Sd.Kfz. 253 ''leichter Gepanzerter Beobachtungskraftwagen'' was a German half-track observation vehicle that was used by artillery

forward observer An artillery observer, artillery spotter or forward observer (FO) is responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire onto a target. It may be a ''forward air controller'' (FAC) for close air support (CAS) and spotter for naval gunfire sup ...

s to accompany tank and

mechanized infantry Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat (see also mechanized force). As defined by the United States Army, mechanized infantry is di ...

units. The vehicle belonged to the

Sd.Kfz. 250 The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured half-track, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in Worl ...

family. The appearance was similar to the Sd.Kfz. 250, but the Sd.Kfz. 253 variant was fully enclosed. Demag/Wegman manufactured 285 vehicles between 1940–1941.

References

"Leichte Gepanzerte Beobachtungskraftwagen Sd.Kfz.253"
''www.achtungpanzer.com.'' Retrieved 2016-10-12. World War II armoured fighting vehicles of Germany World War II half-tracks Half-tracks of Germany Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944 {{Germany-mil-stub