According to the documents of the developers, he passed like a tractor: about the German Panzerkampfwagen II tank

After the Nazi party came to power in Germany, a course was taken to restore the country's armed forces. The military potential was forged by the Nazis, despite the fact that it was prohibited by agreements signed by Germany after the defeat in the First World War. One of the chosen areas - tank building, developed very actively.

Already in 1935, the German armed forces acquired the 9,5-ton light tank Pz.Kpfw. II, aka Panzerkampfwagen II or T-II. The tank was developed in 1934.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the Germans initially concealed the development in the field of tank building. Therefore, in the documents at the German factories, the new tank appeared as a tractor under development. Then Germany's plans were revealed. Instead of tractors, combat vehicles rolled off the assembly line.

At the same time, at the first stage of its operation, the T-II was difficult to consider as something breakthrough in the tank business. The German light tank was very seriously losing to similar armored vehicles, which by that time were in service with the armies of a number of other European countries, including Poland. However, in the end, this did not help the same Poland - in September 1939 Warsaw, which considered itself a great friend of Hitler's Reich, faced an attack by Germany and quickly surrendered.

Those who took part in the battles on the territory of Poland tank units of Nazi Germany, the core of which was the Panzerkampfwagen II. But by that time, the tank had already undergone modernization.

Some details about the German T-II light tank in the plot:

Comments

[Flooding]

It is difficult to digest the fact what a giant leap for some 30 years was made by the tank and aircraft industry.
From the awkward designs of WWI to ravenous silhouettes, the firepower and speed of WWII.

[Hunter 2]

Well ... War has always been the "engine of progress" especially for the killing of their own kind.

[The leader of the Redskins]

Here's an adult already. Tanker in reserve. I studied the history of tank building, and when I saw this tank in the article "our tank museum" in "youth technology", I am still "in love" with it. Although "cardboard" and lightly armed, but childhood reminds)))

[Revolver]

Quote: Flood

It is difficult to digest the fact what a giant leap for some 30 years was made by the tank and aircraft industry.
From the awkward designs of WWI to ravenous silhouettes, the firepower and speed of WWII.

In 6 years of World War II, progress was almost more than in the previous 30 years. The war quickly made it clear which solutions worked, which did not, and what was desirable. In contrast to theorizing and even field tests.

[Flooding]

Quote: Nagan

The war quickly made it clear which solutions worked, which did not, and what was desirable. In contrast to theorizing and even field tests.

This is understandable.
But oversimplified.
It turned out suddenly that the war was not the war.
For example, the UK military command did not make such a significant breakthrough as the US military command did in the same years.

[Revolver]

Quote: Flood

the UK military-industrial complex did not make such a significant leap

Well, why. Gloster Meteor was quite on par with its development time. The Comet tank was quite adequate for the end of the war, and for a while after. The Centurion, just like the IS-3, just barely had time to fight, but then it fought to its fullest, and quite looked itself against the Arab T-54/55/62 in 1973. Even in trifles, such as the "invention of a drunk plumber" machine Sten they were quite successful. Another thing, they were very conservative, the bulk of the infantry was still armed with shops before the First World Lee-Enfild (however, no worse than Mosin or Mauser 98), and the officers fought back with Webley revolvers.

PS Yes, minus you NOT from me.

[Flooding]

Quote: Nagan

minus you are NOT from me

I pay little attention to it.
besides, a minus, backed up by a significant comment, has a right to exist))

[Revolver]

Quote: Flood

a minus supported by a significant comment has a right to exist

I do not minus mistakes. Not attractive to me, but ideas that have the right to exist, too. But I don’t miss the knowingly false or intentionally provoking statements, minus from the heart.

[Constanty]

Then there was a fashion for tractors

After all, Christie's tank also ended up in the USSR with a tractor. And suddenly he became a tank
, later BT-2 ...

[Avior]

It seems to be the only mass-produced WWII tank with an automatic cannon.
Surprisingly, the laid stock - the armor was brought to 80 mm of the forehead, and 50 mm of the side, as averaged by the tank.

[Revolver]

Quote: Avior

It seems to be the only mass-produced WWII tank with an automatic cannon.

T-60

[The leader of the Redskins]

Our T-60. Also produced with an air gun.

[Avior]

Exactly, t-60 forgot.
Reaction to the German

[Paragraph Epitafievich Y.]

Quote: Avior

armor was brought to 80 mm forehead

which version of the PzKpfW II had a forehead of 80 mm?

[Avior]

They write that

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. J .... the model had enhanced armor - up to 80 mm of frontal armor, 50 mm along the sides and stern, 25 mm of roof and bottom armor.

This is a late release, almost before the cessation of production of tanks of this type. Released a little

[Paragraph Epitafievich Y.]

Poor Maybach. How did he drag this misunderstanding with his 150 filly?))

[Revolver]

Against the T-26 and the entire BT series, it looked quite adequate, its automatic 20mm penetrated the bulletproof armor of these tanks quite reliably, and given the rate of fire, it looked even a little more advantageous. And a machine gun was enough against the infantry.
It is no coincidence that at the beginning of the war, the USSR began to make it a slightly more clumsy analogue of the T-60.

[Paragraph Epitafievich Y.]

In our country, it seems that something with AP 20mm was developed on the basis of BT in the early 30s. Scout type.