Panzer 38(t)

Not to be confused with T-38 tank, a Soviet light tank.

Panzerkampfwagen 38(t)
Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. S at the German Tank Museum
TypeLight tank
Place of originCzechoslovakia
Service history
In service1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1938–1970 (Peru)[1]
Used by
Wars
Production history
DesignerČKD
ManufacturerČKD
Produced1939–1942
No. built1,414 (for Germany)
Specifications
Mass9.725–9.85 tonnes (9.571–9.694 long tons; 10.720–10.858 short tons)
Length4.61 m (15 ft 1 in)
Width2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
Height2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) (overall)
Crew4 (in German service) / 3 (as originally designed)
Armor
  • 8–30 mm (Ausf. A–D)
  • 8–50 mm (Ausf. E–G)
Main
armament
37 mm KwK 38(t) L/47.8
Secondary
armament
2× 7.92 mm ZB-53 (MG 37(t)) machine guns
EnginePraga Typ TNHPS/II
water-cooled, 6-cylinder gasoline engine
123.3 hp (125.0 PS; 91.9 kW)
Power/weight13.15 PS/tonne
Transmission5 + 1 Praga-Wilson Typ CV
Suspensionleaf spring
Ground clearance0.40 m
Fuel capacity220 litres (58 US gal)
Operational
range
  • 250 km (160 mi) (road)
  • 160 km (99 mi) (cross-country)
[2]
Maximum speed
  • 42 km/h, 26.1 mph (road)
  • 15 km/h, 9.3 mph (off-road)

The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), originally known as the ČKD LT vz. 38, was a tank designed during the 1930s, which saw extensive service during World War II.[3] Developed in Czechoslovakia by Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk (ČKD), the type was adopted by Nazi Germany following the annexation of Czechoslovakia.[3] With the German Army and other Axis forces, the type saw service in the invasions of Poland, France and the USSR.[3] Production ended in 1942, when its main armament was deemed inadequate.[4] In all, over 1,400 Pz. 38(t)s were manufactured.[4] The chassis of the Pz. 38(t) continued to be produced for the Marder III (1942–1944) with some of its components used in the later Jagdpanzer 38 (1944–1945) tank destroyer and its derivative vehicles.

The (t) stands for tschechisch, the German word for Czech; the Czechoslovak military designation was LT vz. 38 (Lehký tank vzor 38, Light Tank model 38).[3] Manufacturer's designations included TNH series, TNHPS, LTP and LTH.[3] The special vehicle (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.[5]

  1. ^ Halada, Andrej (28 September 2012). "Československý tank z Peru dosedl po 74 letech na rodnou půdu". Czech Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  2. ^ Jentz, T. (1996). Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933–1942. Schiffer. p. 281.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf.A". Tank Encyclopedia. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Panzerkampfwagen 38(t)". Military History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  5. ^ "LT vz. 38 / PzKpfW 38(t) (SdKfz 140)". Military Factory. Retrieved 24 January 2022.