Germany's Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf L, Luchs ("Lynx"), SdKfz 123; Panzerspähwagen II (PzSpWg II) light tank

Photos

PzKpfw II Ausf L Luchs:

Design

Daimler-Benz was given the specifications in 1938 to increase the speed of the PzKpfw II.⁵

It had the standard PzKpfw II turret, except it didn't have the cupola or vision ports.⁴ It did have two periscopes installed in the roof.⁴ The superstructure extended out over the tracks allowing for a larger turret.⁴

It had five sets of interleaved bogie wheels.^4,5

Last 35 (another source says 31^4,7) vehicles had 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 gun⁴.

Prototype

A prototype for a vehicle that emphasized speed was delivered in April 1942. In late 1942 the Germany Army developed a prototype of a fast reconnaissance vehicle, the VK1301.⁴ It became the PzKpfw II Ausf L, then later called the Luchs.⁴

Production

An order was placed for 800, but only 131 were constructed between 1943 and January 1944.⁴

• V.K. 901: 3⁸
• PzKpfw II Ausf L, Luchs: 100^2,6, 131^4,7, 135
  • Production: - May 1943⁷, 1942 - May 12,1943, 1943 - 1944⁶, 1943 - January 1944⁴, September 1943 - January 1944²
  • Manufacturer: MAN^2,6
    • Turret and superstructure: Daimler-Benz⁴
    • Chassis: MAN⁴

Variants

• V.K. 1601, Pzkpfw II, neuer Art, verstärkt (new type uparmored): Designed by Daimler-Benz.⁸ Overlapping suspension wheels.⁸ Thicker armor.⁸ New turret.⁸ Was not put into production as it was felt a heavy vehicle should be armored with something more than just a 20 mm.⁸
• V.K. 1602 Leopard (leicht): Designed by Daimler-Benz.⁸ 50 mm main armament.⁸
• V.K. 1602 Leopard (schwer): Prototype with 7.5 cm KwK 41.⁸ Weighed 22 tons.⁸ Was not produced.⁸
• V.K. 901: Constructed by Daimler-Benz and MAN.⁸ Not produced as was too lightly protected.⁸
• V.K. 1303: Prototype that became the PzKpfw II Ausf L.⁸

Usage

Saw action in Russia and France. Standard equipment of reconnaissance battalions of panzer divisions until 1945.⁴

New Classification

In 1943 these light tanks became Aufklängspanzers (armored reconnaissance vehicles).⁸

Specifications

	Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf L, SdKfz 123 "Luchs"
Crew	Commander, gunner, radio operator, driver 33, 42,4,6,7,8
Radio	FuG122, FuG Spr a2
Physical Characteristics
Weight	26,400 lb 11.8 tons3,4,5,7,8, 13 tons2
Length w/gun	14' 6"8, 15' 2"4,7, 15' 2.5", 15.4'3, 15' 5"5 4.63 m2,4,7
Length w/o gun
Height	6' 11.8"7, 7'4,8, 7.08'3, 7' 1"5, 7' 3" 2.13 m4,7, 2.21 m2
Width	8' 1.875", 8' 2"4,7,8, 8' 3"3,5 2.48 m2, 2.49 m4,7
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 4" 0.34 m
Ground contact length	2.2 m
Ground pressure	0.75 kg/cm2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	20 mm KwK 20 mm KwK 307 20 mm KwK 38 L/552 20 mm3 20 mm KwK 30 L/554 20 mm KwK 386,8 20 mm (1st 100 produced)5
OR	50 mm3 50 mm L/60 (last 35 produced)5 Late models: 50 mm L/60
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm MG7 7.92 mm MG343,10 MG8
MG - coaxial	7.92 mm MG344 MG5
Side arms
Quantity
Main	3302,4,7
Secondary
MG	2,2502,4, 2,5507
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	10 - 303, 308 Front: 305 Sides: 205
Hull Front, Upper	307, 20@0°, 20@90°4, 30@10°2
Hull Front, Lower	20@90°4, 30@25°, 30@22°2
Hull Sides, Upper	307, 20@0°2, 20-30@85-90°4
Hull Sides, Lower	20@0°2
Hull Rear	20@30°, 20@28°2, 20@60°4
Hull Top	137, 13@90°, 10@86-90°2
Hull Bottom	10@90°2
Turret Front	307, 30@20°, 30@10°2, 30@80°4 Mantlet: 30 round2
Turret Sides	20, 15@20°, 15@70°4, 20@21°2
Turret Rear	20@20°, 20@21°2, 20@70°4
Turret Top	13@80-90°, 12@79-90°2, 13@0-10°4
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach8, Maybach HL 66 P3,7,8
Bore / stroke
Cooling
Cylinders	65, R-64
Capacity
Net HP	1788, 1804,5,7
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh, SSG 46 6 forward2, 1 reverse2
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline4
Octane
Capacity	52 gallons4 236 liters4
Road consumption	95 liters per 100 km
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand2
Speed - Road	37 mph4, 37.3 mph7, 37.5 mph3,6, 38 mph5, 40 mph8 60 kph2,4,6,7
Speed - Cross Country	26 mph4, 28 mph 42 kph4
Range - Road	93 miles4, 155 miles7,8 150 km4, 250 km7, 290 km2
Range - Cross Country	59 miles4, 93 miles7 95 km4, 150 km7
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-9° to +°2
Fording depth	1.32 m
Trench crossing
Vertical obstacle
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Torsion Bar6
Wheels each side	55
Return rollers each side	05
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	2' 2.2"7 0.36 m7
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 9.5"7 2.07 m7