Panzer II General Characteristics (Ausf A) Length: 4.8 m Width: 2.2 m Height: 2.0 m Weight: 9.5 tons Speed: 40 km/h (road) - (off-road) Range: 200 km Primary armament: 20mm gun Secondary armament: 7.92mm MG34 Power plant: 140hp Crew: 3 (Commander/gunner, Driver and Loader) The Panzer II is a German tank used in World War II. History In 1934, delays in the design and production of the Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks were becoming apparent. Designs for a stopgap tank were solicited from Krupp, MAN, Henschel, and Daimler-Benz. The final design was based on the Panzer I, but larger and with a turret mounting a 20mm anti-tank gun. Production began in 1935, but it took another eighteen months for the first combat-ready tank to be delivered. The Panzer II was the main battle tank of the German Panzer divisions beginning with the invasion of France, until it was replaced by the Panzer III and IV in 1940/41. Afterwards, it was used to great effect as a reconnaissance tank. The Panzer II was tested in the Spanish Civil War and used in the German campaigns in Poland, France, Denmark, Norway, North Africa and Russia. After being removed from front-line duty, it was used on secondary fronts and for patrolling. Armor The Panzer IIA, B, and C had 14mm of slightly sloped homogenous steel armor on the sides, front, and back, with 10mm of armor on the top and bottom. This armor proved to be ineffective against anything heavier than a machine gun, so starting with the D model, the front armor was increased to 30mm. Model F and later had 20mm of side armor, in addition. Armament All models of the Panzer II were armed with a 20mm KwK30 L/55 cannon. This cannon was based on the 20mm FlaK 30 anti-tank gun, and was capable of firing at a rate of 280 rounds per minute, a very high rate for a tank. The Panzer II also had a 7.92mm machine gun mounted coaxially with the main gun. The 20mm cannon proved to be ineffective against many Allied tanks, and experiments were made towards replacing it with a 37mm cannon, but nothing came of this. Greater success was had by replacing the regular armor-piercing explosive ammunition with an early version of APDS solid ammunition, but this ammunition was in chronically short supply. Mobility All production versions of the Panzer II were fitted with a 140hp, six-cylinder Maybach HL 62 TRM engine and ZF transmissions. Models A, B, and C had a top speed of 40km/h (25mph). Models D and E had a better transmission, making up for the heavier armor, giving a top speed of 55km/h (35mph). The heavier side armor on models F and later slowed the top speed back down to that of the earlier models. All versions had a range of 200km (125 miles). Like all of Germany's World War II tanks, the Panzer II was fueled by gasoline. Crew The Panzer II had a crew of three. The driver sat in the forward hull. The commander sat in a seat in the turret, and was responsible for aiming and firing the guns, while a loader/radio operator stood on the floor of the tank under the turret. Variants Panzer II Ausf a1,a2,a3,b,c - Prototype versions. 100 total produced. Panzer II Ausf A - First production model in 1938. Panzer II Ausf B Panzer II Ausf C - Total of 1113 of A, B, and C produced. Panzer II Ausf D,E - Variants with improved speed. 250 produced. Panzer II Ausf F - Light recon variant. 524 built. Panzer II Ausf G1/G3/G4 - different suspension. 12 produced, none saw combat. Panzer II Ausf H - never got beyond prototype stage. Panzer II Ausf J - Light recon variant, thicker armor. 22 produced. Leopard - Heavy recon variant. Never got beyond prototype stage. Panzer II Ausf L Luchs - Variant produced between 1943 and 1944. 131 produced. Designs based on chassis Panzerkampfwagen II Flamm Ausf A und Ausf B - Flamethrower tank. 112 built, 43 converted from existing chassis. Marder II - Tank destroyer based on Panzer II. 576 built, 75 converted from existing tanks Wespe - Self-propelled howitzer. 676 produced. Munitions Sf auf Fgst PzKpfw II - ammunition carrier for Wespe. 159 produced. See also: Comparison of early World War II tanks External links AFV Database Pictures of Panzer II at battletanks.com Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. 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