"it still performed much useful service against entrenched infantry and other ""soft"" targets, which were unable to respond even against thin armor, and who were highly vulnerable to machine gun fire. The small, vulnerable light tank, along with its somewhat more powerful successor the Panzer II, would soon be surpassed as a front-line armoured combat vehicle by more powerful German tanks, such as the Panzer III, and later the Panzer IV, Panzer V, and Panzer VI; nevertheless, the Panzer I's contribution to the early victories of Nazi Germany during World War II was significant. Later in that war the turrets"
"Panther tank The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171. It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen"" V ""Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral ""V"" be deleted. Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the ""Mark V"". The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Nevertheless, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the"
"Panzer IVs and Vs could do similar work without the need for a new vehicle. Panzer II The Panzer II is the common name used for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was ""Panzerkampfwagen"" II (abbreviated PzKpfw II). Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while larger, more advanced tanks were developed, it nonetheless went on to play an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions at"
"Panzer IV The ""Panzerkampfwagen"" IV (PzKpfw IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161. The Panzer IV was the most widely manufactured German tank and the second-most widely manufactured German armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War, with some 8,500 built. The Panzer IV chassis was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the ""Wirbelwind"" self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the ""Brummbär"" self-propelled gun."
"keep pace with Soviet T-34 and KV tanks, which respectively, either had sloped armor or relatively thick armor and both shared 76 mm guns. By 1941, the Panzer III was the most numerous of German tank designs, however, during the later parts of 1943, it was largely replaced by later versions of the Panzer IV and Panzer V ""Panther"". Its assault gun chassis variant, the Sturmgeschütz III was, with just over 9,400 units built, the most widely produced German armored fighting vehicle of World War II. The Panzer IV was the workhorse of the German tank force during World War"
"Panzer II The Panzer II is the common name used for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was ""Panzerkampfwagen"" II (abbreviated PzKpfw II). Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while larger, more advanced tanks were developed, it nonetheless went on to play an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions at the beginning of the war. It was used in both North Africa against the Western"
"commander’s vehicle (Zugführerwagen) and was Germany’s first true main/medium battle tank. The Panzer III formed the bulk of the Panzer Divisions’ strength during early years of war. Also, in 1940/41, attempts were made to standardize the production of Panzer III and Panzer IV but soon after further development was halted. However, the appearance of a few of the new generation T-34 and KV-1 tanks in Russia during 1941 compelled the Germans to begin a race for superior armor and gun power. The third generation included many different variants, but the most important designs were the Mark V (Panther) and Mark"
"tank designs he was shown. The German Army first used light Panzer I tanks, along with the Panzer II, but the mainstays were the medium Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs which were released in 1937. The IV became the backbone of Germany's panzer force and the power behind the blitzkrieg. During the invasion of Russia in 1941, the Germans encountered the famous and technologically advanced Soviet T-34 tanks. This led Germany to develop the Panther or Panzer V in response. Its 75mm gun could penetrate the new Soviet tanks. Germany also developed the heavy Tiger I, released in 1942. The"
"vehicle. Some were believed to have been converted locally, 21 were converted from hulls returned for repair between October 1944 and January 1945. The conversion involved removing the turret and adding a wooden plank cover with an access hatch over the turret ring and the addition of a 2-ton jib crane and rigid towing bars. Panzer IV The ""Panzerkampfwagen"" IV (PzKpfw IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161. The Panzer IV was the most widely"
"in German possession were designated MP 750(e). Introduced in 1944, the Mk V was essentially a better-quality, more elaborate version of the Mk 2. Changes included a wooden pistol grip, a vertical wooden fore grip, a wooden stock, and a bayonet mount. There was a No4 Lee–Enfield foresight and the weapon was of better quality manufacture and finish than the Mk2 and Mk3. The Sten bandolier issued to paratroopers held seven full magazines. Another variant of the Mk V had a swivel stock and rear sight mirror intended for firing around corners in urban warfare, similar to the Krummlauf developed"
"the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Porsche produced a heavy tank design in 1942, the VK4501 also known as ""Tiger (P)"". Due to the complex nature of the drive system, a competing design from Henschel was chosen for production instead. Ninety chassis that had already been built were converted into self-propelled anti-tank guns; these were put into service in 1943 as the Panzerjäger Tiger (P) and known by the nickname ""Ferdinand"". The Ferdinand was driven by a hybrid electric powertrain, and was armed with a long barrel version of the 88mm Flak cannon. The most common reason for"
"Brummbär The Sturmpanzer (also known as ""Sturmpanzer 43"" or ""Sd.Kfz. 166"") was a German armoured infantry support gun based on the Panzer IV chassis used in the Second World War. It was used at the Battles of Kursk, Anzio, Normandy, and was deployed in the Warsaw Uprising. It was known by the nickname Brummbär (German: ""Grouch"") by Allied intelligence, a name which was not used by the Germans. German soldiers nicknamed it the """"Stupa"""", a contraction of the term Sturmpanzer. Just over 300 vehicles were built and they were assigned to four independent battalions. The ""Sturmpanzer"" was a development of"
"Panzer III The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside and support similar Panzer IV which was originally designed for infantry support. However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, more powerful anti-tank guns were needed, and since the Panzer IV had more development potential with a larger turret ring, it was redesigned to mount the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40"
"were the Panther (Panzer V) and Tiger (Panzer VI) tanks. Unfortunately for the Germans, lack of resources combined with emphasis on protection and firepower and a penchant for overly complex design philosophies in nearly every part of an armoured fighting vehicle's design compromised the production numbers. However, an assault gun casemate-hulled development of the Panzer III, the Sturmgeschütz III, would turn out to be Germany's most-produced armoured fighting vehicle of any type during the war, at just over 9,300 examples, a popular design which could also be very effectively tasked to perform the duties of a dedicated anti-tank vehicle. The"
"25 Soviet tanks. The Finnish name for the weapon was ""Panssarikauhu"" (literal translation of the German name). An all-new Finnish weapon, the 55 S 55, was developed after the war along the lines of Panzerschreck. The Italian Social Republic and Hungary also used the Panzerschreck. Several Italian units became known as skilled anti-tank hunters and the Hungarians used the Panzerschreck extensively during Operation Spring Awakening. Penetration measured against Face-Hardened Armor (FHA), Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA). Panzerschreck Panzerschreck (lit. ""tank fright"", ""tank's fright"" or ""tank's bane"") was the popular name for the ""Raketenpanzerbüchse "" 54 (abbreviated to RPzB 54), an 88"
"well. The following table contains examples of ""Kampfwagenkanonen"", operated by the Wehrmacht in World War II. Kampfwagenkanone Kampfwagenkanone (short: KwK / literal translation de ⇒ en: ""fighting vehicle cannon"") was the designation to any type of tank gun mounted in an armoured fighting vehicle or infantry fighting vehicle of the Nazi-Wehrmacht until 1945. The wording was derived from the German nouns ""Kampfwagen"" (fighting vehicle) and ""Kanone"" (cannon or gun). However, the present-day designation in German speaking armed forces to this particular weapon system is Panzerkanone (en: tank gun). ""Kampfwagenkanonen"", developed in Germany, were normally derived from the construction concept of"
"Panzer 35(t) The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), commonly shortened to Panzer 35(t) or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was a Czechoslovak-designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II. The letter (t) stood for ""tschechisch"" (German: ""Czech""). In Czechoslovak service, it had the formal designation Lehký tank vzor 35 (Light Tank Model 35), but was commonly referred to as the LT vz. 35 or LT-35. A total of 434 were built; of these, the Germans seized 244 when they occupied Bohemia-Moravia in March 1939 and the Slovaks acquired 52 when they declared independence from Czechoslovakia at the same time. Others"
"Kampfwagenkanone Kampfwagenkanone (short: KwK / literal translation de ⇒ en: ""fighting vehicle cannon"") was the designation to any type of tank gun mounted in an armoured fighting vehicle or infantry fighting vehicle of the Nazi-Wehrmacht until 1945. The wording was derived from the German nouns ""Kampfwagen"" (fighting vehicle) and ""Kanone"" (cannon or gun). However, the present-day designation in German speaking armed forces to this particular weapon system is Panzerkanone (en: tank gun). ""Kampfwagenkanonen"", developed in Germany, were normally derived from the construction concept of ""anti tank guns"" (, short Pak). Modifications were used in the anti-aircraft artillery (de: Flakartillerie) as"
"Mk 5 mine The Mk 5 or Mine G.S. Mk V was a cylindrical, metal-cased United Kingdom anti-tank blast mine that entered service in 1943, during the Second World War. It was replaced in British service with the Mk 7 mine. Two versions of the mine were produced, the ""Mk. V"" and the ""Mk. VC"" with the same external dimensions. The only difference was that the Mk. VC had a half-sized explosive charge. The mine used a spider pressure plate that makes it resistant to blast overpressure. The spider rests on a central Mk 3 fuse (sometimes referred to as"
"increasing the main armor and adding spacer and skirt armor to protect against anti-tank weapons. ""Zimmerit"" paste, to prevent magnetic charges attaching was also introduced on the Panzer IV. About 12,000 Panzer IV tanks (derived chassis included) were produced during the war, more than twice as many as the next German tank. Despite continued efforts with the lighter tanks throughout the war the German designers did produce a direct counter to the heavier Allied tanks with the PzKpfw V, the Panther (in 1944 the PzKpfw designation was dropped and the vehicle was known simply as the ""Panther""). Design work on"
"Panzer I The Panzer I was a light tank produced in Germany in the 1930s. The name is short for the German (""armored fighting vehicle mark I""), abbreviated """". The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was SdKfz 101 (""special purpose vehicle 101""). Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production began in 1934. Intended only as a training tank to introduce the concept of armored warfare to the German Army, the Panzer I saw combat in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, in Poland, France, the Soviet Union and North Africa during the Second World War,"
"Meanwhile, German tanks were continuously upgraded with better main guns, in addition to other improvements. For example, the Panzer III was originally designed with a 37 mm gun, but was mass-produced with a 50 mm cannon. To counter the threat of the Russian T-34s, another, more powerful 50 mm gun was introduced, only to give way to a larger 75 mm cannon, which was in a fixed mount as the StuG III, the most-produced German World War II armoured fighting vehicle of any type. Despite the improved guns, production of the Panzer III was ended in 1943, as the tank"
"Jagdtiger Jagdtiger (""Hunting Tiger"") is the common name of a German turretless heavy tank destroyer of World War II. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B as it was based on a lengthened Tiger II chassis. The ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 186. The 71-tonne ""Jagdtiger"" was the heaviest armored fighting vehicle used operationally during World War II and is the heaviest armored vehicle of any type to achieve series production. The vehicle carried a 128 mm PaK 44 L/55 main gun, capable of out-ranging and defeating any Allied tank. It saw service in small numbers from"
"at least three generations, plus constant minor variations. The first generation included such prewar vehicles as the Panzerkampfwagen (or Panzer) I and II, which were similar to Soviet and British light tanks. The Germans converted their tank battalions to a majority of Panzer III and Panzer IV medium tanks after the 1940 French campaign. However, the appearance of large numbers of the new generation T-34 and KV-1 Soviet tanks, that were unknown to Germans until 1941, compelled them to join a race for superior armour and gun power. The third generation included many different variants, but the most important designs"
"GPMG ever produced, it was nicknamed ""Hitler's buzzsaw"" by troops of Allies, and alongside the MG 34 it inflicted heavy casualties on Allied soldiers on all European and North African front of World War II. Following the end of the war the victorious Allied nations took interest in the MG 34 and MG 42, influencing many post-war general-purpose machine guns, many of which are still in use today. They lent design elements to the Belgian FN MAG and the American M60, while spawning the Zastava M53, Swiss M51, and Austrian MG 74. Such were its qualities of firepower and usability"
"Panzergrenadier Panzergrenadier (), shortened as ""PzGren"" (modern) or ""PzG"" (WWII), is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry – that is, infantry transported in combat vehicles specialized for such tasks – as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Additionally, in the German Army, Panzergrenadier (Pzg) is also the lowest rank of enlisted men (""Mannschaften"") in the ""Panzergrenadiertruppe"", comparable to NATO Other Rank-1 level. The term ""Panzergrenadier"" was not adopted until 1942. Infantry in panzer divisions from 1937 onwards were known as ""Schützen"" Regiments; they wore the same rose pink"
"after knocking out three tanks. No further references were made to the ""Pz.Sfl. II"". Pz.Sfl. II ""Not to be confused with the Nashorn, another German tank destroyer with the former name ""Hornisse"""" The Panzer-Selbstfahrlafette"" II ""Hornisse (English: Hornet), or in full, 7.5 cm ""Kanone"" L/41 ""auf Zugkraftwagen"" 5t (HKP 902), was a half-track German tank destroyer used during World War II. Only two prototypes were built and sent to North Africa for troop trials. Neither survived the experience. Development began in 1936 when Büssing-NAG was given a contract to develop an advanced half-track chassis with a rear-mounted engine specifically designed"
"overall mobility of purpose-built half tracks, they were cheaper and sufficiently effective. From 1943 some Maultier trucks were fitted with armored bodies, designated SdKfz 4. Some of these were armed with 10 tubed rocket launcher Panzerwerfer 42, and were designated SdKfz. 4/1. Maultier Maultier or Sd.Kfz. 3 (en: ""Mule"") is the name given to series of half-track trucks used by Germans during World War II. They were based on Opel, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa-Romeo or Ford trucks. Soon after invading the USSR, German troops discovered that their wheeled transport vehicles were unsuitable for the sparse road network, particularly in the muddy conditions"
"Panzerschreck Panzerschreck (lit. ""tank fright"", ""tank's fright"" or ""tank's bane"") was the popular name for the ""Raketenpanzerbüchse "" 54 (abbreviated to RPzB 54), an 88 mm calibre reusable anti-tank rocket launcher developed by Nazi Germany in World War II. Another earlier, official common name was ""Ofenrohr"" (""stove pipe""). The Panzerschreck was designed as a lightweight infantry anti-tank weapon and was an enlarged copy of the American bazooka. The weapon was shoulder-launched and fired a fin-stabilized rocket with a shaped-charge warhead. It was made in smaller numbers than the ""Panzerfaust"", which was a disposable recoilless gun firing an anti-tank warhead. The"
"the Germans to improve their existing models. The Panzer III, which was intended to be the main medium tank, was upgraded to a longer, higher-velocity 50 mm gun. Thus the Panzer IV, originally intended to be a support tank, became the de facto main medium tank re-armed with a long-barreled, high velocity 75 mm gun to counter the T-34; the Panzer III, with its smaller turret ring, could not mount a gun larger than 50 mm, which had become inadequate against Allied tanks. The Germans started to develop newer, heavier tanks. This included the Panzer V Panther, which was intended"
"Panzerkeil The Panzerkeil (""Armoured Wedge"" or ""Tank Wedge"") was an offensive armoured tactic developed by German forces on the Eastern Front during World War II. The ""panzerkeil"" was developed in response to the Soviet employment of the ""pakfront"" defence. The ""panzerkeil"" was an offensive formation used by armoured vehicles, most commonly tanks. The tanks would form into a wedge-shaped formation, with the most heavily armed and armoured vehicles forming the tip and the sides. At the battle of Kursk, Tiger Is (Panzer VIE) would form the tip, Panthers (Panzer V) the base (where available), with the Panzer IVs and Panzer"
"were also experimented and produced by German industries towards the last phases of the war, but few were able to be mass-produced or even see action against the encroaching enemy forces of the US, UK and Soviet troops. Panzer III The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside and support similar Panzer IV which was originally designed for infantry support. However,"
"price, but Škoda fixed them for free once the Hungarians had bought a license to build the medium 40M Turán I tank in August 1940. The tanks were returned to Hungary in March 1941 and were used for training through 1943. Panzer 35(t) The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), commonly shortened to Panzer 35(t) or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was a Czechoslovak-designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II. The letter (t) stood for ""tschechisch"" (German: ""Czech""). In Czechoslovak service, it had the formal designation Lehký tank vzor 35 (Light Tank Model 35), but was commonly referred to as"