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Germany's Kleine Panzerbefehlswagen, SdKfz 26513:
Panzerbefehlswagen I with the 11 Panzer Division in June 1941 |
 Aberdeen Tank Museum |
PzKpfw Is, and Panzerbefehlswagen I |
Panzerbefehlswagen I: |
Design
The Panzerbefehlswagen I was a command vehicle that was a box structure on a PzKpfw I chassis.13
Radios
Used FuG6 and FuG2 radios.3,12 The radios had a range of 6 miles for voice and 8 miles for Morse code.
Main Armament
For close support there was a machine gun installed.13
The MG used a KgZF2 gun sight.12
Prototype
Production
- Panzerbefehlwagen I:
1843
- Production: 1935 - 19373, 193610
- Chassis #s: 9406-94303, 10478-152003
- Manufacturers: Daimler-Benz3; Maschinenfabrk Augsburg - Nurmberg10
- Panzerbefehlwagen I Ausf B:
190 (6 on Ausf A chassis)12
- Production: 1935 - 193712
- Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz12
Variants
- I kl B:
- 2 kl B:
- 3 kl B:
Usage
96 were available for the invasion of France in 1940.
These were issued to the headquarters platoons of panzer battalions.7
|
|
Panzerbefehlwagen I | Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen I Ausf B |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 33,5,10 | 312 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Weight | 5.8 tons5,10, 5.9 tons3 | 5.9 tons12 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 6"10, 14' 7"5 4.42 m3, 4.445 m5 |
4.42 m12 |
| Length w/o gun | ||
| Height | 5' 7.7"5, 6' 6"10 1.72 m5, 1.99 m3 |
1.99 m12 |
| Width | 6' 9"10, 6' 9.9"5 2.06 m3, 2.08 m5 |
2 m12 |
| Width over tracks | ||
| Ground clearance | 11.5"10 0.29 m |
|
| Ground contact length | 95"10 2.47 m |
|
| Ground pressure | 0.43 (kg/cm2) | |
| Turret ring diameter | ||
| Armament | ||
| Main | 7.92 mm MG 133 or MG 343 7.92 mm MG5 7.92 mm MG 3410 |
7.92 mm MG1312 |
| Secondary | ||
| MG | ||
| Side arms | ||
| Quantity | ||
| Main | 900 Patr SmK3 90010 |
900 Patr. Smk.12 |
| Secondary | ||
| MG | ||
| Side arms | ||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 7 - 1312 Front: +12 on some models12 |
|
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.6+0.6"@0°10, 14.5+17@23°, 13@23°3 | |
| Hull Front, Lower | 14.5+17@25°, 13@25°3 | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.6"@0°10, 14.5@18-23°, 13@23°3 | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 13@0°, 13@0°3 | |
| Hull Rear | 0.6"@0°10, 14.5@30-55°, 13@20°3 | |
| Hull Top | 7@75°, 8@90°3 & 9@90°3 | |
| Hull Bottom | 6@90° | |
| Turret Front | ||
| Turret Sides | ||
| Turret Rear | ||
| Turret Top | ||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach NL 38TR3,5 Maybach NL38 TRKM10 |
Maybach NL38TR12 |
| Bore / stroke | ||
| Cooling | Water10 | Water12 |
| Cylinders | 610 | 612 |
| Capacity | ||
| Net HP | 1005,10 | 100@3,000 rpm12 |
| Power to weight ratio | ||
| Compression ratio | ||
| Transmission (Type) | ZF Aphon FG 31 5 forward, 1 reverse3,10 |
5 forward, 1 reverse12 |
| Steering | Clutch brake10 | |
| Starter | ||
| Electrical system | ||
| Ignition | ||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline5,10 | |
| Octane | ||
| Quantity | 145 liters | 146 liters (in 2 tanks)12 |
| Road consumption | 85 liters per 100 km of road | |
| Cross country consumption | ||
| Performance | ||
| Traverse | 360°, hand3 | |
| Max speed | 25 mph5, 32 mph10 40 kph3,5 |
50 kph12 |
| Cross country speed | 40 kph12 | |
| Road radius | 87 miles10, 180 miles5 170 km3, 290 km5 |
180 km12 |
| Cross country radius | 115 km | 130 km12 |
| Turning radius | 2.1 m | |
| Elevation limits | ||
| Fording depth | 2'10 0.58 m |
|
| Trench crossing | 4' 7"10 1.4 m |
|
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 2"10 0.36 m |
|
| Climbing ability | 30° slope10 | |
| Suspension (Type) | 5 bogie wheels, the rear 4 connected by a girder, semi elliptic springing, front bogie was independent10 | |
| Wheels each side | 510 | |
| Return rollers each side | 410 | |
| Tracks (Type) | Steel, skeleton, floating dry pin10 | |
| Length | ||
| Width | 11"10 280 mm |
|
| Diameter | ||
| Number of links | 9910 | |
| Pitch | 3 11/16"10 | |
| Tire tread | Rubber10 | |
| Track centers/tread | 65"10 1.67 m |
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
- -
- 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
- Airfix Magazine Guide #8 German Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gande and Peter Chamberlain, 1975
