1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6 with 'Medusa device'

Dizzyfugu · October 30, 2016, 12:48:53 AM

Some weirdo Heer '46 work, while getting the Lansen for the current GB started...

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
Armoured wheeled vehicles were developed early in Germany, since they were not subject to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. The Sd.Kfz. 234 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234, or Special Purpose Vehicle 234) belonged to the ARK series (type designation of the chassis) and was the successor to the earlier, eight-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231/232/233 family.

The Sd.Kfz. 234 incorporated several innovative features, including a monocoque chassis with eight wheels, and an air-cooled Tatra 103 diesel engine for use in North Africa. The latter gave the vehicle an extroordinary range of more than 600 miles (1.000 km). The vehicle had eight-wheel steering and drive and was able to quickly change direction thanks to a second, rear-facing, driver's seat.
Chassis' were built by Büssing-NAG in Leipzig-Wahren, while armoured bodies were provided by Deutsche Edelstahlwerke of Krefeld and turrets by Daimler Benz in Berlin-Marienfelde and Schichau of Elbing, with engines from Ringhoffer-Tatra-Werke AG of Nesseldorf.

The first and possibly best known version to reach frontline service was the Sd.Kfz. 234/2 "Puma". It had a turret armed with a 5cm L/60 gun, which was originally intended for the VK 1602 Leopard light tank. Even though it was a reconnaissance vehicle, the armament made it possible to take on lighter armored vehicles, and it was produced from late 1943 to mid 1944. This variant was replaced in production by the second version, the Sd.Kfz. 234/1, which had a simpler open turret (Hängelafette 38) armed only with a light 2 cm KwK 38 gun; it was manufactured from mid 1944 to early 1945.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The SdKfz 234/3, produced simultaneously with the 234/1, served as a support vehicle for the reconnaissance vehicles. It had an open-topped superstructure, in which a short-barreled 7.5cm K51 L/24 gun was installed. This gun was intended for use against "soft" targets; however, when using a hollow charge shell, the penetration power exceeded that of the 5cm L/60 gun. This variant was produced from mid 1944 to the end of 1944, before switching production to the 234/4 and other, spezailized variants.

The Sd.Kfz. 234/4 replaced the L/24 gun with the 7.5cm L/46 PaK 40. This was yet another attempt to increase the mobility of this anti-tank gun; however, the 234 chassis was stretched to its limits, and it carried limited ammunition (twelve rounds) due to lack of storage space. This variant was manufactured from the end of 1944 on.

Another interesting use of the chassis was the Sd.Kfz 234/6. When, towards late 1945, the Einheitschassis for the German combat tanks (the "E" series of medium und heavy tanks) reached the front lines, several heavily armed anti aircraft turrets had been developed, incuding the 30mm Kugelblitz, based on the outdated Panzer IV, the "Coelian" twin 37mm cannon (on the Panzer V Panther hull), but also twin 75 and even 88mm cannons on the new E-50, E-75 and E-100 chassis'.

Firepower was considerably increased, but the tank crews still had to rely on traditional visual tracking and aiming of targets. One potential solution in which the German Heeresleitung was highly interested from the start was the use of the new radar technology for early target identification and as an aiming aid in poor weather conditions or even at night. The German Luftwaffe first introduced an airborne interception radar in 1942, but these systems were bulky and relied upon large bipolar antenna arrays, that were not suitable for any use in a ground vehicle, lest to say in a tank that would also carry weapons and ammunition.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A potential solution came finally in late 1944 with the development of the FuG 240 "Berlin". It was an airborne interception radar, too, but it was the first German radar to be based on the cavity magnetron, which eliminated the need for the large multiple dipole-based antenna arrays seen on earlier radars, thereby greatly increasing the performance of the night fighters.The FuG 240 was introduced by Telefunken in April 1945, primarily in Junkers Ju 88G-6 night-fighters, behind a plywood radome. This so greatly reduced drag compared to the late-model Lichtensteins and Neptun that the fighters regained their pre-radar speeds. The FuG 240 was effective against bomber-sized targets at distances of up to 9 kilometers, or down to 0.5 kilometer, which eliminated the need for a second, short-range radar system.

Right before the FuG 240's roll-out with the Luftwaffe, the Heer insisted on a ground-based derivative for the anti aircraft units. Political pressure from Berlin convinced the RLM to share the new technology, and Telefunken was ushered to adapt the radar system to an armored gound vehicle in February 1945.

It soon became clear that the FuG 240 had several drawbacks for this task. On one side, ground clutter and the natural horizon limited the system's range further, even though its 9km range made high altitude surveillance possible, even though at a very limited range and field of view. Furthermore, the whole system, together with its power supply and a dirigible dish antenna, took up a lot of space, so that its integration into a tank-based anti aircraft as an autonomous stand-alone solution was ruled out.

The solution eventually came as technical and tactical compromise: the anti aircraft tanks were to be grouped together in so-called Panzer-Fla-Züge, with an additional dedicated radar surveillance and guidance unit, so that the radar could guide the tank crews towards incoming targets, which would still rely on visual targeting.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The respective guidance vehicle became the Funkmesswagen Sd.KfZ 234/6, which also retained its secondary reconnaissance role. Together with Telefunken, Daimler Benz developed a new turret with a maximum armor of 30mm and a commander's cupola that would hold most of the radar equipment and a crew of two, while the Sd. Kfz 234 chassis remained basically unchanged. Despite the big turret and the extra equipment, the Sd.Kfz 234/6 was not heavier than its earlier brethren.

Limited by the hull's width, the new turret was rather narrow and cramped with equipment, so that no fixed armament was carried, not even a turret-mounted machine gun. Just a manually operated FlaMG on the roof was available for defense. A heavier armament was not deemed necessary since the vehicle would either stay close to the heavily armed tanks it typically accompanied, or it would undertake lone reconnaissance missions where it would rely on its high speed and mobility.
The vehicle's crew consisted of four: a driver in the front seat, a commander and a radar operator in the turret and a radio operator/second driver in the hull behind the turret, facing rearwards.

The antenna array was installed at the turret's front. The dish antenna, hidden under a hard vinyl cover, had a diameter of 70cm (27 1/2 inches). Power of the modified FuG 240 was 15kW, with a search angle of +80/− 5° and a frequency range: 3,250–3,330MHz (~10 cm). Range was, like the airborne variant, 0.5–9.0 kilometer. Power came from a dedicated generator that was connected to the Tatra diesel engine, hidden under an armored fairing on the vehicles bonnet that partly obscured the rear diver's field of view. Beyond the radar system, the vehicle was also equipped with a powerful visual coincidence range finder, installed right through the turret.

The system works as follows: Light from the target enters the range finder through two windows located at either end of the instrument. At either side, the incident beam is reflected to the center of the optical bar by a pentaprism, and this optical bar is ideally made from a material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that optical path lengths do not change significantly with temperature.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The reflected beam first passes through an objective lens and is then merged with the beam of the opposing side with an ocular prism sub-assembly to form two images of the target which are viewed by the observer through the eyepiece. Since either beam enters the instrument at a slightly different angle the resulting image, if unaltered, will appear blurry. Therefore, in one arm of the instrument, a compensator is integrated which can be adjusted by the operator to tilt the beam until the two images match. At this point, the images are said to be in coincidence. The degree of rotation of the compensator determines the range to the target by simple triangulation, allowing the calculation of the distance to the observed object.

Fixed target reading with the device mounted in the Sd.Kfz 234/6' turret were possible on targets from 2,700 to 14,500 yards. Aerial courses could be recorded at all levels of flight and at a slant range between 4,000 and 12,000 yards - enough for visual identification beyond the group's effective gun ranges and perfectly suitable for long range observation.

The optical bar had a span of and went right through the turret, just above the radar device installation. For the most effective range it even protruded from the turret on both sides like pylons, an arrangement that quickly earned the vehicle several nicknames like "Hirsch (stag)", "Zwoender" (a young stag with just two antlers), "Ameise" (ant) and "Medusa", after the monster from Greek mythology with snake hair and a petrifying sight. None of these were officially adapted, though, even though the complete turret system was at Daimler Benz frequently referred to as the "Medusa device" for security purposes.

The first vehicles reached, together with the new FlaK tanks, the front units in summer 1945. Operating independently, they were primarily allocated to the defense of important production sites and the city of Berlin, and they supported tank divisions through visual reconnaissance or early warning duties.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Operationally the Sd. Kfz 234/6 was surprisingly successful, even though the radar remained capricious, its performance very limited and the unarmored equipment at the turret's front was easily damaged in combat. But the Sd.Kfz 234/6 offered, when the vehicle was placed in a location with a relatively free field of view (e. g. on a wide forest clearance or in an open field), a sufficient early warning performance against incoming bombers at medium to high altitudes, esp. when the general direction of incoming aircraft was already known.
The radar system even allowed a quick alert against low-flying aircraft, esp. when operating from higher ground. The radar information reduced the anti aircraft tank/gun crews' reaction time considerably and allowed them to be prepared for incoming targets at the right altitude, direction and time. Hit probability was appreciably improved, since quick passes of aircraft could be predeterminated.

Until the end of hostilities, probably fifty Sd.Kfz 234/6 were built or converted from existing chassis'. Beyond this use, the "Medusa device" was furthermore mounted on outdated tracked armored vehicles like the Panzer III and IV, of which another forty vehicles were produced as Funkmesswagen III and IV.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Specifications:
Crew: Four (commander, radar operator, driver, radio operator/2nd driver)
Weight: 11,500 kg (25,330 lb)
Length: 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
Width: 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.84 metres (9 ft 4 in) w/o AA machine gun
Suspension: Wheeled (Tires: 270–20, bulletproof), with leaf springs
Track width: 1.95 m (6 ft 4 1/2 in)
Wading depth: 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
Trench crossing capability: 2m (6 ft 6 1/2 in)
Ground clearance: 350 mm (13 3/4 in)
Climbing capability: 30°
Fuel capacity: 360 l
Fuel consumption: 40 l/100 km on roads, 60 l/100 km off-road

Armor:
9-30 mm (.35-1.18 in)

Performance:
Maximum road speed: 80 km/h (49 mph)
Operational range: 950 km (590 mi)
Power/weight: 19 PS/t

Engine:
Air-cooled 14,825 cc (905³ in) Tatra 103 V12 diesel engine,
with 157 kW (220 hp) output at 2.200 RPM

Transmission:
Büssing-NAG "GS" with 3 forward and reverse gears, eight-wheel drive

Armament:
1× anti aircraft 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 42 with 2.800 rounds

The kit and its assembly:
This whiffy and almost Ma.K-looking vehicle was inspired by the late WWII anti aircraft tanks that never made it into hardware. I wondered how the gap between the simple visual aiming and the next logical step to surveillance and tracking radars could have been achieved, and the German airborne radars were a suitable place to start.

The idea of a dedicated vehicle was a logical step, since it would take many more years to develop a stystem that would be compact enough to be carried together with effective armament in just a single vehicle. It would take until the Sixties that such stand-alone systems like the Soviet ZSU-23-4 (1965) or the AMX-13 DCA (1969) would be produced.

I chose the light Sd.Kfz 234 as basis because I do not think that a full armored tank would be devoted to a limited radar operation role, and instead of relying on heavy armor I deemed a light but fast vehicle (just like many other later AA tanks) to be the more plausible solution.

Basically, this is an OOB Hasegawa Sd.Kfz 234/3, the "Stummel" with the short 7.5cm gun and an open hull. The latter was closed with 1mm styrene sheet and a mount for a turret added. The turret itself is based on an Italeri Matilda Mk.II turret, but with a highly modified front that holds a resin "Cyrano" radar (actually for an 1:72 Mirage F.1C) on a movable axis, an added rear extension and the antler fairings for the visual coincidence range finder. As a side note, similar systems were to be integrated into German late WWII combat tanks (e .g. in the Schmalturm), too, so this is another plausible piece of technology.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327" of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327" of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A German tank commander figure (from a vintage ESCI kit) populates the open hatch of the commander's cupola, the AA machine gun with its mount is an addition from the scrap box.
On the hull, the only modification is the additional generator fairing above the engine, for a slightly modified silhouette.

Painting and markings:
The turret looks weird enough, so I wanted a simple, yet typically late-WWII-German camouflage. I settled upon a geometric variation of the Hinterhalt three-tone scheme, primarily with dark yellow and olive green fields and stripe and a few red brown additions - inspired by a real late war Panther tank.

The basic color is RAL 7028 (modern variant, though), applied from the rattle can on the semi-finished hull and turret as a primer. On top of that, the shapes were added with acrylic dark grey-green (RAL 7009, Revell 67) and red brown (Humbrol 180) with a brush. The less bright colors were chosen on purpose for a low contrast finish, and the edgy shapes add a slightly SF-ish look.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327" of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327" of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A black ink wash and some dry-brushing along the many edges were used to weather the model and emphasize details. After decals had been applied, the kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish and some artist pigments were added around the wheels and lower hull in order to simulate dust and dirt. On the lower chassis, some pigments were also "cluttered" onto small patches oc the acrylic varnish, so that the stuff soaks it up, builds volume and becomes solid - the perfect simulation of dry mud crusts.

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327" of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Funkmesswagen SdKfz. 234/6; '327' of an unidentified unit (probably a Panzer-Fla-Zug of the Pz.Div. 45, a.k.a. 'Panzer Division Clausewitz'); Mittelland Canal near Braunschweig, early 1946 (Heer '46/Hasegawa kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A whiffy tank kit with a long background story - but the concept offers a lot of material to create a detailed story and description. And while the vehicle is a fantasy creation, it bears a weird plausibility. Should be a nice scenic addition to a (whiffy, too) German E-75 Flak tank (to be built some day)?

Gondor · October 30, 2016, 01:56:35 AM

Very nice and a very nice backstory too

Gondor

NARSES2 · October 30, 2016, 02:03:35 AM

Very interesting model and back story

I was wondering where the turret came from. Would never have guessed a Matilda !

zenrat · October 30, 2016, 02:57:25 AM

Good job.

63cpe · October 30, 2016, 03:44:40 AM

Great idea..I love it! Good job building it!

PR19_Kit · October 30, 2016, 08:01:37 AM

VERY ingenious Thomas, and modelled superbly as usual.

Dizzyfugu · October 30, 2016, 10:24:18 AM

Thank you very much. Yes, the background story turned out to be rather lengthy, but the model's "concept" carried a lot of potential in different directions that could be fleshed out - always a good sign, though. Glad you like it.

Sport21ing · November 11, 2016, 08:10:43 AM

Good model

Since the E-series of vehicles where built, what did the Germans made with the StuG's, and the Jagdpanzer's and the Jagdtiger, and even, what is the response of the Allied side?

zenrat · November 11, 2016, 09:48:21 PM

Quote from: Sport21ing on November 11, 2016, 08:10:43 AM
...what is the response of the Allied side?

Some kind of proto wild weasel unit?
Beaufighter with radar receivers tuned to the same frequency as the FuG 240 and rockets to take it out?

Sport21ing · November 12, 2016, 11:28:57 AM

Quote from: zenrat on November 11, 2016, 09:48:21 PM
Quote from: Sport21ing on November 11, 2016, 08:10:43 AM
...what is the response of the Allied side?

Some kind of proto wild weasel unit?
Beaufighter with radar receivers tuned to the same frequency as the FuG 240 and rockets to take it out?

Well, I wanted to know by Dizzy itself, but thx anyway

buzzbomb · November 13, 2016, 01:11:42 AM

Just terrific work and a masterful back story.
Opened up yet another stream of whiffer thought

Captain Canada · November 26, 2016, 12:01:02 PM

Very cool ! Love the camo. The turret looks awesome as well. Great pics as usual that so brings out the realism !