ADGZ
The Steyr ADGZ was originally developed as a heavy armored car for the Austrian Army (its designation was "M35 Mittlerer Panzerwagen") from 1934 and delivered from 1935–37.
| Steyr ADGZ | |
|---|---|
 ADGZ in the Sudetenland, 1938 | |
| Type | Armored car |
| Place of origin | Austria |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Austria Nazi Germany Independent State of Croatia |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Steyr |
| Designed | 1934-1935 |
| Manufacturer | Steyr |
| Produced | 1935-1941 |
| No. built | 52 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12 tons |
| Length | 6.26 m (20 ft 6 in) |
| Width | 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) |
| Height | 2.56 m (8 ft 5 in) |
| Crew | 6 |
| Armor | 11 mm (0.43 in) |
Main armament | 20mm KwK 35 L/45 (with 100 rounds) or 45 mm wz. 1932 (19-K) (T-26 model 1933 turret) |
Secondary armament | 3 x 7.92mm MG34 or 2 x 7.92mm MG34 and 1 x DT machine gun |
| Engine | Austro-Daimler M612, 6-cylinder, 12 litre 150 hp (110 kW) |
| Suspension | wheel |
Operational range | 450 km (280 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
History
The Austrian army was using the ADGZ armored car at the time of Anschluss. 12 were used by the army and 15 were used by the police. The Germans used them for police work and some were taken on by the Waffen-SS and used on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans.
The SS ordered an additional 25 ADGZ which were delivered in 1942. An interesting feature of this vehicle was that there was no "rear:" either end was capable of driving the unit.
As part of the initial operations of the Invasion of Poland, the SS Heimwehr Danzig used three ADGZ armored cars during the attack on the Polish Post Office in Danzig, and lost one during the battle. Some ADGZ were also supplied to the Army of the Independent State of Croatia.[1]
References
- Mahé, Yann (April 2011). "Le Blindorama : La Croatie, 1941 - 1945". Batailles & Blindés (in French). No. 42. Caraktère. pp. 4–7. ISSN 1765-0828.