kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen
History
The kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen (Sd Kfz 265) (kl Pz Bef Wg, small armored command vehicle) was based on the Panzerkampfwagen I. Design work began in 1934. To allow the installation of a more powerful generator, necessary to power the radio, the turret was replaced with a fixed superstructure.
Early in the production run, a machine gun was added to the kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen, to provide rudimentary self-defense. The commander's cupola was also improved, so that the commander could overlook the terrain without exposing himself to fire.
Production began in 1936, with a total of 184 vehicle made before production ended in 1937. By this time, captured Czechoslovak Panzerkampfwagen 35 (t) were available, which were used by the German as command tanks. Despite it's weak armor, the kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen continued to serve well into the Second World War before being slowly phased out.
Technical Information
| kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen | |
|---|---|
| Crew | |
| Crew |
|
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 5.88 t |
| Length | 4.42 m |
| Width | 2.06 m |
| Height | 1.99 m |
| Firing height | 1.48 m |
| Ground pressure | 0.52 kg/cm² |
| Armor | |
| Hull, front | 8-14.5 mm |
| Hull, sides and rear | 13-14.5 mm |
| Hull, top | 8-10 mm |
| Hull, bottom | 5 mm |
| Performance | |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h |
| Road speed | 25 km/h |
| Cross-country speed | 12-15 km/h |
| Maximum grade | 30° |
| Trench crossing | 1.4 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 0.37 m |
| Fording depth | 0.6 m |
| Fuel capacity | 146 l |
| Mileage (road) | 0.86 l/km |
| Mileage (cross-country) | 1.27 l/km |
| Cruising range | 170 km |
| Cross-country range | 115 km |
| Engine | |
| Make and model | Maybach NL 38 TR |
| Type | Water cooled |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3800 cc |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Max. governed speed | 300 rpm |
| Net h.p. | 100 |
| Armament | |
| Main weapon | 7,92 mm M G 34 |
| Ammunition Storage | |
| Main weapon | 7,92 mm S m K and S m K L'Spur: 900 |
Additional Reading
- kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen photographs (external link)
- Photographs of the kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen at Panzerphotos.
- Panzerkampfwagen I
- Information about the Panzerkampfwagen I.
Sources
- JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 1-1 - Panzerkampfwagen I : Kleintraktor to Ausf.B. Boyds, MD : Panzer Tracts, 2002. 100 p. ISBN 0-9708407-6-4.