Fewer than 60 of the Austria-originated ADGZ eight-wheeled armored cars were produced prior to World War 2 - these used by Austrian and German forces in the ensuing battles.
Design work on a new local armored car for the Austrian Army began in 1934 and resulted in the "M35 Mittlere Panzerwagen" - also known as the "ADGZ". The vehicle was produced by Steyr from 1935 until the end of 1941 and yielded a total of 52 units. These were used both locally by the Austrian police and Army forces and, later, by the Germans who pressed them into combat during the Invasion of Poland in September of 1939.
The design incorporated an effective 8x8 suspended wheel arrangement which offered excellent on-road and off-road capabilities. Four axles were in play with the two center pair held close to one another. The front and rear sets were fitted at the extreme respective ends of the vehicle. The armored superstructure featured angled faces for basic ballistics protection and armor reached 11mm in thickness at critical facings. Dimensions of the vehicle included an overall length of 6.25 meters, a width of 2.15 meters, and a height of 2.55 meters. Internally there was a crew of six and drive power came from an Austro-Daimler M612 series 6-cylinder 12-liter gasoline-fueled engine developing 150 horsepower. Operational range reached 280 miles with road speeds nearing 45 miles per hour.
Primary armament was a 20mm KwK 35 L/45 cannon held in a roof-mounted turret. Secondary armament was through 3 x 7.92mm MG34 machine guns.
The Austrian Army took on a stock of twelve ADGZ vehicles and a further fifteen were purchased by Austrian police units. The German SS was keen on the design and procured at least twenty-five examples of their own - using them in policing duties, reconnaissance roles, and hit-and-run guerilla-style tactics when the need arose. The type saw service from the Polish Invasion campaign of 1939 to the German invasion of the Soviet Union of 1941 ("Operation Barbarossa"). After a healthy stock of T-26 Light Tanks were captured by the Germans from the retreating Soviets, surviving turrets were installed on ADGZ vehicles to create a semi-new, cost-effective mobile weapons platform - now fitting the more-capable Soviet 45mm anti-tank gun.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Infantry Support
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.
✓Armored Car
Design, of typically lightweight nature, providing onroad/offroad capabilities for the scouting or general security roles.
✓Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.
Length
20.5 ft 6.25 m
Width
7.1 ft 2.15 m
Height
8.4 ft 2.55 m
Weight
26,455 lb 12,000 kg
Tonnage
13.2 tons LIGHT
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Steyr ADGZ production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org, the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft, and SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane.
Austria; Nazi Germany
