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Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.A
Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B
Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.F
Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.C

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausfuehrung A1-7
Ausf.A: General
Date of first production July 1934 Total acceptances 818
Manufacturers
  • Henschel & Sohn AG
  • Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nuernburg AG
  • Krupp-Grusonwerk AG
  • Daimler-Benz AG
Crew
2 men:
  • Commander/gunner in turret
  • Driver in hull center left
Ausf.A: Dimensions
Combat weight 12,000lbs
5400kg		 Height 67.7"
172cm
Length 158"
402cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width 81.1"
206cm		 Tread 65.7"
167cm
Ground clearance 12"
30cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 5.6psi
.39kg/cm²
Ausf.A: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
Two 7.92mm M.G.13 Turret 2250 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +18° to -12°
(manual)
Ausf.A: Armor
Assembly
Welding and bolting
Hull
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Lower front .51"
1.3cm		 27°
Upper sides .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Lower sides .51"
1.3cm		 0°
Upper rear .51"
1.3cm		 17°
Lower rear .51"
1.3cm		 15°
Top .24"
.6cm		 82° to 90°
Floor .24"
.6cm		 90°
Turret
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun mantlet .51"
1.3cm		 Round
Front .51"
1.3cm		 10°
Sides .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Rear .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Top .3"
.8cm		 82° to 90°
Ausf.A: Automotive
Engine Krupp M305; 4 cylinder, horizontally-opposed gasoline
Horsepower 60@2500rpm Fuel capacity 37gal
140L
Transmission ZF Aphon FG 35, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch-brake; steering levers
Ausf.A: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Helical and leaf spring 1 individually sprung/track;
2 bogies/track;
2 wheels/front bogie, 1 wheel + idler/rear bogie		 3/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
Front drive Trailing adjustable at rear of track On first road wheel/track
Ausf.A: Track
Outside guide, single pin steel
Width 11"
28cm		 Pitch 3.5"
9cm		 Shoes/track 84 Ground contact length 97.2"
247cm
Ausf.A: Performance
Max level road speed 23mph
37kph		 Max trench 55"
140cm
Max grade 58% Max vertical obstacle 14"
36cm
Min turning diameter 6.9'
2.1m		 Max fording depth 24"
60cm
Cruising range ~87mi, roads
~140km, roads


Pz.Kpfw.I (Sd.Kfz.101) was intended to give the German military and industry experience with armored tracked vehicles. The design was based on one by the British Carden-Lloyd firm, and featured a girder connecting the rear three road wheels and the trailing idler. The small turret was offset to the right, and the driver and commander shared the fighting compartment.

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Panzerkampfwagen I Ausfuehrung B1-6,8
Ausf.B: General
Date of first production August 1935 Total acceptances 675
(202 converted to Pz.Jgr.I; 38 converted to Stu.Pz.I)
Manufacturers
  • Henschel & Sohn AG
  • Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nuernburg AG
  • Krupp-Grusonwerk AG
  • Daimler-Benz AG
  • Waggonfabrik Wegmann AG
Crew
2 men:
  • Commander/gunner in turret
  • Driver in hull center left
Ausf.B: Dimensions
Combat weight 12,800lbs
5800kg		 Height 67.7"
172cm
Length 174"
442cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width 81.1"
206cm		 Tread 65.7"
167cm
Ground clearance 12"
30cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 7.4psi
.52kg/cm²
Ausf.B: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
Two 7.92mm M.G.13 Turret 2250 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +18° to -12°
(manual)
Ausf.B: Armor
Assembly
Welding and bolting
Hull
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Lower front .51"
1.3cm		 27°
Upper sides .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Lower sides .51"
1.3cm		 0°
Upper rear .51"
1.3cm		 0°
Lower rear .51"
1.3cm		 19°
Top .24"
.6cm		 83° to 90°
Floor .24"
.6cm		 90°
Turret
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun mantlet .51"
1.3cm		 Round
Front .60"
1.5cm		 10°
Sides .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Rear .51"
1.3cm		 22°
Top .3"
.8cm		 82° to 90°
Ausf.B: Automotive
Engine Maybach NL38TR; 6 cylinder, inline gasoline
Horsepower 100@3000rpm Fuel capacity 39gal
146L
Transmission ZF Aphon FG 31, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch-brake; steering levers
Ausf.B: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Helical and leaf spring 1 individually sprung/track;
2 bogies/track;
2 wheels/bogie		 4/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
Front drive Adjustable at rear of track On first road wheel/track
Ausf.B: Track
Outside guide, single pin steel
Width 11"
28cm		 Pitch 3.5"
9cm		 Shoes/track 100 Ground contact length 108"
274cm
Ausf.B: Performance
Max level road speed 26mph
42kph		 Max trench 55"
140cm
Max grade 58% Max vertical obstacle 14"
36cm
Min turning diameter 6.9'
2.1m		 Max fording depth 24"
60cm
Cruising range ~110mi, roads
~170km, roads


Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B (Sd.Kfz.101) replaced the anemic Krupp engine with a more powerful motor, and used the lengthened chassis first seen with kl.Pz.Bef.Wg.. The trailing idler was dispensed with for one not in contact with the ground, and the rear deck was redesigned to improve air flow to the engine to help with heat dissipation.

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Panzerkampfwagen I Ausfuehrung F1-4,9
Ausf.F: General
Date of first production April 1942 Total acceptances 30
Manufacturer Locomotivenfabrik Krauss-Maffei AG Crew
2 men:
  • Commander/gunner in turret
  • Driver in hull front left
Ausf.F: Dimensions
Combat weight 46,000lbs
21,000kg		 Height 80.7"
205cm
Length 172"
438cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width 104"
264cm
Ausf.F: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
Two 7.92mm M.G.34 Turret 360°
(manual)		 +20° to -10°
(manual)
Ausf.F: Armor
Assembly
Welding and bolting
Hull
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 3.1"
8.0cm		 10°
Lower front 3.1"
8.0cm		 20°
Upper sides 2.0"
5.0cm		 0°
Lower sides 2.0"
5.0cm		 0°
Upper rear 2.0"
5.0cm		 10°
Lower rear 2.0"
5.0cm		 14°
Top 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Turret
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun mantlet 3.1"
8.0cm		 Round
Front 3.1"
8.0cm		 0°
Sides 2.0"
5.0cm		 10°
Rear 2.0"
5.0cm		 10°
Top 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Ausf.F: Automotive
Engine Maybach HL45P; 6 cylinder, inline gasoline
Horsepower 150@3800rpm
Transmission 4 forward, 1 reverse
Steering Steering levers
Ausf.F: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 interleaved dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers
Front drive Adjustable at rear of track
Ausf.F: Track
Center guide, single pin steel
Ausf.F: Performance
Max level road speed 16mph
25kph		 Cruising range 93mi
150km


Ausf.F was intended as an assault tank, and was resultingly uparmored. It was essentially a fresh design, and featured the schachtellaufwerk interleaved wheels common on German half-tracks and heavy tanks. Development of Ausf.F began in 1939, but the first tanks weren't produced until 1942. The twin machine gun armament on this heavy vehicle makes it seem a bit underarmed.

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Panzerkampfwagen I Ausfuehrung C1-4,10
Ausf.C: General
Date of first production July 1942 Total acceptances 40
Manufacturer Locomotivenfabrik Krauss-Maffei AG Crew
2 men:
  • Commander/gunner in turret
  • Driver in hull front left
Ausf.C: Dimensions
Combat weight 18,000lbs
8000kg		 Height 76.4"
194cm
Length 165"
419cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width 75.6"
192cm
Ausf.C: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
2cm EW 141 Turret 360°
(manual)		 +20° to -10°
(manual)
7.92mm M.G.34 Coaxial to 2cm MG 360°
(manual)		 +20° to -10°
(manual)
Ausf.C: Armor
Assembly
Welding and bolting
Hull
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.2"
3.0cm		 10°
Lower front 1.2"
3.0cm		 20°
Upper sides .79"
2.0cm		 0°
Lower sides .79"
2.0cm		 0°
Upper rear .91"
23cm		 15°
Lower rear .79"
2.0cm		 30°
Top .40"
1.0cm		 82.5° to 90°
Floor .40"
1.0cm		 90°
Turret
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun mantlet 1.2"
3.0cm		 Round
Front 1.2"
3.0cm		 13°
Sides .79"
2.0cm		 24°
Rear .79"
2.0cm		 6.5°
Top .40"
1.0cm		 80° to 90°
Ausf.C: Automotive
Engine Maybach HL45P; 6 cylinder, inline gasoline
Horsepower 150@3800rpm
Transmission 8 forward, 2 reverse
Steering Steering levers
Ausf.C: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 interleaved dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers
Front drive Adjustable at rear of track
Ausf.C: Track
Center guide, single pin steel
Ausf.C: Performance
Max level road speed 49mph
79kph		 Cruising range 310mi
500km


The Ausf.C project also began in 1939, and was a light airborne reconnaissance vehicle. It also ran on interleaved suspension, but its running gear was lighter and tracks narrower than that of the Ausf.F in deference to Ausf.C's lighter weight.

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References
  1. Chamberlain, Peter, and Hilary Doyle. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two. Technical ed. Thomas L. Jentz. London: Cassell & Co., 2000.

  2. Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.

  3. Parada, George. "Achtung Panzer! - PzKpfw I." Achtung Panzer! 20 Jan 2002 <http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz11.htm#panzer1>. Achtung Panzer!

  4. Siemers, Cary. "Germany's Panzerkampfwagen I, SdKfz 101." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 21 Jan 2002 <http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/germany/pzkpfw_i.html>.

  5. Jentz, Thomas L. Panzer Truppen, volume 1. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 1996.

  6. Miller, David. The Illustrated Directory of Tanks of the World. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Co., 2000.

  7. Zuljan, Ralph. "PzKpfw I Ausf. A." Second World War Armor. 16 Mar 2000. 19 Jan 2002 <http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/fpz1a.htm>. Second World War Armor

  8. ---. "PzKpfw I Ausf. B." Second World War Armor. 16 Mar 2000. 20 Jan 2002 <http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/fpz1b.htm>. Second World War Armor

  9. ---. "PzKpfw I Ausf. F." Second World War Armor. 16 Mar 2000. 19 Jan 2002 <http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/fpz1f.htm>. Second World War Armor

  10. ---. "PzKpfw I Ausf. C." Second World War Armor. 16 Mar 2000. 19 Jan 2002 <http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/fpz1c.htm>. Second World War Armor



Last updated 6 Jan 2003.

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© Copyright 2002-03 Chris Conners