Plus Models SdKfz 252 Conversion

SdKfz 252 Ammo Carrier by Brian Bocchino

History: 
The SdKfz 250 family of vehicles traces it roots to the Demag D7 SdKfz 10 1 ton artillery tractor.  The Germans had a requirement for a smaller vehicle than the SdKfz 251 vehicles in production that would be capable of carry less than a full squad.  The vehicle would be required for reconnaissance rolls and special purposes.  The actual driving force behind the development of the SdKfz 250 family were the assault gun units.  The StuG III Assault gun units required both an ammunition carrier and a forward observation.  A little known fact is the 250/1 was not the first model to enter service.  The first model to enter service was the SdKfz 253 Forward Observation vehicle.  This vehicle was required for reconnaissance and observation of fire.  The 250/1 vehicles would follow afterwards.

The SdKfz 252 was the second vehicle of the 250 family to enter production.  The vehicle was actually designated the Sd.Kfz.252 le.Gepanzerter Munitionskraftwagen.  The back end was cut down to reduce weight for when the vehicle was loaded with ammunition.  The Sd.Kfz.252 normally towed a 1 ton Sd.Anh.32 ammunition trailer to increase ammunition re-supply capabilities.  Initially the vehicle was designated to carry the short 7.5cm ammunition for the StuG III.  By the time the longer guns were installed on the StuG III, the Sd.Kfz.250/6 vehicle replaced it.  About 413 were produced from January to September 1941 with many surviving in service until the end of the war.

Reference: Too numerous to list, but here are a few:

Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, by Chamberlain, Doyle, Jentz, Arms and Armour Press, 1993, ISBN: 1-85409-214-6

Schutzenpanzer, Bruce Culver and Uwe Feist, Ryton Publications, 1996, ISBN:  heck if I can find it.

Schutzenpanwerwagen, Horst Scheibert, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1992, ISBN: 0-88740-402-2.

Model:

Plus Models (Czech Republic)  Kit #35107, $16.46

  This is a resin conversion for the Tamiya Sd.Kfz 250/1 or 250/9 kits.  The kit contains a new upper body for the Tamiya kit, new fendors, hatches, and some Photo Etch screens and hooks.  The conversion is air bubble free and appears to be well casted.  While detail is limited on the upper body of a 252, the detail that is evident is well casted and crisp.  A nice feature of this conversion is that the engine screens just forward of the driver are already cut out.  If you have ever built the Tamiya kit, that part is molded on and must be removed to attach engine screens.  I test fitted the upper hull to the Tamiya hull and it appears to be a clean attachment.  Once the Tamiya lower hull is cut down in the rear, the conversion piece will drop right on. 

  The draw back to this kit is that it only includes pieces to model a 252 from the outside.  No interior ammunition storage is provided and there is not a Sd.Anh.32 trailer included. See the attached picture (the benefit of having a digital camera!) for a view of the parts.

  This conversion and some detailed work on the Tamiya kit have the potential of adding a superb unusual vehicle to you collection.  If you always wanted an ammunition carrier to use with your StuG III models, then here is the conversion for you, unless you want to spend a load of money on a full resin kit DES.