Main Menu
Germany's 4/LaS 100,
Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf A Light Tank,
PzKpfw II Ausf A11:
4/Las, 5/Las, and 6/Las respectively. Produced from July 193710 to 1940. First model to be mass produced.7,10
Driver
Driver sat on left and had access hatch in the front glacis plate. He had 3 vision ports in the front. Had redesigned visor for the driver.7
Radio operator
Radio operator had seat on floor at rear of fighting compartment and had a vision port in the rear as he faced to the rear.10
Commander
The commander's seat was suspended from the turret wall and rotated with turret.10 Turret roof started with a split hatch then had a cupola with 8 episcopes. Periscopes were installed in the turret.8 Turret was hand traversed. The commander had a 2.5 power optical sight and an open sight for far and near targets respectively.10 The commander communicated via voice tubes to the crew.10
Main armament
The 20 mm KwK 30 was fed by a 10 round magazine.10 It was fired in full automatic mode as it couldn't fire single shots.10 A German 1939 training manual stated: "Short bursts of 2 or 3 rounds is the normal method of engaging targets..."10
Armor
Nose plate became welded and angular.8 Flanges were installed at the top and bottom of the gun mantlet to help prevent lead splash.8
In 1940 20 mm plates were bolted to hull and turret, and 15 mm plates to gun mantlet.
Radio
Used a FuG5 radio.3
Usage in Russia
During Russian campaign some had French 37 mm SA 38 installed in place of 20 mm.
| Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf A | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander (gunner), radio operator, driver10 33,4,5,10 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 16,105 lb, 19,900 lb, 19,621 lb 7,305 kg 7.2 tons5,11, 8 tons10, 8.9 tons3, 9.5 tons |
| Length w/gun | 15' 9"10, 15' 9.25", 16'4 4.8 m10, 4.81 m3 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6.75'4, 6' 6.25", 7'10 1.99 m3, 2.23 m10 |
| Width | 7.08'4, 7' 3.25", 7' 6"10 2.22 m3, 2.3 m10 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | 11.3 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 20 mm KwK 30 L/553 20 mm KwK 3010 20 mm4,5,11 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG, coaxial5,10,11 7.92 mm MG343 MG4 |
| Side arms | Smoke candles |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 180 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,250 |
| Side arms | 5 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 10 - 304 Front: 1510 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 14.5, 14.5@9°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 14.5@9°, 14.5 round3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 14.5@22°, 14.5@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 14.5@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 14.5@22°, 14.5@9°3 & 14.5@6°3 |
| Hull Top | 10@81-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 14.5@73-63°3 & 5@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 14.5 round3 |
| Turret Sides | 14.5@22°3 |
| Turret Rear | 14.5@22°3 |
| Turret Top | 10@88-90°, 10@86-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 62 TR3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1305,11 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF crash-type 6 forward3, 1 reverse3 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical sytem | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 45 gallons |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand3,10 |
| Max speed | 24.9 mph, 25 mph8,10 40 kph3,10 |
| Cross country speed | 12 mph |
| Road radius | 120 miles, 125 miles10 200 km3,10 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | -9.5° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 10", 3' |
| Trench crossing | 5' 9", 5' 8" |
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 5" |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Quarter elliptic leaf spring Leaf springs10 |
| Wheels each side | 510 |
| Return rollers each side | 410 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | |
| Production | 1935: 1,200 3/1937-4/1940: 1,1133 Chassis #s: 21101-270003 MAN, Daimler-Benz, Henschel, Wegmann, Alkett, MIAG, FAMO.3 |
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?
- Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
