List of Sd.Kfz. designations

Sonderkraftfahrzeug (abbreviated Sd.Kfz.,^[1] 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.^[2] Sd.Kfz. numbers were assigned to armored, tracked, and half-tracked vehicles. Cars and trucks were allocated Kfz. numbers^[3] and trailers were designated with Anh. (Anhänger) and Sd.Anh. numbers.^[4]

Sd.Kfz. numbering system

Allocation of the numbered series was as follows:^[5]^[2]

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^[a] 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.^[6]

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")

Kettenkrad Sd.Kfz. 2 in Russia
- 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. 3 (Maultier) unloaded from a Messerschmitt Me 323 "Gigant" transport aircraft
- 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
- 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. 8 half-track towing Gotha Go 242 glider
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
- 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
- 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)

Marder III (Sd.Kfz. 138) had either a Soviet 76.2 mm F-22 field gun, or German 7.5 cm Pak 40 on a Panzer 38(t) chassis
- 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

Panzer III (Sd.Kfz. 141) Ausf H with short 5cm KwK 38 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

Panzer IV Sd.Kfz. 161 with Schurzen side skirts
- 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

Panther Sd.Kfz. 171
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
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
- 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 carrying troops in southern Russia in 1942
- 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

The Sd.Kfz. 261 had a large frame aerial over the vehicle
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. 303 version of the Goliath used a petrol engine as a cost-saving measure

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

References

Notes

^ 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

^ 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.
^ ^a ^b "Classification-system of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
^ "Kraftfahrzeug Nummern (Kfz.) - Kfz. Numbers". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
^ "Motor vehicle trailers". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
^ Feist, Uwe (1978). Deutsche Panzer 1917-1945. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers. p. 40. ASIN B0006XPCGS.
^ "Special motor vehicles without number". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

External links

Media related to Sonderkraftfahrzeuge (Sd.Kfz.) at Wikimedia Commons

[6] 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)

[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.

[Kfz_numbering-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.

[7] "Special motor vehicles without number". Kfz der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

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