The Sd.Kfz. 140/1 was built as an advanced recognition vehicle for the German army, using the chassis of the Czech-designed 38T tank which was used by the German troops after its annexation of Czechoslovakia. Due to the excellent qualities of the 38T, its chassis was widely used for anti-tank and artillery vehicles, as well as for this recognition vehicle equipped with a turret with a 20 mm gun. It was first used in 1944.