Eyes and Ears of the Wehrmacht | Sd.Kfz.221 Leichter Panzerspähwagen (M.G.)

The German Kfz.13, although an initial success as the first serially produced armored car, lacked armor and any fighting capabilities and was never intended for combat use. This led to the need for a new armored car that would be built on a new standard chassis common to all kinds of other German armored vehicles. The Sd.Kfz.221 was first developed in 1934 and was a completely new design with many modern features at that time. It was meant for frontline service, acting as a reconnaissance vehicle together with radio-equipped vehicles. However, with thin armor and armed with only a machine gun, it could do very little in combat, even in 1939. Therefore, the production of the Sd.Kfz.221 was stopped and emphasis was laid on newer armored cars. In the end, it was still in service around 1943 due to a low supply of reconnaissance vehicles, with many regular 221s converted into radio or command vehicles.
Join this channel to get access to exclusive perks:
/ @tanksencyclopediayt
If you liked this video, please consider donating on Patreon or Paypal!
Patreon: / tankartfund
Paypal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/tanke...
Article: tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/na...
Sources:
D. Doyle (2005). German military Vehicles, Krause Publications
H. Scheibert (1993) German Light Reconnaissance Vehicles, Schiffer Publishing
I. Hogg (1975) German Artillery Of World War Two, Purnell Book Services
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2005) Panzer Tracts No.13-1 Panzerspahwagen
J. Milson and P. Chamberlain (1974) German Armored Cars of World War Two, Arms and Armor Press
D. Nešić, (2008), Naoružanje Drugog Svetsko Rata-Nemačka, Beograd
T. Anderson (2017) History of Panzerjager Volume 1 1939-42, Osprey Publishing
P. Chamberlain and H. Doyle (1978) Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two - Revised Edition, Arms and Armor Press.
B. Perrett (2008) German Armored Cars and Reconnaissance Half-Tracks 1939-45. Osprey Publishing
B. Perrett (2005) German Armored Cars and Reconnaissance Half-Tracks, Osprey Publishing
P. P. Battistelli (2007) Panzer Divisions The Blitzkrieg Years 1939-40, Osprey Publishing
Reddit: / tankencyclopedia
TE Shop: www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/Goo...
Our website: www.tanks-encyclopedia.com
Gaming News Website: www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/games/
Facebook: / tanksencyclopedia
Twitter: / tanksenc
Discord: / discord
Email: [e-mail]
An article by Marko Pantelic and Johannes Dorn
Script by Stan Lucian
Narrated by Elrebelde
Edited by Mace.exe
Sound edited by Gabe

[@hamishneilson7140]

This is another perfect example to use to counter the argument that the T-34 pioneered sloped armour. Especially since a lot of the examples people use aren’t as noticeable as this.

[@mattbowden4996]

Aside from the lack of a radio, the SdKfz 221 was pretty much the perfect WW2 scout car. It's size, weight, armour and armament are all virtually identical to the post war British Ferret scout car, which had a very long and successful career. With an improved engine and a sufficiently compact radio (something that admittedly did not exist in the 1930s) there really would have been no reason to replace the 221 for light reconnaissance duties, but I guess the Germans really wanted that 20mm cannon.

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

The 222 not only had a different gun, but a whole different chassis. And yeah, it is hard to tell from the outside. We'll cover that at some point

[@andreasbeyer7715]

@@TanksEncyclopediaYT The chassis of the light 4x4 armoured cars is actually the same for the early type and again for the later type. The main difference is the size of the armoured body. Which was much smaller for the 221 than for 222 and 223. With the 221 lacking firepower the supporting "Kanonen-Wagen" (gun car) became the more important vehicle for the troops after the begin of the war, and took the role. You mentioned there was no radio at all, which is not totally correct. From 1941 on a Fu.Spr.Ger. a with a range of 1km was installed. It would have been good to mention, that behind the commander there was sufficient space for a third person only in case of need. MG 13 may have had a Doppeltrommelmagazin or a curved magazin.

[@markopantelic3088]

@@andreasbeyer7715Hey Andreas those informations are actually listed in the written article itself. Which you can read fully on our website. But thanks for point out these facts! Author.

[@smaragd1238]

@@andreasbeyer7715 The first part is correct what you say, however all the other aspects you named are in the actual article on the website

[@jon9021]

No radio?…pretty much useless then. Doesn’t matter how good it may have been at it’s assigned job.

[@StacheMan26]

Other than the lack of even a short range radio, I'd say the 221 was a perfectly adequate reconnaissance vehicle for the 1930's... Well, at least for the conditions of Western Europe. Also, it is exceptionally cute for an AFV, so bonus points there.

[@HereticalKitsune]

Those are my favorites, I just love the lines of the 221 and 251 variants. Half tracks or wheeled. Also good German pronounciation!

[@lyrooo326]

I just lost my job as a dump truck mechanic but I will comment and leave a like to help with the KZbin algorithm because I truly appreciate these videos.

[@tekis0]

Wow. I've been watching this channel from its beginning. The overall quality of this video really shines! There's more information, more photos, figures and great narration. Thank-you.

[@purpleldv966]

Hmmm... I would point out the banging on the table as being in conflict with your impression of quality.

[@timothywood4402]

Great job as always guys

[@PUBHEAD1]

Great video, thanks so much for this. Been looking to research this little vehicle for quite some time.

[@markkringle9144]

A decent vehicle, should have gone with thicker side armor and the 20 or 37mm gun with machine gun. They always say, "not for front line use" but if it's got a gun or heavy machine gun, it's gonna end up in an infantry support role. Chaos happens and you have to use what you have.

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

Or they could have gone the other way around and not arm it at all. The chassis couldn't have taken a 37 mm anyhow and was not that amazing.

[@basichistory]

I enjoyed this video well done

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Nice vid man. Good job.

[@johnlansing2902]

Nicely done , thank you for covering a mostly ignored area of military vehicles .

[@Mikedadof2]

Sick information, thanks

[@ThommyofThenn]

O man I didn't know you had a youtube channel. I'm gonna be watching a lot of your videos in the near future if you have more light armour videos from this era.

[@jensnimike176]

Very well done!

[@looneybatemanscotch2579]

Looks really cool

[@littlebull8881]

I thought I knew my stuff, wow excellent work 👏🏻

[@alessiodecarolis]

Pratically it was a counterpart of the Daimler AC, two man crew, a single LMG, the only difference being the lack of a turret in the British vehicle(at least in early versions).

[@23GreyFox]

@@obsidianjane4413 Good joke. The Daimler had only 20hp more than the 221 and had only 12.5hp/ton, while the 221 had 19.5hp/ton. And no part reached 30mm, the best i could find was 16mm. Armor thickness was nearly the same on both. Only the fire power was better compared to the 221, but with the 222 even that was not the case anymore.

[@23GreyFox]

@@obsidianjane4413 Daimler AC and the Daimler Dingo are not the same. He wrote AC, not SC. Your last senseless comment back to you. So much to thinking...

[@jonathanbaron-crangle5093]

Had one of these in 1:35 scale, & also the Sd.Kfz (SonderKraftfahrzeug, Special Purpose Vehicle) 222, both from Tamiya. Hope you'll be doing some history on the 8-wheelers, the Puma especially. 10:00 the 2.8cm rifle was a squeeze-bore weapon, using tungsten shot

[@jimsquire9048]

The Germans had some "forgive the term" sexy vehicles. All the angles and slopes make them look sharp. Funny how the 22's and puma resemble the mine resistant vehicles of today.

[@MXB2001]

Thanks. Our warships are similarly sexy. However it never did translate to the planes. The one exception being the exceptional 262.

[@jimsquire9048]

@@MXB2001 I agree. I have models of Scharnhorst, Graf Zepplin, a couple Bismarck's and my favorite Prinz Eugen. I love heavy cruisers. I must also say that I do like some of your planes. The BF 109, FW 190 and HE 111 to name a few. I even admire the blunt "in your face" style of the Stuka. With it's bent wings it must have looked like a bird of prey diving down. It's non retracting landing gear the claws outstretched.

[@purpleldv966]

The way this gentleman speaks reminds me of Sheldon Cooper. :)

[@stefanebert7171]

Your German is very impressive! Great channel! Best from Hamburg, Germany

[@mdkd99]

very nice video! It was a neat scouting car, but the very thin armor was a problem, even in Poland and France, and the armament was at best good to fight infantry. Afaik these were also supposed to be used in combination with the sd kfz 222 and sd kfz 223. But yeah, later on, the sd kfz 222 was favored, as it has the 2cm Kwk and better armor.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

The 221 also had a poorer engine than the 222, which made it struggle offroad.

[@homunculous007]

Terrific video. Great images and well presented. Particularly good for scale modelers. With regard to North Africa, I built a model 222 (Tamiya) that had DAK decals. Curious. Thanks again.

[@jensleck547]

The Spähwagen oder Aufklärungsfahrzeuge of the Germans looking out of time, as if they come directly from the future. I love the German design🖖

[@matscaife9014]

The Beltway Bandits Mat 👍🪘

[@slimrummy4616]

WAIT ... At 10:36 is that a panther with a late panzer 4 turret on it? .. is that a real picture? ... Ps awesome video the 222 is my favorite vehicle from WW2

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

Yes.

[@scipioafricanus4328]

I read somewhere the panther with the pz4 turret was a one-off field conversion of a damaged panther to a command vehicle. The 222 is one of my favourite as well. Great video on its predecessor.

[@JGCR59]

Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 653 (normally equipped with Ferdinand/Elefant) was notorious for using weird field conversions used this one as a command vehicle. It also had a Flakpanzer T-34 and used probably the only Porsche Tiger to see frontline service as a Befehlspanzer. The Panther with a Panzer IV turret originated as Bergepather recovery vehicle

[@nanoreaper5002]

This was the first Armor Model I ever built

[@ScreamingSturmovik]

the arguments for vehicles becoming "obsolete" almost always has nothing to do with their intended role, the best recon is when the enemy didn't even know you were there. almost every armoured car is judged by the fact it's not a tank which is kinda why things like the M8, Daimler and AEC came along (although M8 was a early tank destroyer technically) it's like asking why your 65hp single seat scout plane can't dog fight a BF-109s or shoot down Ju-88s

[@tihlsteinig2465]

Good compromise!

[@jumpferjoy1st]

I feel there is such a need for something similar in this day and age. An armoured car using as much mainstream mechanicals as possible to reduce cost. A performance similar of 55mph-ish and range of 250 miles. A body of similar design that will deflect mine explosions, plus give angled armour protection against incoming rounds. A turret ring that could even include a .50cal or 30mm autocannon or AT missiles. Keeping it with a crew of two will ensure the size isn't too big. Have weight distribution slightly in favour of the rear, so if either of the front wheels are blown off, the vehicle can remain mobile. It would be a highly cost effective and mobile option for many armies of the world.

[@justinreilly6619]

From an aesthetics perspective, I think this looks like a great vehicle! 👍

[@alepaz1099]

A scout car without a radio... 🤷‍♂

[@lanceschaerer6875]

Considering when it was designed and put yo use I'd say it was definitely useful and better than what the Allies were fielding at the time.

[@markfutchll8141]

I think it looks cool

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

It does have a nice aesthetic to it.

[@crapphone7744]

Why would you ever have a chassis that you want to use universally for scouting and light armored vehicles that has only has only a 75 horsepower engine? Even in the 1930s that's pathetically inadequate.

[@mcormier3934]

This armored scout car is better than ANY bently

[@jameswyre6480]

A show on ww2 armored car tactics in actual practice would be excellent.

[@akaroth7542]

This thing is aesthetic AF

[@derrickstorm6976]

Very cool video. I'm only now piecing together how much material Germany already lost in invading Poland I'd say like most German designs, it would have been a good vehicle if the war had started ~5 years earlier. They dominated the Spanish civil war but soon after '39 proved they should have already had at least very upgraded models with them, and things like the Stuka had just been entirely nullified outside already controlled airspace which requires the enemy to have zero aircraft in ww2 conditions

[@michaelschmid9567]

yeah, the Poland campaign was an expensive learning for the Wehrmacht. Lost and learned so much, for example that tanks should not fight inside a city. The Germans also used near all of there munition, what resulted in the "Munitionskriese", and they needed month to produce it. If the French and/or the British would have attacked Germany in these month, the Wehrmacht would have nothing to shoot back.

[@chuckhaggard1584]

Since I started my career as a scout using a jeep with an M60 machine gun on a pintle mount, I don't really consider the 221 to be underarmored at all. Significantly better armor than a M151, and a better GPMG as well.

[@JGCR59]

2 or 3 of these would be the only armored vehicles of a standard german infantry division at the beginning of the war.

[@nickysimi9866]

I wonder if a racketenwerfer 43 could have been mounted on the sd.kfz.221

[@nastypiglosi1788]

It was much lighter than the 2.8cm

[@jayfelsberg1931]

Was the "universal chassis" part of the development of the "Schelle Program?" The SdKfz 221 seems like a useful step in the development of German armored cars, which bore much fruit as the war progressed. The SdKfz 222 series was much more successful. While the six-wheeled vehicles were not a success, the 8x8 vehicles were quite good.

[@nunyabidniz2868]

It's an oxymoron! Both sonder und leichter! It's two, 2 great spahwagens in one! [Maybe a Reese's peanutbutter cup camo paint job is in order?] 😄

[@Eulemunin]

Lovely little vehicle, just needed a smaller and powerful radio. Which did not exist in sufficient numbers.

[@P4Tri0t420]

ZWEIHUNDRED :D Denglish intensified

[@mariobosnjak99]

75 hp for 4 tonnes is insane. Im guessing they tried to get as much torque out of it as possible

[@stoneylonesome4062]

You’d think it would’ve been faster, given that they mounted the Wankel Rotary engines literally inside the wheels.

[@SHAd0Eheart]

I have to admit that until now I had assumed those radio antennas were just hand bars to hold on to over rough terrain. 😳 I guess I never gave it much though but still I’m rather embarrassed.

[@stevesandford7442]

Great video. Any information on the Panther hull with the Pz4 turret at 10:35?

[@oddballsok]

i am amazed that they serve the same turret ring diameter and pin/racket shape...

[@stevesandford7442]

Was going to ask the same question...

[@ncrvako]

could such desing reapear to the batttlefield today?

[@theidahotraveler]

This is the car i would buy if i was rich

[@angry_zergling]

10:36 Is that a panther with a pz4 turret and gun?

[@theromanorder]

This looks formilar... at my grandparents i had a small green armored car... it looks very similar to this, i also had a biger metal tank that looks like a dingaro (apologize for my spelling im not physics capable of improving it.

[@filibandicoot1580]

It wasn't bad it had its role, how is it different than a up armored humvee ?

[@mosesracal6758]

The guy tripping in 11:27 is funny lol

[@Typing.._]

Yes we only produce civilian vehicle … with slight modifications to the body work

[@nomcarver4436]

Or as a warthunder player might call it, “baby puma”

[@elmerelles9542]

Check out 10:36. A panther w a pz IV turret…?

[@damirsirotic052]

My little tank from Lieutenant Gruber.

[@jackjones9460]

Seems like it would’ve been a Great recon vehicle and great for causing chaos among the enemy. 😊

[@matscaife9014]

Reminds of the Sherman 🤔👍🪘👍

[@SARGE11963]

Good interim vehicle until the Sdkfz 222 came into service. It only soldiered on for as long as it did because Germany needed everything it could get it's hands on for the war.

[@madkoala2130]

Is this Gruber's "little tank" from Allo allo?

[@CZ350tuner]

No, Gruber had a SdKfz.222.

[@madkoala2130]

@@CZ350tuner what's the difference?

[@CanalTremocos]

@@madkoala2130 222 is armed with a 20mm autocannon and a gunner is added to the crew. Otherwise, basically the same.

[@AwayWithYouVileBeggar]

Ah yes: The Sqeezy Boy

[@MaxTSanches]

As with many vehicles, it was a good vehicle when it was designed. But, like many other vehicles it was quickly overtaken my the frantic rate of development of other vehicles that happens during war. Just look at the five years from the 1940s Matilda I heavy tank, vs the 1945 IS-2 heavy tank. Infact some vehicles were obsolite before they reached the production line.

[@slobodanmitic1354]

That wire mash protection looks rather ineffective. Aside from the fact it does not cover the entire turret roof, what happens if a hand grenade lands on top of the mash without bouncing of it? I guess it can't protect anyone in that case...

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

If it lands on the mesh, it still does damage, but far less than if it had gone inside the car.

[@kaineuhauser9353]

The Driver survive

[@MXB2001]

I never knew about the mesh until I saw this video. I'd always thought it was completely open. I guess the mesh was a makeshift solution to the inevitable question people asked when they saw the open top. Grenades? Yeah, yeah we'll put a mesh over it. Happy? : )

[@JL-tm3rc]

I think the gunner can punch it through the mesh pushing it out

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

The mesh was tensioned, so very unlikely a grenade or molotov bottle would do anything other than bounce off. The trick would be to aim for the gap at the back. (The gap in the 222 mesh was even smaller.)

[@oddballsok]

no pictures of 221 in DAK ?? huh ???(tamiya)

[@JK-br1mu]

That would be exciting to hit one of those tin cans with a tank shell from point blank.

[@dudududu1926]

Why would you build a recon car with no radio. That's like the most important part...

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

Because radios were big, fragile, finicky and very expensive. You still need recon, so you have a radio car in the back, send these out, then they come back and report.

[@tonyrobinson362]

My favourite model to build the 222 thankyou for showing the other side not just the big cats.

[@peterfranklin8653]

I cant put my finger on why the the narrators voice sounds so weird. It sounds like three accents and a mild speech impediment teaming up to do an impression of a droning teacher. Im just gonna say it: "Turr-t" try and unhear it.

[@joeperson4792]

It's too bad there's not enough history about the 2.8 cms version. Was it a tank destroyer or just a mobile carrier of that squeeze bore gun?

[@danielhurst8863]

The 2.8 did not last long in combat, as the taper bore was effective at greatly increasing velocity, but this meant the rounds required tungsten, which was in very short supply and was needed for tooling. Past a certain velocity, steel shells will shatter rather than penetrate. It's why depleted uranium is used today.

[@metalmadsen]

I prefer Lt. Grübers little tank.

[@secretbaguette]

Furthermore...

[@aidangee6407]

looks like a brdm.

[@RandomZFella]

“Sd.KFC.222” 💀💀💀

[@Sigmamalerule729]

even todays tanks doesnot match style swag power and terror of Tiger tank

[@koenvangeleuken2853]

the wehrmacht judged these vehicles as ""not suited for front use ", after revieuwing the experiences with the vehicles in russia. it was unreliable, very complicated and hard to repair, and the suspension was very fragile. the 4wheel steering was considered useless, because it was dangerous at speed, and far to heavy to steer at low speeds. (no power steering). read the book of Spielberger about german army armoured wheeled vehicles.

[@99Racker]

Compromise.

[@derrickstorm6976]

Did Hitler try to promote it to the Jedi Council? Someone better get this joke...

[@jean-francoislemieux5509]

ears really? lol ping ping ping boom!

[@robotnikkkk001]

=AND IT'S WAY MUCH BETTER THAN BENTLEY=!!!!!! =HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE

[@mustangrt8866]

It would have been better with a 20mm autocannon for self defense and radios

[@michaelschmid9567]

The version with more armor, 20mm autocannon and radio was called Panzer 2. The version with more armor, radio and same gun was called Panzer 1. Oh, they had tracks as well.

[@23GreyFox]

That became the 222, little bigger, 2cm gun, 90hp engine and with radio. It was a excellent vehicle.

[@tonylam9548]

China is an ideal dumping ground for obsolete and unwanted European and American weapons. Such as the P40 that was already obsolete at the start of WW2. The 221 suit China well, because it is better than anything else they can produce and the really lousy quality of the Japanese tanks. German products also enjoyed a reputation in China for precision and good quality, which lingered on to this day. That's why China bought much of the weapons from Germany. Even small arms, You will always feel unarmed if you are carrying a Japanese pistol rather than a Mauser or Walther.