'We are told that the Flak 38 was mounted on the 3-tonne tractor chassis with an armoured front body, whose shape was similar to the Ausf D Sd.Kfz.251 but was actually a new design. See Panzer Tracts 12.ĭo you know when they were built and where they were used in combat? Sounds like they were a scaled down version of the sdkfz 7/1 but perhaps with a single 20mm gun instead of the flakvierling? Very interesting, never heard of this before.From a review of Panzer Tracts 12: There are several photographs of the thing in combat/knocked out. Not many were built, but those issued are said to have served on both the Eastern and Western fronts.Actually, the 251/17 with the mesh sides was the sdkfz11 with the front armour of the 251 and according to Jentz, about 600 were built. A slim turret was designed to hold the Flak 38 and this was centred on the half roof. It was the basic vehicle with a 'half roof' on the top of the vehicle's rear - just behind the driver compartment.

The version actually adopted for production in 1944 was based on the sdkfz 251 Ausf D chassis. All photos will show the WL licence plates. The version with the 'bulging sides' was a trial version issued to the Luftwaffe and built on the Ausf c chassis. It was a prototype and never put in production as it was too costly and no improvement over the other vehicle. One was similar to the sdkfz 10/5 in that the rear of the 251 was cut away and a flat platform with mesh gates was fitted. The 251/17 was actually the designation for 3 different types of flak armed 251 vehicles.

Sd kfz 251 17 ausf c