| SdKfz 234 Armored Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234 with the 50mm cannon | |||
| Army | Wehrmacht | ||
| Role | Medium Scout vehicle | ||
| Unit Cost |
 280 35 4 | ||
| Upkeep per Minute |
−5.37 | ||
| Prereq. | None | ||
| Produced By | Sturm Armory | ||
| Primary armament | 20mm Kwk 30 L/55 autocannon or 50mm Kwk 39 L/60 | ||
| Secondary armament | 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 42 | ||
| Health |
 320 | ||
| Armor | Light | ||
| Max. Speed | 7.5 m/s | ||
| |||
SdKfz 234 Armored Car is an Axis medium Vehicle field by the Wehrmacht featured in Company of Heroes.
Game Info
Known as Schwerer Panzerspahwagen(Heavy armored reconnaissance vehicle), the SdKfz 234 Armored Car or better known as SdKfz 234 Puma('Puma' for short) is an 8 wheel armored car of the Wehrmacht Armed Forces. This vehicle was intended for reconnaissance, scouting, artillery spotting, light harassment, and infantry support. The SdKfz 234 Armored Car has better armor, better weapons, and more mobility than most of the previous models, and was also designed to have an imposing look, and became a popular vehicle among the German Infantry as well as Officers during World War II.
The SdKfz 234 Armored Car is an 8 x 4 medium vehicle available once a Sturm Armory is constructed. It has 15mm armor on the front that is slightly sloped, 8mm on its side and 10mm at the rear, with 6 to 10mm from top to bottom. Its armor proved to be slightly better compared to the M8 Greyhound and the SdKfz 222 Armored Car in the game. It provides protection from small arms and machine gun fire. Initially armed with a 20mm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and a MG34, the SdKfz 234 Armored Car proved to be a lethal vehicle against infantry. Its 20mm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon can rapidly cut down infantry with its high rate of fire of 200 round per minute. and is also effective against lightly armored targets such as the Jeep, Bren Carrier, and M3 Halftrack. It can also be upgraded with a 50mm KwK 39/1 L/60 Light AT cannon, providing sufficient firepower against Allied armored targets and infantry. Most Axis players will purchase this upgrade to increase its lethality against units such as the M8 and M10 in numbers.
The SdKfz 234 Armored Car is an effective heavy reconnaissance vehicle, able to scout and recon an area of the battlefield while still being capable of tackling most enemies. Highly maneuverable, it can travel through enemy territory, identify an enemies position and move back to friendly territory quickly. If upgraded, the 50mm Light AT cannon can provide excellent harassment against infantry, light and medium vehicles, base structures and fortified strategic points. Some Axis commander prefer to use it as hit and run vehicle while performing reconnaissances thanks to its high speed and good maneuverability. The SdKfz 234 Armored Car is best supported by infantry such as the Grenadier Squad, Volksgrenadier Squad, Stormtrooper Squad or the Knight's Cross Holders, or kept in pairs of 2-4 for hit and run assault or raiding. It can also provide support for panzers, using its cannon to suppress and cut down infantry.
While most Armored Cars become obsolete in the later stages of battle, this is where the Puma shines. With an upgraded 50mm gun, the Puma can now effectively engage heavier vehicles. Of course the Puma can't stand up to enemy tanks directly, they can be used for flanking enemy tanks while supporting friendly tanks. If used correctly, the Puma becomes an effective tank-killer.
Description
With eight wheels to carry it, the SdKfz 234/1 Armored Car is a valuable Axis vehicle that should be used to engage infantry with its 20mm rapid firing gun. Its strong engine lends the vehicle for reconnaissance roles, but with the Puma 50mm gun upgrade, the unit can prove to be a threat against heavier Allied armor and other vehicles.
Tips
- The armored car is very effective at taking out enemy infantry.
- At vet1, it is able to survive one more AT-gun shot. At vet3, it does 30% extra damage.
- The upgraded gun will lower its effectiveness versus US infantry severely, although it seems to have an easier time versus British infantry. It is effective versus Stuarts though, and can sometimes do a number on M10s. Against M8s though, it serves in a mostly defensive capacity. It may not always be necessary to upgrade the gun until heavier Allied vehicles begin to appear on the field
Weakness
Although it is pretty lethal against soft targets, its thin armor provides little protection other than from rifle and machine gun fire. Anti-tank weapons, AT guns and normal tank cannons can destroy it quickly. The Bren Carrier with the MMG upgrade and the M1917 Browning can shred the SdKfz 234 under the right circumstances. Light Tanks such as the Stuart Tank and Tetrarch Tank are capable of knocking out the SdKfz 234 Armored Car with ease. Even if upgraded with the 50mm KwK 39/1 L/60 Light AT cannon, it is still incapable of tackling some of the heavier Allied tanks such as the M4 Sherman, M10 Tank Destroyer, T-34/76, Cromwell Tank and the Sherman Firefly. It is advised to use it as an infantry support vehicle in the early stage of battle and and also as a scout/reconnaissance vehicle or harassment unit at the later stage. It is best kept in pairs so as to increase their survivability and effectiveness. It is typically deployed in small numbers, at most 4, as Axis commanders prefer to save cost and population cap by constructing Panzers such as the StuG IV and Panzer IV.
SdKfz 234 Armored Car firing its ferocious 20mm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon