SdKfz 222 Turret Question

[cbo]

Originally Posted by SGTGunn

From photos I have seen, the SdKfz 222's 2cm Kwk 30 could be used for extreme high angle fire - did this mean it had an AA capability? The Kwk 30 & 38 were based on the Flak 30 & 38 and used the same ammo type, so it seems reasonable.

Why else the high angle mounting?

The Sdkfz 222 turret and gun mount was specifically designed to allow the vehicle to engage flying targets (good old Chamberlain & Doyle: "Encyclopedia of German tanks....." says so on p. 192). That is the reason for the Hängelafette gun mount and it s 87 degree elevation as opposed to 2cm gun mounts in the SdKfz 231, Panzer II etc.

AFAIK it was the same deal with the SdKfz 234/1 and 250/9.

AFAIK they used the same 10-round magazines as the gun used normally, so clearly, it wasn't used to sweep the skies empty of allied Jabos, but rather an attempt at given the recce troops something to shot with if hiding wasn't succesfull or possible.

cbo