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Sonderkraftfahrzeug (abbreviated Sd.Kfz., German for "special purpose vehicle") was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany before and during World War II for military vehicles; for example Sd.Kfz. 101 for the Panzer I, and Sd.Kfz. 251 for the armored personnel carrier made by Hanomag.

The Reichswehr and its successor, the Wehrmacht began systematically allocating numbers to its vehicles from around 1930, including horse-drawn vehicles, cars and trucks, combat vehicles, and trailers. Sd.Kfz. numbers were assigned to armored, tracked, and half-tracked vehicles. Cars and trucks were allocated Kfz. numbers and trailers were designated with Anh. (Anhänger) and Sd.Anh. numbers.

Sd.Kfz. numbering system

Allocation of the numbered series was as follows:

• Sd.Kfz. 1 to 99: Unarmoured half-tracked vehicles
• Sd.Kfz. 100 to 199: Tanks and tank variants, including tank destroyers and self-propelled artillery
  • Sd.Kfz. 101 to 120: Panzer I and variants
  • Sd.Kfz. 121 to 140: Panzer II and variants 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.

Designations

Sd.Kfz. 1 to 99

• 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")

  

  • Sd.Kfz. 2/1 (Field cable-laying variant for long distance field cable Feldfernkabel)
  • Sd.Kfz. 2/2 (Field cable-laying variant for heavy field cable Schweres Feldkabel)
• Sd.Kfz. 3 (Armored version of Daimler DZVR; number later reassigned)
• Sd.Kfz. 3 - Maultier half-track cargo vehicle

  

  • Sd.Kfz. 3a (Maultier based on 2-ton Opel trucks)
  • Sd.Kfz. 3b (Maultier based on 2-ton Ford trucks)
  • Sd.Kfz. 3c (Maultier based on 2-ton Magirus trucks)
  • Sd.Kfz. 3/4 (ambulance based on Maultier on Ford or Opel chassis
• Sd.Kfz. 4 (Maultier based on 4.5-ton trucks; also known as Sd.Kfz. 3/5)
  • Sd.Kfz. 4/1 (Maultier with 15 cm Nebelwerfer 42 rocket launcher)
• Sd.Kfz. 5 (3-ton 6x6 truck, Krupp L3 H63/H163 fuel tank vehicle)
• Sd.Kfz. 6 (5-ton medium halftrack for engineers)

  

  • Sd.Kfz. 6/1 (5-ton medium half-track for the artillery)
  • Sd.Kfz. 6/2 (self-propelled 37 mm antiaircraft gun)
  • Sd.Kfz. 6/3 "Sd.Kfz. 6 mit 7.62 cm FK 36(r)", half track carrying a captured Soviet 76mm M1936 (F-22) gun portee in an armored superstructure)
• Sd.Kfz. 7 (8-ton medium half-track)
  • Sd.Kfz. 7/1 (self-propelled 20 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. 8 (12-ton heavy half-track)

  

• 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. 10/1 (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. 11/1 - carrier for 10 cm Nebelwerfer 35 and 10 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. 100 to 199

• Sd.Kfz. 101 Panzer I Ausf. A, B, C and F light tank
• Sd.Kfz. 111 Panzer I ammunition carrier variant
• Sd.Kfz. 121 Panzer II Ausf. a to F light tank
• Sd.Kfz. 122 Panzer II (Flamm) flame tank
• Sd.Kfz. 123 Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs" reconnaissance tank
• Sd.Kfz. 124 Wespe self-propelled 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer on Panzer II chassis
• Sd.Kfz. 128 Panzer II (50 mm KwK 39 L/60), VK 16.02 Leopard
• Sd.Kfz. 131 Marder II self-propelled 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun on Panzer II chassis
• Sd.Kfz. 132 Marder II self-propelled Soviet 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) antitank gun
• Sd.Kfz. 135 - Marder I Panzerjäger tank destroyer on captured French Lorraine 37L tracked carrier
  • Sd.Kfz. 135/1 (self-propelled 150 mm howitzer)
• Sd.Kfz. 136 Bergepanzerwagen 38
• Sd.Kfz. 138 (Marder III self-propelled 75 mm anti-tank gun)

  

  • Sd.Kfz. 138/1 - Grille self-propelled 150 mm sIG 33 infantry gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis
  • Sd.Kfz. 138/2 - "Hetzer" jagdpanzer based on the Panzer 38(t) chassis
• Sd.Kfz. 139 - Marder III self-propelled 76.2 mm anti-tank gun
• Sd.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) chassis
  • Sd.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 gun

  

  • Sd.Kfz. 141/1 - Panzer III medium tank with 50 mm L/60 main gun)
  • Sd.Kfz. 141/2 - Panzer III medium tank with short-barrelled 75 mm KwK 37 main gun
• Sd.Kfz. 142 - StuG III assault gun with 75 mm L/24 main gun
  • Sd.Kfz. 142/1 - StuG III assault gun with 75 mm L/43 or L/48 main gun
  • Sd.Kfz. 142/2 - StuH 42 assault gun with 105 mm L/28 main gun
• Sd.Kfz. 143 - Panzer III based artillery observation post
• Sd.Kfz. 144 - Bergepanzerwagen III
• Sd.Kfz. 161 - Panzer IV medium tank with 75 mm L/24 main gun

  

  • Sd.Kfz. 161/1 - Panzer IV medium tank with 75 mm L/43 main gun
  • Sd.Kfz. 161/2 - Panzer IV medium tank with 75 mm L/48 main gun
  • Sd.Kfz. 161/3 - Möbelwagen self-propelled 37 mm antiaircraft gun
  • Sd.Kfz. 161/4 -Wirbelwind self-propelled 20 mm x 4 antiaircraft gun
• Sd.Kfz. 162 - Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer with 75 mm L/48 main gun on Panzer IV chassis
  • Sd.Kfz. 162/1 - Jagdpanzer IV with 75 mm L/70 main gun)
• Sd.Kfz. 163 - Sturmgeschütz IV for Sturmkanone 40 (L/48)
• Sd.Kfz. 164 - Nashorn (until 1944 known as Hornisse) panzerjäger tank destroyer with 88 mm Pak 43 main gun)
• Sd.Kfz. 165 - Hummel self-propelled 150 mm artillery
  • Sd.Kfz. 165/1 - Heuschrecke self-propelled 105 mm artillery
• Sd.Kfz. 166 - Brummbär self-propelled 150 mm infantry gun
• Sd.Kfz. 167 - Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun with 75 mm L/48 main gun
• Sd.Kfz. 171 - Panther tank

  

• Sd.Kfz. 172 - proposed assault gun variant of Panther tank
• Sd.Kfz. 173 - Jagdpanther (Panzerjäger Panther) tank destroyer
• Sd.Kfz. 179 - Bergepanther recovery variant
• Sd.Kfz. 181 - Tiger I heavy tank
• Sd.Kfz. 182 - Tiger II ("Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B") heavy tank
• Sd.Kfz. 184 - Ferdinand/Elefant "Panzerjäger Tiger (P)" tank destroyer
• Sd.Kfz. 185 - Jagdtiger tank destroyer with 88 mm L/71 main gun due to lack of supply of 128mm gun
• Sd.Kfz. 186 - Jagdtiger tank destroyer with 12.8 cm Pak 44 main gun

Sd.Kfz. 200 to 299

• 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) with 2 cm KwK 30 gun)

  

• 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 with 7.5 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. 250/2 leichter Fernsprechpanzerwagen light armored halftrack with cable-laying gear
  • Sd.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) with 7.5 cm KwK 37 gun
  • Sd.Kfz. 250/9 ( with 20 mm L/55 gun)
  • Sd.Kfz. 250/10 (with 37 mm antitank gun)
  • Sd.Kfz. 250/11 (with 2.8 cm sPzB 41 anti-tank "rifle")
  • Sd.Kfz. 250/12 (for survey crews)
• Sd.Kfz. 251 (medium armored halftrack)

  

  • 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 20mm MG151 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 communication

  

• 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, and Tiger 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

• Sd.Kfz. 300 - Minenräumwagen remote-controlled mine destroyer
• Sd.Kfz. 301 - Borgward IV heavy remote-control demolition layer
• Sd.Kfz. 302 - Goliath tracked mine (Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath) light remote-control demolition vehicle with electric motor
• Sd.Kfz. 303 - Goliath tracked mine light remote-control demolition vehicle with petrol engine
• Sd.Kfz. 304 - Springer medium remote-control demolition vehicle

See also

• List of World War II military vehicles of Germany
• List of FV series military vehicles
• List of the United States military vehicles by model number

References

Notes

1. The Pz. 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

1. Chamberlain, Peter; Doyle, Hilary (1978). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: A complete illustrated directory of German battle tanks, armoured cars, self-propelled guns and semi-tracked vehicles, 1933-1945. Arco Pub. Co. p. 17. ISBN 978-0668045650.
2. ^ "Classification-system of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
3. "Kraftfahrzeug Nummern (Kfz.) - Kfz. Numbers". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
4. "Motor vehicle trailers". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
5. Feist, Uwe (1978). Deutsche Panzer 1917-1945. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers. p. 40. ASIN B0006XPCGS.
6. "Special motor vehicles without number". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

External links

Media related to Vehicles by Sonderkraftfahrzeug number at Wikimedia Commons

v t e German armoured fighting vehicles of World War II
Tanks	Panzer I Panzer II Panzer 35(t) Panzer 38(t) Panzer III Panzer IV Panther Tiger I Tiger II
Self-propelled artillery	Bufla Wespe Sturmpanzer I Sturmpanzer II Grille Hummel Panzerwerfer 42 Wurfrahmen 40 Karl-Gerät 10.5 cm leFH18/3 (Sf) auf G.W. B-2(f) 10.5cm leFH18(Sf) LrS 10.5cm leFH18(Sf) 39H 15cm sFH13/1 (Sf) LrS
Assault guns	StuG III StuG IV StuH 42 StuIG 33B Brummbär Sturmtiger
Tank destroyers (Panzerjäger, Jagdpanzer)	Panzerjäger I 35R(f) Marder I II III RSO/PaK 40 Nashorn Elefant Jagdpanzer IV Hetzer Jagdpanther Jagdtiger
Half-tracks	Maultier Sd.Kfz. 2 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 250 251 252 253 254 sWS
Armored cars	Kfz 13 Sd.Kfz. 221/22/23/60/61 Sd.Kfz. 231/32/33/34/63 Sd.Kfz. 234 Sd.Kfz. 247 ADGZ
Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns	Flakpanzer I Flakpanzer 38(t) Flakpanzer III Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen Wirbelwind Ostwind Kugelblitz
Demolition vehicles	Goliath Springer Borgward IV
Experimental/prototype vehicles	Panzer I Ausf. C (VK 6.01) Panzer I Ausf. F (VK 18.01) Panzer VIII Maus Geschützwagen Tiger Entwicklung series (Panzer E-100) Panther II Heuschrecke 10 Neubaufahrzeug Sturer Emil Dicker Max Pz.Sfl. II Pz. Sfl. IVc Flakpanzer Coelian VK 30.01 (P) VK 45.01 (P) VK 30.02 (DB)
Proposed designs	Panzer III/IV Löwe Panzer IX Panzer X P.1000 Ratte P.1500 Monster VK 16.02 Leopard Gep. MTW Kätzchen VK 45.02 (P) VK 20 series Flakpanzer Mareșal
Designations	List of Sd.Kfz. designations List of VK-designated tanks
German armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

• Military vehicles of Germany
• Armoured fighting vehicles of Germany
• Lists of armoured fighting vehicles
• Germany in World War II-related lists