The PzKpfw II (Panzerkampfwagen II) was a German light tank from the Second World War. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1934, and serial production continued in the period 1935-1944, ending with the production of about 1,850 cars. The A version of the tank was powered by a single Maybach HL 57 TR engine with a capacity of 130 HP. It was armed with 1 20mm KwK 30 gun and 1 7.92mm MG 34 machine gun. placed in the tower.
PzKpfw II was created as a result of a competition announced by the German Armaments Bureau for a light tank weighing up to 10 tons, armed with a 20 mm gun. The competition was won by MAN in cooperation with Daimler-Benz. Serial production started in 1935, and many variants of the PzKpfw II tank were created during it. Chronologically, the first was version A, but it was produced in relatively small quantities. Soon after, version B was created, which already had a new, more powerful engine and a changed chassis. Already in 1937, the C version was created, with a substantially changed chassis and reinforced frontal hull armor. At the end of 1940, the F version was created, which had stronger armor and a better gearbox than the C version. In 1942, the production of the L ("Luchs") version began, which had a completely new chassis, a new 180 HP engine and significantly increased speed maximum - from 40 km / h to 60 km / h. Numerous other vehicles were also built on the chassis of the PzKpfw II, such as the Wespe self-propelled howitzer or the Marder II tank destroyer. PzKpfw II tanks were used on almost all fronts of World War II, and from 1942 they were assigned to secondary tasks.
