Germany's PzKpfw II Flammpanzer Ausf A & B, SdKfz 122
PzKpfw II Flammpanzer: |
PzKpfw II Flamm in Abteilung 100(f) |
Design
The PzKpfw II Ausf D and PzKpfw II Ausf E were unsatisfactory in the field due to their suspension and many were converted to other uses.3 One of these was to have two flame throwers placed on the front track covers.3 These flame throwers had a range of about 40 yards.3 There was also a machine gun for self defense.3
Fuel for flame-throwers was installed in armored tanks behinds small turrets. They could also be fired from a electronic panel in the turret. Range was about 35 yards and could fire approximately 80 2-3 second bursts (carried 84.5 gallons of fuel).
Production
A contract for 90 was issued by Inspectorate 6 of the Weapons Department to MAN and Wegmann on January 21, 1939. The first 16 were ready on July 19, 1940.
- Flammpanzer II: 43 converted1, 95 PzKpfw II Ausf D and PzKpfw II Ausf E converted3, 1002, 112 produced1
- Production: January 1940 - March 19421
Usage
Was deployed in Panzerabteilungen in June 1941 as close support vehicles.
| Panzerkampfwagen II Flammpanzer Ausf A, Ausf B | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 23, 31 |
| Radio | FuG21 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 12 tons1 |
| Length w/gun | 4.9 tons1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 1.85 m1 |
| Width | 2.4 m1 |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 2: Flammenwerfer-Anlagen1 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG341 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 320 liters1 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 1,8001 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 30@9°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@9°1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 14.5-25@0°1 & 15@0°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 14.5@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 14.5@15°1 & 14.5@0°1 |
| Hull Top | 10@79-90°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 5@90°1 |
| Turret Front | 30@0°1 |
| Turret Sides | 20@21°1 |
| Turret Rear | 20@30°1 |
| Turret Top | 10@84-90°1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 62 TRM1 |
| Cylinders | |
| Net HP | |
| Transmission | 7 forward1, 3 reverse1 |
| Fuel type | |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | Flamm: 180°1 MG: 360°1 |
| Max Speed | 55 kph1 |
| Cross Country | |
| Road radius | 250 km1 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | 10° to 20° MG: -10° to +10°1 |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical Obstacle | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- 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
