Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz

The Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz Armoured Infantry Fighting and reconnaissance vehicle was developed for the West German army and was a minor modification of a French-designed vehicle (Hotchkiss SP1A). During the period between 1959 and 1967, the West German army received some 2,374 of these light armoured vehicles with the SPz 11-2 Kurz being developed as the reconnaissance version. The SPz 11-2 was replaced in the IFV role by the Marder and in the reconnaissance role by the Spähpanzer Luchs. The SPz 11-2 saw service with the West German army only.

Its designator "Schützenpanzer Halbgruppe" already hinted on its combat role as the Infantry Fighting Vehicle ("Schützenpanzer") of a Squad ("Halbgruppe", literally "half a section", or Trupp). It was introduced besides the Schützenpanzer lang HS-30.

Armament
The only armament for the SPz 11-2 was the 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 820 L/85 cannon. The cannon has a 15x15 periscopic sight. 500 rounds of 20 mm ammunition were carried. Three smoke grenade launchers are provided for tactical and emergency concealment.

Variants

 * Sanitätspanzer kurz 2-2 - Medevac vehicle.
 * Beobachtungspanzer 22-2 - Forward observer vehicle.
 * Mörserträger 51-2 - 81 mm mortar carrier.
 * Radarpanzer 91-2 - Vehicle equipped with AN/TPS-33 radar.
 * Nachschubpanzer 42-1 - Supply vehicle with four road wheels, originally the Hotchkiss CC-2-55 design. Used from 1958 until 1962.
 * Spähpanzer SP I.C. - Light tank armed with a 90 mm gun (prototype only)

Service
The SPz 11-2 was used from 1960 to 1974 by the cannon platoons of the Panzergrenadiers (armored infantry battalions) until 1974. It was used afterwards as a reconnaissance vehicle until 1982. The vehicle was never exported to other countries.

Former operators

 * Used by Bundeswehr until 1987.