Sd.Kfz.251/3 mit KM9 Kurbelmast of 1.SS Panzer Division, Battle of the Bulge, December 1944

Above is a CGI rendering based on the long range Sd.Kfz.251/3 Ausf. D, photographed top right. This Funkpanzerwagen identified by Hans Weber as organic to 2./SS-Pz.Nachr.Abt.1. was assigned to Kampfgruppe Peiper during the Ardennes Offensive, in December 1944. The photo was taken in La Gleize after KG Peiper was destroyed. The vehicle mounts a telescopic mast, aka KM9 Kurbelmast, normally associated with the Fu 11 SE 100 used in a Divisionsfunkstelle (radio vehicle used for divisional liaison). Sd.Kfz.251/3 with Fu 11 have been however correlated with use of the KM9 Kurbelmast plus a Rahmenantenna (frame antenna). The vehicle illustrated however uses a KM9 without Rahmenantenne, but has an internally mounted Sternantennefuss (mount for star antenna type d) associated with both Fu 4 and Fu 8 radios. Based on other egs, this vehicle probably also had a 1.4 metre Stabantenne on a late-style externally mounted Stabantennefuss on the upper left hull side, usually used with the common Fu.Spr.Ger.F radio.

 

The photo below left shows a somewhat similarly configured Sd.Kfz.251/3 of Panzer Brigade.106. pictured north of Remagen, in March 1945. It has a KM9 Kurbelmast on the left rear, but this Funkpanzerwagen instead has an antenna mounted externally on the right rear, without the usual box armour.

 

Further reading:

 

Wireless for the Wehrmacht in Detail, Alois Vesely & František Kořán, Wings & Wheels Publications No.10

(includes a table of radio receivers and transmitters matched to aerial types)

 

Sd.Kfz.251, by František Kořán, František Sýkora, Martin Velek, Wings & Wheels Publications No.37

(includes numerous photos of a Sd.Kfz.251/3 restoration "Rosi", which retained the upper rear KM9 Kurbelmast mounting bracket and LHS stowage brackets)

 

Panzer Tracts No.15-3 mittlerer Schuetzenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) Ausf.C and D, by Thomas Jentz and Hilary Doyle

(includes a list of known official variants of Sd.Kfz.251/3 with radios listed, from 251/3I through to 251/3V)

 

Duel in the Mist Volume 3, By Hans Weber, Simon Vosters and Timm Haasler, Panzerwrecks

(includes a map pinpointing the location of the vehicle rendered above and identification of its sub-unit origin, plus considerable detail on KG Peiper)

 

Funksammler thread on the Sd.Kfz.251/3 Kommandofunkwagen with Rahframenantenne (frame antenna):

www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=859548

and Kurbelmast:

www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569715

 

Online list of radio transmitter and receivers with aerial types identified:

www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Funkgeraete-R.htm

 

KStN = Kriegsstärkenachweisung, aka offical German Army table of organisation and equipment (scroll down the bottom to "Nachrichten Abteilungen 1942/44"):

www.sturmpanzer.com/Default.aspx?tabindex=5&tabid=621...

KStN 971 covers both Fu 11 SE 100 (KM9 Kurblemast) and Fu 12 SE 80 (KM8 Kurbelmast) Funkpanzerwagen listed in the Pz.Nachr.Komp. of a Pz.Nachr.Abt

 

Thanks to Hans Weber for forwarding this link.

 

This montage forms part of a thread here:

www.network54.com/Forum/571595/thread/1464451384/last-152...

 

 

Done