SdKfz 234

SdKfz 234/2
Wartime side view of a SdKfz 234/2 Puma
Type	Armoured car
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Specifications
Weight	10,500 kg (23,148 lb)
Length	6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
Width	2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
Height	2.10 m (6 ft 10 in)
Crew	4
Armor	9-30 mm (.35-1.18 in)
Main armament	•(234/2) 1x50 mm (2.0 in) L/60 KwK 39/1 •(234/1) 1x20 mm (0.79 in) •(234/3) 1x 75mm KwK 37
Secondary armament	1x7.92 mm (0.312 in) machinegun
Engine	14,825 cc (905 in3) Tatra 103V12 diesel 157 kW (210 hp)
Suspension	wheeled
Operational range	1,000 km (625 mi)
Speed	90 km/h (55 mph)

The Sd.Kfz. 234 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234, or 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. The Sd.Kfz. 234 broadly resembles the appearance of Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 rad).

Armoured wheeled vehicles were developed early in Germany, since they were not subject to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. The Sd.Kfz. 234 belonged to the ARK series (type designation of the chassis) and was the successor to the earlier Sd.Kfz. 231/232/233 (8-Rad), which belonged to the GS series.

The combat experience of fast-moving, hard-hitting wheeled reconnaissance vehicles during the Wehrmacht's early invasions of Poland and France impressed German military officials, but indicated some deficiencies in existing designs. A new armoured car project was thus undertaken in August 1940, incorporating several lessons from the Wehrmacht's own external operations. The latest Büssing-NAG Sd.Kfz. 232 variant, the Sd.Kfz. 234 was designed later that year. It was to have a monocoque chassis with eight wheels, and an air-cooled engine for use in North Africa.

Chassis were built by Büssing-NAG in Leipzig-Wahren, while armoured bodies were provided by Deutsche Edelstahlwerke of Krefeld and turrets by Daimler Benz in Berlin-Marienfelde and Schichau of Elbing, with engines from Ringhoffer-Tatra-Werke AG of Nesseldorf.