Following on from mention in the previous post of a 1.SS Pz Div SdKfz 251/21 in the La Gleize area, the photo below, by coincidence, was kindly passed on to me by Jean-Leon Gantier. Closer examination subsequently revealed the vehicle in the foreground to be in fact a wrecked SdKfz 251/21 (presumably a production version, rather than a field modification). The setting and many consistencies with a series of photos of KG Peiper SPW wrecks (such as the last photo in the 251/17 post), strongly suggests the photo was taken in, or very near the orchard nestled beside La Gleize, Belgium.



The late model Drilling mount itself is severely damaged, no doubt due to German demolition, due to the KG having been cut off, out of fuel and forced to withdraw on foot. The mount is facing rearwards, with its shield missing, probably blown off and laying in pieces around the vehicle. Only a single MG 151 remains in evidence, albeit spun around to the front and pointing skywards. At least one of the smaller Drilling ammunition boxes stands nearby:



Although it is a relatively poor scan, what is particularly interesting is the clear lack of any painted censorship of the tactical markings or SS-registration prefix, unlike the case with other photographed SPW of this division during and after the battle. Like the three Sdkfz 251/7s seen in the background suggest, the 251/21 interestingly appears to carry both the LSSAH insignia and the SPW-equipped 3. Kompanie Panzer-Pioneer-Bataillon 1. tactical marking.

Below is colour interpretation of how the 251/21 may have looked in service (the number plate is speculative, although the prefix "SS-92" is 1.SS). It is possible the well-documented official directive to censor the unit's markings may have been observed during the battle through the simple expedient of mud, which had since washed off.




Baz

I mentioned the vehicle depicted in the pic above is "presumably a production SdKfz 251/21". The decision to render it as a later version (ie without raised hull armour) was based on the presence of the bullet splash rail on the cab roof and what appeared to be turret armour wreckage beside the vehicle. This bullet splash rail was not installed on early versions, thus ruling this type out completely IMHO.

One issue that should be pointed out that tends to rule against a production late version, however, is that the later version is only thus far documented in pix I've seen from the 1945 period. In other words, if the KG Peiper 251/21 was indeed a later version, it would be earliest example this author has seen to date. Another aspect not so clear, is that early/mid Ausf D armoured visors seem to be fitted to the above wreck. All later version 251/21 I have seen thus far have the late flat visors. It must be pointed out, however, that the range of pix to go on is by no means vast and such parts are interchangeable on production lines (btw, pix establish both types of bonnet arrangements existed on later version 251/21, so this is no indicator)

The presence of the bullet splash rail, the apparent early/mid Ausf D visors and the fact no armour remains on the Drilling of course therfore means the posibility cannot be completely ruled out that this wreck may in fact be a field-modified vehicle, along the lines of this Ausf C version which was also lost on the western front:




I've therefore included this alternative interpretation of the La Gleize wreck as well:






Baz

Another possibility also worth consideration is the addition of armour plates on the Drilling mount - something along the lines of the three plates seen on these examples, which were abandoned in the path of US forces in western Germany:



The wreckage laying about the vehicle may or may not show some suggestion of this:



How it might have looked (I've rendered the front plate larger than that seen on the Drillinge in the upper most photo, to more or less match the dimensions of the piece of wreckage indicated above):



Baz

Looks like a 251/21

Hi Mario

Thanks for the post. Yes you are quite right, its another LSSAH 251/21 and perhaps also a field-mod. Actually this photo is one Hans and I have discused off line and in fact shows the same 251 we saw from the rear in the 251/17 thread I posted earlier, with the rarely seen MG 42 bracket. In the distant background we can also see the 251/21 in Jean-Léon's photo above:



The bold camouflage appears to be a factory applied type, applied to 251s manufactured just prior to the Ardennes offensive.

251/17 thread:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/571595/thread/1184233877/last-1184233877/SdKfz+251-17+Schwebelafette+-+Some+unpublished+details

Baz