Panzer 35 (t) | |
|---|---|
| Land | Duitsland |
| Type | Middelgrote Tank |
| Geproduceerd | 1936–1940 |
| Gebouwd | 434 |
De Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), gewoonlijk afgekort tot Panzer 35(t) of afgekort als Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was een Tsjechoslowaaks ontworpen lichte tank die voornamelijk door nazi-Duitsland werd gebruikt tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. De letter (t) stond voor tschechisch (Duits: "Tsjechisch"). In Tsjechoslowaakse dienst had het de formele aanduiding Lehký tank vzor 35 (Light Tank Model 35), maar werd gewoonlijk aangeduid als de LT vz. 35 of LT-35. Er werden er vierhonderdvierendertig gebouwd; hiervan namen de Duitsers er tweehonderdvierenveertig in beslag toen ze in maart 1939 Bohemen-Moravië bezetten en de Slowaken kregen er tweeënvijftig toen ze tegelijkertijd de onafhankelijkheid van Tsjechoslowakije uitriepen. Andere werden geëxporteerd naar Bulgarije en Roemenië. In Duitse dienst zag het gevechten tijdens de eerste jaren van de Tweede Wereldoorlog, met name de invasie van Polen, de Slag om Frankrijk en de invasie van de Sovjet-Unie voordat het in 1942 met pensioen ging of werd verkocht. Het werd gebruikt voor de rest van de oorlog door andere landen en als een trainingstank in Bulgarije in de jaren 1950.
| Panzer 35(t) | |
|---|---|
| Fotograaf | Dmitry Kiyatkin |
| Lokalisatie | Onbewust |
| Foto 's | 15 |
Koop een koffie voor mijZie ook:
The “Acquired” Light Tank
De Panzer 35 (t) was not originally a German design. It was the LT vz. 35, the backbone of the Czechoslovakian Army’s armored forces before the 1939 occupation. The “(t)” in its name stands for tschechisch (German for Czech). When Germany annexed Czechoslovakia, they inherited nearly 250 of these tanks. Impressed by their reliability and advanced features, the Wehrmacht integrated them into their Panzer Divisions. It was a sophisticated machine for the mid-1930s, featuring revolutionary (if complex) pneumatic systems that made it surprisingly easy to drive.
| Attribute | Technical Specification [Panzer 35(t)] |
|---|---|
| Role | Lichte Tank |
| Bemanning | 4 (Commander/Gunner, Loader, Driver, Radio Op) |
| Motor | Škoda T-11/0 6-cylinder petrol (120 hp) |
| Maximum Speed | 34 km/h (21 mph) |
| Main Armament | 3.7 cm KwK 34(t) L/40 (Škoda vz. 34) |
| Secondary Armament | 2 × 7.92 mm MG 37(t) machine guns |
| Armor Thickness | 8mm to 25mm (riveted) |
| Suspensie | Leaf spring with 8 small road wheels per side |
Design Engineering: The Pneumatic Pioneer
- Pneumatic Steering and Shifting: The LT vz. 35 was ahead of its time, using compressed air to assist the steering and gear shifting. This reduced driver fatigue significantly, allowing the tank to travel long distances without exhausting the crew. However, these systems were prone to freezing in the harsh Russian winter.
- Riveted Construction: Unlike later tanks that were welded, the 35(t) was held together by rivets. While easier to manufacture at the time, this was a hazard; a non-penetrating hit from a large shell could cause the rivets to pop off inside the tank like shrapnel, injuring the crew.
- Dual-Purpose Machine Gun: The bow-mounted machine gun could be operated by the radio operator or locked in place for the driver to fire via a cable, a quirky design feature typical of pre-war Czech engineering.
- Superior Optics: The Czech optics were considered some of the best in the world at the time, giving 35(t) commanders a distinct advantage in spotting and engaging targets at distance compared to early Soviet tanks.
Combat History: From Paris to the Gates of Moscow
- Blitzkrieg Workhorse: The 35(t) was a vital part of the 6th Panzer Division during the invasion of Poland (1939) and the Fall of France (1940). Its 37mm gun was effective against most light and medium tanks of that period.
- Operation Barbarossa: By June 1941, the 35(t) was becoming obsolete. While it performed well in the initial stages of the invasion of the USSR, it struggled against the T-34. More importantly, the extreme cold caused its pneumatic lines to brittle and crack, rendering the tanks immobile.
- Retirement and Conversion: By 1942, most 35(t) tanks were withdrawn from front-line service. Many were converted into Mörserzugmittel 35(t) (artillery tractors) or used for security duties in occupied territories.
- The Romanian “R-2”: Romania was a major user of the type, designating it the R-2. They used them extensively during the Battle of Stalingrad, where the tanks suffered heavy losses against Soviet heavy armor.
Views : 3895
