The Panzer I was a tank produced by Nazi Germany in the 1930s, intended as a training tank, but also used extensively in the Spanish Civil War and early World War II. It served as the basis for the Pzkpfw II; other vehicles based on the chassis included self-propelled guns and antiaircraft artillery. The short name comes from the German Panzerkampfwagen - literally armoured fighting vehicle.
History
The Panzer I was first of Germany's post World War I tanks. In 1932, specifications for light (5-ton) tank were made and issued to Rheinmetall, Krupp, Henschel, MAN and Daimler Benz. In 1933, Krupp's design was selected. It was based on the British Carden-Lloyd Mk. IV , two of which had been secretly purchased from the Soviet Union. Since the Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany to produce any tanks, these versions were referred to as "Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper" (agricultural tractors). The design was modified in late 1933 to combine the Krupp chassis with the Daimler Benz turret. In 1934, the resulting tank was designated the Panzer I Ausf A, and in July, production began.
The Panzer I first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, in 1936, as part of the German forces sent to assist General Franco and the Nationalists. The Panzer I turned out to be underpowered, under-gunned, and outclassed by the Soviet T-26 and BT-5 tanks used by the Republican forces. A number of Panzer Is were captured by the Republican forces, and re-gunned with a variety 20 mm or 25mm anti-tank guns.
The Panzer I was intended as a training tank, to be replaced by the Panzer III in actual combat. However, because of delays in the production of Panzer IIIs, the Panzer I was the main tank used in the invasion of Poland and was used extensively in the invasions of France, Denmark, and Norway.
Fifteen Panzer IAs were purchased by Nationalist China, and saw combat in the Chinese Civil War.
After Germany removed the Panzer I from combat they were used extensively for patrolling in the conquered territories and for the training of new panzertruppen.
Armor
The Panzer I had 13 mm of unsloped or slightly sloped homogenous steel armor on all side surfaces, with 8 mm of armor on the top of the turret, and 6 mm on the top and bottom of the hull. The armor was sufficient to stop rifle bullets and most machine-gun bullets, but could not stop anything heavier, such as anti-tank rifles and anti-tank guns. Even though the armour was relatively thin, it was face-hardened, which also suggests that was not merely intended as a training tank, since the process of face-hardening the steel plates was quite expensive.
Armament
The Panzer I was armed with a pair of 7.92 mm machine guns in the turret. These guns could be independently elevated, but both turned with the turret. This made the Panzer I a good tank against infantry and soft vehicles, but completely impotent against anything with armor.
Mobility
The Panzer IA had a 57 hp 43 kW Krupp M305 4 cylinder engine, capable of propelling it at 37 km/h (23 mph) on good terrain, and a range of 145 km (90 miles) on-road. The IB had a 100 hp (75 kW), six-cylinder Maybach NL38TR engine giving it a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph), and a range of 170 km (105 miles) on-road. Like all the German tanks of WWII, the Panzer I was gasoline-fueled.
Crew
The Panzer I had a crew of two. The driver sat in the forward hull, while the commander sat in the turret and operated the guns.
Variants
- Panzer I Ausf A - First production model. 4 road wheels. 818 produced
- Panzer I Ausf B - New improved engine. 5 road wheels. 675 produced.
- Panzer I Ausf C (VK601) - Fast Reconnaissance variant. 40 produced.
- Panzer I Ausf D (VK602) - 1 produced
- Panzer I Ausf F (VK1801) - 18 ton, 80 mm armour and a heavy interleaved suspension. Armament was 2 machineguns, Top speed 24 km/h (15 mph). 30 produced out of an order of 130.
- Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen (SdKfz 265) - Command tank, with fixed 14.5 mm armoured superstructure, single machinegun and extra radios for control of armoured operations. 190 to 200 converted from mainly Ausf B, some Ausf A.
Designs based on chassis
- 15 cm sIG33(Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B - Self-propelled 150 mm howitzer. 38 converted from existing tanks.
- Panzerjäger I - Self-propelled 47 mm anti-tank gun. 202 converted from existing tanks.
- Flammenwerfer auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A - Flamethrower tank. Field conversion of the Panzer IA using an infantry flamethrower.
- Ladungsleger auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A - Minelayer tank. 100 converted from existing tanks.
- Munitionsschlepper Auf Panzerkampfwagen Ia und Ib - Ammunition carrier. In 1942-43, all Panzer Is still in service were converted to this.
- Flakpanzer I - anti-aircraft tank. 24 converted from Munitionsschlepper I Ausf As.
See also:
External links
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