Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie and Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie – Kotflügel - Fenders - Inside Track | Renault TSF Tank Kent

With the Foundations mission to restore vehicles to 100% accuracy so that they are as delivered eighty years ago means even fittings that look superficially similar must be examined in minute detail. On quick inspection the Kotflϋgel fenders do not appear to be vastly different between the 3.Serie and the 4.Serie. But there is quite a difference in the support structure beneath these fenders. While all the chassis were provided by Horch, the 3.Serie contract for Panzerwanne was with Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (DEW) and the design originated in 1934/5. This should be kept in mind when analysing the differences between 3.Serie and 4.Serie. The 3.Serie fender supports were wider and thicker and generally heavier than the later 4.Serie . This could be attributed to a few factors including reduction in weight and the material saving – a standard drive across industry in Germany at the time. Also, there were three different types of step at the base of the rear fenders not including a new cut out step fitted when the extra Kasten (stowage bin) was added. This Kasten is still under consideration for our Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie. These steps will be covered as per each le.Pz.Sp.Wg individually in due course. The Foundation is fortunate to have saved and secured one complete original fender and part of a fender from the opposite side for our 3.Serie (see attached image in green). These, when compared to our 4.Serie fender sections and what we have recorded on the Sd.Kfz.223 4.Serie at Fort Benning, show the marked difference of weight and size of their support frames (see attached image of Fort Benning and rusted survivor). Remember our Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie was assembled by Schichau, Elbing while our Sd.Kfz.223 4.Serie was assembled by MNH using the Panzerwanne from the Austrian company Gebr. Böhler. The fender supports of both 4.Serie examples of the Sd.Kfz.222 and the Sd.Kfz.223 are remarkably similar. Of course, there are real differences in the fittings on the outside faces of these fenders. We have started to cover this topic in the recent discussion regarding the jack and fire extinguisher position of the Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie. We have mirrored the details from our surviving fenders to recreate the missing fenders for the Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie. The Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie was a slightly easier prospect given the surviving fender sections combined with the recorded dimensions and detail from the Sd.Kfz.223 4.Serie of Fort Benning. These two starting points allowed us to navigate exactly just how these fenders were constructed. We will publish images of these fenders once they are beyond the drawing board and complete. Our next step is to furnish the Kotflϋgel fenders as per their chronological position in time and tactical use – i.e., the earlier Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie and the later Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie.

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