The Sd Kfz 251 was the German army's standard APC from the Polish campaign right to the end of the war. There were four marks of 251, the Ausfs A to D. The version we have here is the Ausf C, which was produced from 1940 to 43. The A and B looked very similar to the C, but the D was extensively revised and looked a bit different.
Crew of 7. Had 2 MG34s or MG42s. Had 5: 28cm Sprengranate (HE round) and 1: 32cm Flammgranate (incendiary round). After France in 1940 J. Gast KG, Berlin were ordered to create a projector for the Wurfgerät 40. The elevation was +5° to +40°. Firing took 10 seconds and the range of 1.9 km for Sprengranate and 2.2 km for Flammgranate.
Nicknamed "Walking Stuka" or "Bellowing Cow".
Prodution of the wirbelwind was between July and November of 1944. Issued to Flugabwehrzüge (AA platoons) of Panzer regiments. In 1944, 3 or 4 were assigned to the HQ companies of panzer battalions.2
