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Description
Alternate History - Sonderkraftfahrzeug Armoured Cars

The Sonderkraftfahrzeug (Special Ordnance Vehicle) was simply the ordnance inventory designation used by the German Empire for military vehicles. Australia received around 200 251/1s in Phase 5 of the German-Australia Lend-Lease in 1940 during the World War (1939-1946), which went on to make a really good impression on Australian commanders and soldiers alike resulting in the local production of then in the Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ia. The Buffalo Mark Ia became the standard half-track armoured personnel carrier of Australia all the way until 1968 where it was phased out in favour of the Devil Armoured People Carrier and the fully tracked armoured personnel carriers. A variant of the 251/1, the 251/10, was delivered later in Phase 6 of the German-Australia Lend-Lease in 1944. These were armed with a highly effective 37mm Pak 36 gun and resulted in a locally produced version, the Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ib. These served alongside the Buffalo Mark Ia until 1953 due to their more limited numbers. The final Sonderkraftfahrzeug of this series sent over wat the 234/2 "Puma" which was designed as a medium reconnaissance armoured car and was delivered alongside the 251/10 in 1944. Australia also produced this vehicle as the Wild Cat Armoured Car Mark I, however, modified the designs to mount an Australia Licence-Made Light Tank "Lynx" turret to maximise common parts with other Australian-made vehicles. These served in limited numbers until 1948.

The armoured car here represent a few liveries seen through the armoured car’s Australian history. From the left:
- In service with the New South Wales State Army c.1943 in the India Campaign.
- In service with the Australian National Army c.1953 in North America
- In service with the Republic of China c.1944 in the North China Campaign.
- In service with the Capricornia State Army c.1947 in the occupied Philippines.
- In service with the West Australian State Army c.1946.
- In service with the Australian National Army c.1956.
Details:
Name: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/1
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: German Empire
Service: 1940-1953
Used By: German Empire, United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 2 (Driver, Gunner) + 10 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 2x MG34
Engine: 1x Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder Petrol, 99hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 300km
Speed: 52.5km/h
Production: 200 delivered in 1940

Details:
Name: Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ia
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: United Australian State
Service: 1941-1968
Used By: United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 2 (Driver, Gunner) + 10 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 1x McCrudden Mark IV, 1x McCrudden Mark III
Engine: 1x 452 Cadillac V16 Petrol, 165hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 300km
Speed: 56km/h
Production: 11,000 produced between 1941 to 1950

Details:
Name: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/10
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: German Empire
Service: 1944-1953
Used By: German Empire, United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Loader) + 6 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 1x 37mm Pak 36, 1x MG34
Engine: 1x Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder Petrol, 99hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 280km
Speed: 50km/h
Production: 200 delivered in 1944

Details:
Name: Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ib
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: United Australian State
Service: 1944-1953
Used By: United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Loader) + 6 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 1x 3.7cm aFVG M1944, 1x McCrudden Mark III
Engine: 1x 452 Cadillac V16 Petrol, 165hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 280km
Speed: 50km/h
Production: 500 produced between 1944 to 1946

Details:
Name: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234/2 "Puma"
Type: Light Armoured Car
Origin: German Empire
Service: 1944-1946
Used By: German Empire, United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 10.5t
Length: 6.02m
Width: 2.36m
Height: 2.1m
Crew: 4
Armour: 9-30mm
Armament: 1x 50mm KwK 39, 1x MG34
Engine: 1x Tatra 103 V12 Diesel, 210hp
Suspension: Wheel
Range: 1,000km (On-Road), 600km (Off-Road)
Speed: 90km/h
Production: 100 delivered in 1944

Details:
Name: Wild Car Armoured Car Mark I
Type: Light Armoured Car
Origin: United Australian State
Service: 1945-1956
Used By: United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 10.5t
Length: 6.02m
Width: 2.36m
Height: 2.1m
Crew: 4
Armour: 9-30mm
Armament: 1x 5cm FVG M1940, 1x McCrudden Mark III
Engine: 1x Holden Gypsy Major V16 Petrol, 510hp
Suspension: Wheel
Range: 1,000km (On-Road), 600km (Off-Road)
Speed: 100km/h
Production: 500 produced between 1944-1946

Credits:
Michael Smith
Comradesoldat
TuliusHostilius
Vizenz
Ungern
EdwRom

Description
Alternate History - Sonderkraftfahrzeug Armoured Cars

The Sonderkraftfahrzeug (Special Ordnance Vehicle) was simply the ordnance inventory designation used by the German Empire for military vehicles. Australia received around 200 251/1s in Phase 5 of the German-Australia Lend-Lease in 1940 during the World War (1939-1946), which went on to make a really good impression on Australian commanders and soldiers alike resulting in the local production of then in the Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ia. The Buffalo Mark Ia became the standard half-track armoured personnel carrier of Australia all the way until 1968 where it was phased out in favour of the Devil Armoured People Carrier and the fully tracked armoured personnel carriers. A variant of the 251/1, the 251/10, was delivered later in Phase 6 of the German-Australia Lend-Lease in 1944. These were armed with a highly effective 37mm Pak 36 gun and resulted in a locally produced version, the Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ib. These served alongside the Buffalo Mark Ia until 1953 due to their more limited numbers. The final Sonderkraftfahrzeug of this series sent over wat the 234/2 "Puma" which was designed as a medium reconnaissance armoured car and was delivered alongside the 251/10 in 1944. Australia also produced this vehicle as the Wild Cat Armoured Car Mark I, however, modified the designs to mount an Australia Licence-Made Light Tank "Lynx" turret to maximise common parts with other Australian-made vehicles. These served in limited numbers until 1948.

The armoured car here represent a few liveries seen through the armoured car’s Australian history. From the left:
- In service with the New South Wales State Army c.1943 in the India Campaign.
- In service with the Australian National Army c.1953 in North America
- In service with the Republic of China c.1944 in the North China Campaign.
- In service with the Capricornia State Army c.1947 in the occupied Philippines.
- In service with the West Australian State Army c.1946.
- In service with the Australian National Army c.1956.
Details:
Name: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/1
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: German Empire
Service: 1940-1953
Used By: German Empire, United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 2 (Driver, Gunner) + 10 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 2x MG34
Engine: 1x Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder Petrol, 99hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 300km
Speed: 52.5km/h
Production: 200 delivered in 1940

Details:
Name: Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ia
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: United Australian State
Service: 1941-1968
Used By: United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 2 (Driver, Gunner) + 10 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 1x McCrudden Mark IV, 1x McCrudden Mark III
Engine: 1x 452 Cadillac V16 Petrol, 165hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 300km
Speed: 56km/h
Production: 11,000 produced between 1941 to 1950

Details:
Name: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/10
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: German Empire
Service: 1944-1953
Used By: German Empire, United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Loader) + 6 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 1x 37mm Pak 36, 1x MG34
Engine: 1x Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder Petrol, 99hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 280km
Speed: 50km/h
Production: 200 delivered in 1944

Details:
Name: Buffalo Armoured Half-Track Mark Ib
Type: Light Armoured Half-Track
Origin: United Australian State
Service: 1944-1953
Used By: United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 7.81t
Length: 5.8m
Width: 2.1m
Height: 1.75m
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Loader) + 6 passengers
Armour: 6-14.5mm
Armament: 1x 3.7cm aFVG M1944, 1x McCrudden Mark III
Engine: 1x 452 Cadillac V16 Petrol, 165hp
Suspension: Wheel, Torsion bar
Range: 280km
Speed: 50km/h
Production: 500 produced between 1944 to 1946

Details:
Name: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234/2 "Puma"
Type: Light Armoured Car
Origin: German Empire
Service: 1944-1946
Used By: German Empire, United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 10.5t
Length: 6.02m
Width: 2.36m
Height: 2.1m
Crew: 4
Armour: 9-30mm
Armament: 1x 50mm KwK 39, 1x MG34
Engine: 1x Tatra 103 V12 Diesel, 210hp
Suspension: Wheel
Range: 1,000km (On-Road), 600km (Off-Road)
Speed: 90km/h
Production: 100 delivered in 1944

Details:
Name: Wild Car Armoured Car Mark I
Type: Light Armoured Car
Origin: United Australian State
Service: 1945-1956
Used By: United Australian State, Republic of China
Weight: 10.5t
Length: 6.02m
Width: 2.36m
Height: 2.1m
Crew: 4
Armour: 9-30mm
Armament: 1x 5cm FVG M1940, 1x McCrudden Mark III
Engine: 1x Holden Gypsy Major V16 Petrol, 510hp
Suspension: Wheel
Range: 1,000km (On-Road), 600km (Off-Road)
Speed: 100km/h
Production: 500 produced between 1944-1946

Credits:
Michael Smith
Comradesoldat
TuliusHostilius
Vizenz
Ungern
EdwRom