Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen



History

The Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen was based on the Pz Kpfw I, and design first began in 1934. It had a fixed superstructure, which allowed the installation of a more powerful generator needed to run the radio installed.

Quite early, a machine gun was added to the Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen, to allow it to defend itself. The commander's cupola was also updated, so that the commander could get a view of the area without exposing himself to small arms fire.

Production began in 1936, with a total of 184 being made before production ended in 1937. Despite its weak armor, the Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen continued to serve well into the war, before being slowly phased out.

Technical information

Technical information on the kl Pz Bef Wg
Physical specifications
Length 4.42 m
Width 2.06 m
Height 1.99 m
Firing height 1.48 m
Weight 5.88 t
Engine Maybach NL 38 Tr 6 cylinder water cooled 3.8 l gasoline
Horse powers 100 @ 3,000 rpm
Crew
  • Commander
  • Radio operator
  • Driver
Armour 5-14.5 mm
Armament
Main gun 7,92 mm MG 34
Ammunition storage 900 * 7,92 mm S.m.K. and S.m.K.L'Spur
Performance
Maximum speed 40 km/h
Road speed 25 km/h
Cross country speed 12-15 km/h
Range (on road) 170 km
Range (cross country) 115 km
Fuel capacity 146 l
Fuel usage (on road) 0.86 l/km
Fuel usage (cross-country) 1.27 l/km
Fording 0.6 m
Step climbing 0.37 m
Climbing, degrees 30°
Trench crossing 1.4 m
Ground pressure 0.52 kg/cm2

Sources

  1. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. PANZER TRACTS No.1-2 - Panzerkampfwagen I - Kl.Pz.Bef.Wg. to VK 18.01. Boyds (MD) : Panzer Tracts, 2002. Read review

Additional reading

Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen
Photographs of the Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen at Panzerphotos
Pz Kpfw I "Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper"
Technical information and photographs of the Pz Kpfw I