Panzer II Ausf C

Specification

• Crew : 3
  
• Weight : 8.9 tons
  
• Length : 4.81 meters
  
• Width : 2.22 meters
  
• Height : 1.99 meters
  
• Engine : Maybach HL62TR
  
• Transmission : 6 forward, 1 reverse
  
• Performance : 40 kph
  
• Range : 200 kilometers
  
• Armament : 1 x 20mm KwK30 L/55, 1 x 7.92 MG34
  
• Armor : 10 - 16mm
  

History

The Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf c was the final development version of the Panzer II light tank. The biggest change made on this version of the tank was the replacement of the six small paired road wheels of the Ausf a and Ausf b tanks with five larger independently sprung road wheels. The number of return rollers was also increased, from three to four. The Ausf c retained the 13mm armour of the earlier development versions. The new suspension increased the hieght of the tank by 3cm.

Some sources also suggest that changes were made to the superstructure, but this is not supported by photographic evidence.

None of my sources indicate how many of these tanks were produced. Twenty five were build using “ersatz molybdenum” steel (ersatz meaning substitute), which provides a low end to the range. Production of the Ausf c began in March 1937, while production of the Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf A began four months later, in June 1937. A total of 332 Panzer IIs had been built by the end of the year, of which 100 are accounted for by the Ausf a and Ausf b and 25 by the ersatz Ausf c, leaving 200 undefined.