Schwerer Panzerspähwagen

In Girl in the Glass, the Clypeate has several tricks up its sleeve, including some of Germany’s most versatile military vehicles. When Bruce shows them a particularly special one, he declares:

“This is our pride and joy, a Schwerer Panzerspähwagen. They’re designed for reconnaissance. Built like an armored tank with wheels, able to handle itself in combat but nimble enough to speed away and report back with frontline intel.”

Schwerer Panzerspähwagen, or “heavy armored reconnaissance vehicle" in English, refers to a series of German armored cars used for reconnaissance missions during World War II.  These vehicles were designed to scout ahead of advancing units, their speed and versatility making them perfect for gathering information on enemy locations, strengths, and movement. They played a vital role in campaigns throughout Europe, the Soviet Union, and North Africa.

Surprisingly for such a large, heavy vehicle, they reached top speeds of 55 mph, allowing them to outrun most threats. And while they weren’t designed for direct military engagement, they were also lightly armored, making them resistant to small arms fire and artillery shell fragments. If necessary, they could also return fire, using either a machine gun or cannons, depending on the model.

The Panzerspähwagen’s tight interior was exposed to direct engine heat, requiring ventilation hatches — a feature that didn’t take long for Declan to appreciate. As he also learns, comfort was not a consideration in the vehicle’s design, the tight quarters meant to fit a crew of four. A commander, gunner, and two drivers, all stuffed into a cramped, central compartment and a hexagonal turret. Perhaps the vehicle’s most unique feature we discover is the dual driver arrangement, which allows it to be driven efficiently in either forward or reverse direction.