Germany's Panzerkampfwagen I6,7, SdKfz 1017 light tank
PzKpfw I: |
PzKpfw I: |
PzKpfw I: |
PzKpfw I in Poland: |
Flammpanzer I: |
Ladungsleger I: |
Design
The German Army wanted a light tank that would be quickly and cheaply produced that would be primarily used for training.3,6 It was expected that the PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV would be the main tanks used, but these wouldn't be available until late the late 1930s.3
The German Army Weapons Department purchased a British Vickers-Carden-Loyd tankette in 1932 to test a fully revolving turret with a 20 mm gun mounted.3 However, it was found that the chassis did better when 2 MGs were mounted in the turret as opposed to the 20 mm gun.3 Because of this, the Weapons Department issued specifications to five7 firms for a 4.9 ton light training tank with two 7.92 mm MG13 MGs mounted in the turret.3
In 1933 orders were given for a 5.3 ton light tank, with two machine guns in the turret, and a crew of two.7 This was to eventually become the Panzerkampfwagen I.7 It was to be only a training vehicle but it was used in the Spanish Civil War and the early years of World War II.7
The engine was mounted in the rear with the drive sprocket in the front.4
Prototype
MAN, Krupp, Daimler Benz, and Rheinmetall-Borsig submitted designs. The Krupp prototype was influenced by a collaboration with the Swedish Landsverk company. The Rheinmetall-Borsig design was based on their experience with the experimental light tractor VK 31/A2 designed in 1928-29.
The chassis from the Krupp and the turret from the Daimler Benz designs were chosen for development.3,6,7 Krupp was contracted to produce three different prototypes.3
Initially the prototype was called the LKA I.7 To conceal it's real use the Germany Army called it the Landwirtschäftlicher Schlepper (LaS, industrial tractor)7 as production of this tank violated the Treaty of Versailles.3 The German High Command also gave it an ordnance inventory number Sonderkraftfahrzeug (SdKfz) 101.3
Production
Krupp delivered the LKA1 tank in February 1934.3 The Weapons Department put it through trials for four months, and then placed an order for 150 tanks.3
Additional orders followed, and the total was now 300 vehicles to be produced.3 From 1935 to 1939 a total of 1,500 were produced.3
- PzKpfw I Ausf A aufbau: 151
- Production February 1934 - April 19341
- Manufacturers: Henschel, MAN, Daimler-Benz, Rheinmetall-Borsig, Krupp-Gruson.1
- PzKpfw I Ausf B aufbau: 1641
- Production: 1936 - November 19381
- Manufacturers: Henschel, MAN, Daimler-Benz, Krupp-Gruson.1
Variants
- LaS IA: The initial vehicle was called the LaS IA.3 It weighed 5.3 tons, had 6-13 mm armor, had a crew of two, and had four pairs of road wheels.3 It was powered by the 57 HP, Krupp M305 B 4-cylinder gasoline engine, which propelled it up to 37 kph/23 mph.3 A short ranged radio was also installed.3
Saw action with the Condor Legion in Spain.7
In February 1938, it was renamed the PzKpfw IA.3 - LaS IB: This vehicle was based on the second Krupp prototype, the LKA2.3 It was viewed that the LaS IA was underpowered, so the 100 HP, Maybach NL38TR engine.3 It's speed went up to 40 kph/25 mph.3 With these modifications, it now weighed 5.9 tons.3 It entered service with three panzer divisions that were formed in 1935.3
Saw action with the Condor Legion in Spain.3
In February 1938, it was renamed the PzKpfw IB.3 - Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A ohne Aufbau: Designed as a training tank.1
- Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B ohne Aufbau: Produced to be a maintenance vehicle for each armored company.1
- Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf D: This was to be designed as a heavily armored vehicle to be used in close support of infantry.3 The prototype was completed in June 1940.3
It had the standard 2 MG turret, but with 80 mm armor.3 This increased the weight to 17.7 tons.3 It could only go 25 kph/15 mph with its 150 HP, Maybach HL 45 engine.3
Out of the 30 that were initially ordered, only 12 were finished by the time it was cancelled.3 - Panzerkampfwagen I neuer Art verstärk (VK 1801): Designed in December 1939 to be a infantry support tank with heavier armor.2 Prototype was built in June 1940.2 Project was abandoned.2
- Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen I (SdKfz 265)7: Command vehicle.7
- PzKpfw I(A) Munitions-Schlepper (SdKfz 111)7: Converted PzKpfw I Ausf As into ammunition carriers.7
- Brückenleger: Bridge layer version that was developed but the suspension wasn't strong enough.
- Flammenwerfer, Flammpanzer I: Flame thrower installed in place of the right MG.3 Used in North Africa7 by the 5th Light Division. Had range of about 25 meters and could have 10-12 one second bursts. PzKpfw I Ausf A chassis were converted.7
- 15 cm sIG 33(Sf), 15 cm sIG 33 auf Geschutzwagen I Ausf B7: Forty were converted to carry the 1.5-cm infantry gun.6 Used as support for motorized infantry in Poland, France, and Russia.7 The armament was much too heavy for the chassis.7
- Panzerjäger I, 4.7 cm Pak(t)(SF)7: Self-propelled mounting the Czechoslovakian 47 mm anti-tank gun.6 The turret was removed.7 200 Ausf B chassis converted at Alkett of Berlin. Saw action in France and North Africa.7
- PzKpfw Ib Ladungswerfer I7: ("Explosive Charge Layer I) Had and arm that could place an explosive charge next to an obstacle/fortification.7 A contract dated May 9, 1940, was given to Waggonfabrik Talbot of Aachen to construct a vehicle that could place an explosive charge of 75 kg. The arm was 2 m long when retracted and could be extended 2.75 m. 10 Ausf Bs of the 3rd Panzer Pioniere Kp of each Pioneer Battalion in the Panzer Divisions were outfitted.
Usage
Spanish Civil War
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), 120 LaS tanks were used by Colonel Ritter von Thoma's armored units.3 Some of these were modified by putting a 20 mm gun in the turret.3,5
It was clear that the tank was inadequate with a two man crew.4 However, experience in Spain provided the proving grounds of later German combat.4 Towards the end of the Civil War units were moving 25 miles a day in the Aragon battle and faster in Catalonia.4
Anschluss & Sudetenland
Defects were found during the Anschluss and were fixed by the time of the move into the Sudetenland.4
Poland
For the invasion of Poland:3
| Unit | Quantity of PzKpfw I3 |
|---|---|
| 1st Panzer Division | 68 |
| 2nd Panzer Division | 136 |
| 3rd Panzer Division | 136 |
| 4th Panzer Division | 136 |
| 5th Panzer Division | 136 |
A total of 1,445 were used.3,6
Even though it was light, the PzKpfw I still would bog down in the mud, as it did during the Polish counterattack along the River Bzura.3 A total of 89 PzKpfw Is were lost in Poland, almost 45% of the total German loses.3 Many of these were lost in Warsaw.3
Norway
Two dozen were sent along with the 40th Panzer Battalion that were used in Norway.3
The West
Around 1,077 PzKpfw Is were still being used in the German Army, and of these, 619 (5237) were used in the invasion, with the rest being converted, used for training, or used for garrison duties.3 They were primarily used for reconnaissance, but even then, there were heavy losses when meeting British or French armor.3 Because of this, the PzKpfw I weren't used as a front line combat tank.3
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|
Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A ohne Aufbau | Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B ohne Aufbau | neuer Art verstärk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 21 | 21 | |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 3.5 tons1 | 4 tons1 | 18 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 4.02 m1 | 4.42 m1 | 14.3'2 |
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 1.15 m1 | 1.35 m1 | 6.75'2 |
| Width | 2.06 m1 | 2.06 m1 | 8.6'2 |
| Width over tracks | |||
| Ground clearance | |||
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure | |||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | |||
| Secondary | |||
| MG | |||
| Side arms | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | |||
| Secondary | |||
| MG | |||
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 30 - 802 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 13@27°1 | 13@27°1 | |
| Hull Front, Lower | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 13@0°1 | 13@0°1 | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | 13@15°1 | 13@19°1 | |
| Hull Top | 6@90°1 | 6@90°1 | |
| Hull Bottom | 6@90°1 | 6@90°1 | |
| Turret Front | |||
| Turret Sides | |||
| Turret Rear | |||
| Turret Top | |||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Krupp M3051 | Maybach NL 38TR1 | |
| Bore / stroke | |||
| Cooling | |||
| Cylinders | |||
| Capacity | |||
| Net HP | |||
| Power to weight ratio | |||
| Compression ratio | |||
| Transmission (Type) | 5 forward1, 1 reverse1 | 5 forward, 1 reverse1 | |
| Steering | |||
| Starter | |||
| Electrical system | |||
| Ignition | |||
| Fuel (Type) | |||
| Octane | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Road consumption | |||
| Cross country consumption | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | |||
| Max speed | 37 kph1 | 40 kph1 | 15 mph2 |
| Cross country speed | |||
| Road radius | 145 km1 | 170 km1 | |
| Cross country radius | |||
| Turning radius | |||
| Elevation limits | |||
| Fording depth | |||
| Trench crossing | |||
| Vertical obstacle | |||
| Climbing ability | |||
| Suspension (Type) | Coil Spring (front road wheel)1 Leaf Spring (other wheels)1 |
||
| Wheels each side | 41, +1 Idler1 | ||
| Return rollers each side | 31 | ||
| Tracks (Type) | |||
| Length | |||
| Width | |||
| Diameter | |||
| Number of links | |||
| Pitch | |||
| Tire tread | |||
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- 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
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
- Airfix Magazine Guide #8 German Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gande and Peter Chamberlain, 1975
