German armoured fighting vehicles of World War II
Encyclopedia
The German
Wehrmacht
used an extensive variety of combat vehicle
s during the Second World War. This article is a summary of those vehicles.
Panzer I
Also known as: PzKpfw I, 'Panzer I', Sd. Kfz. 101
The Panzer I was not intended as a combat vehicle, but more to familiarise industry and the army with tanks. By the time production had ended in 1937, a total of 1867 Pz I hulls had been produced, of which 1493 were fitted with turrets, and the rest used as command or training vehicles.
Variants:
Panzer II
Also known as: PzKpfw II, 'Panzer II', Sd. Kfz. 121
The Panzer II was a heavier vehicle, designed to replace the Panzer I. It was armed with a 20 mm cannon which had some anti-armour capability. Before the war started, 1223 had been built.
Variants:
Panzer 35(t)
Also known as PzKpfw 35(t)
In March 1939 Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia and took over the Czech arms manufacturing industries. The LT-35 tank was renamed to Panzer 35(t) with "t" standing for tschechisch, the German word for Czech.
Panzer 38(t)
Also known as: PzKpfw 38(t), 'Panzer 38(t)', Sd. Kfz. 140
In March 1939 Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia and took over the Czech arms manufacturing industries. The LT-38 tank, then in production, was renamed to Panzer 38(t)
(with "t" standing for tschechisch, German
for Czech). Prior to the start of the war, 78 Panzer 38(t) tanks had been produced.
Germany continued producing the Panzer 38(t) during the war. By early 1942, it was clearly obsolete. However, the production lines were already running, the vehicle was mechanically reliable, and the factory would have had difficulty moving over to larger tanks, so it was decided to find other uses for the Panzer 38(t) chassis.
Variants:
Panzer III
Also known as: PzKpfw III, 'Panzer III', Sd. Kfz. 141
The Panzer III was designed as a medium tank, with a high-velocity 37 mm gun. Pre-war production was 98 vehicles. During the war, the Pz III was upgunned to a 50 mm L/42 gun, then to an even higher velocity 50 mm L/60 gun, in order to improve its anti-tank performance. A low-velocity 75 mm gun was also fitted (using the same mount as the early Panzer IV), but since the tank was not large enough to fit a high-velocity 75 mm gun, production was halted mid-war, although the chassis continued to be used to build assault guns.
The Panzer III was the first tank to have a 3-man turret: the commander did not have to double up as a loader or a gunner, so he could concentrate on commanding the tank.
Variants:
Panzer IV
Also known as: PzKpfw IV, 'Panzer IV', Sd. Kfz. 161
The Panzer IV was designed alongside the Panzer III. The Panzer IV was a slightly larger and heavier tank, and with its large calibre low velocity gun, it was designed to break through enemy positions. Pre-war production was 211 tanks. Originally armed with a low-velocity 75 mm L/24 gun, in 1942 this was upgraded to a 75 mm L/43 gun, and 1943 to a 75 mm L/48 gun.
Variants:
The Panther was a medium tank of the German Army in World War II. Until 1944 it was designated as the PzKpfw V Panther.
The production Panther was a direct response to the Soviet T-34, and the winner of a competition that pitted a clone of the T-34 built by Daimler-Benz
against one that only copied most of its key features.
Variants:
Panzer VI Ausf. E "Tiger"
Also known as: PzKpfw VIE, 'Panzer VIE', Tiger I, Sd. Kfz. 181
The Tiger I (Panzer VIE) was armed with an 88 mm L/56 gun. On May 26, 1941 Hitler ordered the Henschel and Porsche
firms to design a new heavy tank. Franz Xaver Reimspiess developed the Panzer Tiger. Reimspiess was the leader of the Nibelungen Panzer factory in Upper Austria. The Henschel design won the competition and became the Tiger
;
However, Henschel was unable to make the 88 mm main gun fit in a turret, and used Porsche's turret design on all of their tigers. A few Porsche Tigers were made, with a different chassis, but these were not as reliable as the Henschel model. Many of the Porsche chassis were converted into tank destroyers, known as Elefant
.
Variant:
Panzer VI Ausf. B "Königstiger"
Also known as: PzKpfw VIB, 'Panzer VIB', Tiger II, King Tiger, Royal Tiger, Sd. Kfz. 182
The Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II Ausf. B "Königstiger" (Sd. Kfz.182) / VK4503(H) was a heavy tank in the latter half of World War II. Armed with an 88 mm L/71 gun the vehicle could perform well in the defensive role on the eastern and western fronts but was an expensive failure for Nazi Germany
when used in an offensive role as a main battle tank
. The Tiger II combined one of the most capable AT guns of the period with heavy armour, but had an over-burdened engine and lacked reliability.
Variant:
Grille
150 mm heavy infantry gun built on Panzer 38(t)
chassis, sometimes wrongly named "Bison"
Hummel
The Hummel was a self propelled artillery piece fielding a 150 mm howitzer on a chassis that combined features of both the Panzer III
and Panzer IV
. Some 666 Hummels plus 150 Hummel ammunition carriers were built from 1943 to 1944.
Heuschrecke
The Heuschrecke was a self propelled artillery piece with a 105 millimetre leFH 18/1 L/28 on a Panzer IV
chassis.
Assault gun
An assault gun
is an armoured fighting vehicle
similar to a tank
, but typically does not have a traversable turret
, and may have an open roof. The removal of the turret allows for a much larger gun to be carried on a smaller chassis. They are not intended to fight other AFVs, but instead directly support infantry during assaults on prepared positions. However they were still often fitted with AT guns to destroy AFVs.
During World War II Germany built many more assault guns than tanks, because of their relative cheapness and simplicity.
Elefant
The Elefant
(Sd. Kfz. 184) used the chassis of Porsche's losing entry for the Tiger I
competition. On top of this chassis, a forward-facing 88 mm L/71 gun was mounted. A total of 90 Elefants were produced, all in 1943.
Early production models of Elefant were also known as the Ferdinand, after its designer, Dr Ferdinand Porsche
.
Half-track
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
used an extensive variety of combat vehicle
Combat vehicle
A combat vehicle, also known as a ground combat vehicle, is a self-propelled, weaponized military vehicle used for combat operations. Combat vehicles can be wheeled or tracked.- Automation :...
s during the Second World War. This article is a summary of those vehicles.
Panzer IPanzer IThe Panzer I was a light tank produced in Germany in the 1930s. The name is short for the German ' , abbreviated . The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was SdKfz 101 .Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production in 1934...
Also known as: PzKpfw I, 'Panzer I', Sd. Kfz. 101The Panzer I was not intended as a combat vehicle, but more to familiarise industry and the army with tanks. By the time production had ended in 1937, a total of 1867 Pz I hulls had been produced, of which 1493 were fitted with turrets, and the rest used as command or training vehicles.
Variants:
- Panzerjäger IPanzerjäger IThe Panzerjäger I was the first of the German tank destroyers to see service in the Second World War. It mounted a Czech Skoda cm PaK anti-tank gun on a converted Panzer I Ausf. B chassis...
= captured Czech 47 mm Pak(t) 36 L/43.4 on Panzer I chassis (Sd. Kfz.101) - Sturmpanzer IPanzer IThe Panzer I was a light tank produced in Germany in the 1930s. The name is short for the German ' , abbreviated . The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was SdKfz 101 .Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production in 1934...
(Bison), 150 mm heavy infantry gun on Panzer I Ausf.B chassis
Panzer IIPanzer IIThe Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
Also known as: PzKpfw II, 'Panzer II', Sd. Kfz. 121The Panzer II was a heavier vehicle, designed to replace the Panzer I. It was armed with a 20 mm cannon which had some anti-armour capability. Before the war started, 1223 had been built.
Variants:
- Panzer II (f) = flamethrower tank
- Marder IIMarder IIThe Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis.-History:During the very first days of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans were shocked to encounter Soviet T-34 medium tanks and KV heavy tanks...
= 75 mm Pak 40 gun on Panzer II chassis (Sd. Kfz. 131) - Marder IIMarder IIThe Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis.-History:During the very first days of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans were shocked to encounter Soviet T-34 medium tanks and KV heavy tanks...
= captured Russian 76.2 mm gun on Panzer II Ausf. D/E chassis (Sd. Kfz. 132) - WespeWespeThe SdKfz 124 Wespe , also known as Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II , was a German self-propelled artillery vehicle developed and used during the Second World War...
= 105 mm light field howitzer on Panzer II chassis (Sd. Kfz. 124)
Panzer 35(t)Panzer 35(t)The Panzerkampfwagen 35, commonly shortened to Panzer 35 or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35, was a Czechoslovak-designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II. The letter stood for tschechisch...
Also known as PzKpfw 35(t)In March 1939 Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia and took over the Czech arms manufacturing industries. The LT-35 tank was renamed to Panzer 35(t) with "t" standing for tschechisch, the German word for Czech.
Panzer 38(t)Panzer 38(t)The Panzerkampfwagen 38 was originally a Czech tank of pre-World War II design. After Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany, it was adopted by the German Army, seeing service in the invasions of Poland and Russia. Production ended in 1942, when its armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over...
Also known as: PzKpfw 38(t), 'Panzer 38(t)', Sd. Kfz. 140In March 1939 Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia and took over the Czech arms manufacturing industries. The LT-38 tank, then in production, was renamed to Panzer 38(t)
Panzer 38(t)
The Panzerkampfwagen 38 was originally a Czech tank of pre-World War II design. After Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany, it was adopted by the German Army, seeing service in the invasions of Poland and Russia. Production ended in 1942, when its armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over...
(with "t" standing for tschechisch, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for Czech). Prior to the start of the war, 78 Panzer 38(t) tanks had been produced.
Germany continued producing the Panzer 38(t) during the war. By early 1942, it was clearly obsolete. However, the production lines were already running, the vehicle was mechanically reliable, and the factory would have had difficulty moving over to larger tanks, so it was decided to find other uses for the Panzer 38(t) chassis.
Variants:
- Marder 138 (Marder IIIMarder IIIThe Marder III is the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers built on the chassis of the Panzer 38. The German word Marder means "marten" in English...
) = 75 mm Pak 40 gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (Sd. Kfz. 138) - Marder 139 (Marder IIIMarder IIIThe Marder III is the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers built on the chassis of the Panzer 38. The German word Marder means "marten" in English...
)= captured Russian 76.2 mm gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (Sd. Kfz. 139) - GrilleGrille (artillery)The Grille series of self propelled artillery vehicles were used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38 tank and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.-Development:...
= 150 mm heavy infantry gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (SdKfz 138/1) - Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer"HetzerThe Jagdpanzer 38 , later known as Hetzer , was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38 chassis. The project was inspired by the Romanian "Mareşal" tank destroyer.The name Hetzer was at the time not commonly used for this vehicle...
= 75 mm L/48 Pak39 gun on a widened Pz 38(t) chassis
Panzer IIIPanzer IIIPanzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
Also known as: PzKpfw III, 'Panzer III', Sd. Kfz. 141The Panzer III was designed as a medium tank, with a high-velocity 37 mm gun. Pre-war production was 98 vehicles. During the war, the Pz III was upgunned to a 50 mm L/42 gun, then to an even higher velocity 50 mm L/60 gun, in order to improve its anti-tank performance. A low-velocity 75 mm gun was also fitted (using the same mount as the early Panzer IV), but since the tank was not large enough to fit a high-velocity 75 mm gun, production was halted mid-war, although the chassis continued to be used to build assault guns.
The Panzer III was the first tank to have a 3-man turret: the commander did not have to double up as a loader or a gunner, so he could concentrate on commanding the tank.
Variants:
- Panzer III A-F= armed with 37 mm L/45 gun
- Panzer III F-M = armed with 50 mm L/42 or L/60 gun
- Panzer III N = armed with 75 mm L/24 gun, used for Infantry support
- Panzer III (f) = armed with flamethrower
- Sturmgeschütz IIISturmgeschütz IIIThe Sturmgeschütz III assault gun was Germany's most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank...
= Sturmgeschütz 40= Assault Gun armed with 75 mm L/24 (A-E), later with L/43 (F) and L/48 gun (F8 & G) (Sd. Kfz. 142) - StuH 42Sturmgeschütz IIIThe Sturmgeschütz III assault gun was Germany's most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank...
= Sturmhaubitze 42. StuG III with 105 mm light field howitzer (Sd. Kfz. 142/2)
Panzer IVPanzer IVThe Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
Also known as: PzKpfw IV, 'Panzer IV', Sd. Kfz. 161The Panzer IV was designed alongside the Panzer III. The Panzer IV was a slightly larger and heavier tank, and with its large calibre low velocity gun, it was designed to break through enemy positions. Pre-war production was 211 tanks. Originally armed with a low-velocity 75 mm L/24 gun, in 1942 this was upgraded to a 75 mm L/43 gun, and 1943 to a 75 mm L/48 gun.
Variants:
- Panzer IV A-F1 = Panzer IV with 75 mm L/24 gun
- Panzer IV F2-J = Panzer IV with 75 mm L/43 or L/48 gun
- Sturmgeschütz IVSturmgeschütz IVThe Sturmgeschütz IV , was a German assault gun of the Second World War.-Development:The Sturmgeschütz IV resulted from Krupp's effort to supply an assault gun...
= Assault Gun. Superstructure of Sturmgeschütz IIISturmgeschütz IIIThe Sturmgeschütz III assault gun was Germany's most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank...
on Panzer IV chassis; armed with 75 mm L/48 gun (Sd. Kfz. 167) - Jagdpanzer IVJagdpanzer IVThe Jagdpanzer IV, Sd.Kfz. 162, was a tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer designs, it was developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian, the inspector general of the Panzertruppen, as a replacement for the...
= Tank Destroyer with 75 mm L/48, later L/70, gun on Panzer IV chassis (Sd. Kfz. 162) - Sturmpanzer IVBrummbärThe Sturmpanzer IV 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 helped to put down the Warsaw Uprising...
Brummbär with 150 mm field howitzer on Panzer IV chassis (Sd. Kfz. 166) - HummelHummel (artillery)The Hummel was a self-propelled artillery gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis, armed with a 15 cm howitzer. It was used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War from late 1942 until the end of the war....
= 150 mm field howitzer on Geschützwagen III/IV chassis (Sd. Kfz. 165) - HornisseNashornNashorn , initially known as Hornisse , was a German tank destroyer of World War II. It was developed as an interim solution in 1942 and was armed with the outstanding Pak 43 anti-tank gun...
= 88 mm Pak43/1 auf Geschützwagen III/IV, later known as Nashorn (Sd. Kfz. 164) - MöbelwagenMöbelwagenThe 3.7cm FlaK auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV , nicknamed Möbelwagen because of its boxy turret , was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built from the chassis of the Panzer IV tank...
= Anti Aircraft. 37 mm Flak 43 L/89 on Panzer IV chassis (Flakpanzer IV Sd. Kfz.161/3) - WirbelwindWirbelwindThe Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft gun Möbelwagen....
= Anti Aircraft. quadruple 20 mm Flak 38 L/112.5 guns on Panzer IV chassis, with armoured turret (Flakpanzer IV) - OstwindOstwindThe Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind" was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft gun Wirbelwind....
= Anti Aircraft. 37 mm Flak 43 L/89 on Panzer IV chassis, with armoured turret (Flakpanzer IV)
Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther"
Also known as: PzKpfw V, 'Panzer V', Panther, Sd. Kfz. 171The Panther was a medium tank of the German Army in World War II. Until 1944 it was designated as the PzKpfw V Panther.
The production Panther was a direct response to the Soviet T-34, and the winner of a competition that pitted a clone of the T-34 built by Daimler-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
against one that only copied most of its key features.
Variants:
- Panther Ausf. D = first production version, armed with 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 gun
- Panther Ausf. A = second production version, improved Ausf. D
- Panther Ausf. G = additional armour
- JagdpantherJagdpantherThe Jagdpanther was a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service late in the war and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts...
= Tank Destroyer with an 88 mm L/71 PaK 43 gun on Panzer V chassis (Sd. Kfz. 173)
Panzer VI Ausf. E "Tiger"Tiger ITiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
Also known as: PzKpfw VIE, 'Panzer VIE', Tiger I, Sd. Kfz. 181The Tiger I (Panzer VIE) was armed with an 88 mm L/56 gun. On May 26, 1941 Hitler ordered the Henschel and Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
firms to design a new heavy tank. Franz Xaver Reimspiess developed the Panzer Tiger. Reimspiess was the leader of the Nibelungen Panzer factory in Upper Austria. The Henschel design won the competition and became the Tiger
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
;
However, Henschel was unable to make the 88 mm main gun fit in a turret, and used Porsche's turret design on all of their tigers. A few Porsche Tigers were made, with a different chassis, but these were not as reliable as the Henschel model. Many of the Porsche chassis were converted into tank destroyers, known as Elefant
Elefant
The Elefant was a "schwerer Panzerjäger" of the German Wehrmacht used in small numbers in World War II. It was built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche. In 1944, after modification of the existing vehicles, they were renamed Elefant...
.
Variant:
- SturmtigerSturmtigerSturmtiger is the common name of a World War II German assault gun built on the Tiger I chassis and armed with a large naval rocket launcher. The official German designation was Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61. Its primary task was to provide heavy fire support for infantry units...
was armed with a 380 mm mortar.
Panzer VI Ausf. B "Königstiger"Tiger IITiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B,Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. .The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf...
Also known as: PzKpfw VIB, 'Panzer VIB', Tiger II, King Tiger, Royal Tiger, Sd. Kfz. 182The Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II Ausf. B "Königstiger" (Sd. Kfz.182) / VK4503(H) was a heavy tank in the latter half of World War II. Armed with an 88 mm L/71 gun the vehicle could perform well in the defensive role on the eastern and western fronts but was an expensive failure for Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
when used in an offensive role as a main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
. The Tiger II combined one of the most capable AT guns of the period with heavy armour, but had an over-burdened engine and lacked reliability.
Variant:
- JagdtigerJagdtigerJagdtiger is the common name of a German tank destroyer of World War II. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B. The ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 186. It saw service in small numbers from late 1944 to the end of the war on both the Western and Eastern Front...
was armed with a 128 mm L/55 Pak44 gun (Sd. Kfz. 186)
GrilleGrille (artillery)The Grille series of self propelled artillery vehicles were used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38 tank and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.-Development:...
150 mm heavy infantry gun built on Panzer 38(t)Panzer 38(t)
The Panzerkampfwagen 38 was originally a Czech tank of pre-World War II design. After Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany, it was adopted by the German Army, seeing service in the invasions of Poland and Russia. Production ended in 1942, when its armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over...
chassis, sometimes wrongly named "Bison"
HummelHummel (artillery)The Hummel was a self-propelled artillery gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis, armed with a 15 cm howitzer. It was used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War from late 1942 until the end of the war....
The Hummel was a self propelled artillery piece fielding a 150 mm howitzer on a chassis that combined features of both the Panzer IIIPanzer III
Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
and Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
. Some 666 Hummels plus 150 Hummel ammunition carriers were built from 1943 to 1944.
HeuschreckeHeuschrecke 10The Heuschrecke 10 was a prototype self-propelled gun and Waffenträger developed by Krupp-Gruson between 1943 and 1944. The official designation of the vehicle was 105 mm leichte Feldhaubitze 18/1 L/28 auf Waffenträger Geschützwagen IVb and was to be built in Magdeburg, Germany...
The Heuschrecke was a self propelled artillery piece with a 105 millimetre leFH 18/1 L/28 on a Panzer IVPanzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
chassis.
Assault gunAssault gunAn assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
s
An assault gunAssault gun
An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
is an armoured fighting vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
similar to a tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, but typically does not have a traversable turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
, and may have an open roof. The removal of the turret allows for a much larger gun to be carried on a smaller chassis. They are not intended to fight other AFVs, but instead directly support infantry during assaults on prepared positions. However they were still often fitted with AT guns to destroy AFVs.
During World War II Germany built many more assault guns than tanks, because of their relative cheapness and simplicity.
Marder series
- Marder IMarder IThe Marder I "Marten" was a German World War II tank destroyer, armed with the 75 mm anti-tank gun. Most Marder I's were built on the base of the Tracteur Blindé 37L , a French artillery tractor/armoured personnel carrier of which the Germans had acquired more than three hundred after the Fall of...
(built on chassis of captured French and some polish tanks) - Marder IIMarder IIThe Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis.-History:During the very first days of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans were shocked to encounter Soviet T-34 medium tanks and KV heavy tanks...
(built on the Panzer IIPanzer IIThe Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
chassis) - Marder IIIMarder IIIThe Marder III is the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers built on the chassis of the Panzer 38. The German word Marder means "marten" in English...
(built on the Panzer 38(t)Panzer 38(t)The Panzerkampfwagen 38 was originally a Czech tank of pre-World War II design. After Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany, it was adopted by the German Army, seeing service in the invasions of Poland and Russia. Production ended in 1942, when its armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over...
chassis)
ElefantElefantThe Elefant was a "schwerer Panzerjäger" of the German Wehrmacht used in small numbers in World War II. It was built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche. In 1944, after modification of the existing vehicles, they were renamed Elefant...
The ElefantElefant
The Elefant was a "schwerer Panzerjäger" of the German Wehrmacht used in small numbers in World War II. It was built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche. In 1944, after modification of the existing vehicles, they were renamed Elefant...
(Sd. Kfz. 184) used the chassis of Porsche's losing entry for the Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
competition. On top of this chassis, a forward-facing 88 mm L/71 gun was mounted. A total of 90 Elefants were produced, all in 1943.
Early production models of Elefant were also known as the Ferdinand, after its designer, Dr Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
.
Half-trackHalf-trackA half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cross-country capabilities of a tank and the handling...
s
- SdKfz 2SdKfz 2The SdKfz 2, better known as the Kleines Kettenkraftrad HK 101 or Kettenkrad for short , started its life as a light tractor for airborne troops. The vehicle was designed to be delivered by Junkers Ju 52 aircraft, though not by parachute...
- SdKfz 4SdKfz 4The SdKfz 4 Gleisketten-Lastkraftwagen , nicknamed Maultier was a family of half-tracks developed during World War II by Germany.-Development:...
- SdKfz 6SdKfz 6The SdKfz 6 was a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was designed to be used as the main towing vehicle for the 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer. However it proved far too expensive and was phased out in 1941 for more economic halftracks...
- SdKfz 7SdKfz 7The Sd.Kfz. 7 was a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS during the Second World War....
- SdKfz 10SdKfz 10The Sd.Kfz. 10 was a German half-track that saw very widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for small towed guns such as the 2 cm FlaK 30, the 7.5 cm leIG, or the 3.7 cm PaK 36 anti-tank gun...
- SdKfz 250SdKfz 250The Sd.Kfz. 250 was a light armoured halftrack, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II....
- SdKfz 251SdKfz 251The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Hanomag company during World War II. The largest and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle....
Armoured cars
- SdKfz 221
- SdKfz 222
- SdKfz 223
- SdKfz 231
- SdKfz 232
- SdKfz 233
- SdKfz 234SdKfz 234The SdKfz 234 was an eight-wheeled armoured car used by the German Army in the Second World War. It broadly resembles the SdKfz 231 .-Design:...
- SdKfz 263
- Panzerwagen ADGZADGZThe ADGZ was originally developed as a heavy armored car for the Austrian army from 1934 and delivered from 1935-37.-History:...
Other types
- Goliath tracked mineGoliath tracked mineThe Goliath tracked mine - complete German name: Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath - was a remote controlled German-engineered demolition vehicle, also known as the beetle tank to Allies....
- a small, single operator tank - BergepantherPanther tankPanther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
- armoured recovery vehicle based on the Panther chassis - KugelpanzerKugelpanzerThe Kugelpanzer was a prototype tank built by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was one of the most unusual armoured fighting vehicles ever built....
Sd. Kfz. numbers
SdKfz stood for Sonder Kraftfahrzeug or ‘special-purpose vehicle'. SdKfz designations were assigned to armoured vehicles and other vehicles put in military service for a specific purpose. The system was used by Germany prior to and throughout World War II.- Sd. Kfz. 100s for PzKpfw I versions
- Sd. Kfz. 120s for PzKpfw II versions
- Sd. Kfz. 140s for PzKpfw III versions
- Sd. Kfz. 160s for PzKpfw IV versions
- Sd. Kfz. 170s for PzKpfw V versions
- Sd. Kfz. 180s for PzKpfw VI versions
- Sd. Kfz. 1s, 10s, and 200s for half-trackHalf-trackA half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cross-country capabilities of a tank and the handling...
s and armoured cars
Country codes for adopted foreign equipment
- a - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Amerika) - b - BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- e - EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- f - FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- h - NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Holland) - i - ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- k - CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Kanada) - ö - AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
(Österreich) - p - PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
- r - Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(Russland, ‘Russia’) - t - CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
(Tschechoslowakei), for example, Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)
See also
- German armoured fighting vehicle production during World War IIGerman armored fighting vehicle production during World War IIThis article lists production figures for German armored fighting vehicles during the World War II era. Vehicles include tanks, self-propelled artillery, assault guns and tank destroyers....
- Comparison of early World War II tanksComparison of early World War II tanksThis table compare the tanks in use by the belligerent nations of Europe at the start of the Second World War, employed in the Polish Campaign , the Fall of France , and Operation Barbarossa ....