Specification Crew : 4 Engine power : 150 hp Combat weight :8.30 tons Max speed : road . 85 km/h Range : 300 km Length : 5.85 m Width : 2.20 m Height : 2.35 m Main gun : One 20mm KwK30 or 38 : One 7.92mm MG34 Armour : 5 mm to 15mm

The development of a schwerer Panzerspähwagen with improved cross-country mobility was ordered in 1934.Designated Versuchskraftfahrzeug (experimental vehicle) 623 and 624 , an eight-wheeled chassis was developed to carry the armored body and turret.The designation changed to Sd Kfz 233 and 234 in mid 1937 and finally to Sd Kfz 231 and 232 (8 rad) in October 1939. All chassis were produced by Büssing-NAG and featured steering and drive for all eight road wheels.Duble controls were installed to allow rapid maneuvering , advancing and retiring.The engine was located in the rear which gave adequate protection together with adequate cooling.Early in 1940 an 8mm armour shield (Pakschütz) was added to the front of many of the Sd Kfz 231 already produced and this practice continued until early 1942.From May 1942 this temporary solution was eliminated from production vehicles , since the hull and turret frontal armour thickness was increased to 30mm.The weight then increased to 9.10 tons. Six Sd Kfz 231 and 232 were issued to the heavy platoon of the Panzerspähwagen squadron of each motorized Aufklärungs detachment.The entire platoon was not usually employed together but was split up to accompany and give support to the smaller four-wheeled armored cars.Tht Sd Kfz 231 was employed in all the campaigns throughout the war.