Lot 1031

The Littlefield Collection

Beobachtungspanzer (Artillery Observation Vehicle)

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$31,625 USD | Sold

United States | Portola Valley, California

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Addendum: PLEASE NOTE: This lot is being sold on Bill of Sale only

Weight: 30.6-tons (27,839-kg) (for Jagdpanzer Kanone 90-mm)

Length: 20' 6” (6.24-m)

Width: 9' 9” (2.98-m)

Height: 6' 10” (2.09-m)

Crew: 4

Armor:

.4”-2” (10-mm to 50-mm)

Weapons:

-Primary

1x 7.62-mm MG3 machine gun

-Ammunition

x 7.62-mm

Engine: MTU MB 837 Aa V-8 multi-fuel diesel, 500-hp

Power/weight: 16.3-hp/ton

Fuel Capacity:

Range: 239-miles (385-km)

Speed: 43.5-mph (70-km/h)

The vehicle being offered, West German Beobachtungspanzer, was originally built as a Jagdpanzer Kanone 90-mm in 1967. The vehicle is in excellent shape. It appears to be in its original West German Army markings and colors inside and out. Both the exterior and interior paint are excellent. The exterior components are excellent. The engine runs, but the transmission shifts by itself from forward to reverse. No neutral can be found. It appears to be a solenoid or pressure switch issue. The driver's instrument panel, seats and interior components are intact and in very good condition.

The Beobachtungspanzer is a conversion of the the Jagdpanzer Kanone 90-mm tank destroyer. The Jagdpanzer Kanone was first built in 1966 with production ending in 1967 after 770 were built for the Bundeswehr. A further 80 were built for the Belgium Army beginning in 1975. The Jagdpanzer Kanone relied on its speed and low profile for survival as it was thinly armored. When originally conceived, it was able to knock out the T-55's and T-62's that made up the bulk of the Warsaw Pact tank forces. The introduction of heavier tanks such as the T-64 and T-72 rendered it obsolete.

Instead of scrapping all of the still useful Jagdpanzer Kanone hulls, the Bundeswehr converted 163 of them into Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 2 which replaced the 90-mm gun with a roof-mounted TOW anti-tank missile system. A further 450 were converted into the Beobachtungspanzer, which were used as artillery observation vehicles. The cannon and its ammunition racks were removed and various optical and target acquisition equipment was carried in their place.

Transport Cost to Storage: $3,696