You know that:
- In 1940, the German Ordnance Office issued a requirement for the development of an 8-wheeled vehicle suitable for desert and tropical conditions.
- Büssing undertook the task and designed an all-wheel drive vehicle, with all wheels steerable.
- A design feature of interest was the double steering position at the front and rear so that the vehicle would not have to be turned in difficult conditions.
- Part of the specification requirements included fitting the vehicle with an air-cooled engine, which was more suitable for desert conditions than a water-cooled engine. The best engines of this type were produced by Czechoslovak TATRA, which was under German occupation at the time.
- The armoured vehicle was intended to perform mainly reconnaissance missions and was therefore equipped with a large fuel tank that allowed a range of up to 1000 km.
- Military trials took place in June 1942. All the required characteristics were achieved. The only problem was the somewhat noisy air-cooled engine.
- The production itself was divided into several factories, with the chassis and the undercarriage provided by Büssing, the armour by Edelstahlwerke and the turret supplied by Daimle Benz.
- The vehicle was quite successful and approximately 478 units were built in four variants.
Technical parameters:
- dimensions: length 6.8 m, width 2.33 m, height 2.38 m
- weight 11 740 kg
- armour 8 - 30 mm
- power unit air-cooled diesel engine Tatra T103 with power of 157 kW
- number of gears 6 forward + 1 reverse
- maximum speed 90 km/h
- fuel tank capacity 420 l
- fuel consumption 40l / 100 km on roads and 60l /100km off-road
- main armament KwK 39/1 cannon 50 mm calibre
- secondary armament MG 42 machine gun 7,92 mm calibre
- crew 4
American soldier Don Smith on meeting with Sd.Kft 234:
"I first met Puma in the Ardennes. We climbed a slightly snowy hill with our Sherman. The crew of the German vehicle apparently had the same task. At the point where the hill was breaking down, we almost hit each other. I think we scared each other. There was no fight then. We both tried to get away as quickly as possible."
Assembly instructions
