Sd.Kfz. 232 (6-rad), Heavy Armoured Car (Radio)
Matchbox 1:76 Scale Vehicle Review
Long-range radio vehicle based on the early 6×4 version of the Sd.Kfz. 231 heavy armoured car. This vehicle had a standard truck chassis, but it already showed a number of important design features which were continued in the very successful Sd.Kfz. 231 and 234 series of 8-wheeled armoured cars. The early 231 armoured car sported a direction-change gearbox and a reverse driving position, which gave the vehicle excellent tactical mobility, allowing the crew to back out of a dangerous situation at full 63 km/h reverse speed.
Contents
Two miniatures, diorama base and Sd.Kfz. 232
- Type: Heavy Armoured Car (Radio), 6×4
- Wheelbase: 2.52 m (95 cm rear bogie)
- Length: 5.60 m
- Width: 1.8 m
- Height: 2.23 m
- Weight: 6 t
- Armament: 2 cm L/55, MG 34
- 4 Crew: Commander, Gunner, Driver and Rear Driver
Evaluation
Scale model with much raised detail.
Good choice of subject, an important vehicle which served in command and reconnaissance roles. The later 8-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231/232 (Radio) series of vehicles would have been even better, they had a longer service life and were deployed in the same formations as the Sd.Kfz. 234 variants available from Airfix and Matchbox.
Few parts, easy to assemble.
Choice of open or closed turret hatch. One of the dismounted figures can be made to fit inside the hatch, but some carving around the waist will be required.
High quality kit. Parts fit very well and there is minimal flash.
Compatible with Airfix, Fujimi, Nitto, and VAC-U-CAST.
Approximately 5 % smaller than the 1:72 scale figure standard. Not a problem in this case, the Sd.Kfz. 232 is the only armoured car with radio antenna on the market and it is compatible with other armoured cars produced by Airfix and Matchbox.
Historical Employment
- Command vehicle used by infantry and armoured formations, 1939–1940
- 4th (Heavy Weapons) Platoon of light armoured car companies using Sd.Kfz. 222
and 223 (Radio) vehicles. A full-strength platoon consisted of four 231 and two 232
(Radio) armoured cars. Decals for the following units are included:
- 3rd Coy., Pz.Aufkl.Abteilung, Armeegruppe Nord (B), 4th Army, Poland 1939
- H.Q. Coy., 2nd Btl., Inf. Regiment. Pz.Grp. Guderian (XIX Panzer Corps)
Possible Conversions
- Sd.Kfz. 231 schwerer Panzerspähwagen, 6×4, with 2 cm L/55, 1939–1940
- Sd.Kfz. 231 schwerer Panzerspähwagen, 8×8, with 2 cm L/55, using the turret from this kit, body and chassis of the Airfix 8-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231, 1939–1945
- Sd.Kfz. 232 schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Radio), 8×8, using the antenna from this kit, body and chassis of the Airfix 8-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231, July 1942–1945
The Sd.Kfz. 232 filled an important command and reconnaissance role in the armoured formations of the Wehrmacht. Two versions of the vehicle existed, the 6×4 featured here and the improved 8×8 version which continued to serve in the heavy armoured car companies even after the 6×4 was withdrawn. Using the Airfix/Fujimi 222 light armoured car and 231 heavy armoured car conversions based on the Matchbox 232 (Radio) vehicle, wargamers are in a position to raise entire reconnaissance battalions. A spare antenna can be used to convert an Sd.Kfz. 250/9 or 250/10 half-tracked APC to the 250/3 (Command/Radio) variant. This Matchbox model will be an important addition to any armour collection of the period. The kit includes a diorama base of a destroyed shop front which serves as a useful terrain piece in simulation games.