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Steyr ADGZ (M35 Mittlere Panzerwagen)

1935 WORLD WAR 2

History of the Steyr ADGZ (M35 Medium Armored Vehicle)

Design work on a new indigenous armoured vehicle for the Austrian Armed Forces began in 1934 and resulted in the "M35 Medium Armoured Vehicle" - also known as "ADGZ". The car was produced by Steyr from 1935 to the end of 1941, with a total of 52 built.

These were used locally by the Austrian police and army, and later by the Germans, who drove them into battle during the September 1939 invasion of Poland.

The design includes an effective 8x8 wheel suspension for excellent on- and off-road capability. The four axes are in the race, with the middle two pairs staying close. The front group and the rear group are respectively connected to the extreme ends of the vehicle. The armor structure has sloping surfaces for basic ballistic protection, and the armor thickness reaches 11 mm in key areas.

The dimensions of the vehicle include an overall length of 6.25 meters, a width of 2.15 meters and a height of 2.55 meters. Inside is a crew of 6, powered by an Austro-Daimler M612 series 6-cylinder 12-litre petrol engine producing 150 hp.

At road speeds approaching 45 mph, the range reaches 280 miles.

The main weapon is a 20mm KwK 35-L/45 gun mounted on the roof turret. Secondary armament consists of 3 x 7.92mm MG34 machine guns.

The Austrian Armed Forces received a stockpile of 12 ADGZ vehicles and another 15 were purchased by the Austrian Police Force. Enthusiastic about the design, the German SS procured at least 25 of their own and used them when needed for policing, reconnaissance and guerrilla-style hit-and-run tactics. The type was used from the Polish invasion campaign in 1939 to the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 ("Operation Barbarossa").

After the Germans captured ample T-26 light tanks from the retreating Soviets, the surviving turrets were mounted on ADGZ vehicles to create a semi-new, low-cost mobile weapons platform - now for the more powerful Designed for the Soviet 45mm anti-tank gun. Tank guns are suitable - tank guns.