Quite even a worthless light tank (8 photos). Experimental tank T2

An old German tank was recently restored on the open area of the Lenino-Snegirevsky Military History Museum

People from the "Workshop Leibstandarte" (as it was written on the minibus) worked at the tank - they pulled up the caterpillars. I myself can’t stand it when someone watches my work, and therefore I didn’t begin to flicker in front of them very annoyingly.

Light tank T-2 / Pz.II / Pz.Kpfw.II

In 1934, the German military command decided to quickly develop an intermediate model light tank so that temporarily, before the planned T-3 / Pz.III and T-4 / Pz.IV tanks enter service, fill the troops with armored vehicles. So appeared light tank T-2 / Pz.II / Pz.Kpfw.II, which was originally called Tractor 100 or LaS 100 in secrecy chains. The development contract was received by Henschel, Krupp and MAN. After comparative tests of the presented samples, the model of the MAN company, which was instructed to improve the chassis, seemed to be the most promising. The rest of the work was entrusted to Daimler-Benz, as well as MIAG, Wegmann and Famo.

Light tanks T-2 / Pz.II / Pz.Kpfw.II were the main striking force of the German tank divisions during the invasion of France. More than 1,000 of these tanks participated in the operation, and they were mainly in the forward units. In 1941, the T-2 / Pz.II tanks took part in the attack on the USSR, although Eastern Front it quickly became clear that they firepower and armor protection are inadequate. The T-2 / Pz.II tank was created primarily as a combat training vehicle. The first production tanks T-2A / Pz.II Ausf A were produced in 1935. Military tests showed insufficient engine power of 130 hp. ((97 kW)). The next modification of the T-2B / Pz.II Ausf B tanks had thicker frontal armor and a more powerful engine of 140 hp. (104 kW), and its weight reached 8 tons.

In 1937, a new light tank model, the T-2Ts / Pz.II Ausf C, was introduced. It had reinforced armor and a new undercarriage with five road wheels, which became standard for all subsequent modifications. In 1938, modifications of the T-2D / Pz.II Ausf D and T-2E / Pz.II Ausf E light tanks were created using a torsion bar suspension. This made it possible to increase the maximum speed on paved roads, but slightly worsen cross-country performance.

The last modification in the T-II light tank series was the T-2F / Pz.II Ausf F, produced in 1941-1942. The thickness of the frontal armor of these machines was 35 mm, side - 20 mm. The mass of the tank has increased to 10 tons. Experts believed that this car achieved a good ratio of speed and armor protection.

The hull and turret of the light tank T-2F / Pz.II Ausf F are welded. The driver's seat was in front of the hull, the seats of the other two crew members were in a circular turret armed with a 20-mm cannon with 180 rounds of ammunition and to the right of it - a 7.92-mm machine gun with 1425 rounds of ammunition.

A reconnaissance vehicle was developed on the basis of the T-2 / Pz.II light tank, but its production was carried out in very small batches.

In the early 1940s, a model of an amphibious light tank was created in Germany. The engine, through a special drive, rotated a propeller fixed on the shaft, which ensured the movement of the machine afloat at speeds up to 10 km / h. Later, a model with two screws appeared. About 100 of these vehicles entered service by 1942 under the designation T-2 / Pz.II amphibious tank.

Later, these vehicles were withdrawn from combat units and converted into tank destroyers, with effective anti-tank 76.2-mm guns captured in battles from the Soviet troops. Such vehicles were designated Marder, and were soon replaced by the Marder II with 75 mm German anti-tank guns. In total, approximately 1,200 tanks were converted. Until 1944, the factories of occupied Poland produced self-propelled artillery mounts, which were 150-mm howitzers mounted on the chassis of the T-2 / Pz.II light tank.

The tank was developed by MAN in cooperation with Daimler-Benz. Serial production of the tank began in 1937 and ended in 1942. The tank was produced in five modifications (A-F), which differ from each other undercarriage, armament and armor, however, the overall layout remained unchanged: the power plant is located at the rear, the fighting compartment and the control compartment are in the middle, and the power transmission and drive wheels are in front. The armament of most modifications consisted of a 20 mm automatic cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun mounted in a single turret.

A telescopic sight was used to control fire from this weapon. The hull of the tank was welded from rolled armor plates, located without their rational inclination. Experience using the tank in battles initial period World War II showed that its armament and armor were insufficient. The production of the tank was discontinued after the release of more than 1800 tanks of all modifications. Some of the tanks were converted into flamethrowers with the installation of two flamethrowers on each tank with a flamethrowing range of 50 meters. On the basis of the tank, self-propelled artillery mounts, artillery tractors and ammunition transporters were also created.

Work on new types of medium and heavy tanks in mid-1934 "Panzerkampfwagen" III and IV progressed relatively slowly and the 6th Department of the Ministry of Armaments ground forces issued terms of reference for the development of a tank weighing 10,000 kg, armed with a 20-mm cannon.
New car received the designation LaS 100 (LaS - "Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper" - agricultural tractor). From the very beginning, it was supposed to use the LaS 100 tank only for training the personnel of tank units. In the future, these tanks were to give way to new ones. PzKpfw III and IV. Prototypes of the LaS 100 were ordered by the firms: Friedrich Krupp AG, Henschel & Son AG, and MAN (Mashinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuremberg). In the spring of 1935, prototypes were shown to the military commission.
Further development tank LKA - - tank LKA 2 - developed by Krupp. The enlarged turret of the LKA 2 made it possible to place a 20-mm cannon. Henschel and MAN developed only the chassis. The undercarriage of the Henschel tank consisted (in relation to one side) of six road wheels grouped into three carts. The design of the company "MAN" was made on the basis of the chassis, created by the company "Carden-Loyd". The track rollers, grouped into three bogies, were shock-absorbed by elliptical springs, which were attached to a common carrier frame. The upper section of the caterpillar was supported by three small rollers.

The prototype of the Krupp LaS 100 tank - LKA 2

The chassis of the MAN company was adopted for serial production, and the body was developed by the Daimler-Benz AG company (Berlin-Marienfelde). The LaS 100 tanks were to be produced by the MAN, Daimler-Benz, Farzeug und Motorenwerke (FAMO) plants in Breslau (Wroclaw), Wegmann and Co. in Kassel and Mühlenbau und Industry AG Amme-Werk ( MIAG) in Braunschweig.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. al, a2, a3

At the end of 1935, the MAN company in Nuremberg produced the first ten LaS 100 tanks, which by this time had received the new designation 2 cm MG-3 (In Germany, guns up to 20 mm caliber were considered machine guns (Maschinengewehr - MG), not cannons (Maschinenkanone - MK) Panzerwagen (VsKfz 622- VsKfz - Versuchkraftfahrzeuge - prototype ). The tanks were driven by a Maybach HL57TR liquid-cooled carburetor engine with a power of 95 kW / 130 hp. and a working volume of 5698 cm3. The tanks used a ZF Aphon SSG45 gearbox (six gears forward and one reverse), maximum speed - 40 km / h, cruising range - 210 km (on the highway) and 160 km (on rough terrain). Armor thickness from 8 mm to 14.5 mm. The tank was armed with a 20-mm KwK30 cannon (ammunition 180 rounds - 10 magazines) and a Rheinmetall-Borzing MG-34 7.92-mm machine gun (ammunition - 1425 rounds).

In 1936, a new military equipment designation system was introduced - "Kraftfahrzeuge Nummern System der Wehrmacht". Each car was numbered and named. Sd.Kfz("Sonderkraftfahrzeug"- a special military vehicle).

So the tank LaS 100 became Sd.Kfz.121.
Modifications (Ausfuehrung - Ausf.) were designated by a letter. The first LaS 100 tanks received the designation Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. a1. Serial numbers 20001-20010. The crew - three people: the commander, who was also a gunner, loader, who also served as a radio operator and a driver. The length of the tank PzKpfw II Ausf. a1 - 4382 mm, width - 2140 mm, and height - 1945 mm.
On the following tanks (serial numbers 20011-20025), the cooling system of the Bosch RKC 130 12-825LS44 generator was changed and the ventilation of the fighting compartment was improved. Machines of this series received the designation PzKpfw II Ausf. a2.
In the design of tanks PzKpfw II Ausf. a3 further improvements have been made. The power and fighting compartments were separated by a removable partition. A wide hatch appeared at the bottom of the hull, facilitating access to the fuel pump and oil filter. 25 tanks of this series were manufactured (serial numbers 20026-20050).

At the tanks PzKpfw Ausf. and I and a2 on the road wheels did not have a rubber bandage. Next 50 tanks PzKpfw II Ausf. a3 (serial numbers 20050-20100) the radiator was moved 158 mm aft. Fuel tanks (front with a capacity of 102 liters, rear - 68 liters) were equipped with pin-type fuel level meters.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. b

In 1936-1937, a series of 25 tanks 2 LaS 100 - PzKpfw II Ausf. b, which have been further modified. These changes affected primarily the chassis - the diameter of the supporting rollers was reduced and the drive wheels were modified - they became wider. The length of the tank is 4760 mm, the cruising range is 190 km on the highway and 125 km on rough terrain. The tanks of this series were equipped with Maybach HL62TR engines.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. c

Testing tanks PzKpfw II Ausf. a and b showed that the undercarriage of the vehicle is prone to frequent breakdowns and the depreciation of the tank is insufficient. In 1937, a fundamentally new type of suspension was developed. For the first time, the new suspension was used on tanks 3 LaS 100 - PzKpfw II Ausf. c (serial numbers 21101-22000 and 22001-23000). It consisted of five large-diameter road wheels. Each roller was independently suspended on a semi-elliptical spring. The number of support rollers has been increased from three to four. On tanks PzKpfw II Ausf. with used driving and steering wheels of a larger diameter.

The new suspension significantly improved the tank's driving performance both on the highway and on rough terrain. The length of the tank PzKpfw II Ausf. s was 4810 mm, width - 2223 mm, height - 1990 mm. In some places, the thickness of the armor was increased (although the maximum thickness remained the same - 14.5 mm). The braking system has also been changed. All these design innovations resulted in an increase in the mass of the tank from 7900 to 8900 kg. On tanks PzKpfw II Ausf. with numbers 22020-22044, the armor was made of molybdenum steel.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. A (4 LaS 100)

In the middle of 1937, the Ministry of Armaments of the Ground Forces (Heereswaffenamt) decided to complete the development of the PzKpfw II and begin large-scale production of tanks of this type. In 1937 (most likely in March 1937), the Henschel firm in Kassel was involved in the production of the Panzerkampfwagen II. The monthly output was 20 tanks. In March 1938, Henschel stopped producing tanks, but the production of PzKpfw II was launched at the Almerkischen Kettenfabrik GmbH (Alkett) - Berlin-Spandau. The Alkett company was supposed to produce up to 30 tanks per month, but in 1939 it switched to the production of PzKpfw III tanks. In the design of the PzKpfw II Ausf. And (serial numbers 23001-24000) several further changes were made: they used a new ZF Aphon SSG46 gearbox, a modified Maybach HL62TRM engine with an output of 103 kW / 140 hp. at 2600 min and a working volume of 6234 cm3 (the Maybach HL62TR engine was used on tanks of previous releases), the driver's seat was equipped with new viewing slots, and an ultrashort-wave radio was installed instead of a short-wave radio station.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. B (5 LaS 100)

Tanks PzKpfw II Ausf. B (serial numbers 24001-26000) differed little from the machines of the previous modification. The changes were mainly technological in nature, simplifying and accelerating serial production. PzKpiw II Ausf. B - the most numerous of the early modifications of the tank.

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From the very beginning, it was clear that even for temporary armament of tank units in anticipation of more powerful combat vehicles, Pz.I tanks were not enough. Therefore, already at the end of 1934, tactical and technical requirements for a tank weighing 10 tons, armed with a 20-mm gun, were developed. For the reasons already mentioned, the tank received the designation LaS 100 and, like the Pz.I, was intended for training purposes. Prototypes of the LaS 100 were developed on a competitive basis by three firms: Krupp, Henschel and MAN. In the spring of 1935, the Krupp company presented the LKA 2 tank to the commission - a version of the LKA tank with an enlarged turret for a 20-mm cannon, Henschel and MAN presented only the chassis.

As a result, the MAN chassis was chosen for serial production, the armored body for which was manufactured by Daimler-Benz. The general contractors for serial production were to be MAN, Daimler-Benz, FAMO, Wegmann and MIAG. By the end of the year, the first 10 tanks were produced, equipped with Maybach HL57TR gasoline engines with a power of 130 hp. The speed of movement reached 40 km / h, the cruising range - 210 km. The thickness of the armor ranged from 5 to 14.5 mm. The armament consisted of a 20-mm KwK 30 cannon (KwK - Kampfwagenkannone - tank gun) and a MG 34 machine gun. According to the already mentioned combat vehicle designation system, the LaS 100 tank received the Sd.Kfz 121 index. The very first serial tanks were designated Pz.II Ausf. a1, the next 15 vehicles - Ausf.a2. 75 Ausf.a3 tanks were produced. All of these options differed slightly from each other. On a2 and a3, for example, there were no rubber bands for the supporting rollers. Slightly different from the previous ones and 25 Ausf.b. The biggest difference was the installation of a new engine - the Maybach HL 62TR.

A column of light tanks Pz.II and Pz.I on the street of one of the Polish cities. September 1939.

Tests of all these tanks revealed significant flaws in the design of the undercarriage. Therefore, in 1937, a completely new type of chassis was designed. It was first used on 200 Pz.II Ausf.c tanks. The undercarriage consisted of five road wheels of medium diameter, suspended on semi-elliptical springs. The number of support rollers has increased to four. The new chassis improved the smoothness of the terrain and the speed of movement on the highway and remained unchanged on all subsequent modifications (except for options D and E, which will be discussed below). The mass of the tank increased to 8.9 tons.

Tanks Pz.II Ausf.C of the 36th tank regiment of the 4th tank division of the Wehrmacht during the battles in Warsaw on September 8–9, 1939.

In 1937, serial production of the most massive variants of the Pz.II Ausf.A, B and C began at the Henschel plant in Kassel. The monthly output was 20 vehicles. In March 1938, production was completed at this plant and began at the Alkett plant in Berlin with an assembly rate of 30 tanks per month. The Ausf.A tanks introduced a synchronized gearbox, a 140 hp Maybach HL62TRM engine, and a new type of viewing slot for the driver. Modification B had changes that were mainly technological in nature and simplified serial production. Pz.II Ausf.C received an improved engine cooling system and armored glass in viewing devices 50 mm thick (for A and B - 12 mm).

As for the armament, its radical strengthening was impossible due to the small size of the tower. The combat capabilities of the Pz.II could only be improved by increasing the thickness of the armor. In the Pz.II Ausf.c, A, B and C tanks, parts of the armored hull that were most susceptible to enemy fire were reinforced. The forehead of the tower was reinforced with armor plates 14.5 and 20 mm thick, the forehead of the hull - 20 mm. The configuration of the entire bow of the hull has also changed. Instead of one bent sheet, two were installed, connected at an angle of 70 °. One had a thickness of 14.5 mm, the other - 20 mm. On some tanks, instead of a double hatch, a turret was installed on the turret. All these changes were made during the repair and therefore were not present on all tanks. It happened that in one unit there were both modernized and non-modernized machines.

The production of the Pz.II Ausf.C was stopped in the spring of 1940, and "at the end" it did not exceed 7-9 units per month. However, the insufficient number of light tanks 35(t) and 38(t) and medium Pz. III and Pz. IV in the tank divisions of the Wehrmacht was the reason for the decision on November 27, 1939 to release a modified series of tanks Pz.II Ausf.F.

The tanks of this series received a new hull design, which had a vertical frontal plate across its entire width. A model of the driver's viewing device was installed on its right side, while the real device was on the left. new form viewing window covers in the gun mask reinforced the armor protection of the tank. Some vehicles were equipped with a 20 mm KwK 38 gun.

Initially, production of the Ausf.F was very slow. In June 1940, only three tanks were produced, in July - two, in August-December - four! Production picked up pace only in 1941, when the annual production amounted to 233 tanks of this brand. The following year, another 291 Pz.IIF left the factory shops. Tanks of this version were produced by the FAMO plant in Breslau (Wroclaw), the United Machine Building Plants in occupied Warsaw, the MAN and Daimler-Benz plants.

Pz.II Ausf.b of one of the units of the 4th Panzer Division, lined up on the streets of Warsaw. September 1939.

The D and E models stand somewhat apart in the Pz.II family of vehicles. In 1938, the Daimler-Benz company developed a project for the so-called “fast tank”, intended for tank battalions of light divisions. Only the turret was borrowed from the Pz.II Ausf.c tank, the hull and chassis were developed from scratch. The latter had large-diameter road wheels (4 per side), new drive and steering wheels. The hull strongly resembled that of the Pz.III. The crew consisted of three people. The mass of the car reached 10 tons. The Maybach HL62TRM engine made it possible to reach a maximum speed on the highway up to 55 km / h. The gearbox had seven speeds forward and three reverse. The thickness of the armor ranged from 14.5 to 30 mm. In 1938-1939, the Dymer-Benz and MAN factories produced 143 tanks of both versions and about 150 chassis. Model E tanks differed from D in a reinforced suspension, a new track and a modified type of steering wheel.

Tanks Pz.II in the attack. Good interaction between units was largely ensured by the presence of radio stations on all tanks.

After the decision was made on January 21, 1939 to form tank units special purpose, MAN and Wegmann were tasked with designing a flamethrower tank, the Flammpanzer.

One of the Pz.II of the 3rd company of the 40th special forces battalion. Norway, April 1940.

When creating such a machine, MAN used the chassis of the Pz.II Ausf.D / E tanks. They installed towers of the original design, armed with one MG 34 machine gun. Two Flamm 40 flamethrowers were placed in remote-controlled rotating turrets located in front of the fenders. Armored tanks with fire mixture were installed on the fenders behind the turrets with flamethrowers. Pressure for flamethrowing was created using compressed nitrogen. Cylinders with nitrogen were inside the tank hull. The fire mixture was ignited with an acetylene torch when fired. Behind the tanks with fire mixture on special brackets were installed mortars for launching smoke grenades.

Tanks Pz.II (F) or Flammpanzer II received the Sd.Kfz.122 index and the name Flamingo (the author could not find out how official it was). Serial production of flamethrower tanks began in January and ended in October 1940 after the release of 90 vehicles. In August 1941, an order was issued for another 150 tanks of this type, but after the conversion of 65 Pz.II Ausf.D/E units, the order was cancelled.

According to some Western sources, the Pz.II (most likely several machines of modification b) were first tested in combat in Spain. As part of the Condor Legion, these tanks took part in the battles over the Ebro and in Catalonia in 1939.

A year earlier, in March 1938, Pz.II took part in the operation to annex Austria to the Reich, the so-called Anschluss. There were no combat clashes during this operation, but, as in the case of the Pz.I, during the march to Vienna, up to 30% of the "twos" failed for technical reasons, mainly due to the low reliability of the undercarriage.

Pz.II Ausf.C in France. May 1940.

The annexation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany in October 1938, the result of the Munich Agreement, also passed without bloodshed. There were already significantly fewer losses in the material part, since the Pz.I and Pz.II tanks were delivered to the places of concentration by trucks, which made it possible to save the meager resource of the undercarriage. By the way, it should be noted that the Faun L900 D567 (6x4) truck and the Sd.Anh.115 two-axle trailer were used to transport the Pz.II tanks.

The Sudetenland was followed by the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia. On March 15, 1939, Pz.II from the 2nd Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht were the first to enter Prague.

On the eve of the Polish campaign, Pz.II, along with Pz.I, made up the majority of Panzerwaffe combat vehicles. September 1, 1939 German troops had 1223 tanks of this type. Each company of light tanks included one platoon (5 units) Pz.II. In total, there were 69 tanks in the tank regiment, and 33 in the battalion. Only in the ranks of the 1st tank division, better than the others equipped with Pz.III and Pz.IV tanks, there were 39 Pz.II. Two-regiment divisions (2nd, 4th, and 5th) had up to 140, and single-regiment divisions had 70–85 Pz.II tanks. The 3rd Panzer Division, which included a training battalion (Panzer Lehr Abteilung), had 175 Pz.II tanks. Least of all "twos" were part of light divisions. Vehicles of modifications D and E were in service with the 67th tank battalion of the 3rd light division and the 33rd tank battalion of the 4th light division.

Start of Operation Sonnenblume ("Sunflower") - loading Afrika Korps tanks onto ships for delivery to Tripoli. Naples, spring 1941.

The armor of the "twos" was effortlessly penetrated by shells of 37-mm wz.36 anti-tank guns and 75-mm field guns Polish army, which became clear already on September 1-2 during the breakthrough of the positions of the Volyn cavalry brigade under Mokra. The 1st Panzer Division lost 8 Pz.II vehicles there. Even greater losses - 15 Pz.II - were suffered by the 4th Panzer Division on the outskirts of Warsaw. In total, during the Polish campaign until October 10, the Wehrmacht lost 259 Pz.II tanks. However irretrievable losses amounted to only 83 cars.

In April - May 1940, 25 Pz.II tanks, detached from the 4th Panzer Division and included in the 40th Special Purpose Battalion, took part in the capture of Norway. At the same time, during short battles with the British troops that landed in this country, two Pz.II.

By the beginning of the offensive in the West on May 10, 1940, the Panzerwaffe had 1110 Pz.II tanks, 955 of which were in combat readiness. At the same time, the number of tanks in different formations varied significantly. So, in the 3rd tank division, operating on the flank, there were 110 Pz.II tanks, and in the 7th tank division of General E. Rommel, located in the direction of the main attack, there were 40 tanks. Against well-armored French light and medium tanks, the "twos" were practically powerless. They could only hit them at close range to the side or stern. However, there were few tank battles during the French campaign. The main burden of the fight against French tanks "fell on the shoulders" of aviation and artillery. Nevertheless, the losses of the Germans were very significant, in particular, they lost 240 Pz.II tanks.

Pz.II Ausf.F shot down in the Libyan Desert. 1942

In the summer of 1940, 52 Pz.IIs from the 2nd Panzer Division were converted to amphibious ones. Of these, two battalions of the 18th tank regiment of the 18th tank brigade (later deployed into a division) were formed. It was assumed that they, together with the Pz.III and Pz.IV prepared for movement under water, would take part in the operation " Sea lion"- landing on the coast of England. The preparation of crews for movement afloat was carried out at the training ground in Putlos. Since the landing on the shores of foggy Albion did not take place, Schwimmpanzer II was transferred to the east. In the first hours of Operation Barbarossa, these tanks crossed the Western Bug by swimming. In the future, they were used as conventional combat vehicles.

Pz.II Ausf.F of the 23rd Panzer Division, involved in the protection of the airfield. January 1942.

Tanks Pz.II of the 5th and 11th tank divisions took part in the fighting in Yugoslavia and Greece. Two tanks were delivered by sea to about. Crete, where they supported the German mountain shooters and paratroopers who landed on this Greek island with fire and maneuver.

In March 1941, the 5th Panzer Regiment of the 5th Light Division of the German African Corps, which landed in Tripoli, had 45 Pz.IIs, mainly models C. After the arrival of the 15th Panzer Division, by November 1941, the number of The African continent has reached 70 units. At the beginning of 1942, another batch of Pz.II Ausf. F(Tp) - in tropical version. The delivery of Pz.II tanks to Africa can be explained, perhaps, only by their small mass and dimensions compared to medium tanks, which made it possible to transfer a greater number of them by sea. The Germans could not help but be aware that against most of the tanks of the 8th English army"deuces" were powerless, and only their high speed helped them get out of the shelling. However, in spite of everything, Pz.II Ausf.F were used in African desert up until 1943.

Pz.II Ausf.C captured by British troops. North Africa, 1942

As of June 1, 1941, there were 1,074 combat-ready Pz.II tanks in the Nazi army. Another 45 cars were under repair. In the formations intended to participate in Operation Barbarossa and concentrated near the border of the Soviet Union, there were 746 vehicles of this type, which accounted for almost 21% of the total number of tanks. According to the then state, one platoon in a company was supposed to be armed with Pz.II tanks. But the state was not always respected: in some divisions there were many “twos”, sometimes over the state, in others there were not at all. On June 22, 1941, Pz.II were part of the 1st (43 units), 3rd (58), 4th (44), 6th (47), 7th (53), 8- th (49), 9th (32), 10th (45), 11th (44), 12th (33), 13th (45), 14th (45), 16th (45), 17th (44), 18th (50) and 19th (35) tank divisions of the Wehrmacht. In addition, linear "twos" were also part of the 100th and 101st flamethrower tank battalions.

Pz.IIs could easily fight Soviet light tanks T-37, T-38 and T-40, armed with machine guns, as well as armored vehicles of all types. Light tanks T-26 and BT, especially the latest releases, were hit by "twos" only from relatively close distances. At the same time, German vehicles inevitably had to enter the zone of effective fire of Soviet 45-mm tank guns. Confidently pierced the armor of the Pz.II and Soviet anti-tank guns. By the end of 1941, the German army had lost 424 Pz.II tanks on the Eastern Front.

From the Flamingo tanks, the Germans formed three flamethrower battalions that fought near Smolensk and in the Ukraine and suffered heavy losses everywhere due to the unfortunate location of tanks with fire mixture on the tanks.

Tanks Pz.II Ausf.C advance to the Greek border. Bulgaria, April 1941.

In 1942, the "twos", gradually ousted from combat units, were increasingly involved in patrolling, guarding headquarters, reconnaissance and counterguerrilla operations. During the year, 346 vehicles of this type were lost in all theaters of operations, and in 1943 - 84, which indicates a sharp reduction in their number in the troops. Nevertheless, as of March 1945, the Wehrmacht still had 15 Pz.IIs in the active army and 130 in the reserve army.

By June 22, 1941, the 100th and 101st flamethrower tank battalions were equipped with Flammpanzer II flamethrower tanks.

Pz.II towers were used in significant numbers to create various long-term firing points. So, on various fortifications both in the West and in the East, there were 100 Pz.II towers armed with a 37-mm cannon and 536 with a standard 20-mm KwK 30.

Soldiers and commanders of the Red Army inspect the captured enemy flamethrower tank. The installation of smoke grenade launchers on the fender is clearly visible. Western front, summer 1941.

In addition to the German army, the "two" were in service in Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. In the late 1940s, several machines of this type (apparently, the former Romanian ones) were in Lebanon.

As already mentioned, the Pz.II was considered by the Armaments Department and the leadership of the Wehrmacht as a kind of intermediate model between the training Pz.I and the truly combat Pz.III and Pz. IV. However, reality overturned the plans of the Nazi strategists and forced them to put not only Pz.II, but also Pz.I into combat formation.

It is surprising how German industry in the 1930s was unable to deploy mass production of tanks. This can be judged from the data given in the table.

Even after the outbreak of the war, when the industry of the Reich switched to wartime, the production of tanks did not increase significantly. There was no time for intermediate models.

However, at the time of its creation, the Pz.II turned out to be a full-fledged light tank, the main drawback of which was weak armament. The armor protection of the "two" was not inferior to that of most light tanks of those years. After the modernization, the Pz.II moved into the lead in this parameter, second only to the French R35 and H35 tanks. The maneuverability characteristics of the tank, optics and communications equipment were at a fairly high level. Only armament remained the "Achilles' heel", since even in the mid-1930s, the 20-mm cannon as the main armament for a light tank was already considered unpromising. Guns of similar caliber - 25 mm - were installed on only a few dozen French light reconnaissance tanks. True, on the eve of World War II, light Italian L6 / 40 vehicles were armed with a 20-mm cannon, but the low level of Italian tank building is well known.

However, it would be interesting to compare the "two" with another "brother" in armament, which appeared even later - in the fall of 1941. We are talking about the Soviet light tank T-60.

COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT TANKS PZ. IIF and T-60

What can be said by analyzing the comparative data of both tanks. Soviet tank builders managed to achieve almost the same level of protection as the German vehicle, which, with a smaller mass and dimensions, significantly increased the tank's invulnerability. The dynamic characteristics of both machines were practically the same. Despite the high specific power, the Pz.II was not faster than the "sixties". Formally, the armament parameters were also the same: both tanks were equipped with 20-mm I cannons with similar ballistic characteristics. The initial speed of the armor-piercing projectile of the Pz.II gun was 780 m/s, for the T-60 it was 815 m/s, which theoretically allowed them to hit the same targets. In fact, everything was not so simple: the Soviet TNSh-20 gun could not fire single shots, while the German KwK 30, as well as the KwK 38, could, which significantly increased the accuracy of shooting. The "Two" was more effective on the battlefield and due to the crew of three, which also had much best review from the tank than the crew of the T-60, and the presence of a radio station. As a result, the "two" as a cutting edge machine significantly exceeded the "sixty". This superiority was even more felt when the tanks were used for reconnaissance, where the inconspicuous, but "blind" and "dumb" T-60 was practically useless.

Tank Pz.II destroyed by fire Soviet artillery. Western Front, July 1942.

However, on initial stage The Second World War with the tasks of reconnaissance in the interests of the tank and motorized units of the Nazi Wehrmacht did a good job of armored vehicles. Their use in this role was promoted as a branched road network Western Europe, and the enemy's lack of mass and well-organized anti-tank defense.

After the German attack on the USSR, the situation changed. In Russia, as you know, there are no roads, there are only directions. With the beginning of the autumn rains, the German armored reconnaissance was hopelessly stuck in the Russian mud and ceased to cope with the tasks assigned to it. In addition, the situation was aggravated by the fact that at about the same time, anti-tank rifles (PTR) began to enter the rifle units of the Red Army in increasing quantities, which made it possible to give the anti-tank defense a massive character. In any case, the German General von Mellenthin noted in his memoirs: “The Russian infantry has good weapons, especially a lot of anti-tank weapons: sometimes you think that every infantryman has an anti-tank rifle or anti-tank gun". An armor-piercing bullet of 14.5 mm caliber fired from the PTR easily pierced the armor of any German armored vehicles, both light and heavy.

Introduction to the trophy. Pz.II Ausf.F, captured at the Sukhanovsky farm. Don Front, December 1942.

In order to somehow improve the situation, half-tracked armored personnel carriers Sd.Kfz.250 and Sd.Kfz.251 began to be transferred to reconnaissance battalions, and light tanks Pz.II and Pz.38 (t) were also used for this purpose. However, the need for a dedicated reconnaissance tank became apparent. The Wehrmacht's weapons department came to the conclusion that its design should take into account the experience of the first years of the war. And this experience required an increase in the number of crew members, a larger engine power reserve, the installation of a radio station with a large range, etc.

Light tank Pz.II Ausf.L from the 4th reconnaissance battalion of the 4th tank division. Eastern front, autumn 1943.

In April 1942, MAN manufactured the first prototype of the VK 1303 tank weighing 12.9 tons. In June, it was tested at the Kummersdorf training ground and was soon adopted by the Panzerwaffe under the designation Pz.II Ausf.L Luchs (Sd.Kfz.123). The production order for MAN was 800 combat vehicles.

Luchs ("Lukhs" - lynx) was armored somewhat better than its predecessors, but the maximum armor thickness did not exceed 30 mm, which turned out to be clearly insufficient.

In contrast to all modifications of the Pz.II linear tanks, the turret on the Luhsa was located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tank. Its rotation was carried out manually, using the rotation mechanism. The armament of the tank consisted of a 20 mm KwK 38 cannon and a coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 (MG 42) machine gun. Ammunition consisted of 330 rounds and 2250 rounds. Vertical guidance of the twin installation was possible in the range from -9 ° to + 18 °. Three mortars were installed on the sides of the tower to launch 90 mm smoke grenades.

Even during the design of the Luhsa, it became clear that a 20-mm cannon that was too weak for 1942 could significantly limit the tactical capabilities of the tank. Therefore, from April 1943, it was supposed to begin production of combat vehicles armed with a 50-mm KwK 39 cannon with a barrel length of 60 calibers. The same gun was installed on medium tanks Pz.III modifications J, L and M. However, it was not possible to place this gun in the standard Luhsa turret - it was too small. In addition, this would lead to a sharp reduction in ammunition. As a result, a tower open from above was installed on the tank. bigger size, in which the 50-mm gun fits perfectly. A prototype with such a turret was designated VK 1303b.

Light tank Pz.II Ausf.L, probably from the 116th Panzer Division, shot down in France in August 1944.

The tank was equipped with a Maybach HL 66p six-cylinder carburetor engine with a power of 180 hp. at 3200 rpm.

The undercarriage of the Luhs tank, in relation to one side, included five rubber-coated road wheels each, staggered in two rows; front drive wheel and idler with track tensioning mechanism.

All "Lukhs" were equipped with two radio stations.

Serial production of reconnaissance tanks of this type began in the second half of August 1942. Until January 1944, MAN produced 118 units, Henschel - 18. All of them were armed with a 20-mm KwK 38 cannon. As for combat vehicles with a 50-mm cannon, it is not possible to indicate their exact number. According to various sources, from four to six tanks left the factory shops.

The first serial "Lukhs" began to enter the troops in the fall of 1942. They were supposed to equip one company in the reconnaissance battalions of tank divisions. However, due to the small number of vehicles produced, very few Panzerwaffe formations received new tanks. On the Eastern Front, these were the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions; in the West, the 2nd, 116th, and Training Panzer Divisions. In addition, several vehicles were in service with the SS Panzer Division "Dead Head". Luhs were used in these formations until the end of 1944. During combat use revealed the weakness of weapons and armor protection of the tank. In some cases, its frontal armor was reinforced with additional armor plates 20 mm thick. It is authentically known that such an event was carried out in the 4th reconnaissance battalion of the 4th tank division.

The tank was developed by MAN in cooperation with Daimler-Benz. Serial production of the tank began in 1937 and ended in 1942. The tank was produced in five modifications (A-F), differing from each other in the undercarriage, armament and armor, but the general layout remained unchanged: the power plant is located at the rear, the fighting compartment and the control compartment are in the middle, and the power transmission and drive wheels are in front . The armament of most modifications consisted of a 20 mm automatic cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun mounted in a single turret.

A telescopic sight was used to control fire from this weapon. The hull of the tank was welded from rolled armor plates, located without their rational inclination. The experience of using the tank in the battles of the initial period of the Second World War showed that its armament and armor were insufficient. The production of the tank was discontinued after the release of more than 1800 tanks of all modifications. Some of the tanks were converted into flamethrowers with the installation of two flamethrowers on each tank with a flamethrowing range of 50 meters. On the basis of the tank, self-propelled artillery mounts, artillery tractors and ammunition transporters were also created.

From the history of the creation and modernization of tanks Pz.Kpfw II

Work on new types of medium and heavy tanks in the middle of 1934 "Panzerkampfwagen" III and IV progressed relatively slowly, and the 6th Department of the Ministry of Armaments of the Ground Forces issued a technical assignment for the development of a tank weighing 10,000 kg, armed with a 20-mm cannon.
The new machine received the designation LaS 100 (LaS - "Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper" - agricultural tractor). From the very beginning, it was supposed to use the LaS 100 tank only for training the personnel of tank units. In the future, these tanks were to give way to the new PzKpfw III and IV. Prototypes of the LaS 100 were ordered by the firms: Friedrich Krupp AG, Henschel & Son AG, and MAN (Mashinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuremberg). In the spring of 1935, prototypes were shown to the military commission.
The further development of the LKA tank - PzKpfw I - the LKA 2 tank - was developed by the Krupp company. The enlarged turret of the LKA 2 made it possible to place a 20-mm cannon. Henschel and MAN developed only the chassis. The undercarriage of the Henschel tank consisted (in relation to one side) of six road wheels grouped into three carts. The design of the company "MAN" was made on the basis of the chassis, created by the company "Carden-Loyd". The track rollers, grouped into three bogies, were shock-absorbed by elliptical springs, which were attached to a common carrier frame. The upper section of the caterpillar was supported by three small rollers.

The prototype of the Krupp LaS 100 tank - LKA 2

At the end of 1935, the MAN company in Nuremberg produced the first ten LaS 100 tanks, which by this time had received the new designation 2 cm MG-3 (In Germany, guns up to 20 mm caliber were considered machine guns (Maschinengewehr - MG), not cannons (Maschinenkanone - MK) Panzerwagen (VsKfz 622- VsKfz - Versuchkraftfahrzeuge - prototype). The tanks were driven by a Maybach HL57TR liquid-cooled carburetor engine with a power of 95 kW / 130 hp. and a working volume of 5698 cm3. The tanks used a ZF Aphon SSG45 gearbox (six gears forward and one reverse), maximum speed - 40 km / h, cruising range - 210 km (on the highway) and 160 km (on rough terrain). Armor thickness from 8 mm to 14.5 mm. The tank was armed with a 20-mm KwK30 cannon (ammunition 180 rounds - 10 magazines) and a Rheinmetall-Borzing MG-34 7.92-mm machine gun (ammunition - 1425 rounds).

Factory drawings of the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.a tank chassis

In 1936, a new military equipment designation system was introduced - "Kraftfahrzeuge Nummern System der Wehrmacht". Each car received a number and a name ("- a special military vehicle).

So the LaS 100 tank became Sd.Kfz.121.
Modifications (Ausfuehrung - Ausf.) were designated by a letter. The first LaS 100 tanks received the designation. Serial numbers 20001-20010. The crew - three people: the commander, who was also a gunner, loader, who also served as a radio operator and a driver. The length of the tank PzKpfw II Ausf. a1 - 4382 mm, width - 2140 mm, and height - 1945 mm.
On the following tanks (serial numbers 20011-20025), the cooling system of the Bosch RKC 130 12-825LS44 generator was changed and the ventilation of the fighting compartment was improved. Machines of this series received the designation.
Further improvements were made to the design of the tanks. The power and fighting compartments were separated by a removable partition. A wide hatch appeared at the bottom of the hull, facilitating access to the fuel pump and oil filter. 25 tanks of this series were manufactured (serial numbers 20026-20050).

Tanks PzKpfw Ausf. and I and a2 on the road wheels did not have a rubber bandage. The next 50 PzKpfw II Ausf. a3 (serial numbers 20050-20100) the radiator was moved 158 mm aft. Fuel tanks (front with a capacity of 102 liters, rear - 68 liters) were equipped with pin-type fuel level meters.

Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.b (Sd.Kfz.121)

Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.c (Sd.Kfz.121)

German pre-war theory considered tank troops as the main tool for waging mobile warfare. This provision made it necessary to build independent tank divisions as the main offensive means of the coming war. Nucleus tank park was supposed to consist of a medium-class vehicle armed with an anti-tank gun and 2 machine guns and a heavy-class support vehicle, with a larger caliber gun, not inferior in mobility to the first vehicle.

Foundations of creation.

Tanks weighing sixteen to twenty tons, in the German military literature of those years, were called "full-fledged combat tanks." After some time, they were embodied in the Pz.Kpfw III and Pz. Kpfw IV. However, design work, design refinement and development in production should have taken some time. Therefore, in order to speed up the creation of a tank industry, the organization of tank troops, as well as the training of tank crews, it was decided to order a light tank weighing five tons and two crew members, armed with machine guns.

The machine was supposed to have a relatively simple design, be cheaper to operate and manufacture. The result of the work carried out was the appearance of the tank Pz.Kpfw I. The new combat vehicle already in the thirty-fourth year went to complete the tank units. The tank coped very well with the role of a training vehicle, and later was used for combat operations.

Meanwhile, the development in the production of tanks of the main type, for a number of reasons, had to be postponed to a later date. To remedy the situation, a tank with the best combat characteristics was required, but at the same time easy to manufacture.

The terms of reference for the new tank were announced on 06.1934. The intermediate type of tank was supposed to have stronger armor protection than the Pz.Kpfw I, but be armed with a 20-mm automatic cannon (according to the German classification - a machine gun) and another rifle-caliber machine gun. The firms Henschel, MAH and Krupp took part in the design work. The design deadlines were initially defined as very tight, and in the spring of the thirty-fifth year, the contestants presented prototypes. To maintain secrecy, the project was called "agricultural tractor" - Las 100.

The samples of the MAH and Henschel firms presented to the commission were nothing more than a running gear without a turret. Both cars used boxed suspension and semi-elliptical leaf springs. The Krupp project looked like the Pz.Kpfw I prototype, with an enlarged turret and new weapons.

After reviewing all the proposed designs, it was decided to launch a series project from "MAH" as "2 cm MG Panzerwagen". Later, upon adoption, the name was changed to "Panzerkampfwagen II".

Pz. II, as well as its predecessor Pz. I, were precisely those machines, from the construction of which the German industry mastered the serial production of tanks, and tank troops went from crew training to combat coordination of large tank formations. The same vehicles became the basis of the tank fleet during the accumulation of experience in the first tank operations in Poland and Norway.

The first pre-production batch of a dozen Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.a1 was made by MAH, in the thirty-fifth year. The layout of the "two" practically did not differ from that of the Pz. I. The new machine had a load-bearing armored hull, made by welding with reinforcement from a stamped profile and corners. A characteristic difference machines of this series became an elliptical frontal part of the armored hull, made by casting. Tank turret with a small (21-22 degrees) rational tilt angle of the armor plates.

The first Pz.Kpfw II.

The armament of the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.a1 tank is represented by a 2 cm KwK 30 automatic cannon, as well as an MG machine gun. It was mounted similarly to Pz. I, in a single mask, recessed into the body of the tower. The gun ammunition consisted of fragmentation and armor-piercing cartridges.

According to German data of the thirty-fifth year, the gun was able to penetrate centimeter armor at a distance of seven hundred meters. That should have made it possible to penetrate the armor of the Reno FT and NC-31 tanks - the most common vehicles of the French army and supplied to the Polish army.

At first, the Dreyse MG machine gun was installed in the tank. 13k, but was soon replaced by the MG 34.

Tank engine - Maybach HL 57 TR, 120 hp. A six-speed gearbox was connected by a cardan shaft passing at the bottom of the fighting compartment to the engine.

Running tank Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.a1 - three carts with two rollers, in relation to the side. Support rollers - three. Leaf springs. Driving wheels in front of the tank, sloths are raised above the surface.

The second batch of machines, numbering 15 pieces, was made in the same year. The new modification of the Ausf.a2 was distinguished by some improvements in the running and habitability of the fighting compartment due to ventilation.

The next batch of fifty tanks of the Ausf.a3 series was delivered in 1936. The engine and fighting compartments were separated by a partition, the design and dimensions of the access hatches to the filter and fuel pump in the bottom of the tank were redesigned. The location of the radiator was changed, it was moved to the stern, which improved its cooling. The springs have been reinforced, the drive wheels have lost their rubber bands.

In the same year, thirty-six, MAN delivered the next batch of twenty-five vehicles of the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.b version. In this modification, the tank received a new, more powerful Maybach HL 62 TK engine (140 hp). The engine itself, along with the transmission, was moved towards the starboard side. That allowed to increase the size of the fighting compartment. The exhaust system has undergone some changes. The transmission received a reduction gear, a planetary rotation mechanism and a tracked tank of a new form were installed.

The dimensions of the drive wheel are increased, the supporting rollers are reduced. The suspension itself has been reinforced and modified to reduce the risk of the track falling off when cornering.

All these events in the life of Pz.Kpfw II took place against the backdrop of rapid changes in German industry and the army. In the summer of the thirty-fifth year, during the exercises of the German army, for the first time, a tank division was involved, then still reduced from three separate tank regiments. In the autumn of the same year, these three regiments deployed tank divisions. The command of the tank troops was created.

There was a formed creation of the tank industry. If in the thirty-fifth year four companies were involved in the program for the production of tank components and assemblies, as well as armor plates, then two years later there were already seven.

Tanks Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.b took part in the exercises of the thirty-sixth year, during which their design caused a lot of criticism. Most of them concerned the chassis, both its mechanical strength and insufficient smoothness.
Therefore, it was decided to continue work on improving the design.

The first, truly mass-produced machine was the "two" Ausf.c, the release of which was organized starting from 04.1937. In addition to purely external changes, such as the shape of the tower and the dimensions of the driver's hatch, the changes affected the source of the main troubles - the chassis.

Modifications Pz.Kpfw II.

The official order to complete the refinement of the Pz.Kpfw II tank and start its production in a large series was announced on 04/01/37, three years after the TTT for the tank was published. By May of the thirty-seventh year, the Wehrmacht had only one hundred and fifteen Pz.Kpfw II tanks. It had to go to mass production.

ausf. A.

The first modification, released in a large batch, went into production in July 37th and received the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf index. A. The tank used an upgraded engine, an improved gearbox, as well as a new type of driver's observation devices. In total, during the thirty-fifth - thirty-seventh year, German industry handed over 332 Ausf vehicles to the military. A.

All combat vehicles of this family had a common layout typical of German tanks. The transmission was located in front, while the engine was mounted at the rear. The fighting compartment is in the center of the tank, it also has a turret with installed weapons. The front part of the "two" is given under the control compartment, a transmission is mounted in it.

The placement of the transmission in the control compartment made it possible not only to reduce the length of the tank, but also the number and length of control rods. The location of the turret in the center of the tank reduced the effect of vehicle vibrations on the results of firing. The location of the transmission and engine in the bow and stern distributed the weight and made the tank's vibrations smoother. Repair and maintenance of the "two" was simplified due to easier access to both.

The disadvantage should be considered the presence of a cardan under the fighting compartment, the greater vulnerability of the drive wheels due to their front location. Oil fumes and transmission combustion products worsened the atmosphere in the habitable space of the tank.
Armored hull Рz.Kpfw II Аusf. A in its design consisted of two parts:

the lower part, i.e. the body itself;
turret box, the front of which formed a wheelhouse in which the driver of the Pz.Kpfw II was located.

Behind the driver was workplace radio operator. He also performed the functions of a loader, for which he had to climb into the tower. Directly in the tower was the commander, who is also a gunner.

Tank gun 2 cm KwK 30 - to the left of the axis of the tank, to the right is a MG machine gun. The gun mask is equipped with two viewing windows covered with armored caps, controlled from the inside by means of a lever. The automatic cannon has its origins in the Swiss Solothurn cannon and is related to the 2 cm Flak 30 anti-aircraft gun, with which it had many interchangeable units. The differences were mainly in the length of the barrel, which was shortened in the tank version of the gun for fear of excessively increasing the dimensions of the tank.

The gun barrel is equipped with a universal device that combines the functions of a flame arrester and a muzzle brake. Supply of gun cartridges through sector box magazines, which were attached to the left side of the gun. Spare magazines with cartridges were attached to the inside of the walls of the tower and hull. A fire extinguisher was mounted to the right of the gun. Firing from a cannon and a machine gun by means of an electric trigger.

Aiming tank weapons with the help of a two and a half times Zeiss TZF4 sight, which ensured firing at a distance of up to 1200 meters. Although most often the range of fire from a gun did not exceed six hundred meters, and from a machine gun - four hundred meters.

In the ammunition Pz.Kpfw II Аusf. A included shots with armor-piercing and fragmentation projectiles totaling 180 pieces.

The MG.34 tank machine gun had a rate of fire of 800-900 rounds per minute and was equipped with a case collector. In the gun mantlet, the machine gun is fixed without a stock. There were 1425 cartridges for the machine gun, stuffed into 19 sector stores. In the fortieth year, the second-hand machine gun was increased to 2100 rounds.

In addition, the crew of the tank was armed with MP-38 or MP-40 SMGs, as well as Walther or Parabellum pistols.

Much attention was paid to the review of the "two". For observation, the driver used a hatch closed with a triplex block, as well as hatches on both sides, also closed with a triplex. In addition to the purposes of observation, hatches in the sides could serve for firing from small arms crew. Hatches similar in purpose and design, both equipped with lids with slots and without, were in the stern and sides of the tower, as well as the rear sheet of the turret box. To replace damaged glasses, the crew had spare ones.

The commander of the Pz.Kpfw II conducted surveillance through a periscope mounted in the roof in the center of the tower, covered with an armored cap. The design of the periscope made it possible to have a vertical tilt angle from -15 to 25 degrees and an all-round view. Multiplicity constant - 2,5X. The device could be used as a sight, albeit less accurate when aiming, since the telescopic sight was rigidly fixed to the armament and even at small elevation angles, its ocular part moved and made aiming not very convenient.

The armored body of the "two" was made by welding from a sheet with a thickness of 5.10 and 15 mm. The turret box was mounted with bolts on the hull. The bottom of the tank is made of three sheets. Rear and front - at an angle, 10 mm thick. The main central sheet of the bottom is 5mm. The rigidity of the bottom was provided with additional parts - corners and longitudinal stiffeners. Cemented heterogeneous sheets were used to manufacture the tower and hull.

A design feature of the Pz.Kpfw II was the displacement of the turret relative to the axis of the tank by eighty-five millimeters to the left. What ensured the balancing of the machine, since the engine, relative to the axis, is shifted to the right. The tower was hexagonal in shape, there was no hanging floor, the tank commander was placed on a hanging seat equipped with a tie-down seat and a backrest. The tower stood on a ball chase.

Disembarkation-landing through the hatch in the roof, the hatch is equipped with single-leaf wings. In the right wing there is a hatch for signaling with flags. Turn the tower only manually.

The Maybach HL 62 TRM engine was installed in the engine compartment closer to the starboard side. The engine is six-cylinder, water-cooled. For access to the tank engine served as a double hatch in the roof of the engine compartment.
The fuel was synthetic gasoline with an octane rating of -76. The fuel consumption of the "two" is about 110 liters on the highway and 170 liters off-road per hundred kilometers. There are two petrol tanks, at the rear with a capacity of 68 liters and at the front with a capacity of 102 liters. Filling necks are displayed on the turret box on the right side of the tank.

Regular start of the engine by means of an electric starter, if not possible - manually using a handle, through a hole in the stern.

The designers of the Pz.Kpfw II provided the tank crew with quite comfortable working conditions. The driver sat on a tarpaulin seat, his workplace was equipped with the necessary control devices assembled on one dashboard (water and oil thermometers, speedometer, tachometer). Management by means of turning levers, as well as reverse, gas, brake, clutch pedals. The electric starter was started either from a button or from a magneto.

The chassis, in relation to the board, consisted of five rollers with a rubber band. All rollers with individual suspension. Support rollers, four on board. The lightweight roller was attached to the hull by means of an L-shaped lever, a hinge connected to the hull.

The caterpillar is steel, with a small link. Tracks of manganese steel, numbering 108 pieces, skeletal. The weight of the caterpillar is four hundred kilograms.

All Pz.Kpfw II tanks were equipped with radio communications. Line tanks - FuG 2 receivers, command vehicles of the company commander level and above - transceiver r / s FuG 5. Radio stations were mounted on the port side in the turret box.

Radio station FuG 5. simplex, power 10 watts. When working on a two-meter whip antenna, it provided stable communication in telephone mode for 6.4 km, in telegraph mode for 9.4 km.

In addition to the FuG 5, the vehicles of the battalion commanders and above were additionally equipped with medium-wave radio stations with a longer signal range for communication with the command, aviation, sappers and other units, including repair ones.

In addition to light signals and radio communications, the crew could send signals using the Walther rocket launcher, which, along with a supply of rockets, was stored in the rear of the tower.

Ausf.B.

Tanks of this modification were distinguished by minor changes, mainly related to the simplification of production technology.
Ausf.S.

Despite the fact that Pz.Kpfw II did not take part in the Spanish events, they still had a great influence on the fate of the "two". Experts' assessments agreed that the further saturation of anti-aircraft guns with artillery of army units calls into question further fate lightly armored tanks, and on the other hand, the use of light tanks armed with rapid-fire guns was recognized as successful, with some reservations about the need to strengthen armor protection.

However, the German General Staff extended the contract for the production of Pz.Kpfw II. This decision can be explained, in addition to difficulties with the production of Pz.Kpfw III and Pz.Kpfw IV, by circumstances of a purely economic nature. It is no coincidence that the production of cheap and less metal-intensive Pz. II continued until the forty-third year.

In the thirty-eighth year, another modification appeared - Рz.Kpfw II Ausf.С. Improvements in this modification mainly affected its armor protection.
The bent frontal armor plate was additionally reinforced with a pair of armor plates welded at an angle of seventy degrees to each other. Lower -20 mm, upper - 14.5 mm.

The forehead of the turret and turret box was reinforced during 1940-41 by hanging 20 mm screens. Tower mask screen - a shield of complex shape with additional bends at the top and bottom - to protect the joints of the loophole and the mask from bullets and shrapnel. However, he was soon abandoned.

The gap between the turret and the turret box was protected by a welded side. The thickness of the armored glass has changed from twelve to fifty millimeters. The shape of the armored cover of the driver's observation device has changed. The covers of the side instruments of the driver might not have gaps for observation.

The increase in booking led to an increase in the mass of the tank to nine and a half tons. However, this did not affect the speed characteristics of the car, they remained the same.

To improve visibility from the commander's seat, it was equipped commander's tower instead of a periscope. The manhole covers were protected with leather lining, thanks to which the crew members could do without helmets.

In the stern of the hull, as well as the turret, mortars could be installed to fire smoke grenades.

In the modification of Ausf.S. converted machines of previous series as they undergo overhaul. By the beginning of the company in France, seventy percent of the Pz.Kpfw II, the previous modifications, were brought to the level of Ausf.C. The rest was modernized until the forty-first year, with the outbreak of war, some of the machines never underwent modernization.
Ausf.D.

To equip the tank battalions of the "light" divisions of the Wehrmacht, tanks were required with better speed qualities than the existing ones. As a result, TTTs were published for a "high-speed" tank, with a higher power engine and armed with a 20-mm TP. The prototype of the new modification was made by Daimler-Benz. The vehicle was put into service as the Ausf.D and, by the time of its appearance, just coincided with the deployment of the first "light" divisions, which took place in the thirty-seventh - thirty-eighth years.

The Ausf.D modification is equipped with a new 180-horsepower HL 66 P engine, as well as a new type of chassis. The single fuel tank held 200 liters of gasoline, more than previous modifications, but the smell of running grew slightly from the greater consumption. Gearbox - seven-speed, three speeds reverse and seven forward.

The chassis consisted of 4 double large road wheels, a Christie-type suspension with the replacement of springs with torsion shafts. The caterpillar chain is small-linked with well-developed ground hooks.

In addition to the chassis, the Pz.Kpfw II hull has also undergone changes. Its design acquired a certain similarity with the Pz.Kpfw III. In fact, only the turret and layout made the Ausf.D related to the previous modifications. The speed characteristics of the machine have increased, but the increase in mass has led to a decrease in cross-country ability.
Ausf.E.

Pz.Kpfw II modification Ausf.E. it was distinguished by a reinforced suspension, changes in the design of the drive wheel and sloth. A lubricated hinge is introduced into the caterpillar design.

By and large, the "two" modifications Ausf.D and E were not particularly in demand. The "light" divisions for which they were worth during 1939-40 were transferred to the state of tank divisions and they already needed Рz.Kpfw III and IV, and in addition to them, Czechoslovak vehicles 38 (t) were supplied for their acquisition.

The mechanical reliability of the Ausf.D and E tanks was inferior to the "ordinary" Pz. II and soon they began to be withdrawn from combat units for conversion into self-propelled guns and tanks armed with a flamethrower.
Ausf.F.

The combat use of tank troops in the Polish company accelerated the deployment of new tank formations. Which in turn increased the need for the material part. In November of the thirty-ninth year, it was decided to continue the release of Pz. II, subject to changes in the design due to new requirements, which consisted mainly in improving protection.
The first three prototypes were ready by 06.1940, two more the next month and four delivered between August and December, when the final series of "classic" "twos" was put into production as the Ausf.F.

A characteristic difference between the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.F was the front sheet of the turret box for the entire width of the hull with a thickness of 30 mm. The turret's forehead armor increased to 30 mm, its sides to 15 mm. The thickness of the forehead of the hull ranged from 35 -25 mm.

One of the interesting innovations is a fake driver's observation device attached to the right side, which, according to the plan, was supposed to mislead the enemy shooters. This observation device is an improved type with a large viewing angle and a two-leaf lid adjustable from the tank.

The tank gun 2 cm KwK 30 was replaced by its modernized version 2 cm KwK 38. Its main feature was its lower weight and increased to 220 rpm. combat speed. The new gun was supposed to displace the 2 cm KwK 30, but in practice both guns continued to be used in parallel.

A Pz.Gr 40 sub-caliber projectile was developed for the gun, capable of penetrating up to 50 mm of armor at a distance of one hundred meters and up to 20 mm at a distance of half a kilometer. However, the armor effect of such shells was small.

Small improvements also touched the chassis, they touched mainly the steering wheel, which became a conical shape. In the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.F, spent units of previous modifications were widely used, the price of the tank was reduced by almost fourteen thousand marks and its price was 35,000 marks.
Ausf.G.

This and subsequent modifications refers to the so-called "new type". During 1938-39, a number of works were carried out on tanks light class next generation. All of them had standard army designations with the addition of nA - i.e. "new type."

October 18, 1938 The Army Weapons Department ordered MAH and Daimler-Benz to modernize the Pz.Kpfw II in order to increase the speed of this tank. In this case, the weight of the tank was not to exceed nine tons. The design of the hull and turret was the responsibility of Damler-Benz, while the chassis was to be designed by MAH. The armament of the tank was to remain the same, i.e. Kwk 39 and MG machine gun.

The design was completed and a prototype was made by mid-December next year. Work on the design of the Pz.Kpfw II suspension was carried out under the guidance of V. Knipkapf. Tank chassis - five-roller, large-diameter rollers, torsion bar suspension. Engine "Maybach" HL45 in 150 l / s. Max speed this modification of the "two" - 50 km / h.

The tests were quite successful, the so-called "null-series" of seventy-five machines was ordered. But in total, in the period from 04.41-02.42, only twelve such machines were made.

The difference between the Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.G was that, with the same overall layout, the radio operator was located to the right of the driver, which was associated with the reconnaissance functions of the tank.
Ausf.J.

In the course of work on the study of the design of the "new type" tank
12/22/39 Daimler-Benz and MAH ordered lung project tank with the highest possible level of armor protection. Obviously, this project took into account the experience of using tanks in Poland, where Pz.Kpfw II were often used as support tanks for infantry units. This tank passed as a "new type reinforced tank" - nAV.

As in the previous case, Daimler-Benz was chosen as the contractor - as responsible for the tower and MAH - for the manufacture of the chassis. According to the plan, the chassis and turret will be presented on July 18-19, 39, and the total need for tanks of this modification was determined at 339 units, but only twenty-two Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.J.

With a frontal armor thickness of eighty centimeters and a side armor of fifty, the mass of the Ausf.J was eighteen tons, two tons more than required by the assignment. Distinguished from previous models was the hull - the turret box and the hull were one piece. Reservation of the tower had a noticeable angle of inclination. To increase the armor resistance of the tower, she did not have observation devices in the sides. The driver and radio operator got round hatches in the sides.

Armament of twin 2 cm KwK 38 m machine gun MG 34 - stabilized in the vertical plane.
The speed of movement dropped to thirty kilometers per hour, and low maneuverability made it impossible for a light tank, even with such outstanding armor for its class.

Nevertheless, the Ausf.J was made in a small batch, seven of them were sent for testing to the troops, and some to the police divisions.
Ausf.H

An unrealized project of a tank for reconnaissance, which, while remaining within the weight characteristics of the "twos" of previous modifications, should have better mobility and armor protection. According to the April, forty-first year, the Program for the Development of Tank Forces, this modification was to be manufactured in an unprecedentedly large batch - 22,000 vehicles. Which should have included both Pz.Kpfw II in the reconnaissance version, and vehicles for advanced observers, as well as a chassis for installing a 50-mm gun for the tank destroyer production program. One of the armament options was a 20 mm front sight with a conical bore, based on the s.Pz.B 41.
ausf. M

Another unrealized project within the framework of the nA concept. According to the plan, the tank was supposed to be armed with a gun similar to that installed in the Рz.Kpfw III Ausf. J, but with a muzzle brake. Four experimental vehicles were produced, which were equipped with the usual 2 cm KwK 38.
ausf. L Luchs.

Рz.Kpfw II Ausf. L became the top of the Pz.Kpfw II nA line of vehicles.
The reason for the development of this modification was the insufficient effectiveness of wheeled armored vehicles for the purpose of conducting reconnaissance by tank troops - a conclusion to which in Germany came by the end of the thirties.

The order for the design of the tank was received by the MAH and Daimler-Benz companies on April 15, 1939. According to the TTT, the tank was supposed to be a vehicle capable of speeds up to 50 km / h, have armor up to thirty millimeters and be armed with a 20 caliber gun. or 37 mm.

For the construction of the chassis, already traditionally, "MAH" was responsible, while "Daimler-Benz" had to present a turret with a turret box. A similar order was received by the Skoda and VVM firms, then only open in Czechoslovakia.

Over time, the requirements for the tank were refined based on the newly gained combat experience. In particular, the battles on the territory of the USSR showed the need to improve the patency of combat vehicles.

The first prototype (index VK 1303) was assembled by MAN in April of the forty-second year. At the tests that took place in July at the training ground near Kummersvdorf
the tank traveled about two and a half thousand kilometers. In addition to the VK 1303, cars from the Skoda and VMM companies were tested. The tests were successful and soon the tank was assigned the index Pz.Kpfw II Ausf. L Luchs.

The most significant innovation was the increase to four people in the crew of the car. The commander and gunner had a workplace in the tower, the driver and gunner in the control department. When designing, the developments of Ausf were widely used. M.

Armored ship "Luchs" with a T-shaped cross-section, the turret box is wider than that of the previous machines. This measure made it possible to install a tower with a greater width, with a larger shoulder strap diameter. The tower did not commander's cupola, it had to be abandoned due to the growth of the tank's overall height, the armor plates are located at an angle.

Instead of a turret, periscope observation devices were installed in the hatches of the loader and the commander. In addition to them, next to the loader, a viewing device is arranged on board.

The front plate of the hull had observation slots covered with triplexes and movable armored covers, and there were also observation slots in the sides of the hull.

Pz.Kpfw II "Luchs" is equipped with a 180-horsepower Maybach HL 66P engine, gearbox - six speeds, plus a synchronizer.

Suspension type Ausf.H, M. Rollers of large diameter with rubber, extreme suspension units with shock absorbers. The drive wheel is in front. The suspension is typical for German tanks - "chess type". This type of connection made it possible to connect a large diameter of rollers and a large number of them, such their arrangement made it possible to combine a high travel speed and even distribution of the load.
Which, in turn, had a positive effect on patency. But there was also a significant drawback - the complexity of maintenance and the possibility of freezing rollers in winter time in case of clogging them with mud or snow.

Initially, the size of the order for Pz.Kpfw II "Luchs" was eight hundred vehicles. Of which only 100 were to be armed with the 2 cm KwK 38, all subsequent vehicles had to be built with the 5 cm KwK 39/1 L/60-50 mm gun with a 60 caliber elongation. Although a 20 mm gun was still considered sufficient for a reconnaissance vehicle.

Part of the internal volume of the "two" was given for additional ammunition for the cannon and machine gun, the number of shots for the gun was three hundred and thirty pieces, the number of propelling cartridges for the machine gun increased to 2250. Smoke 90-mm mortars were attached to the sides of the tower at the rate of three on board.

Naturally, a machine created for reconnaissance could not do without communications. There were two radio stations, one of them, FuG 5, served for communications in the unit, while the other, FuG 12, provided communications with higher headquarters.
The superiority of the Pz.Kpfw II "Luchs" over the "ordinary deuces" was undeniable. The recruitment of army units "Luchs" went in September forty-three. They were first sent to the reconnaissance battalions of the tank divisions of the Eastern, and then the Western fronts.