Spearhead German Data Card Expansion

Panzer IC (VK601): The mid-war version of the Panzer I, these had interleaved road wheels like the Luchs, Tiger, and Panther. Intended as Recon vehicles 40 were built in late 1942, 2 of these were issued to 1st Panzer Division in 1943 for combat evaluation in Russia and the remaining 38 were issued to LVIII Reserve Panzer Korps (where they were still in service at the time of the Normandy Invasion).

Panzer IF (VK1801): This mid-war version of the Panzer I was intended as a heavy infantry assault vehicle. 30 were built in late 1942, and 8 of these were issued to 1st Panzer Division in 1943 for combat evaluation in Russia. The fate of the other 22 is unclear.

Panzer II Luchs: The late war version of the Panzer IIF, the Luchs "looks" different, and was capable of much higher speeds, especially across country. In all other respects it differs little from the previous model.

Sturminfanteriegeschutz 33/B: This is a SP version of the 150mm built on the same chassis as a StuG IIIE with a new larger "box" like superstructure. 12 were produced in December 1941 (and sent to Stalingrad), a further 12 were built in mid-1942 and participated in the attempts to relieve Stalingrad and the subsequent retreats.

15cm Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f) sFH13, 7.5cm Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f) Pak 40: Both these weapons were conversions based upon the French Lorraine chassis. They both had identical superstructures, but the Pak 40 version had an additional "Gun Shield" type armour plate across the front of the superstructure;
15cm sFH13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f): Official number Sdkfz 135/1. Original production of 40 was May-June 1942 and immediately shipped to North Africa. A further 54 were converted in late July but all appear to have been retained in France as 54 are listed as in service on the Western Front in January 1944. This was the total production. Armament was the 1913 sFH13 L/17 150mm Long Howitzer, it had a range of 9,300 yards and a normal ROF of 2rpm. The sFH13 version was the only LS(f) conversion to go to North Africa. Other than a handful of Gw II sIGs (and possibly a very small number of GW 38(t) H) these were the only SP Artillery to see service with Rommel in Libya & Egypt, and Tunisia in 1942-43.
10.5cm leFH18 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f): A further 12 were converted in July to mount the 105mm L/28 leFH18. Supposedly these went to Russia, however 1 was later refitted with a Russian M1938 122mm Howitzer and mounted on an armoured train used in Burgundy (where it was captured) in September 1944. (Treat these as Wespe for Weapons Data - all 12 would have equipped a single Artillery Battalion - 3 SH stands).
7.5cm Pak 40/1 auf Geschutzenwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f): Sdkfz 135, a total of 170 were converted to mount the Pak 40, although some supposedly mounted the Pak 36r (76mm), between May and July 1942. Mainly issued to PanzerJager in France, this vehicle is sometimes referred to as a "Marder I". By January 1944 131 were still in service on the Western Front and some supposedly saw service in the East. A handful were still in service in 1945!
Beobachtungswagen auf Lorraine Schlepper (f): 39 converted in 1942, these observation vehicles had an unusual superstructure with a low-profile "Science-Fiction" look to it. They appear to be unarmed!
Munitionstransportkraftwagen auf Lorraine Schlepper (f): Left unconverted the remainder were issued as ammo carriers with no superstructure. As there were originally about 387 built by the French (and the Germans apparently captured over 300 of them), and of these 315 were converted as detailed above then presumably about 20 to 50 would have remained to be issued as ammo carriers!

Sdkfz 221 Modified A/car: Essentially just a standard 221 with the small turret ring MG mount removed and replaced with either a 20mm AA, or a 28mm Taper Bore, or a 37mm Pak, in a fixed forward facing mount. First seen in 1941-42 after this it would become less common to encounter many of these as the 221 was slowly being replaced in Panzer units with other vehicles like Sdkfz 250/9 Half-Tracks. Generally mid-war (1941-43) Recon Armoured Car Companies of Non-Panzer Divisions would be something like 2 Sdkfz 222, 1 Sdkfz 221 mod, 1 Sdkfz 221, however many would not be at full strength so a 3 stand unit with any 3 of the 4 stands above would do the job!

Flak 38 Quad 20mm: This is the standard ground mount version commonly seen throughout the war. It has been included simply for completeness as the data is easily obtained from other German flak weapons.

Zgkw Half-Track 37mm: This is the alternative version of the 7 tonne Half-Track with a single 37mm replacing the Quad 20mm.

Sdkfz 6 "Diana": This was a special conversion built for the Afrika Korps and delivered in Feb-Mar 1942. There were 9 built by stripping the Sdkfz 6 tractor down to the chassis and building a large 6' high lightly armoured box superstructure behind the drivers seat. A captured Russian 76mm field gun was dropped into the back of this box to create an improvised Tank Destroyer. A 10th vehicle was built using an Sdkfz 7 chassis. They have a defence of 2(5) to represent their partial armour. They featured in the Gazala-1st Alamein battles but appear to have all been destroyed or captured by the time the first Marder IIIs appeared during the later part of the 1st Alamein battles.

FK 296(r) Field Gun & Pak 296(r) (L/41 or L/51): Essentially the captured Russian 76mm (both types) and used virtually unchanged (Many L/51 were used for the Pak 36r ATk conversion) as an alternative artillery piece to the 105mm. Some were sent to North Africa in 1942 (at 1st Alamein they represented close to 50% of all the German Artillery present at one point during the early stages), and the rest were issued to various Infantry and Motorised formations on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. Many were also issued as Pak 296(r), for use as improvised Anti-Tank guns and without indirect fire facilities (cf. Sdkfz 6 Diana above).

Pak 36r (76.2mm L/51): This is the captured Russian 76mm used for Anti-Tank work. In this role it was re-bored to take German 75mm Pak 40 Ammunition! This was the weapon mounted on the early Marder III series Panzerjagers. It also saw some service as a Pak, supplementing Pak 40's and Pak 296(r)'s.