They were in competition with two other German companies Fried.Krupp Abt.A.K. Weapons manufacture Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nürnberg AG, (M.A.N.) built a prototype La.S.100 tank chassis.
2 SS PANZER CORPS CODE
In January 1934 the German tank design office of the weapons testing ordnance department Waffen Prüfwesen 6 (Wa Prw 6) issued specifications of a new tank chassis they wanted built, code name La.S.100. Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf.a/1 to a/3 (Sd.Kfz.121) The radio gave a clear advantage to the Panzer II over previous models and foreign opponents.
The loader/radio operator was situated on the floor under the turret, operating a FuG5 USW receiver and 10-watt transmitter.
2 SS PANZER CORPS DRIVER
The driver sat at the front of the vehicle. The crew-size of three was a progress over the Panzer I, but the commander was also the main gunner, sitting on the turret seat. The upper part of the track was supported by three return rollers, increased to four on the production version. However, for reliability and mass production, a new system of five individually sprung, larger wheels was chosen.
The first pre-series vehicles were fitted with small wheels sprung in pairs under three bogies, a system very similar to the Panzer I suspension. It was reliable, although it limited any major increases in armor and armament, due to significant losses both in speed and range.
2 SS PANZER CORPS PLUS
The engine of nearly the entire series was the gasoline 6-cylinder Maybach HL62 TRM providing 140 hp, coupled with a ZF transmission with 6 gears plus reverse. However, it was not immune to many high velocity 37 mm (1.46 in) AT weapons of the time, or the French 25 and 47 mm (0.98-1.85 in) and Soviet 45 mm (1.77 in) towed antitank guns. As the Spanish Civil War showed, a dramatic increase in armor was urgently needed, and the first designs incorporated integral 14 mm (0.55 in) homogeneous steel armor (10 mm/0.39 in top and bottom), which was sufficient against shrapnel and bullets. Elevation/depression for the gun mount was +20/-9.5°. Normal provision was 180 rounds (armor-piercing and high explosive) and 2250 for the coaxial 7.92 mm (0.31 in) Rheinmetall-Borsig model 34 machine-gun. The KwK 30 was aimed through a TZF4 gun sight. The purpose of such a gun was to have good armor-piercing capabilities, due to its high velocity and high rate of fire, being especially effective at short range against most light and medium tanks of the time. The armament was derived from the 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun, capable of a firing rate of 600 rpm. Panzer II general featuresīasically, the accepted design was an enlarged Panzer I with a turret bearing the new Rheinmetall KwK30 L55 20 mm (0.79 in) quick firing gun. This led to ten prototypes during late 1935, initially named LaS 100. The Krupp design was rejected, and a marriage of the Daimer-Benz hull and MAN chassis was chosen instead. Krupp, AG, Daimler-Benz, MAN, Henschel, Sohn AG were contacted, and submitted their designs to the Waffenamt in 1935. The specifications required a 10 ton tank with a 20 mm (0.79 in) autocannon. The origins of this model date back to 1934, when it became apparent to the Waffenamt (military ordnance bureau) that delays in the production of the Panzer III and IV led to the need of a new design to quickly replace the Panzer I. If you spot anything out of place, please let us know! Hello dear reader! This article is in need of some care and attention and may contain errors or inaccuracies. It was gradually improved and produced until 1943, as no satisfactory replacement was ready in time. In this particular role, the Panzer II lacked both speed and range. Despite of this, the Panzer II remained in service throughout the war, being the main light tank in German service and being used as a scout, although many wheeled vehicles preformed this specialized task far better. Germany (1934) Light tank – 1856 built The main German light tank of WW2īoth the Panzer I and II were considered as stopgaps before the arrival of more advanced models, namely the Panzer III and IV.
0 kommentar(er)
