The Wehrmacht used halftracks extensively in World War II
and realised early on that Panzers units needed close support
from infantry and other arms, and that these supporting arms
needed to be able keep up the same pace as the Panzers. The
Sd.Kfz. 250's and Sd.Kfz. 251's and the many other variants
which could keep up with the Panzers on almost any terrain.
Halftracks were used primarily as armoured personnel carriers,
but also saw service as mortar carriers, self-propelled anti-tank
guns, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled artillery,
artillery tractors. Most halftracks went to the elite Waffen
SS Divisions. Preliminary design of all the German halftracks
of the early part of the war was done by Dipl.Ing. Heinrich
Ernst Kniepkamp of the Military Automotive Department he retained
his post until the end of the war.
German Military Vehicles.
ISBN-10: 087349783X
Armoured Fighting Vehicles of Germany World War II.
ISBN-10: 0214203077
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World Two.
ISBN-10: 1854095188
For a complete list of
sources
