SdKfz 121 Panzerkampfwagen II (PzKpfW II)

The Panzer II was an interim light tank design meant to hold ground until development of the Panzer III and Panzer IV models came online.

The Panzer II (PzKpfw II or Panzerkampfwagen II) was designed to meet a 1934 light tank requirement as specified by the German Ordnance Department. A design proposed by MAN was accepted and by 1935, the system was in production. The Panzer II would be an interim design meant to fill the void between the underpowered and equally light Panzer I series and the more powerful Panzer III and Panzer IV medium tanks on the horizon.

The initial production Panzer II tank became the PzKpfw Ausf A and had an additional 7.92mm coaxially-mounted machine gun to compliment the 20mm main gun. Like the Panzer I before it, this first production model was ill-powered by a 130 horsepower engine that would eventually be addressed in the 140 horsepower Ausf B model. The Ausf B also featured an improvement in armor protection to the crew of three though at the increase of overall weight.

The Ausf C of 1937 made it off of the production lines with a series of improvements, particularly to the wheel and suspension systems and an additional improvement to armor protection. The Ausf D and Ausf E models later appeared in 1938 with a special torsion-bar suspension assembly increasing the vehicles overall range but at a decrease in overall speed. The final production model series of the Panzer II became the Ausf F from 1940 onwards with additional armor protection.

The Panzer II chassis served a plethora of vital battlefield functions throughout the war. One of the more important uses was as serving for the basis of the Marder I and Marder II tank destroyer designs, each fitted with hard-hitting high-velocity main guns. An interesting twin-projector Flammpanzer flamethrower model also existed as did a fast reconnaissance tank derivative known as the "Luchs".

By the time of the invasion of France, the Panzer II was the definitive Panzer utilizing its speed and firepower to good use. A late Panzer II development further increased the crew to four with the addition of a radio operator and an improved 180hp engine. The system would eventually be superceded by the arriving Panzerkampfwagen III series of medium tanks, though its chassis would live in the Marder and Wespe lines.