PzKpfw I Ausf A (SdKfz 101) was the first tank of Germany, running into serial production after the First World War.

Light Tank PzKpfw I Ausf A (SdKfz 101) was the first tank of Germany, running into serial production after the First World War. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany to develop, produce and be armed with tanks of any type. For this reason, under a secret agreement between Germany and the USSR on the territory of the latter in the 1927-1933 biennium. tests «light and a large agricultural tractors», were prototypes for future German tanks.

According to the results of tests «light agricultural tractors» Command reyhsvera in 1932 issued the company Krupp job to develop a light tank. Thanks already available to the firm experience in designing «tractors», a year from the new tank has been demonstrated leadership and the Wehrmacht in July 1934, after thorough testing adopted for. In the same year, the company Heinschel won the first major order for production of 150 tanks modified PzKpfw I Ausf A.

The tank had the following layout scheme: power plant located at the rear, in the middle part of shifting to the right of the longitudinal axis of the tank was installed tower with weapons, but left before driver's seat. Power transmission and the driving wheels placed at the front.

A power plant using air-cooled petrol engines Krupp M305 power of 57 HP, which provides tank movement with a maximum speed of 37 km / h. Tank overcome rises to 30 °, wall height of 0.37 m and a width rvy up to 1.4 meters in the rear compartment of a tank located 2 cans of gasoline, and the stock (145 liters) allowed to pass on the highway 145 kilometers without refueling. While the tank PzKpfw I dealt with the German command primarily as a training machine, its armament is consistent with the requirements of the in the early 30's. for the arming of light tanks.

There was the installation of two pair of 7.92-mm MG 34 machine guns mounted in a single tower circular rotation. The total rate of installation of fire machine guns at 1600 vystr / min. Aiming at the target machine guns carried out together (they were enshrined in the common mask), but the shooting could be separated. Precision shooting has an optical sight with a 2.5-fold increase TZF.2 company «Zeiss», and to monitor the battlefield located in the tower tank commander to use the four inspection slotted screen, bronevymi closed lids. The driver had before it a device monitoring Glass «Triplex». For radio to tanks installed radio FuG 2 with a range of 6.5 kilometers. Unlike most tanks 30's.

That had riveted hull and turret, the connection bronevyh sheets hull and turret tank PzKpfw I conducted with the help of high-Electric. The thickness of the front of the armor, stern and starboard hull, as well as the frontal armor tower was 13 mm, while the roof and bottom - 6 mm.

Because the M305 engine with the long work of overheated, it was decided to replace petrol engines NL 38TKRM firms Maybach, power of 100 hp Placement of the engine on a tank shell required to increase the length of 400 mm and to extend for one roller bearing chassis tank. To preserve the old maneuverability guide wheel lift.

These positive events led to a growing mass of the tank with 5.4 to 6 tons Thus, despite an increase in engine power is almost 3 times the speed of the tank has increased by only 3 km / h. The car with the engine NL 38TKRM received the designation PzKpfw I Ausf B, a previous modification - PzKpfw I Ausf A. It was manufactured respectively 1016 and 477 machines these modifications, which constitute the core created in the German armor parts.

Experience with tanks PzKpfw I both modifications during the civil war in Spain revealed that bookings and arming these machines are too weak. Therefore, in 1939, production of the tank stopped, but the chassis produced before 1941 and used to create self-artillery systems and command vehicles. Command car manufactured on the chassis modifications PzKpfw I Ausf A and distinguished existence of an armored logging instead of the tower. In the wheelhouse were installed radio receiver-transmitter FuG 6 and 7.92-mm machine gun MG 34.

The commander of a tank, is a tank unit commander, had at its disposal the necessary means of monitoring of the battlefield and folding table to work with the cards. The same chassis was used for the production of conveyor ammunition, armored bridge and tank fire. At a tank chassis PzKpfw I Ausf produced in 150-mm ACS with a heavy infantry gun, 47-mm self-propelled gun and anti-minoukladchik for engineering and attack parts. Along with options Ausf A and B in the late 30's.

Krupp company has developed two additional modifications - Ausf C and F. Tank PzKpfw I Ausf S was a high-speed reconnaissance vehicle suitable for use in airborne operations. Tank different reservations improved (10 - 30 mm) and more powerful weapons, consisting of 20-mm automatic cannon EW. 141 and 7.92-mm machine gun MG 34. Engine HL. 45R firms Maybach capacity of 150 hp allow tank weighing 8 tons moving at a speed of about 80 km / h in the range of 300 km. In 1942, was released 40 machines this modification.

Tank PzKpfw I Ausf F was in direct support of infantry. He had increased to 80 mm booking and chassis with the tracks increased width, which provides tank very high throughput. But arming the tank consisting of two 7.92-mm machine guns MG 34, acknowledged the poor, and an initial order for 100 tanks was reduced to 30, then the tank stopped production.

Specification

Bulk: 5400 kg
Crew: 2
Length: 4020 mm
Width: 2060 mm
Height: 1720 mm
Armament: two 7.92-mm machine gun MG-34
Ammunition: 72 rounds, 1,800 rounds of ammunition
Reservations: Up to 13 mm
Engine: 57 hp
The speed on the highway: to 37 km / h
Road range: 145 km