Panzerkampfwagen II Sd. Kfz. 121 (Light Tank)

Panzerkampfwagen II Sd. Kfz. 121

In July of 1934, the Waffenamt (Ordnance Department) ordered the development of an armored vehicle 10 tons in weight and armed with 20mm automatic cannon. In early 1935, number of manufacturers including Krupp AG, MAN (chassis only), Henschel und Sohn AG (chassis only) and Daimler-Benz AG provided their prototypes of Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper 100 (LaS 100) - agricultural tractor, for evaluation by the army. The new vehicle was also known as 2cm MG Panzerwagen and as VK 622 (Versuchkraftfahrzeug 622). New light tank - Panzerkampfwagen II was to supplement new Panzerkampfwagen I light tank as a vehicle with heavier armament capable of firing armor-piercing and high explosive rounds. Krupp was the first to present their design, but it was not adopted and it was then decided to utilize chassis designed by MAN and hull by Daimler-Benz. In October of 1935, first soft steel prototype was tested and 10 LaS 100 tanks, later designated as Ausf a1 were ordered. From late 1935 to May of 1936, MAN produced 10 Ausf a1 tanks. Panzerkampfwagen II (Sd.Kfz.121) was larger than Panzerkampfwagen I but was still a light training tank and entered combat service due to the delays in production of Panzerkampfwagen III and Panzerkampfwagen IV as a "stop-gap" vehicle for the expanding Panzertruppen. As well as Panzerkampfwagen I, it did not prove very effective in combat, although it was the main battle tank of the Panzertruppen until 1940/41. Overall, Panzerkampfwagen II just like Panzerkampfwagen I was ineffective as a combat tank but was an important step in the development of more powerful panzers. In good hands, it was a good light tank and effective light reconnaissance tank that provided German designers and manufacturers with more tank building experience. As any other panzer, its chassis became a base for usual conversions including Marder II tank destroyers and Wespe self-propelled howitzer as well as other built on its chassis and/or using its components - e.g. Flammpanzer II Flamingo / PzKpfw II(F) - flamethrower tank, Schwimmpanzer II - an amphibious tank and Sturmpanzer II Bison - self-propelled gun. Also suspension of Panzerkampfwagen II was used to convert standard trucks to halftracked trucks - Maultier (Mule). Krupp also worked on the concept of utilizing Panzerkampfwagen II's chassis and components as a base for the dismountable weapon carrier (Waffentrager), armed with 105mm leFH howitzer. In early 1943, Rheinmetall-Borsig mounted single Panzerkampfwagen II chassis with captured Soviet 120mm model 1938 mortar, while testing the concept of rigid mounted armament.

Armor of Panzerkampfwagen II was its weak spot as it was outclassed when tank entered service. It was very thin and did not offer any protection against anything other than firearms and shell fragments (e.g. vulnerable turret ring later provided with a protective shield). The main armament of 20mm cannon was adequate at the time of its introduction into service but soon proved to be an outclassed weapon. It was effective against soft targets but proved to be ineffective against majority of Allied armor. After the Fall of France, there were tests to rearm Panzerkampfwagen II with captured French 37mm SA 38 gun but they were never concluded. Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf a/1 to Ausf F were armed with 20mm KwK 30 L/55 automatic cannon (developed from 20mm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft cannon) with rare of fire of 280 rounds per minute and coaxial Rheinmetall-Borsig 7.92mm MG34 machine gun. Cannon was mounted on the left and machine on the right side in the turret. The 20mm cannon was fitted with various models of TZF4 optical sight depending on the variant. The turret itself was offset to the left and had commanders split hatch replaced later by commander's cupola. Inside the fighting compartment stored were 180 20mm rounds (in 10 round magazines) and 2250 7.92mm rounds (in 17 belt bags). In addition, some tanks were equipped with smoke grenade projectors for close defence. Panzerkampfwagen II was operated by three men crew composed of driver located in the front of the hull, commander/gunner and loader/radio-operator in the turret. Commander sat on seat in turret, while the loader stood on the turret's floor. The communication between commander and driver was by the use of the voice tube. Communication equipment consisted of FuG5 USW receiver and 10-watt transmitter, which gave the tank advantage on the battlefield over most of the opponents. Early models had rounded nose plate replaced by two angled armor plates joined at 70-degree angle. Also, early models carried 200l of fuel and starting with Ausf F this was reduced to 170l. Tanks sent to North Africa were modified with tropical ventilation and filtering system to operate in dusty and dry climate - Tropisch (Tp). Many Panzerkampfwagen II tanks were retrofitted, reworked and up-armored during their service to keep them operational longer creating hybrid variants.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf a1/a2/a3