Combat Mission Units: German Halftracks SKDFZ 251

[@eNoble-US]

The Flamethrower variant of the SdKfz was in real life noted as too ineffective, so the Germans delegated it to night-time operations and in specific, break-in operations rather than break through operations, where you need to punch a hole into the enemy line, and not punch a hole through. It was specifically noted as being effective against isolated holdouts of enemy units, enemy pockets of resistance, and partisans. Military History Visualized has a very good video on this.

[@paulclarke1207]

The Funkwagen certainly lived up to it's name here! Love it.

[@WolfTheTrueKing]

I love how Hapless teaches you history through Combat Mission "when one of your country arms is scavenging the other two for supplies, you know the situation is bad" 😂 But excellent video as always, I don't own any WWII titles (yet) but I learned a lot from this video

[@dadoogie]

One of my happiest memories is having "Special purpose vehicle" in German explained to me multiple times until i understood what SDKFZ meant. Great video as always mate.

[@Pvt.Conscriptovich]

Yeah-yeah-yeah can relate!

[@ninjasocks1048]

The Funk-Track broke me

[@HolgerHendel]

Same here! ;)

[@k1ng6767]

12:50 is the best part of the video. The radio was clearly used to ride into battle with elevator music 🤣

[@sproge2142]

Wonderful as always Hapless 🙂 and yes, Stummel is love and life, I think the reason it's so liked is due to it being a fairly unique capability later in the war, there aren't that many infantry support guns after they started putting high velocity guns on everything to counter armour/being on the defensive. Again, that's just a guess though ^^

[@___seb3341]

*Stummel (means stub in english) Hummel (bumblebee) is the nickname of a ww2 german artillery vehicle so i can see why they might get mixed up

[@sproge2142]

@@___seb3341 Oh yes of course! Thank you for the correction!

[@dankengine8788]

Thanks for this video. A much needed guide to all the variations of German halftracks of the second world war.

[@usuallyhapless9481]

You're welcome! They're a nightmare.

[@aanders1990]

Always a good day when there's a new Hapless video

[@jsilva4595]

Always a treat to get a new Hap video notification!!

[@vinnart]

Excellent documentary and overview! I try to keep them as "2nd engagers" to pop out to shoot at targets the infantry are already engaged with. "Use them carefully "is very good advice.

[@lolasdm6959]

I feel the late war triple cannons are a better design than the single auto cannon one, should have done that to start with.

[@Prederick]

Such a great channel discovery in 2022. I wish I had the time to really get back into CM, but I'll take living vicariously through your videos in the meantime.

[@andrewjones1578]

12:40 Oh, so you have jokes now.... :D

[@JuergenGDB]

One day... we will see the Spw 251/7 in action as a true bridging vehicle.. :) One day, maybe. I do like using the 251/17 multipurpose for light vehicles and anti-infantry, plus it penetrates the buildings with ease. The 251/22 is a great keyhole ambusher or a good shoot and scoot ATG.

[@milksterproductions]

"There's a lot of love for the stummel... Apparently" I have never felt so attacked in my life 🤣 But jokes aside having a infantry support gun is great. And having it keep up with pushes is greater still.

[@usuallyhapless9481]

I remain firmly in the "Use a tank instead" crowd :P

[@milksterproductions]

@@usuallyhapless9481 as much as I can agree there are times when the coolness factor outweighs the rational thinking in brain factor, plus I'm pretty sure they're cheaper.

[@sergeantspook7283]

@@usuallyhapless9481 Yeah well you didn't have "use a tank instead" as an option in the poll

[@lightning1605]

@@usuallyhapless9481 they are really nice poor man's assualt guns that let you allocate your tanks else where while still giving your infantry some howitzer support Edit: especially in closer range more built up area where it's nice to be able to keyhole and areafire some HE into a dug in positions. Especially when you consider the fact that Pz IV/stugs are only going respond slightly better to accurate Bazooka fire

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

I always love these videos. I wish you could make more.

[@usuallyhapless9481]

So do I!

[@gnarlyification]

+1 for the Stummel, particularly if used well and carefully in urban terrain

[@d.c.6065]

When Hapless says, “This might seem like a good idea,” you know it’s not!

[@seankong9733]

Absolutely loving these videos Hapless! Keep up the great work!

[@burningphoneix]

25:02 Hapless: I can not understand why people like hitting things with big howitzer shells. It is a true mystery.

[@usuallyhapless9481]

Little howitzer shells :P It's only 75mm.

[@GrumblingGrognard]

@14:20 "...that's a brown-pants anti-tank capability." A technical phrase? ;) This was outstanding btw.

[@robertatkinson923]

Nice video as always Hapless!

[@jimmehjiimmeehh9748]

I don't know why, but I feel like being hyper pedantic. Not that it really matters, but around 4:50 it's not a drum magazine, as it doesn't hold and feed the rounds. It is a belt holder/belt drum. Only MG34's that used magazines were the aerial versions. Just as a trivia thing.

[@usuallyhapless9481]

You learn something new everyday. Makes sense!

[@kevlarburrito6693]

The Germans referred to their halftracks as "SPWs", rather than by variant. If you read some of the accounts published in books, Hans Von Luck does it quite a bit in his "Panzer Commander", almost all halftracks with fighting capability, are referred to simply as "SPW(s)"

[@System-Update]

Love for the Stummel springs from the rule of kule, Happless my man. Weapons that look good work, even if they are not very effective. Said Rommel, probably.

[@colbysimpson5936]

Really loving your content hapless! It makes me sad though that the combat mission games are all €60

[@usuallyhapless9481]

They are all coming to Steam (slowly), where they are subject to sales every now and again!

[@colbysimpson5936]

@@usuallyhapless9481 Have they published any kind of schedule for the steam releases? I am eager to get my hands on their WW2 content but until then your video backlog is keeping me going :D

[@usuallyhapless9481]

So, a quick link: community.battlefront.com/topic/140718-2022-the-year-in-preview/ TLDR: Normandy in March/April; Italy in (Jun/July), Red Thunder (Sept/Oct) and Final Blitzkrieg (Dec/Jan). Might not pan out that way, but that's the plan!

[@colbysimpson5936]

@@usuallyhapless9481 You are a legend!

[@jondoe6663]

It looks like the infantry bridges on the /7 may stop bullets, which may help protect the engineers inside from small arms fire from the side.

[@lutherburgsvik6849]

12:50 # Play that Funkwagen music Weimar boy #

[@quentintin1]

mmh, i'm curious about that /17, because the variant i am familiar with is a dedicated AA platform, mounting a 2cm FlaK 38 on a platform with fold down sides

[@usuallyhapless9481]

Could be an Ausf C vs Ausf D thing. The version in CM is the Ausf D.

[@jakeman52]

Dang that halftrack was funky

[@Para-Phrase]

The most important part of any SDKFZ is the numberplate for parking tickets and insurance claims

[@wartsnall7332]

A well put together and informative video.

[@briansmithwins]

When can we look forward to a analysis of the various Cold War battle taxis?

[@ccccccc95]

Will you do a campaign in the Road to Montebourg style again? That stuff is so dope

[@usuallyhapless9481]

Yep. Hope you like tanks :P

[@IHateYoutubeHandlesVeryMuch]

@@usuallyhapless9481 Speaking about campaigns, what happened to the Shock Force 2 Afghan campaign?

[@wanderer2688]

24:44 My man got turned into gruyere cheese

[@masonm9316]

Another great one. This doesn’t have anything to do with the Germans, but do you think the USMC will be well equipped to take on conventional Russian units in the up coming BS module? Or do you think it might be a little like your turn by turn semper gumpy. Not enough heavy firepower to effectively diminish Russian armor. Some friends and I were talking about it, what do you think? It is pretty much a light infantry force vs a fully mech. Force.

[@usuallyhapless9481]

It would depend a lot on what USMC ToE Battlefront uses. I have no idea what it's like in hypothetical 2017- assuming they're similar to how they are in SF2, I'd expect them to struggle in straight-up QBs but shine in scenarios/campaign operating in their intended role amphibious things under a significant naval airpower/EW snowdome. In short, I think it would be fun to play USMC vs RU combined arms, but precisely because it would be a significant challenge for the Marines.

[@c3aloha]

@@usuallyhapless9481old post but kind of interesting in light of Force Design 2030 and the retirement of Marine tanks. One of the major criticisms being lack of anti armor capabilities in the new Marine Littoral Regiment.

[@3DiversionsDeep]

I just noticed, you have made a typo in the title: it's the Sd.Kfz. 251.

[@Pvt.Conscriptovich]

Love your videos.

[@gilbertgbert]

Yeah they're just pixeltruppen but that flame thrower made me go ouch

[@HaydnHaendel]

I love this things so much that I wanna ride one instead of a Lamborghini if I ever marry. AND THE DANGEROUS THING IS THAT I KNOW A MUSEUM THAT HAS ONE STILL RUNNING

[@usuallyhapless9481]

That sounds awesome!

[@brokenglass9814]

That's no drum magazine! Someone hasn't fulfilled their forgottenweapons watchtime quota...

[@normannobrot]

i hope they add the 251/22 to final blitzkrieg with the final module with the brits.

[@WPrice-bb6xo]

Ah, I see you are making a video on the inferior German infantry half track now!

[@theofficerfactory2625]

Isn't there a Stuka zu fuss version in the game?

[@usuallyhapless9481]

Nope. I'd guess they were not vehicles supposed to be hanging around the frontline or were never made in numbers to justify getting a model. You can get off-map nebelwerfers though, which are basically the same thing.

[@MegalonJonesSlattery]

Hapless bringin' da F U N K.

[@sponjis6944]

So hyped for this onr

[@sergeantspook7283]

Now do one on all the SPGs, I love the Geschützwagen 39H(f) 75mm, and the SdKfz 135/1 150m, and the Marders etc etc AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@jcchino4549]

nice videoooo! i need guide to professional edition thankyou im from philipines

[@modellbaurentner2352]

SDKFZ

[@drewsteffen8166]

The difference between gaming and reality.

[@elmersalonga6424]

I really like the realism of this game simulator. However it really needs a re-supply/reinforcement mechanics.

[@samargrewal929]

reinforcement mechanics are in single player campaign's however it's up to the campaign designer on when you get reinforcement's

[@jondoe6663]

funk-wagon

[@hairsquig8079]

What formation do you find 251/2 in?

[@guyr3980]

I second this. I cannot find it in RT, FI, or FB. Where is this gem? I must have it! (Edit: In FB it's in the Panzergrenadier Battalion, 3rd Platoon, Heavy Armored.. its a couple of clicks to get the mortars on map and then you can pick the 251/2. But they do not show up as single vehicles under any circumstance that I've found)

[@zombine375]

Great video as always! Do you have any particular place you get these high quality photos or is it all from google?

[@usuallyhapless9481]

Thanks! Usually just a lot of googling, yeah. Honestly, it's the hardest part sometimes!

[@Heinz0Fiction]

German Halftracks somehow remind me of Star Wars AT-STs ....

[@denneledoe873]

yup, you're not the only one. The style of the empire's uniforms and vehicles was taken from Nazi Germany.

[@VynalDerp]

seems those videos on modern fighting vehicles you made have suddenly become far more relevant than intended. Ouch.

[@BBBJOT]

spelled it wrong in the title and thumbnail

[@geballterblodsinn9330]

No no no, Hapless. It is not the first of april.

[@LDZMarder]

You got the synopsis and the Panzergrenadiers in ifv´s wrong form the start. you think like a American still as if that was a battle taxis. No wonder you cant get them to work. 1. get the Panzer Lied translated, its a instruction manual on mobile warfare, so you learn something. 2. the goal is not drive by or deliver troops to the trenches, ITS TO DRIVE PAST/THROU THEM IN THE SOFT BACK! Like how can some one try to give a description of the vehicle that was purpose build for modern warfare and get the whole concept of modern warfare wrong. How stupid has one to be, you dont attack strong points, you dont rush them and you certerlny dont drive towards the enemy. Its like you never left the WW1 trench warfare mindset.

[@TopHatHat]

Alright ill bite, if only to save Hapless the effort, I think your point is that they are meant to be used as flanking force? However, as well as being very impolite and referring to a propaganda tune for a source rather than Military History Visualised, you also forget this is a direct guide for Combat Mission. In combat mission you cannot flank as much as you may want to on a strategic level, there is only a limited area of play after all and its much more about tactical level decisions, so even if your point was true it wouldn't apply. I would advise being more polite in your comments if not trying to understand this is for a video game, surely if you honestly care about this being addressed it would be better to do it in a kinder manner?

[@LDZMarder]

@@TopHatHat I would advise you to collect knowledge on subject matter and then respond. You attack the information not person but as your said it your self, this is so far out of your lege that all you can respond with "its rude". So you wasted every ones time contributed nothing and showed to me that you are stupid. Here is a tip for the future, you dont value information on how much you like it but on the date provided to you. I dont ell stuff and I dont care if you or any other fanboy like sit. I have provided a fact, you have provided emotions. Go and wipe your tears off you embrace your self.

[@sergeantspook7283]

How about you Panzer Liedown on these nuts lmao

[@ACrules100]

If Hapless truly wants to learn how to properly use halftracks, he may also want to consider listening to Ghost Division by Sabaton

[@ACrules100]

@@sergeantspook7283 L + Ratio + Immediate Counterattack