Germany's Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf E, 8/Las 138 light tank

Design

Daimler-Benz received contracts in 1938 to equip Germany's four light divisions with PzKpfw IIs.⁴ 250 were delivered from 1938 to 1939.⁴

The hull was a scaled down version of the hull being used in the PzKpfw III that Daimler-Benz was also producing.⁴

Intended to be Schnellkampfwagen (fast fighting vehicle).

Suspension

PzKpfw II Ausf E had different type of sprocket and idler wheel. The tracks and the torsion bar suspension were new.^3,4

Production

• Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf E; PzKpfw II Ausf E: 43¹, 250⁴
  • Production: 1938 -^6,7, 1938 - May 1942, May 1938 - August 1939
  • Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz^6,7, MAN¹
• Flammpanzer II Flamingo: 90⁴, 95⁵
  • Conversion: 1939⁴

Variants

• PzKpfw II Ausf E:
• Bergepanzer: Armored recovery.⁷

 

Usage

Saw action in Poland, France, and Belgium.

Specifications

	Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf E
Crew	Commander (gunner), radio operator, driver 31,2,6,8
Radio	FuG51
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10 tons1,2,6,8
Length	15' 2.7"6, 15.48'2, 15' 5"8 4.64 m6, 4.65 m1
Height	6.75'2, 6' 7.5"6, 6' 9"8 2.02 m6, 2.06 m1
Width	7' 5"8, 7.48'2, 7' 6.5"6 2.3 m1,6
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	0.29 m
Ground contact length	2.2 m
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	20 mm KwK 306 20 mm KwK 30 L/551 20 mm2,8
OR	20 mm KwK 386
Secondary
MG	1: 7.92 mm MG6 1: 7.92 mm MG341 MG2,8
Side arms
Quantity
Main	1806,8, 180 Pzgr & Sprgr1
Secondary
MG	1,4256,8, 2,2501
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	10 - 302, 14 - 308, 307
Hull Front, Upper	35, 306, 30@9°1
Hull Front, Lower	30@9°1
Hull Sides, Upper	14.56, 14.5@0°1
Hull Sides, Lower	14.5@0°1
Hull Rear	14.5@20°1 & 14.5@0°1
Hull Top	14.56, 10@90-79°1
Hull Bottom	5@90°1
Turret Front	306, 14.5 round1 Mantlet: 16 round1
Turret Sides	14.5@22°1
Turret Rear	14.5@22°1
Turret Top	10@76-90°1
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 62 TRM1 Maybach HL TR8
Bore / stroke
Cooling
Cylinders	68
Capacity
Net HP	1406, 140@2,600 rpm8
Power to weight ratio	14 HP/ton8
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh SSG 468 6 forward, 1 reverse8 7 forward, 1 reverse1
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)
Octane
Capacity
Road consumption	100 liters per 100 km
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand1
Speed - Road	34 mph3,6, 35 mph2,5,8 55 kph1,3,6
Speed - Cross Country
Range - Road	124 miles6, 125 miles8 200 km1,6
Range - Cross Country	80.7 miles6 130 km6
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-9.5° to +20°1
Fording depth	0.85 m
Trench crossing	1.75 m
Vertical obstacle	42 cm
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Christie7, Torsion Bar3,5
Wheels each side	45,7,8, 8
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	11.8"6 30 cm6
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 3.6"6 1.92 m6