Hanomag Sdkfz 251-1

    The Hanomag was a personnel carrier used 
by the Germans in World War II. It's official
name is Schutzenpanzerwagen,...which 
translates to 'carrier of grenadiers.' It entered
service in 1939 and was used right up to the
end of the war in 1945. The Hanomag had a
crew of two and could carry twelve squad
members. It tipped the scales at just over 
eight and a half tons, was 19 feet long, 6 feet
10 inches wide, and just under 6 feet tall. The
half-track was powered by a Maybach 6-cylinder
gasoline engine putting out 100 horsepower.
Despite the weight, the Hanomag could reach
speeds in excess of 30mph, and had a range of
185 miles before needing re-fueling. It was a 
definite utility vehicle for the Germans and was
offered up in 22 different variations over the years.
Over 15,000 of the Hanomags were built during
the war, but now only a few hundred are scattered
throughout the world in museums. Less than ten 
are known to be in running condition. The Hanomag
was meant to enable panzergrenadiers (infantry) to
keep up with the armored units and provide ground
support, but there was never enough of them and

they had to make do with trucks.