Germany's Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf F light tank
Photos
PzKpfw I Ausf F light tank of the 1st Panzer Division, captured by Russia in the summer of 1943 |
Design
On December 22, 1939, a contract was issued by the Army Weapons Department for 30 vehicles with the thickest possible armament. Krauss-Maffei AG of Munich developed the chassis and Daimler-Benz the superstructure and turret. The first prototype chassis was available on June 17, 1940.
Nearly same as PzKpfw I Ausf C but with 80 mm armor. 18-19 tons, 15 mph (25 kph), range 94 miles. Krauss-Maffei completed 30 from April to December 1942. Had 2 MG34s in the turret.
Used a TzF8 gun sight.2
Prototype
Production
- PzKpfw I Ausf F: 301,2
- Production: 19421,2, April 1942 - December 19421
- Manufacturer: Krauss-Maffei1,2
Variants
Usage
8 were used for combat evaluation in Russia with the 1st Panzer Division.
Specifications
|
|
Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf F |
|---|---|
| Crew | 21,2 |
| Radio | FuG51,2 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 21 tons1,2 |
| Length w/gun | 4.38 m1,2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 2.05 m1,2 |
| Width | 2.64 m1,2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 2: 7.92 mm MG341,2 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 25 - 802 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 80@10°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 80@20°1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 50@0°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 50@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 50@10°1 @ 50@14°1 |
| Hull Top | 25@90°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 25@90°1 |
| Turret Front | 80@20°1 Mantlet: 80 round°1 |
| Turret Sides | 50@0°1 |
| Turret Rear | 50@14°1 |
| Turret Top | 25@90°1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL45P1,2 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water2 |
| Cylinders | 62 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 150@3,800 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse1,2 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand1 |
| Speed - Road | 25 kph1,2 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 150 km1,2 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°1,2 |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- AFV Collection No. 1 Panzer I The Beginning of a Dynasty, Lucas Molina Franco, 2005
