Panzer II “Luchs” – History

Versione italiana

The Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. L, or Sd.Kfz. 123, best known as Panzer II "Luchs" ("Lynx"), was a German light tank used for reconnaissance during the Second World War. It was developed from the "G" version (never mass-produced) of the Panzer II.

Unlike the original vehicle, it had a running gear with partially overlapped wheels ("Schachtellaufwerk"), similar to that of the medium tank Panther or of the heavy tank Tiger. Its armament was a 20 mm (0.79 in) KwK 38 L/55 autocannon and a 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34 machine gun, both coaxial in the turret.

With a 138 hp Maybach gasoline engine the tank would reach a top speed of 60 km/h (about 37 mph), due also to its light weight; its suspensions allowed good mobility even on rough terrain. It had two radios, a short-range FuG Spr, for inter-vehicle communications, and a long-range FuG12, essential for its role of reconnaissance.

The Luchs was assigned to the tank divisions 3, 4, 6 and 116 of the Wehrmacht and to the 3. SS-Panzerdivision "Totenkopf". Its first action was on 25^th October 1943 near Chernobyl, Ukraine, and was used on the Eastern Front, in Italy, in Normandy and in Germany until the end of the war.

Today only two of these vehicles survive: one in the Musée des Blindés of Saumur (France), the other one in the Tank Museum of Bovington (United Kingdom).

After the war the Armed Forces of West Germany used, from 1975 to 2009, a vehicle with the same name, the Panzerspähwagen 2 Luchs. It also was used in a reconnaissance role, but had a 8-wheel drive and amphibious capabilities.

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Panzer II L "Luchs" on display in the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France.

Image source: 1