| Year | March 1940 |
| Vehicle Type | Light Armoured Command & Observation Vehicle |
| Origin & Designer | Germany/Demag & Wegmann |
| Numbers Produced | 285 |
| Crew | 4 (Vehicle Commander, Battery Commander, Radio Operator & Driver) |
| Main Armament | 1 x 7.92mm MG34 (Loose) |
| Main Armament | [@sponson_traverse] |
| Elevation | [@elevation] |
| Turret Traverse | [@turret_traverse] |
| Gun Traverse | [@gun_traverse] |
| Gun Mount | [@gun_mounts] |
| Maximum Range | [@maximum_range] |
| Armour Penetration | [@armour_penetration] |
| Gun Sight | [@gun_sight] |
| Secondary Armament | [@secondary_armament] |
| Smoke Discharger | [@smoke_discharger] |
| Ammunition Carried | 2.200 x 7.92mm |
| Height | 1.80m |
| Width | 1.95m |
| Length | 4.70m |
| Combat Weight | 5.700 kg |
| Ground Clearance | 0.28m |
| Fording Depth | 0.70m |
| Trench Crossing | 1.49m |
| Obstacle Clearance | 0.69m |
| Climbing Ability | 24° |
| Radio | FuG-15 & FuG-16 |
| Armour | Lower Hull Front: 18mm Lower Hull Sides: 8mm Lower Hull Rear: 8mm Lower Hull Top: 8mm Lower Hull Bottom: 8mm Upper Hull Front: 18mm Upper Hull Sides: 8mm Upper Hull Rear: 8mm Upper Hull Top: 8mm |
| Engine | Maybach HL42TRKM (Petrol) |
| Transmission | 7 Forward & 3 Reverse |
| Maximum Road Range | 320 km |
| Maximum Cross Country Range | 200 km |
| Maximum Water Range | [@maximum_water_range] |
| Maximum Road Speed | 60 kph |
| Maximum Cross Country Speed | 15 kph |
| Maximum Water Speed | [@maximum_water_speed] |
| Variants | [@variants] |
| Notes | The Sd.Kfz 253 was based on the chassis of the Sd.Kfz 250 half-track and was developed to provide a fully armoured observation vehicle to equip Sturmartillerie batteries, these were used to carry the battery commander and allow him to command and control his StuG IIIs. Some models had a machine gun mount similar to the Sd.Kfz 250 half-track but mainly they carried a MG34 and personnel weapons on board the vehicle. The Sd.Kfz 253 first saw action in France 1940 and went on to serve on nearly every front until finally being replaced by the Sd.Kfz 250/6. |