In many ways, the HS.30 proved something more akin to a modern-day Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) than true Armored Personnel Carrier. It held a formidable 20mm cannon that could be brought to bear against light-skinned vehicles, infantry concentrations and low-flying aircraft. Its frontal armor could also protect it (to an extent) when supporting direct tank actions against the Soviets. Indeed, the infantry occupants of the HS.30 were trained to fight with, and alongside, their vehicle as oppose to simply relying on it as a ferry to-and-from a battlefront. In this same way, the HS.30 was envisioned as fighting alongside West German tanks as a potent "one-two punch" - running contrary to typical Western thinking concerning APCs.
As with most vehicles of such a class, the HS.30 was seen as fulfilling various battlefield roles within the West German Army. Beyond its fighting capabilities, there emerged the "FuFu" Command and Control (C2) vehicle with additional, specialized equipment carried aboard. The LGS M40A1 was fitted with the 106mm M40A1 recoilless rifle and intended as an Anti-Tank (AT) vehicle. The "Raketenjagdpanzer 1" was similar in scope though made more potent through its assembly of SS-11 AT wire-guided missiles. The "Panzermorser" was a mortar carrier, first seen with an 81mm type and then with a larger 120mm system. This also carried a shielded 7.62mm MG3 machine gun. The "Feuerleitpanzer" proved a forward observation vehicle for artillery direction.
To begin with, the West German Army sought a total of 10,000 HS.30 vehicles. However, despite its rather promising design, the HS.30 fought through several issues during its service life. The speed at which it was brought into existence no doubt led to the issues found with the underpowered powerpack, fragile suspension system and other technical/mechanical problems which led to consistent breakdowns in the field. Such a performance certainly led to the HS.30 earning a terrible reputation for its service career. From this arose an investigation by the daily German newspaper "Frankfurter Rundschau" which uncovered large bribes related to the HS.30 program. The HS.30 went on to live a rather forgettable service life, also stained by scandal, before it was given up for good upon the arrival of the Rheinmetall Landsysteme Marder IFV in 1971.
Some 2,176 HS.30 vehicles were produced, far less than the envisioned 10,000 strong force.
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