The Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz Armoured Infantry Fighting and reconnaissance vehicle was developed for the West German army and was a minor modification of a French-designed vehicle (Hotchkiss SP1A).[1] During the period between 1959 and 1967, the West German army received some 2,374 of these light armoured vehicles with the SPz 11-2 Kurz being developed as the reconnaissance version. The SPz 11-2 served in cannon platoons of armored infantry battalions until 1974 and remained in service as a reconnaissance vehicle until 1982.[2] The SPz 11-2 was replaced in the IFV role by the Marder and in the reconnaissance role by the Spähpanzer Luchs. The SPz 11-2 saw service with the West German army only.
| Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Schützenpanzer Kurz at the German Tank Museum in Munster. | |
| Type | Armored reconnaissance Vehicle |
| Place of origin | France and West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1959–1987 |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hotchkiss et Cie |
| Designed | 1950–1956 |
| Produced | 1959–1967 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8,200 kg (18,100 lb) |
| Length | 4.51 m |
| Width | 2.28 m |
| Height | 1.97 m |
| Crew | 5 |
| Armor | 15 mm at 62° of chrome-nickel-molybdenum |
Main armament | 1 x 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 820/L85 Cannon |
Secondary armament | 3 x Smoke grenade launchers |
| Engine | 1 x Hotchkiss et Cie 6-cylinder petrol engine 164 hp (122 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 390 km (244 miles) |
| Maximum speed | 58 km/h |
Its designator "Schützenpanzer Halbgruppe" already hinted on its combat role as the Infantry Fighting Vehicle ("Schützenpanzer") of a Squad ("Halbgruppe", literally "half a section", or Trupp). It was introduced besides the Schützenpanzer lang HS-30.
Armament edit
The only armament for the SPz 11-2 was the 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 820 L/85 cannon. The cannon has a 15x15 periscopic sight. 500 rounds of 20 mm ammunition were carried. Three smoke grenade launchers are provided for tactical and emergency concealment.
Variants edit
- Sanitätspanzer kurz 2-2 - Medevac vehicle.
- Beobachtungspanzer 22-2 - Forward observer vehicle.
- Mörserträger 51-2 - 81 mm mortar carrier.
- Radarpanzer 91-2 - Vehicle equipped with AN/TPS-33 radar.
- Nachschubpanzer 42-1 - Supply vehicle with four road wheels, originally the Hotchkiss CC-2-55 design. Used from 1958 until 1962.
- Spähpanzer SP I.C. - Light tank armed with a 90 mm gun (prototype only)
Operators edit
Former operators edit
West Germany: Used by Bundeswehr until 1987.
Notes edit
References edit
- Foss, Christopher F., ed. (1981). Jane's Armour and Artillery 1981–82. London: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7106-0727-X.
External links edit
- SPz kurz at Panzerbaer.de (in German)
- SPz kurz photo gallery at Hartziel.de (in German)
- Webpage about the Hotchkiss