Leichter Panzerspähwagen
Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf. AIn Detail
The Foundation has two Sd.Kfz.223 chassis. Both are the earlier designated Typ 801, which would have been assembled as Ausf. A 3rd Serie 223s. We intend to restore only one of the Ausf. A vehicles as the chassis selected is complete with engine and gearbox. The other Sd.Kfz 223 A chassis, complete with everything save for a gearbox will not be restored.
The prime decision taken before starting the project, was what exactly we wanted the 3 Serie Sd.Kfz 223 to represent when it was fully restored. Should it be restored to the finish it had at the time it left the assembly line, or should it be brought back to the time at the end of its operational service?
This Sd.Kfz 223 is alleged to have been involved in the Braspart raid to rescue captured Fallschirmjaeger, from the hands of the French resistance. The vehicle at the time would have been from the Kriegsmarine vehicle pool in Brest.
We were tempted to restore the Sd.Kfz 223 back to 1944 in Brittany, just before it was immobilised outside the La Poste office in Sezun. There are numerous pictures of early Serie Sd.Kfz 222 or 223 that have been refitted internally. Unfortunately the number of upgrades made to this 3 Serie Sd.Kfz 223 over the years, was unknown. The only definitive point in time was when she left the assembly line in 1939. Therefore, we opted to take the armoured car back to this point in time, within her history. We know how she was fitted out then, we know the instrumentation, radio equipment and racking, internal and external paint treatment, seating and equipment stowage. There are undoubtedly questions to be answered but far more would be posed by restoring a 1939 vehicle to a 1944 standard.
We are currently restoring the Sd.Kfz.223 in tandem with the Sd.Kfz.222. The fact both are Ausf. A vehicles is helping to simplify the restoration project.
When you become a member you have access to the full article detailing the work and research in this project and the ongoing issue resolution regarding fittings and detail.
To have access to the full article
Articles
.JPG "SdKfz223A - Researching The Armoured Wanne Hull For the Armoured Cars")
|Sd.Kfz.223A - Researching The Armoured Wanne (Hull) For the Armoured Cars
04 Mar 2016
What differences are to be found in comparing hulls?
|Sd.Kfz.223 A Project – Resurrecting The Machine Gun Drehsockel – Part 1
22 Apr 2016
Resurrecting the MG Drehsockel
|Sd.Kfz.223 Researching The Interior- Floor Plate
11 Apr 2016
Using the floor plate to discover more detail.
.JPG "SdKfz 223 - A Researching The Provenance Part 2")
|Sd.Kfz. 223 - A Researching The Provenance: Part 2
06 Jan 2017
Why was this armoured car abandoned...?
.jpg "SdKfz222 or SdKfz223 Floor Plate Find What is it for")
|Sd.Kfz.222 or Sd.Kfz.223 Floor Plate Find. What is it for?
30 Sep 2016
Our investigation into the floor plate pattern is brought once more into the spot light...
|Sd.Kfz 222, Sd.Kfz 223 A or B series – Parts Identification- Side Cabin Panel
09 Dec 2016
Putting the pieces together...
.JPG "SdKfz 223 - Fahrersitz Drivers Seat Part 1")
.JPG "SdKfz 223 Ausf A 3 Serie Internal Colours Part 1")
.JPG "SdKfz 223 Ausf A 3 Serie Internal Colours Part 2")
.jpg "Normandy attic gives up its secrets")
|Sd.Kfz 222 and Sd.Kfz 223 Ausf A le.Spaehwagen- Post April 1943 Paint Treatment
17 Mar 2017
Questions answered
|From the Archive - Sd.Kfz. 222 or 223 Floor Plate Find. What is it for?
21 Sep 2018
Our investigation into the floor plate pattern is brought once more into the spot light...
.JPG "Sd Kfz 223 A 3 Serie - Rebuilding The Hull - Part 1")
|Sd.Kfz 222 and 223 – Angled Steering Mechanism – Ausf. A vs Ausf. B Part 1
12 May 2017
Research Continues
|SdKfz 222 and 223 Ausf A Elektrische Ausruestung – Part 1
17 Nov 2017
Making a Start -Anlasser and Lichtmaschine
.JPG "SdKfz 222 and SdKfz 223 - Instrument Panel - Plaques Part 2")
.JPG "SdKfz 222 and SdKfz 223 Ausf A Instrument Panel - Instruments - Part 1")
|Sd.Kfz 222 and Sd.Kfz 223 Ausf A – Instrument Panel - Instruments - Part 1
03 Feb 2017
Getting the instrument panel right
|Sd.Kfz 222 and Sd.Kfz 223 Ausf A – Instrument Panel - Plaques - Part 1
03 Feb 2017
Deciphering the text
.JPG "SdKfz 222-3 Ammunition boxes")
.JPG "Sdkfz 223 turret mesh")
|Sd.Kfz 223 3 Serie Ausf A – MG 34 fittings – Part 1 – The PT 34 Trommelhalter Top Cover
25 May 2017
Our new acquisition
.jpg "SdKfz 223 A 3 Serie - Rebuilding The Hull Part Two")
|Sd.Kfz. 223 A 3 Serie - Rebuilding The Hull – Part Two
18 Mar 2016
There are always elusive details...
|Sd.Kfz 223 and Sd.Kfz 222 Ausf A – Vergaser Carburettor
02 Nov 2018
Stepping into a blizzard of information
.JPG "SdKfz 223 and SdKfz 222 Ausf A Fitting the Plaques -Schmierplan amp Dueseneinstellung Schild")
|Sd.Kfz 223 and Sd.Kfz 222 Ausf A – Fitting the Plaques -Schmierplan & Dueseneinstellung Schild
24 Mar 2018
Reproducing accurate copies of these two very rare plaques requires careful planning.
.JPG "SdKfz 223 Antenna Part one - The antenna arrives")
|SdKfz 223 Antenna Part one - The antenna arrives
18 Sep 2020
From The Archive - Rare 223 antenna base ready for copying
.JPG "SdKfz 223 antenna")
|SdKfz 223 Antenna Part three - The antenna support frame
07 Oct 2015
The SdKfz 223 project took another very important step forward with this discovery
.JPG "SdKfz 223 Antenna Part two - The hoisting mechanism")
|SdKfz 223 Antenna Part two - The hoisting mechanism
29 Sep 2015
Take a look at the mechanism being stripped down
|Sd.Kfz 223 Drehsockel - Halter fuer M.G.34 Magazin
26 May 2016
Searching through manual images for more detailed information.
|Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz 223 Ausf A – Plaques – Schmierplan – Part 2
06 Apr 2018
The mist begins to clear
.JPG "SdKfz222 and SdKfz223 Ausf A Instrument Panel Instruments - Part 2")
|Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf. A – Instrument Panel – Instruments - Part 2
09 Feb 2017
Identifying the instruments
|Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf. A – Instrument Panel – Instruments - Part 3
05 May 2017
Identifying the Correct Pieces
|Dept of Corrections - Sd.Kfz 222, Sd.Kfz 223 A or B series – Parts Identification- Side Cabin Panel
04 Oct 2019
Putting the pieces together...
|Department of Corrections - Sd.Kfz 222, Sd.Kfz 223 A or B series – Parts Identification- Side Cabin Panel
04 Oct 2019
An article revisited
|Le.Pz.Sp.Wg - 3 Serie and 4 Serie Ausf.A Fahrgestell - Suspension Components - Gummi Metall Buchsen
20 Feb 2020
War profiteering anyone?
-cropped.jpg "LePzSpWg - 3 Serie and 4 Serie AusfA Fahrgestell - Suspension Components - Öldruckstoßdämpfer")
|Le.Pz.Sp.Wg - 3 Serie and 4 Serie Ausf.A Fahrgestell - Suspension Components - Öldruckstoßdämpfer
21 Feb 2020
Complication?
|Sd.Kfz 223 and Sd.Kfz 222 Ausf. A – Vergaser (Carburettor) - Part 2
12 Jul 2019
Einheitsfahrgstell I Geratebeschreibung D664 5 of 3/3/43 - The Relevant Text
/~th-500x375/~th-crop-01-in-detail.jpg "SdKfz223 AusfA 3 and 4Serie Schutzschild turret Guide")
|Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf.B (5 Serie) – Uncovering the Provenance Part 2 – a Sd.Kfz.223?
07 Sep 2018
Its all in the number
|Le.Pz.Sp.Wg Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie and Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie – Instrumentation – Uhr (Clock)
25 Sep 2020
The time is right!
|Sammler for Le.Pz.Sp.Wg (Sd.Kfz.223) Ausf.A, (Sd.Kfz.222) Ausf.A and 5.Serie (Sd.Kfz.261)
27 Mar 2020
The Batteries
/~th-500x375/~th-crop-P5140502-cropped.jpg "SDKFZ 223 AND SDKFZ 222 AUSFA VERSUS SDKFZ 261 AUSFB ANGLED STEERING PART 3")
|SD.KFZ 223 AND SD.KFZ 222 AUSF.A VERSUS SD.KFZ 261 AUSF.B – ANGLED STEERING PART 3
02 Aug 2019
One Step Forward and 2 Back - The Deckel - top covers
|Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf.A – Horch V8 3,5 Litre Cylinder Head - Part 2
19 Jul 2019
Clarity at last!
