Luchs (tank)

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. L "Luchs" Panzerspähwagen II/Sd.Kfz. 123/VK 13.03
The Luchs at Musée des Blindés tank museum.
Type	Light tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1942–1945
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Daimler-Benz and MAN
Designed	1939–1942
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz and MAN
Produced	September 1942 – January 1944
No. built	100
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	11.8 t (11.6 long tons)
Length	4.63 m (15 ft 2 in)
Width	2.48 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height	2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)
Crew	4 (commander/gunner, driver, loader and radio operator)
Armor	See Armor layout section
Main armament	1 × 2 cm KwK 38 L/65
Secondary armament	1 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun
Engine	Maybach HL 66P 6-cylinder petrol 180 metric horsepower (178 hp)
Transmission	Aphon SSG48 (6-1)
Suspension	torsion bar
Fuel capacity	235 L
Operational range	260 km (on road)
Maximum speed	60 km/h

The Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. L "Luchs" (German for lynx) is a German light tank from the Second World War, developed between 1940 and 1942 by Daimler-Benz and MAN. The Luchs was the only Panzer II design with the Schachtellaufwerk overlapping/interleaved road wheels and "slack track" configuration to enter series production, with 100 being built from September 1943 to January 1944 in addition to the conversion of the four Ausf. M tanks. Originally given the experimental designation VK 13.03, it was adopted under the alternate name Panzerspähwagen II and given the popular name Luchs. The Luchs was larger than the Panzer II Ausf. G in most dimensions. With a six speed transmission (plus reverse), it could reach a speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) with a range of 260 km (160 mi). The FuG 12 and FuG Spr radios were installed, while 330 rounds of 20 mm and 2,250 rounds of 7.92 mm ammunition were carried.^[1]