Full Name | Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 Panzerkampfwagen II Ausführung A-F |
Class | Heavy Vehicle |
Movement | 5 |
Armor Value | 2 |
Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) | 5/4 |
Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) | 4/3 |
Traits | |
Period | 1939-1942 |
Theaters of Service |
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Germany designed this family of Panzerkampfwagen as a stopgap while it developed larger, more advanced tanks. It nonetheless went on to play an important role during the Polish and French campaigns, and also saw service in North Africa and on the Eastern Front. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions at the beginning of the war. By the end of 1942, it had been largely removed from front line service, but its chassis served as the foundation for the Marder II tank destroyer and Sd.Kfz. 124 Wespe self-propelled howitzer vehicles. Early variants carried a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 gun, and later variants a 2 cm KwK 38 L/55, each alongside a 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun in a fully-rotating turret. The gun lacked anti-personnel ammunition, and the small turret did not allow for installation of higher-caliber main guns. It could reach a top speed of 25 mph. German manufacturers produced 1,856 units between 1935 and early 1944 in many variants as the type evolved during its service life. This unit represents the Ausf. A through Ausf. K variants, with the Ausf. L represented in a distinct unit, the Panzerspähwagen II Luchs.