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The Panzerkampfwagen I was the first type of tanks built
by Germany in the mid-1930s. It provided valuable training
opportunities for the crewmen, but was obsolete and ineffective in
combat. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen II was an interim design to support
the PzKpfw I before the more powerful and specialized PzKpfw III and IV
were ready. Some PzKpfw II versions also served as armored
reconnaissance vehicle with success. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) was originally the Czech
LT vz 35. It was incorporated into the German army when Czechoslovakia
was overrun. The PzKpfw 35(t) was better than the PzKpfw I and II, and
fought reasonably well until 1942. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) was originally the Czech
LT-38. It was an excellent light medium tank and made up much of the
Panzer divisions' strength in the early part of the war. Its chassis
was a reliable basis for many other types of combat vehicles. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen III was designed as the main battle
tank of the Wehrmacht. It was subsequently upgunned and uparmored to
match more powerful Allied tanks. The final version was an
infantry-support tank. Its chassis was also used widely for other
purposes. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen IV was the workhorse of the Panzer
force. Designed as an infantry-support tank, the PzKpfw IV saw its role
eventually changed to that of the mainstay battle tank, displacing the
PzKpfw III. More PzKpfw IVs were produced than any other German
tanks. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen V Panther was the ultimate medium
tank and regarded by many as the best German tank. The Panther had a
fine balance of speed, firepower and protection, and could engage any
Allied tanks and prevail. Its chassis was also used in other
vehicles. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger was the first German heavy
tank. The Tiger had massive armor and carried a version of the dreaded
88mm gun. Although relatively slow and unmaneuvearable, the Tiger was
virtually indestructible frontally and dominated the battlefield. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II was even more powerful
than its predecessors. It had heavier armor and mounted a more
formidable gun. The Tiger II could easily destroy any Allied vehicle
at extremely long ranges, compensating for its poor
maneuvearability. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus was the logical
conclusion of the trend of heavier and heavier German tanks. The
PzKpfw VIII, if completed, would have super heavy armor and a huge
main gun (the "secondary" gun was 75mm). However, the Maus was not
completed before the war's end. |
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The Panzerkampfwagen E-100 was another unrealistic
superheavy monstrocity conceived and ordered by the struggling German
army late in the war. A chassis was constructed but even the
prototype was not finished before the war's end. |