VK 16.02 Leopard

VK 16.02 Leopard
TypeLight tank
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In serviceNever produced
Production history
DesignerM.A.N. / MIAG / Daimler-Benz
Designed1942
Variants2
Specifications (as designed)
Mass21,900 kilograms (48,300 lb)
Length4.74 metres (15 ft 7 in)
Width3.1 metres (10 ft 2 in)
Height2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in)
Crew4

Armor16–50 mm
Main
armament
5 cm KwK 39 (planned)
Secondary
armament
7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns
EngineMaybach HL 157 P
550 horsepower (410 kW)
TransmissionMaybach OG 55 11 77 semi-automatic
SuspensionTorsion bar
Ground clearance500mm
Operational
range
500 kilometres (310 mi) (on roads), 300 kilometres (190 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) on roads, 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) cross-country
Steering
system
Multi-stage

The VK 16.02 Leopard was a planned German light reconnaissance vehicle designed from mid-1941 through to January 1943, with serial production scheduled for April 1943. It was intended to be the replacement of Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs". The project was canceled in January 1943 before the first prototype was completed as it did not meet the requirements for 1944. A wooden mock up of the Waffenträger (English: "weapon carrier") variant was produced.