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Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm) (Sd. Kfz. 121) Ausführung a/1, a/2, a/3, b, c, A, B, C, D und F
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The development of a Panzerkampfwagen - battle tank - which was armed with a 2 cm Kw.K. started in 1934. This development was made under the cover designation Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper 100 PS - agricultural tracktor 100 HP - (La.S.100). MAN was chosen as developing company. The first testing model was finished early in 1935. In 1936, each 25 vehicles of the Ausführung - version - a/1, a/2 and a/3 were made based on the chassis of the 1. Serie La.S.100. In total 100 vehicles of the Ausführung b based on the chassis of the 2. Serie La.S.100 were also made this year. These early vehicles are identifiable by the track drive assembly with six small road wheels. (Photo: German federal archive via Wikimedia Commons; License: Creative Commons BY-SA-3.0-gb)
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In 1936, the La.S.100 was officially introduced as Panzerkampfwagen (2 cm) - battle tank II (2 cm) - (Sd. Kfz. 121). Likewise on chassis of the 2. Serie La.S.100, 31 vehicles of the Ausführung c were made with the new track drive assembly with five road wheels. Further 44 vehicles of the Ausführung c followed on chassis of the 3. Serie La.S.100. Until April 1940, 958 vehicles of the Ausführungen A, B and C based on chassis of the 4., 5., 6. and 7. Serie La.S.100 were made.
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The vehicles in the second and third photo are vehicles of the Ausführung B and C. While the vehicle in the second photo is a serial vehicle, the vehicle in the third photo was retrofitted with a commander’s cupola and additional armour.
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Beginning in 1938, about 40 to 70 vehicles of the Ausführung D1 were made based on the chassis of the 8. Serie La.S.100 resp. La.S.138. This chassis was developed for a higher top speed and had a totally new track drive assembly with four road wheels. The armoured hull was totally new, too. Only the turret was taken over from the Panzerkampfwagen II.
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From 1941 to late 1942, 524 vehicles of the Ausführung F were made on the older chassis with five road wheels. The Ausführung F had organically thicker armour and a streight plate in front of the driver.
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