle with petrol engineSd.Kfz. 304 -Springer medium remote-control demolition vehicleSd.Kfz. 311 - Sprengstoffträger (explosive carrier)Sd.Kfz. 325 - Vergleichsfahrzeug (heavy-duty off-road tractor)Sd.Kfz. 360 - Kraftzugwagen (towing vehicle)Sd.Kfz. 400 - Panzerberge-Kraftwagenzug (tank recovery-vehicle train)Notes ^ ThePz. Kpfw. II Ausf. L (Sd.Kfz. 123) was placed in the 100-series as a tank variant, although it was designed and named as a reconnaissance vehicle (usually the 200 series) Citations Media related toVehicles by Sonderkraftfahrzeug number at Wikimedia Commons