Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B:
PzKpfw I Ausf B tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds:
Nick Francis
The Ausf B had a Maybach NL 38TR engine installed as the one in the Ausf A was inadequate.11 The ZF Aphon FG 31 transmission was installed. As this was a larger engine, the length of the hull was increased by 1' 5" and an additional road wheel and return roller were added.11,13 The idler was raised off the ground. Turret had internal mantlet. Nose was redesigned to accommodate the final reduction gear. The turret was offset on the right hand side. The driver sat on the left hand side of the hull.
The MGs could fire 550 rounds/minute.9 The bullet weighed 198 grams and had a muzzle velocity of 2,580'/sec.9 It was fed by a 25 round detachable magazine.9
Used a FuG2 radio.3,12 Used a TZF2 sight.12
Production
Henschel produced most of these with Wegmann assisting.13
Usage
Issued to all Panzer units from 1935 to 1940. Starting in 1941 it was being phased out and only 74 were in combat units at the start of the invasion of Russia.
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Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver 21,2,3,4,5,9,12,13 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 13,230 lb5,13 5.8 tons1,2,3,4,6,12, 6 tons11 5,893 kg1, 6,000 kg5,13 |
| Length w/gun | 14.5'9, 14' 6"1,5,8,11,13, 14.7'4 4.42 m1,2,3,5,6,12,13, 4.4 m11 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 5', 5.6'4, 5.65'9, 5' 7"8, 5' 7.7"11, 5' 8"5,13, 7.7"1 1.7 m11, 1.72 m1,2,3,5,6,12,13 |
| Width | 6.75'9, 6.8'4, 6' 9"1,5,8,11,13 2.0 m12, 2.06 m1,2,3,5,6,13, 2.1 m11 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 10", 11.6"9 0.29 m, 0.3 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 94.5"9 2.47 m |
| Ground pressure | 6.2 psi9 0.42 (kg/cm2), 0.52 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 2: 7.92 mm MG1,5,13 2: 7.92 mm MG 133,12 2: 7.92 mm MG 34 2: MGs2,4 2: 7.9 mm MG 13 (Dreyse light MGs)9 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1,5255,9,13, 1,750, 2,2502 2,250 Patr SmK3,12 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 0.51"9 7 - 134,12 Front: 136 Side: 136 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 132, 13@22°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 13@27°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 132, 13@22°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 13@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 132, 13@0°3 & 13@19°3 |
| Hull Top | 52, 6@83-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 52, 6@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 152, 13@10°3 Mantlet: 13 round3 |
| Turret Sides | 132, 13@22°3 |
| Turret Rear | 132, 13@22°3 |
| Turret Top | 82, 8@82-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach NL 38TR1,3,5,9,12,13 Maybach6,11 Maybach-Krupp8 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Air8 Water6,9,12 |
| Cylinders | I-69, 612,13 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1006,11,13 100@3,000 rpm9,12 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.7:1 |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF Aphon FG 31 5 forward, 1 reverse2,3,12 |
| Steering | Clutch brake9 |
| Starter | Hand and electric9 |
| Electrical system | 12-volt9 |
| Ignition | Magneto9 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline9,13 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 39 gallons (22 gallons in front tank, 17 gallons in rear tank)9 145 liters, 146 liters2 (in 2 tanks)12 |
| Road consumption | 2.7 mpg9 103 liters per 100 km of road |
| Cross country consumption | 1.8 mpg9 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand3,9,12 |
| Max speed | 24.8 mph1, 25 mph4,5,9,13 40 kph1,3,5,6,13, 42 kph2, 50 kph12 |
| Cross country speed | 7-9 mph 40 kph12 |
| Road radius | 87 miles5,13, 95 miles1, 105 miles9, 105.6 miles 140 km5,13, 153 km1, 170 km2,3, 180 km12 |
| Cross country radius | 71 miles9 115 km2, 130 km12 |
| Turning radius | 2.1 m |
| Elevation limits | +18° to -12°3,12 |
| Fording depth | 1' 11"5,13, 23.6"9 0.58 m5,13, 0.6 m2, 0.7 m12 |
| Trench crossing | 4.6'9, 4' 7"5,13 1.4 m5,13 |
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 2"5,13, 14.6"9 0.36 m5,13 |
| Climbing ability | 30° (57%) slope9 60%13 |
| Suspension (Type) | Front road wheel coil spring9 Remaining wheels sprung in pairs with 1/4 elliptic spring per pair9 |
| Wheels each side | 52,9 |
| Return rollers each side | 4 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin9 |
| Length | |
| Width | 11"9 280 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 009 |
| Pitch | 3.6"9 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 5.5'9 1.67 m |
| Production | 1935-1937: 39911 2,0008 1935-1941: 2,000 8/1935-6/1937: 6753 Chassis #s: 10478-165003 Henschell, MAN, Daimler-Benz, Krupp-Gruson, Wegmann3 Chassis: Krupp9 Superstructure: Daimler-Benz9 1935-1937: 840, Henschel, MAN, Daimler-Benz, Krupp-Gruson12 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
- AFV Collection No. 1 Panzer I The Beginning of a Dynasty, Lucas Molina Franco, 2005
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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