German Light Tanks

Armour: 25mm sloped at 10°.

Weight: 9 tons.

Armament: 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun (79 rounds) and 2 x 7.92mm Mg.

Speed: 42kmh (26mph) on road and 15kmh (9mph) cross country.

Range: 250km (156 miles) on road and 160km (100 miles) cross country.

Crew: 4, commander, gunner, radio operator/loader and driver.

This vehicle entered production in 1938, as the Czechoslovakian LT-38. The 1938 take-over of the Czechoslovak state by Germany resulted in the LT-38's in production being confiscated and incorporated into the German Army as the PzKfw 38(t) Ausf A.
The vehicle was produced in eight different variants from Ausf A to Ausf G, with various modifications incorporated in each new variant. These included increased armour protection and improved armament with the fitting of the Czech made 37mm Skoda A7 gun, which was designated by the Germans as the 37mm KwK 38(t) L/48. The construction of the early vehicle superstructures were of riveted plate, but this method was found to be unsatisfactory as a direct would cause armour flaking inside the turret. Following combat experience, later models were constructed with welded plate.
A number of the vehicles were converted to flamethrower tanks by replacing the hull machine gun with a flame barrel. Fuel was supplied from a towed, single-axle trailer carrying 200 litres of fuel, which was connected to the vehicle by a hose.
Further production of PzKpfw 38(t)'s chassis continued with improved models of Ausf H/K/L/M, which were used as a base for various vehicles (such as Marder III Ausf H/M, Bison/Grille Ausf H/K/M and Hetzer).
During the fighting in Russia, the need for heavier armour and armament made PzKpfw 38(t) inadequate and in 1942, it was relegated to other duties such as reconnaissance and service in armored trains. The vehicle was remained in production until June of 1942.

Armour: 14.5mm.

Weight: 7.2 tons.

Armament: 20mm KwK 30 L/55 automatic cannon (120 rounds) and 1 x 7.92mm mg.

Speed: 40kmh (25mph) on road and 20kmh (12mph) cross-country.

Range: 200km (125 miles) on road and 126km (78 miles) cross-country.

Crew: 3, driver, commander/gunner and loader/radio operator.

The PzKfw II entered production in late 1935. The vehicle did not prove very effective in combat, due to its light armament and armour protection. Its main armament of the 20mm cannon was adequate at the time of its introduction into service but soon proved to be insufficient. The cannon was mounted on the left and machine gun on the right side in the turret. The turret itself was offset to the left of the superstructure and was traversed by hand. However, despite the vehicles many shortcomings, it did serve the role of a good light tank and effective reconnaissance tank. It also provided German designers and manufacturers with tank building experience. Early models had a rounded nose plate, but these were soon replaced by two angled armour plates joined at a 70° angle. Like other panzers, its chassis became a base for various conversions including Marder II tank destroyers and Wespe self-propelled howitzers. The suspension was developed from its predecessor, the PzKfw I and consisted of three articulated pairs of road-wheels, connected by an outside girder. The Ausf A/1, A/2 and A/3 were pre-production vehicles, which entered service for testing purposes without their mechanical problems being completely solved and remained in service until mid 1941. Each subsequent variant featured some modifications, including improved engines, cooling and exhaust systems, as well as changes to the suspension to correct problems encountered in the previous variant. In March 1937, a new variant, the Ausf C appeared. It featured a new suspension, which consisted of five independent road-wheels and became the standard for following models of PzKfw II. The vehicle also had improved armour protection, which was increased to 16mm. In May 1938, the PzKfw II Ausf D/E were produced as light tanks for cavalry units. They featured the unsuccessful Famo/Christie type suspension, similar to that developed by the British and Russians. The top speed was increased to 55kmh, with the introduction of a new engine and gearbox. The armour protection was also increased to 30mm. Due to its poor suspension the vehicle suffered from unsatisfactory cross-country performance. In May 1940, armour protection was further increased with the addition of 20mm plates bolted to the front areas of the vehicle. This measure was introduced following combat experience during the Polish campaign in September 1939. In March 1941, the PzKfw II Ausf F was introduced. Some vehicles of this final variant were fitted with the newer 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon. The vehicles ammunition storage capacity was increased to 180 rounds. The Ausf F featured numerous modifications based on the experience with earlier models. These included improvements to the front hull, front superstructure, mantlet, suspension and commander's cupola. The Ausf F was also heavier, weighing 9.5 tons and featured a smaller fuel tank, which reduced the vehicles range.
A number of vehicles were also converted to Flammpanzer II Flamingo flamethrower tanks and Schwimmpanzer II, an amphibious tank. On the amphibious version, flotation devices were installed on the sides and front of the vehicle and all openings were made water tight. The hull was divided into 3 chambers with walls that were made from inflated celluloid bags. A marine propeller was added, which ran off the engine via an extension sleeve and gave the vehicle a speed of 10 kph in the water.
The flame throwing variant was introduced in January 1940 and was based on the PzKfw II Ausf D/E's chassis. It was armed with two flame-throwers, mounted on the track guards on each side of the vehicle. They were mounted in special turret-like cases that allowed them to rotate in a 180° radius. Each flame-thrower had its own fuel tank with a 160 litre capacity, which was enough to fire 80 bursts out to the maximum range of 25m. The flame-thrower's fuel consisted of a mixture of oil and gasoline that was projected with the help of pressurized nitrogen stored in six pressurized tanks. The vehicle was also fitted with a 7.92mm MG34 mounted in the turret. These vehicles saw service in Russia until late 1941, when they were withdrawn and the chassis were used for conversion into the Marder range of vehicles.
In September 1943, the final variant the Panzerspahwagen II Ausf L Luchs (Lynx) entered production. This light reconnaissance tank was a development of the Ausf F and used a modified suspension and hull. It was powered by a new engine and gearbox, weighed 13 tons and had an increased road range of 290km. It also had a four men crew consisting of a commander, gunner, driver and radio-operator and was armed with the 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon. This light reconnaissance tank saw service until the end of the war on the Eastern and Western Front with armoured reconnaissance units. Vehicles operating on the Eastern Front were mounted with additional frontal armour plate for increased protection.