Tankopedia
WW2LightLight TankCzechoslovakia / Germany

Panzer 38(t)

In service 1939 - 1945

Czech-built light tank taken over by Germany and used from Poland to Russia.

Built byCKD / BMM

Panzer 38(t)
Panzer 38(t) Ausf. S — Werner Willmann, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5

Development history

The LT vz. 38 was an excellent, reliable Czech design that Germany seized before it entered Czechoslovak service. Riveted construction and a 37 mm gun kept it competitive only until 1941, after which the chassis became the platform for the Marder III and the Hetzer - production continued until the end of the war.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. Ausf. A-D

    1939

    Original Czech-pattern armour up to 30 mm.

  2. Ausf. E/F

    1941

    Frontal armour increased to 50 mm with bolted plates.

  3. Ausf. G

    1942

    Final tank version; most chassis then went to Marder III production.

Notable actions

  • Battle of France 1940
  • Operation Barbarossa 1941