Tag: panzer i

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German

Gw. I für 15 cm s.I.G. 33: S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer

Gw. I für 15 cm s.I.G. 33: S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer -- Bison I

This equipment consists of the 15 cm heavy infantry howitzer mounted on a turretless Pz. Kpfw. I model “B” chassis. This howitzer is also mounted on the Pz. Kpfw. II, and the Pz. Kpfw 38 (t) chassis. Due to the additional weight carried by the chassis, which approximates 3 tons more than its normal Pz. Kpfw. I complement, its road performance does not equal that of the Pz. Kpfw. I tank. The general appearance suggests that the equipment is overloaded.

The howitzer, which probably retains its wheels and trails, in addition to its original shield, traversing and elevating mechanisms, is mounted high in a tall, three-sided shield, and fires forward. The shield is 10 mm thick and is open at the top and rear.

The 15 cm. s.I.G. 33 is a standard German infantry support weapon. It has a length of 64.57 ins. and is used for either high or low trajectory shooting. It has a muzzle velocity of 790 f.s. and a maximum effective range of 5140 yards firing the 83.6 lb. H.E. shell with percussion fuze s.I. gr. Z. 23. The breech mechanism is of standard German type, and is similar to the 10.5 cm. l.F.H. 18 breech mechanism. The elevating gear is operated from the right. It consists of a worm gear, rack, pinion and shafting. The traversing gear is operated from the left by a system of gear wheels and shafting. The recoil system of buffer and recuperator is housed in a casing underneath the barrel.

Two types of ammunition are fired, the 15 cm I. Gr. 33 and the 15 cm I. Gr. 38. The two types of ammunition are for all practical purposes identical except that the former has a screwed-in base plate. The only other shell that this weapon is known to fire is a smoke shell, the 15 cm I. Gr. 38 Nb. The same percussion fuze, s.I. Gr. Z. 23, which weighs 75 lb., is used in each case.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         9 tons
Length 14 ft., 6 ins.
Width 6 ft., 9 ins.
Height (approx.) 11 ft.
Ground clearance 11 1/2 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 5 ins.
Ground contact 8 ft.
Width of track 11 ins.
Pitch of track 3 11/16 ins.
Track links 99
Fording depth 2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 87 miles
     Cross-country 72 miles
Speed
     Roads
     Cross-country
Armor
     Front plate 15 mm
     Sides 10 mm
     Gun shield 10 mm
Armament 15 cm S.I.G. 33
Ammunition (rds.)
Engine 100 h.p. Maybach Model N.L. 38 T
Transmission 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch brake
Crew         Probably 4

German: p. 5

Categories
German

Pz. Jäg. I für 4.7 cm Pak (t): S.P. Antitank Gun (Czech)

Pz. Jäg. I für 4.7 cm Pak (t): S.P. Antitank Gun (Czech)

This equipment, which is primarily a tank-hunter, was created by combining the 4.7 cm Czech antitank gun with the chassis of the Pz. Kpfw. I, Model B tank. Consequently its road performance approximates that of the Model B tank.

The turret arrangement consists of a three-sided welded shield, open at the top and rear, bolted to the superstructure by means of internal flanges. The driver’s seat is on the floor to the left rear of the gear box.

The fitting of the gun to the chassis is crude in many respects and not up to the usual standard of German workmanship or design. The gun is mounted on a steel frame, within the shield, in the front half of the vehicle. It is a single shot, high velocity weapon. The barrel is a one-piece forging fitted with a large and heavy muzzle brake and flash eliminator. The breech mechanism is of the vertical sliding block type. The gun is automatically cocked when the breech is opened. The elevating gear is on the left hand side of the gun and is controlled by an elevating wheel with a folding handle. The traversing gear is behind the elevating hand wheel. Traverse is limited by a spring-loaded stop to 15 deg. left or right. The recoil mechanism, which consists of a spring recuperator and liquid buffer, is housed in a cylindrical casing above the piece.

The gun utilizes the following types of ammunition—(1) A.P. tracer shell, (2) H.E. shell. At 300 yards the A.P. projectile effects a penetration of homogeneous armor of 2.3 ins. at 30 deg. obliquity; 3.0 ins. normal, and at 1000 yards will penetrate 1.8 in. at 30 deg. obliquity; 2.4 ins. normal.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         8.4 tons
Length 14 ft., 6 ins.
Width 6 ft., 9 ins.
Height 7 ft.
Ground clearance 11 1/2 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 8 ins.
Ground contact 8 ft.
Width of track 11 ins.
Pitch of track 3 11/16 ins.
Track links 99
Fording depth 2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 87 miles
     Cross-country 72 miles
Speed
     Roads 26 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 15 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate 15 mm
     Sides 10 mm
     Shield 15 mm
Armament 4.7 cm. Pak (t)
     Muzzle velocity (AP) Wt. 3.6 lb.—2540 f.s.
(HE) 1300 f.s.
     Effective range (HE) 1520 yds.
     Overall length 187.5 ins.
     Traverse 30°
     Elevation 12°
     Depression 8°
Ammunition (rds.) 74
Engine 100 h.p. 6-cyl. Maybach Model NL 38 TR
Transmission 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch brake
Crew         3

German: p. 4

Categories
German

Pz. Kpfw. I kl. Pz. Bef. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 265): Light Command Tank

Befehlspanzer: Pz. Kpfw. I kl. Pz. Bef. Wg. (Sd. Kfz. 265): Light Command Tank

This vehicle was planned as a commander’s armored office. Many of both Models A and B were used as Commander’s tanks. Some were used in the early battles on the Russian front.

The chassis is that of the standard Pz. Kpfw. I, Model B, and on this is mounted a fixed square turret with one machine gun in a ball mounting fitted forward to the right.

The turret is of octagonal form and comprises one unit with the upper glacis plate, the whole unit being of welded construction. It does not rotate and is bolted to the hull by means of an internal flange at the sides and rear, and by countersunk bolts at the front. A resilient gasket is fitted between the hull and turret. The cupola conforms to the shape of the turret top and is also of welded construction. Its corner plates are short and its internal measurement approximates 20 3/4 inches. Double slitted visors measuring 8 1/2 ins. x 3/4 in. are provided in each side.

Entry into the fighting compartment is by a pair of hinged 10 in. x 20 in. doors in the left side plate of the turret. An escape hatch, measuring 201/2 ins. square, is provided in the cupola top and is fitted with a pair of doors hinged to the right and left.

The hull is of welded construction except where additional armor is fitted, as in the case of the nose plates, where conical-headed bolts have been used. In some instances the extra plates are face hardened.

A mounting for a wireless aerial is provided on the right rear side of the turret. The aerial may be raised or lowered from the inside of the fighting compartment by a lever operating on a shaft coupled to the lead-in tube by insulated (porcelain) coupling. Radio communication forms an important adjunct in connection with the operation of these tanks.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight          6 tons
Length14 ft., 6 ins.
Width6 ft., 9 ins.
Height6 ft., 6 ins.
Ground clearance11 1/2 ins.
Tread centers5 ft., 5 ins.
Ground contact7 ft., 11 ins.
Width of track11 ins.
Pitch of track3 11/16 ins.
Track links99
Fording depth2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads87 miles
     Cross-country72 miles
Speed
     Roads32 m.p.h.
     Cross-country15 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate15 + 17 mm
     Sides15 mm
ArmamentOne 7.92 mm M.G. 34
Ammunition (rds.)(est.) 1500
Engine100 h.p. Maybach Model NL 38T
Transmission5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
SteeringClutch brake
Crew3

German: p. 3

Categories
German

Pz. Kpfw. I Aus. B (Sd. Kfz. 101): Light Tank

Pz. Kpfw. I Ausf. B (Sd. Kfz. 101): Light Tank

Produced by the Krupp Company. In this model the 100 horsepower, 6-cylinder, water-cooled Maybach engine replaced the former Krupp air-cooled engine.

The turret, from which the gunner’s seat is suspended, is hand traversed through 360°. The turret floor does not revolve. The inside diameter of the turret ring is 36 1/2 inches. The hull and superstructure are essentially the same as Model A.

The suspension differs from Model A in that an additional bogie wheel has been utilized. The trailing idler has been replaced by a rear elevated idler. There is also an additional return roller. The quarter elliptic spring is anchored to the under side of the transverse bogie casting allowing the spring to bump its own opposite end. The coil spring is not used except for the forward independently mounted bogie wheel. There are 99 links in the tracks.

With a bore of 90 mm and piston stroke of 100 mm the engine develops 100 h.p. at 3000 r.p.m. The valves are single overhead camshaft driven from helical timing gears at the rear of the engine, operating two inclined valves per cylinder through rockers mounted on independent shafts, one for inlet and one for exhaust The rockers are operated through rollers. Valve clearance is adjusted by rotation of eccentric bushings on rocker shafts. A Solex duplex type carburetor is utilized, and a Pallas gasoline fuel pump incorporating a bowl filter and hand primer, the latter operated by remote control from the fighting compartment. The transmission and steering mechanism remain the same as Model A.

The armament consists of two turret-mounted 7.92 mm M. G. 13’s. Five smoke candles are carried on a rack at the rear and may be released from inside the tank.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight        6 tons
Length 14 ft., 6 ins.
Width 6 ft., 9 ins.
Height 5 ft., 7 ins.
Ground clearance 11 1/2 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 5 ins.
Ground contact 8 ft.
Width of track 11 ins.
Pitch of track 3 11/16 ins.
Track links 99
Fording depth 2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 87 miles
     Cross-country 72 miles
Speed
     Roads 32 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 15 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate 15 mm
     Sides 10 mm
Armament Two 7.92 mm M. G. 13
Ammunition (rds.) 1525
Engine 100 h.p. Maybach Model N. L. 38 T
Transmission 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch brake
Crew 2

German: p. 2

Categories
German

Pz. Kpfw. I Aus. A (Sd. Kfz. 101): Light Tank

Pz. Kpfw. I Ausf. A (Sd. Kfz. 101): Light Tank

This tank was evolved from the experimental model K-1 which appeared in 1934. Manufactured by the Krupp Company, both tanks were equipped with an air-cooled, four-cylinder, 65 horsepower gasoline engine, Krupp Model M305.

The turret is of horseshoe design, with flat front, the sides and rear being one rolled plate. The superstructure is octagonal with driver’s vision port on the left side of the front plate. Pistol ports are located on three corners of the fighting compartment. An exhaust silencer is placed on each track guard to the rear.

The suspension consists of four rubber-tired bogie wheels, adjustable trailing idler, front sprocket, three return rollers and outside center-guide steel track with dry pin. The idler and rear bogie wheel are paired to articulate on a stub axle. The two center bogie wheels are paired also. Quarter elliptic springs, assisted by a coil spring, absorb road shock. The front bogie is independently mounted and resisted by a coil spring plus a luvax shock absorber. Both articulating bogies are connected by a steel girder.

From the engine the drive is taken to the propeller shaft to the clutch, thence to the crash-type transmission, which is mounted forward on the right of the driver. There are 5 speeds forward and one reverse.

From the transmission the drive is taken through a bevel gear box to steering units of the clutch and brake type on each side. The two steering levers are each provided with two grips, one for normal steering and the other with thumb plunger which operates a “fly-off” type catch for holding the levers back and thereby providing a parking brake. No normal hand brake is fitted. From the steering units the drive is taken via two rubber disc-type universal joints to the final drive reduction gears, mounted inside the hull, to single sprockets driving from the front.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight        5.7 tons
Length 13 ft., 2 ins.
Width 6 ft., 9 ins.
Height 5 ft., 7 ins.
Ground clearance 12 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 5 ins.
Ground contact 8 ft., 1 in.
Width of track 11 ins.
Pitch of track 3 11/16 ins.
Track links 89
Fording depth 2 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
   Roads 112 miles
   Cross-country 81 miles
Speed
   Roads 25 m.p.h.
   Cross-country 15 m.p.h.
Armor
   Front plate 14 mm
   Sides 10 mm
Armament Two 7.92 mm M.G. 13
Ammunition (rds.) 1525
Engine 65 h.p. Krupp Model M305
Transmission 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch brake
Crew 2

German: p. 1