Hello all,

Does anyone know when the frame aerial on the SdKfz 250 was replaced by the whip antenna with star array?

All my SdKfz 250 reference book says is that the frame was replaced but does not say when. There is a photo of a alte model with the frame and a neu with a whip.

In fact I could really do to know when the neu model was introduced. The book, again, does not say.

I don't think that there is a hard & fast before & after date. The switch from the frame type to whip anntenae also affected Sdkfz 251 variants, & the 231 series 8 wheel armoured cars. But there are photos taken in Warsaw in late 1944 showing Sdkfz 263 armoured radio car still with frame aerial. Quite late photos (7 digit number plates) still show radio cars with frame antenna. The Hohenstaufen unit history has a photo of a field car with a large frame antenna attached taken in Normandy. The date usually quoted is mid-war, i.e. 1942 -43. The neuer-Art Sdkfz 250 would tend to have a whip aerial as it is a very late-war vehicle (1944). I think they were gradually phased in over a period of time. There are phtos of Ausf C 251s wearing either.

Steve, that's great. Thanks so much for your help

Simon