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WWII Tech Pubs Briefing
Written by
Daren Beazley
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Final
Draft
The Editor is still busy with this article.
This preview is posted here for you to read.
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May 14th 1940.
A PzKpfw II of 4.Kompanie
of 1 Panzer Division crosses a water obstacle west
of the Meuse near Sedan in the face of weakening French resistance.
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Country of Origin:
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Germany
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Manufacturer:
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Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN), Daimler-Benz, Henschel,
Wegmann, Alkett, Muhlenbau-Industrie
AG (MIAG), Fahrzeug und Motorenbau
GmbH (FAMO)
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Major Variants:
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Ausführung a/1,a/2,a3,b,c,A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,L
& M
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Role:
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Light tank
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Operated by:
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Germany
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In Service:
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1936
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Number Built:
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1,814
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Overview
The Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfw)
II was intended as a stop-gap training machine based upon the earlier
and more basic PzKpfw I until the heavier and more advanced PzKpfw III
and IV vehicles could be introduced in greater numbers. Specifications
for the vehicle were issued in July of 1934 and Henschel, Krupp and Maschinenfabrik
Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN) submitted prototypes. The MAN vehicle was selected
for production and an initial batch of 25 PzKpfw II Ausf a/1’s
was manufactured.
The vehicle had a crew of three
and weighed just over seven and a half tonnes. It was armed with a 2.0cm KwK30 L/55 cannon and a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun
mounted co-axially in a turret with complete 360-degree traverse. The
suspension consisted of six small road wheels grouped in pairs on bogies.
These were sprung by leaf springs. The Ausf a/1 variant was quickly
followed by the Ausf a/2, a/3, and Ausf b where the main
improvements consisted of changes to the drive sprockets and cooling system
The PzKpfw II Ausf c appeared
in 1937. The main feature of this design was a radical change in the suspension.
Five suspension wheels replaced the suspension bogies and four return
rollers were added to the side of the hull. Each of the five wheels was
individually sprung by quarter elliptic springs.
Between 1937 and 1940 the PzKpfw
II Ausf A, B and C were introduced. There was very little difference
between these and previous models. The major change was an attempt to
increase protection by manufacturing the vehicle with an angled nose plate.
A commander’s periscope was added for Ausf A, and a cupola was
added for Ausf B, and all subsequent variants thereafter.
The PzKpfw II Ausf D was
introduced concurrently with Ausf C. It was intended to be a faster
version of a standard Panzer II vehicle for pursuit and reconnaissance
purposes. It incorporated a completely redesigned hull and superstructure
and for the first time, torsion bar suspension. Despite the increased
speed of 55 km/h, only 43 were ever produced. They saw action in Poland
but by March of 1940 the vehicles had been converted to Flammpanzer
(Flame-throwing tank) II’s.
Early Panzer II’s were
put through their paces during the Spanish Civil War, where it became
all too obvious that the vehicle was extremely vulnerable to the numerous
anti-tank guns of the time, a fact which was again highlighted during
the later Polish campaign. The armament had no high explosive capacity
at all but was still found to be highly effective against lighter armoured
and soft-skinned vehicles. It was, however, totally inadequate for dealing
with the heavier enemy vehicles that it was to encounter during the French
and later Russian campaigns. By the time of the Battle of France in May
of 1940, most of the available 955 Panzer II’s earmarked for the
invasion had been upgraded by the addition of extra armour plate. However,
they were still extremely vulnerable to heavier enemy tanks and larger
calibre anti-tank guns. Despite all of these deficiencies, the ‘normal’
Panzer II was to see continuous manufacture and service up to 1943.
In March 1941 the Ausf
F was introduced. This was the final model of what was deemed the ‘normal’
Panzer II series, and basically incorporated thicker armour throughout.
In total, 524 were manufactured. Thereafter, small production runs of
experimental Panzer II’s were made that developed the vehicle more
towards a fast reconnaissance role. Ausf G, H, J, and M all fall
into this category leading up to the introduction of the Luchs
(Lynx) or Ausf L.
The ‘Luchs’ was manufactured
between September 1943 and January 1944 and in total 104 were produced.
The design of the Luchs stems from a requirement given to Daimler-Benz
in 1938 for increased speed. The vehicle was given the designation Panzerspahwagen
(Armoured scout car) II. It weighed 13 tonnes with a crew of four and
was capable of extreme maneuverability with a top speed of 60 km/h. The
basis for this maneuverability was due mainly to the suspension design.
It was developed throughout the G, H, J and M variants and consisted of
five interleaved overlapping road wheels sprung on torsion bars - the
same suspension scheme used on the Panther and Tiger series. In total,
800 were to be manufactured - the first 100 were armed with the 2.0cm
KwK 38 L/55 cannon, designated Luchs. Later vehicles, designated
Leopard, were to be armed with a 5.0cm KwK 39/1 L/60 cannon. However,
none of the Leopard’s were ever manufactured. Production ceased
after the delivery of the first 100 Luchs’s. The Luchs represented
Germany’s
very last attempt at light tank production. Thereafter, Panzer
II chassis were turned over to anti-tank production or the manufacture
of artillery platforms such as the Wespe (Wasp).
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Variants
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Type
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Number
Built
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Remarks
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PzKpfw II Ausf a/1, a/2
& a/3
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75
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The a/1 had a crew of three. It was armoured up to 13mm and weighed nearly
eight tonnes. Top speed was 40 km/h and main armament consisted
of one 2.0cm KwK 30 L/55 semi-automatic
cannon along with a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun. A
Maybach HL57TR engine drove the front drive sprockets and
transmission consisted of a six-speed gearbox, with one reverse
gear. The a/2 incorporated a fireproof engine compartment along
with a large inspection port underneath the engine that gave access
to the fuel pump and oil filter. The a/3 included a larger radiator
along with improved suspension springs.
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PzKpfw II Ausf b
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25
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Weight increased
to eight tonnes. A new Maybach HL62TR
engine was introduced. Mountings for the transmission, engine and
final drives were strengthened. A new drive sprocket was introduced
along with wider road wheels, tracks and return rollers. The suspension
was enhanced to increase reliability. Cooling and ventilation of
the engine was improved and a new exhaust muffler was installed.
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PzKpfw II Ausf c, A, B
& C
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1113
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Weight increased
again to nearly nine tonnes. Ausf
c incorporated a completely redesigned suspension system of five
independently sprung road wheels with four return rollers along
with a new track, sprocket and idler design. Ventilation and cooling
of the engine compartment was enhanced. A split turret roof
hatch for the commander was added. Ausf
A incorporated an enhanced transmission. There were minor differences,
mainly in vision port design, between Ausf
A, B and C; otherwise they were essentially identical. 20mm of armour plate was welded to the front of the turret, superstructure
and hulls of most Ausf c to C’s
in service by May of 1940. From October 1940 a commander’s cupola
‘kit’, incorporating eight periscopes, was available as an update
kit.
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PzKpfw II Ausf D &
E
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43
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Weight increased to 10 tonnes. Incorporated torsion bar suspension along
with a completely redesigned hull, superstructure and seven-speed
pre-selective transmission. Instead of return rollers the vehicle
incorporated four large double-tyre road wheels. New drive sprockets,
idlers and road wheels enabled the dry pin track of Ausf
D to be replaced by a lubricated pin track in Ausf
E.
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PzKpfw II Ausf F
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524
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The front superstructure and hull were made from flat
pieces of 30mm and 35mm armour plate respectively.
Gun mantlet and turret front plate thickness increased to 30mm.
An eight-periscope cupola was fitted as standard.
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PzKpfw II Ausf G
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12
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Superstructure similar in design to Ausf
D, E and F but with a completely redesigned suspension incorporating
torsion bars with five pairs of overlapping road wheels.
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PzKpfw II neuer Art
Ausf H & M
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5
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Very similar to the PzKpfw
II Ausf L but differing only in armour
thickness. Capable of sustained speeds of up to 65 m/h.
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PzKpfw II Ausf J
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22
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Also incorporated torsion bar suspension. This vehicle
was designed with maximum armour protection
in mind. Thus the weight increased to 18 tonnes.
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PzKpfw II Ausf L “Luchs”
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104
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Incorporated torsion bar suspension with five pairs
of overlapping road wheels along with a widened superstructure.
This allowed a larger turret to be mounted. Capable of extreme speeds
of up to 60 km/h.
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PzKpfw II Flamm Ausf A & B
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155
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Same chassis as Ausf
D and E but the normal turret armament was replaced by an MG34 and
two flame-thrower units, the fuel for which was stored internally.
Armoured compartments were added to the
sides of the vehicle to house four tanks of compressed nitrogen.
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Specifications
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Model
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PzKpfw II Ausf a/1, a/2
& a/3
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PzKpfw II Ausf b
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PzKpfw II Ausf c, A, B
& C
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PzKpfw II Ausf D &
E
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PzKpfw II Ausf F
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Crew
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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Weight
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7,600 kg
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7,900 kg
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8,900 kg
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10,000 kg
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9,500 kg
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Length
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4.38 m
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4.76 m
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4.81 m
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4.65 m
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4.81 m
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Width
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2.14 m
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2.14 m
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2.22 m
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2.30 m
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2.28 m
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Height
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1.95 m
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1.96 m
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1.99 m
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2.06 m
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2.15 m
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Engine
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Maybach
HL57TR
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Maybach
HL63TR
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Maybach
HL62TR
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Maybach
HL62TRM
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Maybach
HL62TR
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Gasoline Capacity
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200 l
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200 l
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200 l
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200 l
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170 l
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Speed
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40 km/h
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40 km/h
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40 km/h
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55 km/h
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40 km/h
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Armament
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK30 L/55 cannon, with one co-axial
7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK30 L/55 cannon, with one co-axial
7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK30 L/55 cannon, with one co-axial
7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK30 L/55 cannon, with one co-axial
7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK30 L/55 cannon, with one co-axial
7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Armour
Hull
Front:
Hull
Sides:
Hull
Rear:
Hull
Top:
Superstructure Front:
Superstructure Sides:
Superstructure Rear:
Superstructure Top:
Turret Front:
Turret Sides:
Turret Rear:
Turret Top:
Gun Mantlet:
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13@round
13@0°
13@0°
5@90°
13@9°
13@0°
13@9°
8@90° &
10@70°
13@round
13@22°
13@22°
8@86°-90°
15@round
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13@round
13@0°
13@7°
5@90°
13@10°
13@0°
13@0°
12@90° &
10@82°
13@round
13@0°
13@7°
5@90°
15@round
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14.5@round
14.5@0°
14.5@6°
5@90°
14.5@9°
14.5@0°
14.5@9°
10@81°-90°
14.5@round
14.5@22°
14.5@22°
10@86°-90°
16@round
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30@9°
14.5@0°
14.5@0°
5@90°
30@9°
14.5@0°
14.5@20°
10@90°-79°
14.5@round
14.5@22°
14.5@22°
10@76°-90°
16@round
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35@13°
15@0°
15@7°
5@90°
30@10°
15@0°
15@9°
15@90° &
10@79°
30@round
15@21°
15@21°
10@77°-90°
30@round
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Specifications Cont.
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Model
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PzKpfw II Ausf G
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PzKpfw II neuer Art
Ausf H & M
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PzKpfw II Ausf J
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PzKpfw II Ausf L “Luchs”
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PzKpfw II Flamm Ausf
A & B
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Crew
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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Weight
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10,500 kg
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10,500 kg
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18,000 kg
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13,000 kg
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12,000 kg
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Length
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4.24 m
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4.81 m
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4.81 m
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4.63 m
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4.90 m
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Width
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2.38 m
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2.28 m
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2.28 m
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2.48 m
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2.40 m
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Height
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2.05 m
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1.96 m
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1.96 m
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2.21 m
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1.85 m
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Engine
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Maybach
HL66P
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Maybach
HL66P
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Maybach
HL45P
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Maybach
HL66P
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Maybach
HL62TRM
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Gasoline Capacity
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170 l
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170 l
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170 l
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170 l
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170 l
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Speed
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50 km/h
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65 km/h
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31 km/h
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60 km/h
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55 km/h
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Armament
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Turret-mounted EW141 MG with
one co-axial 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK38
L/55 cannon with one co-axial 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK38
L/55 cannon with one co-axial 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret-mounted 2.0cm KwK38
L/55 cannon with one co-axial 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Two Turret-mounted flammenwerfer-anlagen with one co-axial 7.92mm
MG34 machine gun.
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Armour
Hull
Front:
Hull
Sides:
Hull
Rear:
Hull
Top:
Superstructure Front:
Superstructure Sides:
Superstructure Rear:
Superstructure Top:
Turret Front:
Turret Sides:
Turret Rear:
Turret Top:
Gun Mantlet:
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35@13°
20@0°
15@7°
5@90°
30@10°
20@0°
15@7°
15@90°
30@round
15@22°
15@22°
10@77°-90°
30@round
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30@13°
20@0°
20@7°
5@90°
30@10°
20@0°
20@7°
10@90°
30@round
20@22°
20@22°
10@77°-90°
30@round
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80@13°
50@0°
50@7°
25@90°
80@10°
50@0°
50@7°
25@90°
80@round
50@22°
50@22°
25@77°-90°
80@round
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30@22°
20@0°
20@28°
10@90°
30@10°
20@0°
20@28°
10@86°-90°
30@10°
20@21°
20@21°
12@79°-90°
30@round
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30@9°
14.5@0°
14.5@0°
5@90°
30@9°
14.5-25 &
15@0°
14.5@15°
10@79°-90°
30@0°
20@21°
20@30°
10@84°-90°
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