- For the Steel Division: Normandy 44 unit see SD:Bef. Panzer II C
Bef. Panzer II C is a German Support unit in Steel Division II.
Background[ | ]
Sd.Kfz. 121 (VK 6.22 before adoption) was intended to be a stop-gap tank, to give Germany's fledgling panzer units proper fighting tanks immediately, due to delays in Panzer III and Panzer IV production. It was an evolution of the Panzer I, equipped with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon (KwK 38 in later versions) and a coaxial MG 34, light armor (later severely thickened due to the experiences of the Spanish Civil War), decent mobility and range. Though intended to be a stopgap model, it eventually became the principal light tank of the Reich for most of World War II, with production ceasing in 1943. Nearly 1 900 tanks were manufactured by that point, and the Panzer II together with its various conversions remained in service until the end of the war.
The most widespread production model of the Panzer II, Ausf. C was produced between June 1938 and April 1940, with a rounded hull front - typically upgraded with applique armor to increase survivability. It was used interchangeably with versions A and B, with a total of 1 113 vehicles manufactured between all three versions.
This particular vehicle is a Befehlspanzerwagen, representing the command vehicle of the Abteilung commander.