Light tanks: the Panzer 38(t)

Il Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) – initially known as CKD LT vz.38 - was an important light tank used in the Second World War.

The vehicle was conceived and designed in the 1938s in Czechoslovakia by the CKD engineering company and was supposed to be the backbone of the Czechoslovakian armored units. However, the tank was made by the Germans after the military occupation of Czechoslovakia (started in XNUMX).

The main users of the vehicle were – in addition to Germany – the Kingdom of Romania, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Kingdom of Sweden, Iran, Peru and the Swiss Confederation. Furthermore, from the hull of the light tank, during the conflict, a fair number of armored vehicles were built and among these: the German tank destroyers Marder III e Jagdpanzer 38 and the Romanian tank destroyer TACAM T-38 (just to name a few).

Il Panzer 38 (t) It was produced from 1939 to 1942 and, in total, more than 1400 examples were built (for the German Army alone). The German Army used the tank until 1945 while the Peruvian Army until 1970. Furthermore, it is worth noting that Peru used the vehicle in the Second Ecuadorian-Peruvian War (July 1941).

It can be said that this tank, weighing about 10 tons, was “solid, fast, robust, so much so that it was considered one of the best armoured vehicles of the time, in its category”.¹

I Panzer 38(t) they took part inInvasion of Poland, All 'Operation Weserubung, to Campaign of France andOperation Barbarossa. However, on the Eastern Front the German tank proved to be clearly inferior to Soviet tanks (especially the T-34).

Il Panzer 38(t) It was 4,61 m long, 2,14 m wide, 2,25 m high and weighed almost 10 tons.

The armor was 8-30 mm (AD model) and 8-50 mm (EG model). The armament consisted of a 7 mm Skoda A37 cannon and 7,92 mm machine guns.

Engine: Praga Typ TNHPS/II petrol 6-cylinder, power 123,3 hp. The maximum speed was 42 km/h on the road.

The vessel could count on a crew of 4 men.