Armoured Command Vehicle
In 1934, Panhard began producing the Panhard 178 armored car, designed for cavalry reconnaissance. These vehicles featured a rear-mounted engine, four-wheel drive, and a 25-mm anti-tank gun as main armament. Production ran until mid-June 1940, with 527 vehicles manufactured.
The Panhard 178 saw combat in spring 1940 with French cavalry units and gained an excellent reputation. Military specialists widely regarded them as among the best vehicles in their class.
Following France’s defeat in June 1940, about 190 of these armored cars were absorbed into German forces, while French factories produced several dozen more for the Wehrmacht. The Germans redesignated them as Panzerspähwagen P204(f). Some were converted to command vehicles by installing Hochantenne roof antennas that covered most of the hull’s upper surface. These modified versions received the additional designation “Funk” and served both on the Eastern Front and in occupied France.