Panzerkampfwagen I
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It's design was partially based on British Carden Loyd Mk.IV tankette chassis of which two were secretly purchased from Russia in 1932. In late 1920s and early 1930s, Germans closely co-operated with Russians in the development of armored vehicles at Kama, near Kazan in USSR. Russia purchased two Carden Loyd Mk.IV tankettes from Great Britain in 1929, and based on its design produced T-27 tankette. Krupp's design was then once again modified and in the Summer of 1933, five LaS chassis produced were tested at Kummersdorf. It was then decided to mount Krupp's chassis with Daimler-Benz's superstructure and turret.
After further tests in February of 1934, improved LKA 1 (LaS) designated as PzKpfw I Ausf A entered production in April of 1934. Originally, Ausf A was known as MG Panzerwagen - Versuchkraftfahrzeug 617, before it entered production as Ausf A. In April, 15 PzKpfw I Ausf A were produced and all were presented to Adolf Hitler by Heinz Guderian.
Panzerkampfwagen I was produced in two main very similar variants Ausf A (1934) and
Ausf B (1935), which had different suspensions and engines. Ausf A was produced from July of 1934 to June of 1936 , while Ausf B was produced from August of 1935 to June of 1937. Both were produced by Henschel, MAN, Krupp-Gruson and Daimler-Benz.
Ausf A proved to be underpowered and its very loud 57hp Krupp engine overheated and Ausf B with its 100hp Maybach engine was an improved version of Ausf A. Both models had identical turret and superstructure but Ausf B was longer (additional roadwheel) and had new modified engine deck (new engine).
Both variants were operated by two men crew - a driver and a commander/gunner.
The main armament consisted of two 7.92mm MG13 Dreyse (medium) machine guns with rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute.
In 1935/36, Panzer I Ausf A was experimentally mounted
with Krupp M601 diesel engine, but it could only produce 45hp of power, and the idea of diesel powered vehicle
was rejected.
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In 1934, single example of PzKpfw I Ausf A was sold to Hungary. In 1942, Hungary probably purchased few more for training purposes. The most exotic user of PzKpfw I was Chiang Kai-shek's National Government China, which purchased 15 PzKpfw I Ausf As in late 1936 (along with other German equipment). Also, it is reported that small number was exported to Finland. Possibly, PzKpfw Is also equipped Croatian Army.
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Its debut (combat test) was during Spanish Civil War (1936-38).
First 32 PzKpfw I along with single Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I arrived in October of 1936. Only 106 tanks,
(102 Ausf A, Ausf B and 4 Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I) saw service with "Condor Legion" (Major Ritter von
Thoma's Panzer Abteilung 88 also known as Abteilung Drohne) and General Franco's "Nationalists".
Pz.Abt.88 with its 3 companies was based at Cubas near Toledo, where German instructors trained future Spanish crews,
while the unit was used for training duties and combat (e.g. assault on Madrid).
Panzerkampfwagen I tanks proved to be outclassed by Soviet
T-26 and BT-5 provided to "The Republicans".
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Since late 1938, it was realized that Panzerkampfwagen I did not have any potential as a combat tank and further development of it into a fast reconnaissance and light infantry tank was started. Both Ausf C and Ausf F were completely new designs sharing only limited number of components with standard Panzer I Ausf B. PzKpfw I Ausf C - neuer Art (VK 601) was a fast light reconnaissance tank. It was produced by Krauss-Maffei and Daimler-Benz from late 1942 to early 1943 with only 40(46) being produced. Ausf D - neuer Art verstarkt (VK 602) was an up-armored and improved version of Ausf C produced in limited number. Panzer I Ausf F - neuer Art verstarkt (up-armored new model) (VK 1801) was a heavily armored infantry assault tank. It was produced by Daimler-Benz and Krauss-Maffei from April of 1942 to January of 1943 with only 30 being produced. In May of 1942, 5 Ausf F were issued to 1st Company of Pz.Abt.z.b.V.66 to be used originaly during invasion of Crete (Operation Herkules), but instead were sent to near Leningrad in Russia. In Russia, 1st Company of Pz.Abt.z.b.V.66 was attached to 29th Panzer Regiment of 12th Panzer Division, where they remained in small number till July of 1943. In May of 1943, 5 Ausf F were issued to 2nd Polizei Panzer Company (neu) from Vienna, which was transfered to the Eastern Front. All tanks were lost by August of 1944. In March of 1943, 2 Ausf C and 8 Ausf F were issued to 1st Panzer Regiment of 1st Panzer Division and saw service in Russia, Yugoslavia and Greece to the end of the year. Some 38 PzKpfw I Ausf C were assigned to reserve units of the LVIII Panzer Corps and ended up in Normandy, where they were lost in 1944. Ausf C/D/F never entered full production. Today, PzKpfw I Ausf F from 1st Panzer Division captured in 1943 can be seen in the Museum of Armored Forces in Kubinka (near Moscow) in Russia and second one at the Kalemagdan Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia.
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In 1939/40, 100 of PzKpfw I Ausf A/B were converted into Ladungsleger I (Ladungsleger
auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A or B / zerstorerpanzer) - 50kg explosive charge layer vehicle. Two variants existed and differed only in the equipment used for the delivery of the charge.
They were especially
designed for engineer units to provide them with the charge carrier for delayed action explosives and saw combat
service during the Blitzkrieg in the West (e.g. with 7th Panzer Division) and then some in Russia.
Ladungsleger I from 7th Panzer Division.
The most interesting conversion based on modified
PzKpfw I Ausf A was Flakpanzer I (Sd.Kfz.101) armed with 20mm Flak 38 L/112.5 gun. It was mostlikely based on modified
Munitionsschlepper I Ausf A (Sd.Kfz.111) - light ammunition carrier.
The gun was mounted on the floor in place of the original turret. The chassis was overloaded and engines were used up
leading to poor performance.
Approximately, 24 were produced in early 1941
by Alkett in Berlin and all equipped three batteries (each equipped with 8 vehicles) of 614th Flak Abteilung.
In addition, each battery had 8 Munitionsschlepper I Ausf A (Sd.Kfz.111) ammunition carriers.
Last of those interesting conversions was lost at Stalingrad in January of 1943. Along with Flakpanzer I, there was
also PzKpfw I modified and mounted with 15mm MG 151/15 Drilling heavy machine gun. It was captured on the Eastern
Front in 1943.
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Panzer I was extensively used in pre-war maneuvers and propaganda events (e.g.
Nuremberg Rallies) and then during Polish, Western European and African Campaigns.
PzKpfw I was the main tank of the German army during the Polish Campaign and some 1445 were in service (approx. 50% of all tanks in service).
PzKpfw Is which were sent to
Africa were equipped with larger filters and were equipped with improved ventilation system.
During African campaign,
small number of Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf As was converted in the field by Africa Korps (5th Light Division) during
Battle of Tobruk in 1941 into Flammenwerfer auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A (a similar conversion was done to Ausf
Bs during Spanish Civil War). It was armed with light portable infantry Flammenwerfer (flamethrower model) 40 and
MG (in place of right hand machine gun). Some 10 to 12 bursts could be fired with a range of 25m.
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Ausf A (July 1934 - June 1936) |
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Ausf B |
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Ausf A/B |
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Ausf C (nA) |
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Ausf D (nA verst) |
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Ausf F (nA verst) |
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Panzerkampfwagen I was a little tank that was designed as light training tank for the pre-war Panzer Divisions never intended
to be be used in combat conditions but was used as a light combat tank until 1942. It was cheap, fast and maneuverable
but its armor and armament were both very weak, because of its original design capabilities. It was Germany's first mass produced armored fighting vehicle.
In the early 1942, Panzerkampfwagen Is were taken out of service and were handed over to the Police and Anti-partisan units. Panzer Is without
superstructures were handed over to para-military organizations such as NSKK (National Socialist Motor Corps) for
training purposes. 511 of PzKpfw I turrets were used in fortifications of Atlantic Wall, Pomeranian Wall and in
the Kostrzyn area.
PzKpfw I was also a propaganda tool being everywhere from military parade through NSDAP rally to celebration of any kind.
It was a show piece of the Third Reich and its military might in the years leading to beginning of WWII.
Lesson learned from Panzerkampfwagen I provided the German designers and manufacturers with valuable experience in designing and producing
next generation of new panzers that were soon to come. Although, Panzerkampfwagen I was not truly valuable combat
tank, it proved to be an excellent training tank and most of the panzer crews were trained on Panzerkampfwagen I until the
end of the war or operated it in combat as their first armoured vehicle.
| Model: | Production Period: | Number of PzKpfw I Produced: |
| Ausf A | 1934-1936 | |
| Ausf B | 1935-1937 | |
| Ausf C (VK 601) | 1942-1943 | |
| Ausf D (VK 602) | 1942-1943 | |
| Ausf F (VK 1801) | 1942-1943 |
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| Model: | Ausfuhrung A | Ausfuhrung B |
| Weight: | 5300kg | 5900kg |
| Crew: | 2 men | 2 men |
| Engine: | Krupp M305 (Boxer) / 4-cylinder / 57hp | Maybach NL38TR / 6-cylinder / 100hp |
| Speed: | 37km/h | 40km/h |
| Range: | Road: 145km / Cross-Country: 100km | Road: 170km / Cross-Country: 115km |
| Fuel Capacity: | 144 litres | 146 litres |
| Lenght: | 4.02m | 4.42m |
| Width: | 2.06m | 2.06m |
| Height: | 1.72m | 1.72m |
| Armament: | 2 x MG13 Dreyse (7.92mm) | 2 x MG13 Dreyse (7.92mm) |
| Ammo: | 2250 rounds | 2250 rounds |
| Armor (mm/angle): |
Front Turret: 13/10 Front Upper Hull: 13/22 Front Lower Hull: 13/27 Side Turret: 13/22 Side Upper Hull: 13/22 Side Lower Hull: 13/0 Rear Turret: 13/22 Rear Upper Hull: 13/17 Rear Lower Hull: 13/15 Turret Top / Bottom: 8/82 Upper Hull Top / Bottom: 6/82 Lower Hull Top / Bottom: 6/90 Gun Mantlet: 13/round |
Front Turret: 13/10 Front Upper Hull: 13/22 Front Lower Hull: 13/27 Side Turret: 13/22 Side Upper Hull: 13/22 Side Lower Hull: 13/0 Rear Turret: 13/22 Rear Upper Hull: 13/0 Rear Lower Hull: 13/19 Turret Top / Bottom: 8/82 Upper Hull Top / Bottom: 6/83 Lower Hull Top / Bottom: 6/90 Gun Mantlet: 13/round |
George Parada
Copyright@1996-2007
