World War II.: Panzers

Panzers were used to create a breakthrou and to eliminate enemy machine gun nest or to support infantry in urban terrains.

Panzer III

Service history
Type	Medium tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
In service	1939–1945
Used by	Nazi Germany Kingdom of Romania Slovak Republic Kingdom of Hungary Independent State of Croatia Turkey Norway
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Daimler-Benz
Designed	1935-1937
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz
Produced	1939–1943
Number built	5,774 (excluding StuG III)
Specifications
Weight	23.0 tonnes (25.4 short tons)
Length	6.41 m (20 ft)
Width	2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew	5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)

Armor	5–70 mm (0.20–2.8 in)
Primary armament	1 × 3.7 cm KwK 36 Ausf. A-F 1 × 5 cm KwK 38 Ausf. F-J 1 × 5 cm KwK 39 Ausf. J¹-M 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 37 Ausf. N
Secondary armament	2-3 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine	12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight	12 hp/t
Suspension	Torsion-bar suspension
Operational range	155 km (96 mi)
Speed	Road: 40 km/h (25 mph) Off-road: 20 km/h (12 mph)

Panzer IV

Service history
Type	Medium tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
In service	1939–1967
Used by	Nazi Germany Romania Turkey Hungary Bulgaria Finland Spain Croatia Syria
Wars	World War II, Six-Day War
Production history
Designer	Krupp
Designed	1936
Manufacturer	Krupp, Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Unit cost	~ 103,462 Reichsmarks^[1]
Produced	1936–45
Number built	8,800 (estimate)
Specifications (Pz IV Ausf H, 1943^[2])
Weight	25.0 tonnes (27.6 short tons; 24.6 long tons)
Length	5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in) 7.02 metres (23 ft 0 in) gun forward
Width	2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height	2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew	5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)

Armor	10–80 mm (0.39–3.1 in)
Primary armament	7.5 cm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/48 main gun (87 rds.)
Secondary armament	2–3 × 7.92-mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine	12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight	12 PS/t
Transmission	6 forward and 1 reverse ratios
Suspension	Leaf spring
Fuel capacity	470 l (120 US gal)
Operational range	200 km (120 mi)
Speed	42 km/h (26 mph) road, 16 km/h (9.9 mph) off road

Panzer V "Panther"

Service history
Type	Medium tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
In service	1943–1945 (Nazi Germany)
Used by	Nazi Germany (main user) France (a few captured) Soviet Union (a few captured) Romania (~21 post war) Bulgaria (a few captured) Hungary (a few captured)
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	MAN AG
Designed	1942
Manufacturer	initially to be built by MAN in Nürnberg, Daimler-Benz in Berlin-Marienfelde, Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen Hannover (MNH) in Hannover, and Henschel & Sohn in Kassel.
Unit cost	Ausf. D initial contract unit cost RM 117,100 (excluding armament)
Produced	1942–1945
Number built	about 6,000^[1]
Specifications
Weight	44.8 tonnes (44.1 long tons; 49.4 short tons)^[2]
Length	6.87 metres (22 ft 6 in) 8.66 metres (28 ft 5 in) gun forward^[2]
Width	3.27 metres (10 ft 9 in)^[2] 3.42 metres (11 ft 3 in) with skirts
Height	2.99 metres (9 ft 10 in)
Crew	5 (Driver, radio-operator/hull machine gunner, commander, gunner, loader)

Armor	15–120 mm (0.59–4.7 in)
Primary armament	1 × 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 79 rounds^[2]
Secondary armament	2 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 5,100 rounds
Engine	V-12 petrol Maybach HL230 P30^[2] 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight	15.39 PS/tonne (13.77 hp/ton)
Transmission	ZF AK 7-200. 7 forward 1 reverse^[2]
Suspension	double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Operational range	250 km (160 mi)
Speed	55 km/h (34 mph) (first models), 46 km/h (29 mph) (later models)

Panzer VI "Tiger I"

Service history
Type	Heavy tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
In service	1942–1945
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Henschel & Son
Designed	1941
Manufacturer	Henschel
Unit cost	250,800 RM ^[2]
Produced	1942–1944
Number built	1,347^{[Notes 1]}
Specifications
Weight	56.9 tonnes or 62.72 tons
Length	6.29 m (20 ft 8 in) 8.45 m (27 ft 9 in) (gun forward)
Width	3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
Height	3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew	5

Armour	25–120 mm (0.98–4.7 in)^[3]^[4]
Primary armament	1× 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56 92 rounds (106 and 120 rounds for some modifications)
Secondary armament	2× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 4,800 rounds
Engine	Maybach HL230 P45 (V-12 petrol) 700 PS (690.4 hp, 514.8 kW)
Power/weight	12.3 PS/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	110–195 km (68–121 mi)
Speed	38 km/h (24 mph)

Tiger II

Service history
Type	Heavy tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
In service	1944–1945
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Henschel & Son / Krupp (turret)
Designed	1943
Manufacturer	Henschel & Son / Krupp (turret)
Produced	1943–1945
Number built	492 ^[1]
Specifications
Weight	68.5 tonnes (67.4 long tons; 75.5 short tons) (early turret) 69.8 tonnes (68.7 long tons; 76.9 short tons) (production turret)^[2]
Length	6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in) 10.286 metres (33 ft 9 in) with gun forward^[2]
Width	3.755 metres (12 ft 4 in)^[2]
Height	3.09 metres (10 ft 2 in)
Crew	5 (commander, gunner, loader, radio operator, driver)

Armor	25–180 mm (1–7 in)
Primary armament	1× 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 "Porsche" turret: 80 rounds^[3] Production turret: 86 rounds^[3]
Secondary armament	2× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 5,850 rounds^[4]
Engine	V-12 Maybach HL 230 P30 gasoline 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)^[2]
Power/weight	10 PS/tonne (8.97 hp/ton)
Transmission	Maybach OLVAR EG 40 12 16 B (8 forward and 4 reverse)^[2]
Suspension	torsion-bar
Ground clearance	500 mm (1 ft 8 in)^[4]
Fuel capacity	860 litres (190 imp gal)^[4]
Operational range	Road: 170 km (110 mi)^[5] Cross country: 120 km (75 mi)^[5]
Speed	Maximum, road: 41.5 km/h (25.8 mph)^[5] Sustained, road: 38 km/h (24 mph)^[5] Cross country: 15 to 20 km/h (9.3 to 12 mph)^[5

World War II.