Panzer I

Specification

• Type : Light Tank
  
• Nation : Germany (NAZI era)
  
• Design : 1933-1934
  
• Manufacturer : Krupp, Daimler, MAN, Henschell
  
• Produced : 1934-1936
  
• Number Built : 833
  
• Weight : 5.4 tonnes
  
• Lenght : 4.02 m
  
• Width  : 2.06 m
  
• Height : 1.72 m
  
• Crew   : 2 (Commander and Driver)
  
• Armor  : 7-13 mm
  
• Primary Armaments: 2/ 7.92 mm MG 13 machine guns
  
• Engine : Krupp M 305 four cylinder air cooled gasoline 60 PS (59 hp, 44 kW)
  
• Power/weight : 11.1 PS/t
  
• Suspension : Quarter-elliptical leaf spring suspension.
  
• Operational range : 200 km on-road; 175 km off-road.
  
• Speed : 50 km/h on-road; 37 km/h off-road.
  

History

The Panzer I is a light tank which was produced in Germany in the 1930s. The name is short for the German Panzerkampfwagen I (armored fighting vehicle mark I), abbreviated PzKpfw I. The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was SdKfz 101.

Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production in 1934. Although intended only as a training tank to introduce the concept of armored warfare to the German Army, the Panzer I saw combat in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, in Poland, France, Soviet Union and North Africa during the Second World War, and even in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Based on experience gathered during the Spanish Civil War, the Panzer I helped shape the German armored corps used to invade Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. By 1941, Panzer I chassis were being reused for production of tank destroyers and assault guns. There were attempts to upgrade the Panzer I throughout its service history, including by foreign nations to increase its lifespan. It continued to serve in the armed forces of Spain until 1954.