Tankopedia
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Panzer II

In service 1936 - 1943

Stopgap light tank that formed the backbone of the early blitzkrieg divisions.

Built byMAN, Daimler-Benz

Panzer II
Panzer II at Saumur — Matthias Holländer, via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Development history

Intended as a training vehicle until the Panzer III and IV arrived in numbers, the Panzer II ended up the most common German tank in Poland and France. Its 20 mm autocannon could beat light armour but nothing heavier, and from 1942 the chassis was more valuable as the basis for the Marder II and Wespe self-propelled guns.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. Ausf. A-C

    1937

    Main production series with 14.5 mm frontal armour.

  2. Ausf. F

    1941

    35 mm bolted front plate and revised superstructure.

  3. Ausf. L Luchs

    1943

    Purpose-built reconnaissance tank with interleaved road wheels.

Notable actions

  • Poland 1939
  • Battle of France 1940
  • North Africa 1941-1942