Description of the tank pz kpfw 2 ausf c. A completely useless light tank (8 photos)
History of the creation of the PzKpfw II
When it became obvious that the long-awaited medium platoon commander and battalion commander tanks - Zugfubrerswagen and Batailonfubrerswagen - would take much longer to arrive than originally anticipated, the decision was made to immediately begin production of a new light training tank that would be inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Already in 1934, the Armament Directorate ground forces Tactical and technical specifications for a tank weighing 10 tons were developed. armed with a 20 mm cannon. The future tank was supposed to have a number of fundamental differences from its predecessor, the PzKpfw I. New car stronger armor and more powerful weapons were required, which meant that the future tank would be fundamentally heavier. Initially, the tank, like the PzKpfw I, was intended for training personnel and putting together combat units, but later turned out to be a much more complete machine.
In June 1934, three companies at once - Krupp, Henschel and Son AG and MAN - received the task of developing a new 10-ton light tank. The Krupp project as a whole was an improved modification of the experimental model LKA-I (prototype of the PzKpfw I tank) and was called LKA-II accordingly. The difference was primarily in weapons. The new brainchild of Krupp* was equipped with an enlarged turret with a coaxial 20-mm cannon and a machine gun. The Henschel and Son AG* and MAN projects differed from the LKA-II only in their suspension.
After a thorough examination of the presented samples, a MAN chassis and an armored hull with a Daimler-Benz AG* turret were selected for mass production. Until the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were lifted, the project was designated as *Landwirtscbaftlicber Scblepper 100 (La S100)” (agricultural tractor). The general contractor for the serial production of the chassis was MAN, and the armored hulls and turrets were Daimler-Benz AG*. Soon several other enterprises joined in their production: in 1935 - Wegmann in Kassel, in 1936 in Brauischweig MIAG and FAMO from Breslau.
The first batch of new tanks consisted of only 25 units, which rolled off the production line in 1935 and were called 1/La S 100. At the end of 1935, they were renamed light tanks 2 cm MG Panzerwagen (Vs. Kfz, 622) - light tank with a 20 mm cannon. And since 1938, these vehicles were in service with tank divisions already under the markings PzKpfw II Ausf Al. The new tank so far weighed only 7.2 tons, accommodated three crew members: the commander, who simultaneously served as a gunner, the loader, who also served as a radio operator, and the driver, and its armament consisted of a 20-mm KwK30 automatic cannon (Kampfwagenkannone - tank gun ) and a coaxial 7.92 mm MG-34 machine gun, which from now on becomes the standard tank machine gun. The tank was equipped with a six-cylinder Maybach engine of the HL 57 TR type with a power of 130 Horse power, disc clutch and six-speed gearbox. The suspension along one side consisted of a front drive wheel, three pairs of small road wheels on leaf springs connected to each other by a longitudinal outer beam, three support rollers at the top and a rear idler wheel (sloth).
The next 25 tanks, known as the PzKpfw II Ausf A2, featured a more advanced engine cooling system and improved ventilation in the fighting compartment. The 50 tanks of the third batch were called, respectively, PzKpfw II Ausf A3 and were equipped with improved suspension and tracks. In this model, the power and fighting compartments were separated by a removable fire partition. The tanks of all three batches had a rounded nose, made of a single sheet, and a 13-mm frontal armor(with 15 mm gun mantlet armor).
In 1936, the next modification of the new German tank was born - 2 La S 100 (PzKpfw II Ausf B). This model was equipped with a more powerful carburetor engine (Maybach* type HL 62 TR), which led to an increase in combat weight to 7.9 tons. This, in turn, required wider tracks. A total of 100 tanks of the PzKpfw I Ausf B type were built. In 1937, Henschel and Son AG made significant changes and amendments to the design of the tank, the result of these changes was the tank with project number 3/La S 100 (PzKpfw II Ausf C) . Compared to previous modifications of the tank, in addition to the transmission, the suspension has undergone the most significant changes.
The three pairs of small rollers connected by an external beam were replaced by five medium-diameter rollers, each suspended on a quarter-elliptic spring, and the number of support rollers was increased from three to four, significantly improving ride quality over terrain and highway speeds. It was this suspension that became the base for all subsequently produced PzKpfw II Aust tanks: A, B and C. The Henschel project was immediately launched in mass production. So, in 1937 he was born german tank PzKpfw II Ausf A, created at the MAN factories. In 1938, PzKpfw I appeared! Ausf B and PzKpfw II Ausf C, which differed only slightly from the first modification. More than 1,100 of these tanks were produced between 1937 and mid-1940, so that by the start of the war the PzKpfw II had become the most common fighting vehicle in tank divisions. However, during the war in Poland and France, the PzKpfw II tank, like its predecessor PzKpfw I, demonstrated the weakness of its armor and weapons.
MODIFICATIONS OF THE PzKpfW II TANK:
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A1– a total of 10 tanks of this modification were produced. This was the first preliminary production modification of this machine. The tank had 13 mm vertical armor and a 130 hp engine. (model HL 57 TR). The chassis consisted of a pair-locked suspension on leaf springs.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A1
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A2– 15 units of tanks of this modification were produced. In this vehicle, German designers improved the ventilation of the fighting compartment (degassing after firing a gun). The engine compartment was also increased in volume.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A2
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A3– this was the third pre-production modification of the tank; 50 units were produced. It included minor changes to the chassis and engine. The modification was also distinguished by the presence of an installed partition between the combat and engine compartments.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A3
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. b– 25 tanks of this modification were produced. This modification had an improved layout of the engine and fighting compartments. A more powerful 62TR engine with 140 hp was installed. In addition, a new planetary rotation mechanism was introduced into the chassis.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. b
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. WITH– this modification of the tank was the last pre-production modification of the Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II series tanks. It was distinguished primarily by its individual suspension on leaf supports, which gave the tank a softer ride. The thickness of the tank's vertical armor increased to 14.5 mm.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. WITH
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf.A– this was the first modification that went into mass production and, according to various sources, from 1113 to 1147 units of Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II tanks of this modification were assembled. Tanks of this modification had almost similar performance characteristics with previous models but had minor changes in the sight gauges, gearbox and engine.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. A
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. B- this modification of the tank was not much different from the Ausf.A, except for the devices for their rapid production at manufacturing plants and increased productivity. In general, all tactical and technical characteristics were identical.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. B
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. C– the tank of the third serial modification was distinguished by a commander’s cupola mounted on the turret, frontal armor increased to 29-35 mm and a number of other minor changes in the design.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. C
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. D- this modification of the “two” was usually called “high-speed”, since it had a more powerful engine that allowed it to reach a higher speed compared to previous modifications. The tank's hull shape has also undergone a change. The tank received a new chassis with an individual torsion bar suspension, and the suspension rollers were enlarged. Together with the Ausf.F, 250 of these tanks were produced.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. D
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. E– this modification is also designated in many sources as “high-speed”, but is not much different from the previous modification.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. E
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. F– 531 units of tanks of this modification were produced. Tanks of this serial modification were the last series. Compared to the previous one, it differed in increased armor. A KwK 38 (20 mm) gun was installed on the tank. Improved crew viewing instruments were also installed.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. F
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. G- no data.
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. J– on the basis of the tank (PzKpfW) II, it was decided to create a reconnaissance tank with increased armor. This model of the tank received the designation VK 1601. The tank received serious frontal armor - up to 80 mm, roof and bottom - 25 mm, sides - 50 mm. Due to the increased armor, the tank became heavier up to 18 tons. A relatively “weak” Maybach HL 45P engine was installed on the tank, so the tank’s speed did not exceed 30 km/h. The tank was armed with a KwK 38 L/55 cannon. A total of 22 tanks of the modification (PzKpfW) II Ausf.J were produced between December 1941 and April 1942. 7 tanks as part of the 12th tank division were sent to Russia.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. J
Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. L "Luchs"- another concept of a German reconnaissance tank. In Russian and foreign literature the expression “Luks tank” is sometimes found, which corresponds to Luchs. The tank was created on the basis of the Pz II and received the designation Sd.Kfz. 123. This machine was manufactured by two German enterprises: Henschel and MAN. Between September 1943 and January 1944, 104 PzKpfW II Ausf tanks were produced. L. As part of reconnaissance armored units, this tank fought on the Eastern (for example, 4th Panzer Division) and Western fronts. Not rarely, the Luchs tank was found in parts of the SS troops. As additional armor protection on the Eastern Front, additional armor plates were installed on the frontal part of the tanks. Part of the PzKpfW II Ausf tanks. The Germans used reconnaissance and communications tanks, installing antennas and radio stations on them. For the final batch of 31 PzKpfW II Ausf. L installed 50-mm KwK 39 L/60 guns. Today, the only surviving tank is the PzKpfW II Ausf. L can be seen at the British Bovington Tank Museum.
German light tank Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) II Ausf. L
COMBAT USE OF PzKpfw II TANK
In the initial period of its history, Pz. Kpfw. II were quite reliable vehicles, comparable in their combat qualities to light armored vehicles of other states. However, the security of these light tanks, like the PzKpfw I type, was extremely low. The Deuces turned out to be vulnerable to anti-tank artillery and guns from heavier tanks.
Already in the spring of 1936, PzKpfw II entered service with Wehrmacht tank units, and subsequently took part in the attack on Poland and France. According to official sources, in May 1940 the Wehrmacht had 2009 PzKpfw I type vehicles in service (of which 17 Ausf F tanks), and a year later - in May 1941 - there were 1024 of them (85 PzKpfw II Ausf F) in January 1942 - 1250 (89 PzKpfw II Ausf F). "Twos" took part in all operations of the initial period of the Second World War and constituted the main striking force of the Wehrmacht ground forces until more advanced ones appeared. PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV.
In 1939-1940 PzKpfwIIs were the heaviest vehicles of light tank companies, with each division numbering from 140 to 160 units. During the reorganization of tank divisions in 1940-1941. The "twos" lost their role as combat vehicles and became light reconnaissance tanks. In addition, five PzKpfw II tanks were supplied to the headquarters of each company, battalion and regiment in tank units. In practice, this meant a sharp decrease in the number of PzKpfw IIs in divisions - out of 201 tanks in a tank division there were now only 65 units. In 1942 there were even fewer of them left. During this period, due to the disbandment of reconnaissance platoons of tank companies, it was possible to increase the number of combat reconnaissance vehicles in the reconnaissance units of tank battalions and regiments from 5 to 7 vehicles. In a tank division, there were now only 28 * twos for 164 tanks.” In 1943, the PzKpfw II finally left the scene (Thus, only 70 light tanks PzKpfw II took part in Operation Citadel on the Oryol-Kursk Bulge in July 1943. See Baryatinsky M-, German armored vehicles 1939-1945. M .. 1996, p. 4.-L/).).
Retired Colonel Hermann Rott recalls the time when he commanded tank PzKpfw II as part of the 5th Tank Regiment: “Almost immediately after the invasion of Poland, in September 1939, I took command of a section of a tank platoon armed with PzKpfw I and PzKpfw II vehicles. I got the PzKpfw II tank. Before I started, I had a very experienced driver and a young corporal radio operator. As a tank commander, I had to fire a 20mm KwK cannon and a machine gun. If my memory serves me correctly, the cannon was loaded with shells from magazines with a capacity of 10 or 20 shells each ("The tank gun was charged from a flat magazine with a capacity of 10 rounds. since the standard 20-round magazine of the 20-mm Flak ZO anti-aircraft gun was too bulky for use in tank.).
Under normal conditions, the cannon was an unsurpassed weapon, but working with it turned into a real torture if the environment was too dusty. I still remember with what terrible curses I charged it! The machine gun was our main weapon; with its help it was possible to repel massive attacks by infantry, cavalry and light armored vehicles.
..To this day, a chill runs through my skin at the mere memory of the unexpected attack of the Polish cavalry! I can see in front of me an endless chain of horsemen galloping at us with drawn sabers... This was probably the last major use of cavalry in modern warfare. The regiment commander gave the order to open machine-gun fire on the legs of the horses... You should have seen with what amazement the captured cavalrymen looked at and felt our tanks. Poor fellows! They were sure that the Germans had all their equipment made of plywood and could easily handle it with their sabers!
...On my PzKpfw II I covered more than 2000 km in three weeks without rest. However, I owe this record primarily to my first-class driver, who skillfully looked after our tank.
...It’s hard for me to remember any combat episode in which only “twos” would take part... The Battle of France in 1940 comes to mind. During the months of the French campaign, the 35th Tank Regiment of the 4th Tank Division participated in many battles... I'll tell you about the capture of bridges over the Seine in the Romilly area.
We broke through to the Marne in the Monte-Saint-Pierre area. They moved slowly, hampered by fierce resistance from French artillery and pouring rain. The opposite bank of the river was lost in the fog, and with every minute the situation became more and more difficult. Our tanks had to tow armored vehicles stuck in the mud.
At dawn on June 13, our regiment finally completed the crossing and continued moving south. Having passed Montmirel, we proceeded to Macluney, where we linked up with other regiments of our brigade. At 12.00, with the support of artillery, our regiment prepared for the attack. Our target was Sezani. At the beginning we moved forward very quickly, but soon enemy artillery and anti-tank guns intervened. Fortunately, our artillerymen quickly found the target. Soon the first prisoners walked past us with their arms raised high above their heads. Meanwhile, the 2nd Tank Battalion finished with five anti-tank guns. Two of them were destroyed, the rest hastily retreated. The French infantry was cut down by fire, the survivors fled. We were given an order via radio to stop to regroup. At 18.00, when an artillery battalion and a battery of anti-aircraft gunners joined us, we continued the offensive. There were no signs of the enemy's presence... The 2nd battalion burst into the town, followed by the headquarters vehicles and ganks of the 1st battalion. In the south, near the railway station, three heavy enemy tanks were discovered. We had no choice but to open fire, but how could our 20 mm guns cope with such powerful armor! The funny thing is that as soon as we started shooting, these giants turned and retreated. Taking advantage of this, the soldiers of the 2nd battalion opened fire on the retreating enemy and captured many prisoners. At a nearby airfield we received six intact aircraft. We occupied the railway station and stopped all the trains, shooting the locomotives. After this, the 36th Regiment left us, and we continued moving south.
Along the route, we encountered columns of retreating French everywhere. We fired on them again and captured hundreds of prisoners. The soldiers of the light division captured 500 French. However, pockets of resistance still remained, so we had to pour fire into every village. They took Bardonne. At 18.30 we receive the order: “Immediately move to the Seine, seize the bridge near Marquille and form a bridgehead in Romilly.”
From that moment on, we stopped paying attention to enemy columns. Catching up with them, we invariably came under fire, but did not even stop. The Seine was waiting for us! They walked for a long time and reached the shore late in the evening. Near Marquille we came across enemy artillery, but as soon as we launched an attack, the French threw down their weapons and fled. At 22.00 they occupied Markil. But as soon as we entered the streets, they began to fire at us from the windows of every house, from every roof, from every attic. Sitting in the tanks, we only heard the slow “knock-knock” of the French machine guns. Our 75 mm guns won some silence, but soon the enemy shelling resumed. Only after a difficult struggle did the 2nd Battalion finally manage to break through to the bridge. And then the JS met us with massive machine-gun and artillery fire. The situation was critical, especially considering that in the darkness we could not see the opposite bank of the river. Our battalion adjutant, Oberleutnant Malgut, suggested dismounting and breaking through to the bridge under the fire cover of his tanks. Regimental adjutant Guderian (Heinz Günther Guderian was the eldest son of Colonel General Heinz Guderian. Note per.) warmly supported this idea. Our sappers and scouts cleared the houses overlooking the river from the enemy and occupied convenient
combat positions from which the entire river was covered. Suddenly, three sappers, led by Lieutenant Stoff, rushed onto the bridge in a suicidal attempt to break through the enemy defenses. The bridge was filled with explosives, and it was only by a miracle that the French did not have time to detonate it! Chief Lieutenant Malgut and Guderian burst onto the bridge after the sappers, Guderian jumped straight from the bridge into a trench full of French infantrymen. The matter could have ended badly, but a grenade thrown into the trench in time saved our chief lieutenant. The fierce resistance of the French was short-lived, and they were soon forced to surrender. Then Lieutenant Malgut was the first to lead his tank across the bridge, the rest followed him.
Meeting no resistance, we continued towards Romilly. They captured a new bridge-laying 28-cm mortar. As it turned out, the calm was deceptive. On a paved road we suddenly encountered an enemy column.
We managed to push back the French with fierce fire. Safe and sound, our unit finally reached the city and immediately occupied two bridges. They fell out of the blue, taking the French by surprise. It would be foolish not to take advantage of the surprise! The number of prisoners we collected in the market square of the town grew steadily. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Malgut made his way from the city to the neighboring village, shooting another enemy column along the way.
Long after midnight, all parts of our regiment reached Romilly. The order was carried out. We have created a springboard for crossing the Seine! Despite the fact that the regiment moved without rest for almost 36 hours, it was necessary to be on guard all the time, expecting a surprise attack by the enemy. At the nearest airfield, 33 aircraft were captured, including 7 heavy bombers. Train traffic was blocked railway. The number of prisoners continued to grow, however, when Sunday trains arrived in the city, we freely released the passengers to their homes.
The next morning we were replaced by newly arrived division units, and we were finally able to rest! On the morning of June 14, the 2nd turnip is early! ie Savas occupied another bridge over the Seine. The second battalion was thrown in the direction of Chatreuse, where a fierce battle broke out. Light motorized units were ordered to support the 8th Tank Company. New hundreds of prisoners... By noon we had completed our task. The French resistance choked and dried up. In the afternoon we enjoyed a respite, settling in comfortably in the village surroundings of Romilly. Everyone dreamed of good night,
On June 15 at 14.00 we continued moving south. Near Le Belle Etoile, one soldier was killed and two wounded from anti-tank gun fire.
Endless columns of French soldiers crawled past. Most of them simply threw down their weapons and asked for directions to the temporary prisoner of war camp. Some looked depressed, but there were also some who greeted us in a friendly manner. Lots of drunks. The civilian population seemed calm, some greeted us with smiles.
...We walked and walked as long as we had enough fuel. We reached the outskirts of Chablis. We decided that somewhere at the intersection of roads there should be a gas station. We were just about to look when we came under fire. Lieutenant von Herdtel, together with sergeants Janek and Drew, drove up to the grove from where they were pouring fire on us, and convinced the French to surrender. 40 people came out with their hands up, but then machine-gun fire from the grove resumed, and our prisoners ran away. Both sergeants were seriously wounded, but fortunately Lieutenant Gerdtel managed to climb into his tank and save them. It was already at 22.00.
Chief Lieutenant Malgut arrived to help in his PzKpfw II, accompanied by a PzKpfw I tank. We tried to dissuade our chief lieutenant from going to meet the French himself, but he just laughed and moved towards the grove. Having destroyed the machine gun point, Malgut invited the French to surrender in order to avoid senseless bloodshed. The next second he was wounded in the head... Without regaining consciousness, our chief lieutenant died in the arms of Lieutenant Konigstein. This sad news spread around the regiment with the speed of lightning. Malgut was one of the most experienced and brave tank officers, everyone loved him very much. He didn't deserve such a ridiculous death! The next day we buried our chief lieutenant with honors.
...Meanwhile, the offensive continued all night until they reached Nevers. The number of prisoners was replenished by the crews of the tanks we had destroyed and the crew of the machine-gun pillbox on the approaches to the city. We entered the city at 03.00 and spent the rest of the night in our cars, shaking from the morning cold.”
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Data source: Quote from the book "German Armored Vehicles in World War II"
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C
Main characteristics
Briefly
Details
1.0 / 1.0 / 1.0 BR
3 people Crew
69% Visibility
forehead / side / stern Booking
35 / 15 / 15 housings
30 / 15 / 15 towers
Mobility
9.1 tons Weight
267 l/s 140 l/s Engine power
29 hp/t 15 hp/t specific
48 km/h forward
9 km/h back43 km/h forward
8 km/h back Speed
Armament
180 rounds of ammunition
6.0 / 7.8 sec recharge
10 shells clip size
280 rounds/min rate of fire
9° / 20° UVN
shoulder rest stabilizer
1,800 rounds of ammunition
8.0 / 10.4 sec recharge
150 shells clip size
900 rounds/min rate of fire
Economy
Description
Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm) Ausführung C or Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C - German light tank, armed with a 20 mm KwK30 cannon and an MG34 machine gun, with a crew of three. This vehicle combined high performance, speed and maneuverability, but had weak armor and armament. When placing an order for the design of Pz.Kpfw. II, the German military command pursued the goal of closing the gap in the absence of tanks in the Third Reich until more modern tanks Pz.Kpfw. III and Pz.Kpfw. IV, which were then still under development. But, by the beginning of hostilities, due to an acute shortage of medium tanks, Pz.Kpfw. II, it was decided to use it in real combat conditions (before this the tank was used as a training tank), where it proved to be very good. Having entered the war in 1939, the vehicle was effectively used until 1942, when it became obvious that the tank was already outdated and significantly inferior to all its opponents. Individual units of Pz.Kpfw. II went through the entire war and participated in hostilities until the surrender of Germany in 1945.
Modification Ausf. C was the third production version and was produced from July 1938 to March 1940. After graduation civil war in Spain it became clear that the reservation of early Pz.Kpfw. II clearly does not correspond modern requirements and can easily be affected by field anti-tank artillery, therefore tanks of the Ausf modification. C were reinforced with applied armor plates 14.5 and 20 mm thick, and the gun mantlet acquired an armored shield with bends at the top and bottom, which protected the joint of the mantlet and the edge of the embrasure from shell fragments and bullets. The thickness of the armored glass of the viewing devices was also increased from 12 to 50 mm. Instead of a double-leaf hatch on the roof of the turret, a commander's cupola with eight periscope viewing blocks was installed, a new TZF4/38 sight was installed, surveillance devices were modernized, and installation of smoke grenade launchers was provided at the rear of the hull.
Main characteristics
Armor protection and survivability
The inclined section of the armor does not allow the installation of an effective rhombus
For its combat rating, Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, does not have special armor protection, however, it has thicker frontal armor than most of its rivals; it, of course, will not save you from hits from cannon shells, but tanks armed with heavy machine guns, such as the M2A2 and T-60, can penetrate the frontal armor of the Pz. II they won’t be able to. A special feature of the vehicle's armor are the bevels on the sides of the hull, with viewing slits for the driver, which have good angles of inclination if the tank faces the enemy with its forehead, however, when the tank is positioned in a diamond shape, these areas will be very vulnerable to the enemy, because when the tank turns, they will not have any angle of inclination. The armor of the sides and rear of the hull is quite weak and the tank can be hit there even by heavy machine guns. The survivability of the vehicle is also affected by the fact that the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. There are only three crew members and disabling at least one of them significantly increases the gun reload time. It is worth noting the low silhouette of the tank, which will be useful to the player more than once when camouflaging on the ground in the Republic of Belarus and SB.
Mobility
One of the main advantages of the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C is his speed and mobility. In terms of maximum speed, in its combat rating, the tank is inferior only to the Soviet BT light tanks, so it may well be one of the first to occupy advantageous positions or capture points. The maneuverability of the car is simply excellent; it can easily and quickly turn around or make maneuvers both on the move and from a standstill. The reverse speed is also nice - you can always roll back or behind cover in time to reload and repair, unless, of course, the cover is too far away. The downside is the lack of electric drives for turning the turret; it rotates quite slowly, therefore, in case of sudden flank attacks or enemies appearing from the rear, you will have to turn the hull further, since until the turret turns itself in the right direction, Pz. II may already be destroyed. The disadvantage of the tank is that it sways during sudden maneuvers and stops at high speed. As for the vehicle's cross-country ability on rough terrain, the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C shows itself on a very good side - it easily overcomes slopes, hills and small water obstacles, but significantly loses speed when overcoming obstacles such as fences, trees and other objects that are destroyed when they are rammed or run over.
Armament
Main weapon
Location of the crew and modules inside the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C is armed with a 20 mm KwK 30 gun with 150 rounds of ammunition and is equipped with a shoulder rest (single-plane vertical stabilizer). The 20mm automatic cannon is capable of effectively fighting all enemies in its combat rating. A special feature of the gun is that it is loaded not with one shell at a time, but with a clip of ten shells, which ensures a high rate of fire and continuous fire, however, the clip takes a little longer to reload than a gun that charges one shell at a time. Due to the short barrel of the gun and the reduced armor penetration of shells at long ranges, the gun is poorly suited for firing over long distances.
There are three types of shells available for the tank:
- Standard- the clip set includes shells: armor-piercing incendiary tracer projectile (BZT) and high-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer projectile (OFZT). Standard shell clips for this tank. They have the least effectiveness in battle, because Every second OFZT projectile will not penetrate armored targets; accordingly, every second shot will not cause absolutely no damage to enemy vehicles.
- PzGr- armor-piercing incendiary tracer projectile. It can effectively fight all opponents at its combat rating, and has the best armor protection of all the presented projectiles. Recommended for use at medium and long distances.
- PzGr 40- armor-piercing sub-caliber tracer projectile. It has the highest armor penetration of all the presented shells. It can effectively fight not only with opponents of its combat rating, but also hit some opponents of a rank higher than its own, in the side and stern. Recommended for close combat, as well as for delivering targeted strikes against well-armored opponents.
Machine gun weapons
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C is armed with a 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun with 1800 rounds of ammunition, coaxial in the turret with the main gun. The machine gun is only capable of fighting truck-based self-propelled guns; it is useless against other opponents.
Use in combat
In terms of its gaming application, the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C is almost universal. You can safely go on the attack on it, the main thing is not in the vanguard of the team. Considering its weak armor protection, as well as the number of crew, going at the forefront of attacks can very quickly lose the vehicle. But a tank can very effectively help the main attacking forces by moving right behind them and supporting teammates with fire or covering them from sudden flank attacks. Thanks to its speed, the Pz.Kpfw. II, can be one of the first to arrive at the capture point and hold it until the main forces arrive or, right during the battle, quickly move around the map capturing points that the enemy left without defense. If opponents roll out towards the player one at a time or if there are several of them, but they have weak armor, then Pz. II can effectively defend capture points or important strategic positions. But where does he show himself at his best? the best side, so this is in attacks from ambushes and shelters. To implement such tactics, the most suitable are city maps or maps with mountainous landscapes or big amount rocks and shelters. It is necessary to find a good shelter or position where the entrances to the capture point from the enemy side or the places where the enemy is most likely to move will be clearly visible. It is necessary to take advantage of the surprise of the attack to destroy the enemy before he notices the player. If the enemy notices a position occupied by a player or there is a threat of entering the rear or flank, it is better to take advantage of the tank’s speed and move to a new position or, if necessary, move to the rear. The only role for which the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C is in no way suitable - this is the role of a sniper, due to the small caliber of the gun, and also because shells at long distances lose their penetrating ability, the tank is of little use for sniping at enemy tanks at long distances.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Excellent speed and maneuverability
- Rapid fire gun
- Availability of sub-caliber shells
- Good frontal armor
- Good reverse speed
- Single plane stabilizer
Flaws:
- Rocking of the tank during a sudden stop
- Slow rotation of the tower
- Three crew members
Historical reference
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C
After Germany terminated the military articles of the Treaty of Versailles in 1935, which limited the number of the German army and prohibited it from having its own armored forces, the Third Reich actively began developing tanks of its own production. But the government soon realized that developing tanks that would meet modern requirements would take considerable time, so the sixth department of the Ministry of Armaments of the Ground Forces issued an order to develop a version of a ten-ton tank, armed with a 20-mm cannon, one machine gun and more powerful armor than the Pz.Kpfw.I , which would become an intermediate option until medium tanks are developed that are more suitable for future campaigns, as well as for training future German tank crews. The Ministry's task was entrusted to three companies: Krupp, Henschel and MAN. After testing, in the summer of 1935, the choice fell on the MAN project, mainly because of the promising chassis that was installed on their tank prototype. The layout of the provided version became classic in the future - the engine compartment was located at the rear, with the transmission located at the front of the tank, the fighting compartment was located in the middle of the hull, and the driver's compartment was in the front.
Pz.Kpfw. II somewhere on the Eastern Front
The tank was put into service under the name LaS 100 (LaS - "Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper" - agricultural tractor) and, after some modifications, its mass production began in 1937 under the designation Pz.Kpfw. II. By the time Germany attacked Poland, it turned out that the medium tanks Pz.Kpfw. III and Pz.Kpfw. There is a catastrophic shortage of IV tanks in the ranks of the Panzerwaffe, so it was decided to use the Pz.Kpfw.I and Pz.Kpfw.II tanks, which were previously used only for training purposes, in combat operations. To the surprise of the Wehrmacht command, the Pz.Kpfw.II proved itself very positively in battle, although in the Polish campaign they played more of a role as infantry support tanks, because The Polish army had very few armored vehicles of its own. The tank was then used in the French campaign, where it accounted for 70% of the entire Wehrmacht tank fleet. And in this campaign, the tank proved itself to be a very effective combat vehicle, thanks to its speed, maneuverability and good armor protection, the tank could easily make flanking moves around the enemy and move very quickly both on roads and over rough terrain; the vehicle was often used for reconnaissance. In the French campaign Pz.Kpfw. II was used not only as an infantry support tank, but also entered into battle against French armored vehicles, however, the Wehrmacht command realized that for head-on collisions with well-armored enemy tanks and anti-tank artillery, the armor of the Pz.Kpfw.II was clearly not enough. The last campaign in which the Pz.Kpfw.II showed its effectiveness was the Balkan campaign and First stage North African campaign. With the invasion of the Third Reich into the territory Soviet Union in 1941, the Wehrmacht realized that the Pz.Kpfw.II was already clearly inferior not only in armor, but in firepower even to light Soviet tanks, this became especially obvious with the advent of the winter of 1941-1942, when the tank brought more problems to tankers than benefit, therefore, in 1942, it was decided to abandon further production.
In total, from 1937 to 1942, more than 1,800 Pz.Kpfw.II tanks of all modifications were produced, there were five serial ones in total modifications A-F. The vehicle showed itself effectively in all the initial campaigns of the Wehrmacht, until the summer of 1941, when it became clear that the Pz.II was already outdated and did not meet the armor and firepower requirements. But, despite the cessation of production of this tank in 1942, its chassis was widely used for the production of self-propelled guns, as well as artillery tractors and other modifications, and damaged tanks received for repair from the battlefields were converted into flamethrower vehicles or subjected to the above modifications. There are known cases when a Pz.II with a removed turret was used as an armored vehicle for the commander of a tank unit. Some vehicles were recalled to Germany in 1941-1942 and were used there as training tanks for crew training.
Media
Pz.Kpfw. II (right) overcomes an obstacle
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C forces shallow river
Pz.Kpfw.I (left) and Pz.Kpfw. II (right) overcome a water obstacle
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C in one of the armored vehicle museums
A column of German armored vehicles, including Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (in the foreground) in one of the villages of the USSR
Good day everyone and welcome to the site! Friends, today we are focusing on another guest from the sandbox, a German light premium tank of the second level, in front of you is the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D guide.
This unit is a gift and was given to everyone in 2014 on New Year's Eve, so you cannot buy it. I want to say right away that our guest does not have any distinct strengths. However, find out Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D characteristics will not hurt those who left it in the hangar or like to have fun with war games in the sandbox.
TTX Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D
The first thing you need to understand is that by the standards of our classmates we have a really good margin of safety, as well as a very decent basic viewing range of 320 meters.
If we talk about Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D performance characteristics of the reservation, then there is nothing particularly proud of here. The strongest part of the tank is the forehead, which often saves us from enemy machine gunners, but is unlikely to withstand shots from conventional cannons that come our way. The consolation will be the preferential level of battles; we are fighting only against the second and third levels.
As for mobility, the Pz.Kpfw has it. II Ausf. D WoT is more like a medium tank. No, of course, our maximum speed is very good, we also spin in place vigorously, but the problem is that the engine power is small. Because of this, there is a lack of dynamics, the car seems a little stiff, and we only accelerate to the limit from a hill.
gun
As for weapons, we have a machine gun on board with a loading magazine for 10 shells, each of which deals 11 damage. Of course, this figure does not seem serious; after discharging the entire drum, we can inflict only 110 units of damage, but a full recharge is only four seconds, thanks to which the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D gun is capable of inflicting about 1125 damage per minute.
Of course, all this is only in theory, because our armor penetration with a basic projectile leaves much to be desired. In order for the German tank Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D World of Tanks gave you pleasure from the game, it is better to carry more gold ammunition with you.
Accuracy is relatively good. The spread of this unit is large, stabilization is weak, but both of these nuances are compensated for very good time intelligence. In addition to everything else, the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D gun goes down 10 degrees and goes up 20 degrees, which allows you to play comfortably.
Advantages and disadvantages
Since we have considered all the most important characteristics of the tank and its gun, it’s time to summarize, highlighting the strong and weak sides machine to make it easier for you to navigate this issue.
Pros:
good maximum speed and maneuverability;
A large margin of safety by the standards of classmates;
Decent review;
High rate damage per minute;
Fast reloading of the drum;
Excellent mixing;
Comfortable UVN;
Preferential level of battles;
Minuses:
Poor booking;
Weak dynamics;
Very low penetration rates;
Minor damage to the drum;
Poor accuracy and stabilization.
Equipment for Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D
It's time to strengthen our combat vehicle and due to the fact that the choice of additional modules, due to the small level, is not rich, there is one most correct equipment option. Thus, on Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D equipment we install the following:
1. – the best module in our case, which will give a boost to several important parameters at once.
2. – we have no other way to increase the accuracy, so we simply make the convergence even faster.
3. – although our tank is not very mobile, you will rarely stand still, so this a good option to increase visibility.
Crew training
As for the choice of skills, we are again somewhat limited, mainly because we only have three crew members at our disposal. For this reason, we adhere to the already familiar tactics of extracting the maximum benefit from everything and on the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D we learn the following perks:
Commander (Gunner) – , , , .
Driver mechanic -, , , .
Loader (radio operator) – , , , .
Equipment for Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D
We have a gold-dependent machine in our hands in the sense that you will have to buy gold shells, and in order not to go into the minus even further, you can get by with , and . However, if you don’t have problems with silver or gold, and you want to get even more fun from the game, bet on Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D equipment in the form , , , where the last option can be replaced with , to further improve the performance.
Tactics of playing Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D
Frankly speaking, it is difficult to suggest any universal style of behavior in battles for this unit, because it does not have serious armor, excellent mobility or an accurate weapon, and in the sandbox there is constant chaos and all battles are fleeting.
But still, the style of play on this tank should be somewhat measured for the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D battle tactics are to play carefully. You won’t be able to distance yourself too much from the enemy, because machine gunners have a limited firing range, but you shouldn’t rush forward either.
You will have to be cunning, take advantage of various shelters, holes in buildings, terrain, and even defeated equipment on the battlefield. German light tank Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D World of Tanks must protect its safety margin, so you need to shoot from cover or when the opponent is reloading.
Leave when you are not expected, enter from unexpected directions, quickly unload the drum and roll back to cover while reloading. By the way, the most important thing is never try to resist a superior number of enemies, your Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A WoT tank will simply fall apart from a focus of two or more guns.
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