With suspension developed from the Panzer I, the Panzer II was a larger vehicle but still only intended as a light training tank. It entered service only because the development of the more efficient PzKpfw IIIs and IVs was delayed and a larger, gun armed vehicle was needed. The chassis was designed by MAN and the Panzer II went into production in 1935. The first variants of the Panzer II consisted of Ausf al, a2 and a3 which had small modifications of the engine and cooling system.
The Ausf C became the main production prototype of the Panzer II. With a new suspension (five separate roadwheels) the Ausf C were thereafter used not only as the lead combat tank, but also as training tanks.
The Panzer II had room for one extra crew man which made the vehicles slightly more efficient, but there were still far too few to handle all the tasks faced by a crew in combat.
In May 1938 the Ausf D/E, the Schnellkampfwagen, appeared bringing another new suspension: the Famo/Christie-type. However, this proved rather unsuccessful and the Ausf D/E was taken out of service after an unsatisfactory performance. The Ausf C continued to receive modifications and between 1940 and 1943 versions of this -Aust F and G -were introduced.
The Panzer II was used in large numbers by the Panzertruppe during Polish and French campaigns and later saw extensive service with Erwin Rommel’s DAK in North Africa and in the opening stages of the Russian Campaign. One source reports that by the French campaign of 1940, 955 Panzer II were in the hands of the Wehrmacht. Although they were undoubtedly fast vehicles, the PzKpfw II suffered from very thin armour, which offered minimal protection in battle, and an inadequate 20mm gun.
The 20mm gun of the Panzer II was patently unsuited to the challenge of a modern battlefield, but delays with the introduction of the Panzer III and IV meant that this training tank would see front line service.
CONVERSIONS
• Marder II (Sd.Kfz.l32)
• Marder II (Sd.Kfz.l31)
• Wespe (Sd. Kfz. 124) - 105mm light field howitzer carrier
• Sturmpanzer II Bison - 150mm sIG 33 gun carrier
• Beobachtungswagen II Ausf C - post/command vehicle
• Munitionsschlepper II - ammunition carrier
• PzKfw (Flammpanzer) II Flamingo (Sd. Kfz. 122) (AusfD/E)
• Brueckenleger auf PzKpfw 11 Ausf b - light bridging vehicle (1+ produced in 1939)
• Panzerspahwagen II Ausf L Luchs - reconnaissance tank
• Schwimm Panzer II Ausf. A-C (20mm gun) - amphibious tank (52 converted)
• Bergepanzer II Ausf D/E - recovery vehicle
• Ladungsleger II - explosive charge layer
• Panzer Beobachtungswagen II - artillery observation tank
• Pioner-Kampfwagen II - engineer vehicle
• PzKpfw II AusfA/B/C armed with 50mm Pak 38 L/60 gun
• Feuerleitpanzer II - fire directing tank
