The

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...

used an extensive variety of

combat vehicle A combat vehicle, also known as a ground combat vehicle, is a self-propelled, weaponized military vehicle used for combat operations in mechanized warfare. Combat vehicles can be wheeled or tracked. History Ancient The chariot is a type of ...

s during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. This article is a summary of those vehicles. Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-635-3966-27, Panzerfabrik in Deutschland

Tanks

Leichttraktor

The VK.31 ''

Leichttraktor The ''Leichttraktor'' (Vs.Kfz.31) was a German experimental tank designed during the Interwar Period. History After the end of World War I, Germany was restricted in military development by the Treaty of Versailles. However, a secret program ...

'' ("Light tractor") was an experimental German light fighting tank developed in the 1920s under secret conditions. Only four were produced and they were used in the late 1930s and the early part of the war for training purposes.

Panzerkampfwagen I (PzKpfw I)

The

Panzer I The Panzer I was a light tank produced in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Its name is short for (German for "armored fighting vehicle mark I"), abbreviated as . The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was ''Sd.Kfz. 101'' ...

(Sd. Kfz. 101) was not intended as a combat vehicle, but more to familiarise industry and the army with tanks. By the time production had ended in 1937, a total of 1,867 Panzer I hulls had been produced, of which 1,493 were fitted with turrets, and the rest used as command or training vehicles. Variants and vehicles using hull: *

Panzerjäger I The Panzerjäger I ("English: tank hunter number 1") was the first German ''panzerjäger'' (a self-propelled anti-tank gun, or "tank destroyer") to see service in the Second World War. All mounted the Czech Škoda-built 4.7 cm KPÚV vz. 38 (Ger ...

, a Czech 4,7cm KPÚV vz. 38 anti-tank gun on Panzer I Ausf.B chassis *

Sturmpanzer I The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B, sometimes referred to (unofficially) as the Sturmpanzer I Bison, was a German self-propelled gun used during World War II. Development and history The Invasion of Poland had shown that t ...

("Bison"), a 150 mm heavy

infantry gun Infantry support guns or battalion guns are artillery weapons designed and used to increase the firepower of the infantry units they are intrinsic to, offering immediate tactical response to the needs of the unit's commanding officer. They typicall ...

on Panzer I Ausf.B chassis *

Flakpanzer I The 2 cm ''Flak 38 auf Panzer'' I ''Ausführung'' A, commonly known as the ''Flakpanzer'' I, was a rare self-propelled anti-aircraft gun conversion of the Panzer I in use by the military of Nazi Germany during World War II. Development The ...

, a 2cm Flak 38 anti-aircraft cannon on Panzer I Ausf.A chassis * ''kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen'', an armoured command vehicle on Panzer I Ausf.B chassis

Panzerkampfwagen II (PzKpfw II)

The

Panzer II The Panzer II is the common name used for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was ''Panzerkampfwagen'' II (abbreviated PzKpfw II). Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while la ...

(Sd. Kfz. 121) was a light tank designed to replace the Panzer I. It was armed with a 20 mm cannon, which had some capability against other armoured vehicles. Before the war started, 1,223 had been built. Variants: ;PzKpfw II Flamm, (Sd. Kfz. 122), ''Flamingo'':flamethrower tank (Ausfuhrung A and B) ; Luchs: Light reconnaissance tank ;

Marder II The ''Marder'' II ("marten" in English) was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. There were two versions, the first mounted a modified Soviet 7.62 cm gun firing German ammunition, while the other mounted th ...

7.5 cm Pak 40 The 7.5 cm Pak 40 (''7,5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40 -'' "7.5cm armour defence cannon 90") was a German 75 millimetre anti-tank gun of the Second World War. The gun was developed in 1939–1941 and entered service in 1942. With 23,303 ex ...

anti-tank gun on Panzer II chassis (Sd. Kfz. 131) ;

:captured Russian 76.2 mm anti-tank gun on Panzer II Ausf. D/E chassis (Sd. Kfz. 132) ;

Wespe The Sd.Kfz. 124 ''Wespe'' (German for "wasp"), also known as ''Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf.)'' ("Light field howitzer 18 on Panzer II chassis (self-propelled)"), is a German self-propelled gun developed and ...

:105 mm light field howitzer on Panzer II chassis (Sd. Kfz. 124)

Panzer 35(t)

In March 1939, Germany occupied and annexed the

Bohemia and Moravia The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia; cs, Protektorát Čechy a Morava; its territory was called by the Nazis ("the rest of Czechia"). was a partially annexed territory of Nazi Germany established on 16 March 1939 following the German occ ...

region of Czechoslovakia taking over the Czech arms manufacturing industries. The Czech LT-35 tank was given the German designation

Panzer 35(t) The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), commonly shortened to Panzer 35(t) or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was a Czechoslovak-designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II. The letter (t) stood for ''tschechisch'' (German for "Czech" ...

, with "t" standing for ''tschechisch'' (the German word for Czech).

Panzer 38(t)

Also known as: ''PzKpfw 38(t), Panzer 38(t), Sd. Kfz. 140''
In March 1939, Germany invaded Czech territory and took over the Czech arms manufacturing industries. The Czech LT-38 tank, then in production, was produced for German use as the

Panzer 38(t) The 38(t), originally known as the ČKD LT vz. 38, was a tank designed during the 1930s, which saw extensive service during World War II. Developed in Czechoslovakia by ČKD, the type was adopted by Nazi Germany following the annexation of Cze ...

("t" standing for ''tschechisch'',

for Czech). By the start of the war, 78 Panzer 38(t) tanks had been produced. Germany continued producing the Panzer 38(t) during the war. By early 1942, it was clearly obsolete. However, the production lines were already running, the vehicle was mechanically reliable, and the factory would have had difficulty moving over to larger tanks, so it was decided to find other uses for the Panzer 38(t) chassis for self-propelled guns. Variants: * Marder 138 (

Marder III ''Marder'' III was the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers. They mounted either the modified ex-Soviet 76.2 mm F-22 Model 1936 divisional field gun, or the German 7.5 cm PaK 40, in an open-topped fighting compartment on ...

) = 75 mm Pak 40 gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (Sd. Kfz. 138) * Marder 139 (

)= captured Russian 76.2 mm gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (Sd. Kfz. 139) *

Grille Grill or grille may refer to: Food * Barbecue grill, a device or surface used for cooking food, usually fuelled by gas or charcoal, or the part of a cooker that performs this function * Flattop grill, a cooking device often used in restaurants, ...

= 150 mm heavy infantry gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (Sd.Kfz. 138/1) * Jagdpanzer 38 = 75 mm L/48 Pak39 gun on a widened Pz 38(t) chassis *

Flakpanzer 38(t) The ''Flakpanzer'' 38(t), officially named ''Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) Ausf M (Sd.Kfz. 140)'', was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used in World War II. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Gepard, which m ...

= 2cm FlaK self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on Panzer 38(t) chassis (Sd. Kfz. 140)

Panzer III

Also known as: ''PzKpfw III, 'Panzer III', Sd. Kfz. 141''
The

Panzer III The ''Panzerkampfwagen III'', commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight oth ...

was designed as a medium tank, with a high-velocity 37 mm gun. Pre-war production was 98 vehicles. During the war, the Pz III was upgunned to a 50 mm L/42 gun, then to an even higher velocity 50 mm L/60 gun, in order to improve its anti-tank performance. A low-velocity 75 mm gun was also fitted (using the same mount as the early Panzer IV), but since the tank was not large enough to fit a high-velocity 75 mm gun, production was halted mid-war, although the chassis continued to be used to build assault guns. The Panzer III was the first tank to have a 3-man turret: the commander did not have to double up as a loader or a gunner, so he could concentrate on commanding the tank. Variants: * Panzer III A-F= armed with 37 mm L/45 gun * Panzer III F-M = armed with 50 mm L/42 or L/60 gun * Panzer III N = armed with 75 mm L/24 gun, used for Infantry support * Panzer III (f) = armed with flamethrower *

Sturmgeschütz III The ''Sturmgeschütz III'' (StuG III) assault gun was Germany's most-produced fully tracked armoured fighting vehicle during World War II, and second-most produced German armored combat vehicle of any type after the Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. I ...

= ''Sturmgeschütz 40''= Assault Gun armed with 75 mm L/24 (A-E), later with L/43 (F) and L/48 gun (F8 & G) (Sd. Kfz. 142) * StuH 42 = Sturmhaubitze 42. StuG III with 105 mm light field howitzer (Sd. Kfz. 142/2)

Panzer IV

Also known as: ''PzKpfw IV, 'Panzer IV', Sd. Kfz. 161''

Panzer IV The ''Panzerkampfwagen'' IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV), commonly known as the ''Panzer'' IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161. The Panze ...

was designed alongside the Panzer III. The Panzer IV was a slightly larger and heavier tank, and with its large calibre low velocity gun, it was designed to support the Panzer III when it met heavy resistance from infantry support. Pre-war production was 211 tanks. Originally armed with a low-velocity 75 mm L/24 gun, in 1942 this was upgraded to a 75 mm L/43 gun, and 1943 to a 75 mm L/48 gun. Variants: * Panzer IV A-F1 = Panzer IV with 75 mm L/24 gun * Panzer IV F2-J = Panzer IV with 75 mm L/43 or L/48 gun *

Sturmgeschütz IV The Sturmgeschütz IV (StuG IV) (Sd.Kfz. 167) was a German assault gun variant of the Panzer IV used in the latter part of the Second World War. It was identical in role and concept to the highly successful StuG III assault gun variant of the Pan ...

= Assault Gun. Superstructure of

on Panzer IV chassis; armed with 75 mm L/48 gun (Sd. Kfz. 167) *

Jagdpanzer IV The ''Jagdpanzer'' IV, Sd.Kfz. 162, was a German tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis and built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer (tank destroyer, literally "hunting tank") designs, it was develope ...

= Tank Destroyer with 75 mm L/48, later L/70, gun on Panzer IV chassis (Sd. Kfz. 162) * Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär with 150 mm field howitzer on Panzer IV chassis (Sd. Kfz. 166) * Hummel = 150 mm field howitzer on Geschützwagen III/IV chassis (Sd. Kfz. 165) * Hornisse = 88 mm Pak43/1 auf Geschützwagen III/IV, later known as Nashorn (Sd. Kfz. 164) *

Möbelwagen The 3.7 cm ''Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen'' IV (sf) (''Sd.Kfz. 161/3''), nicknamed ''Möbelwagen'' ("Moving Van") because of its boxy shape, was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built from the chassis of the Panzer IV tank. It w ...

= Self-propelled anti-aircraft. 37 mm Flak 43 L/89 on Panzer IV chassis (Flakpanzer IV Sd. Kfz.161/3) *

Wirbelwind The ''Flakpanzer'' IV "''Wirbelwind''" (Whirlwind in English) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier ''Möbelwagen'' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. In ...

= Self-propelled anti-aircraft. Quadruple 20 mm Flak 38 L/112.5 guns on Panzer IV chassis, with armoured turret (Flakpanzer IV) *

Ostwind The ''Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind"'' (East Wind in English) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier ''Flakpanzer IV/2 cm Vierling'' ''Wirbelwind''. The Pa ...

= Self-propelled anti-aircraft. 37 mm Flak 43 L/89 on Panzer IV chassis, with armoured turret (Flakpanzer IV) * Kugelblitz = Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. 30mm MK 103 twin anti-aircraft gun on Panzer IV chassis, with armoured turret (Flakpanzer IV)

Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther"

The

Panther Panther may refer to: Large cats *Pantherinae, the cat subfamily that contains the genera ''Panthera'' and ''Neofelis'' **''Panthera'', the cat genus that contains tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards. ***Jaguar (''Panthera onca''), found in Sout ...

, also known as "PzKpfw V", "Panzer V", and ''Sd. Kfz. 171'', was a medium tank of the German Army in the second part of World War II. Until 1944, it was designated as the PzKpfw V Panther. The production Panther was a direct response to the Soviet T-34, after encountering difficulties fighting the T-34, Colonel General Heinz Guderian (the "Inspector of Panzer Troops") suggested simply copying the T-34; although the report of the enquiry recommended that the main attributes of the T-34 - armament, sloped armor and suspension - be incorporated into a new German medium weight tank under the Vollketten 30 project. Two proposals - by

Daimler-Benz The Mercedes-Benz Group Aktiengesellschaft, AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German Multinational corporation, multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It ...

and Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN) - were examined and the MAN design selected for production. Variants: * Panther ''Ausf''. D - first production version, armed with 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 gun. 842 built * Panther ''Ausf''. A - second production version, improved Ausf. D, 2,200 built * Panther ''Ausf''. G - additional armour, approx 2,900 built *

Jagdpanther The ''Jagdpanther'' (German: "hunting Panther"), Sd.Kfz. 173, was a tank destroyer (''Jagdpanzer'', a self-propelled anti-tank gun) built by Germany during World War II. The ''Jagdpanther'' combined the 8.8 cm Pak 43 anti-tank gun, similar to th ...

- a

Jagdpanzer ''Jagdpanzer'' (JgPz) is the name given in German to a heavily-armoured, tracked tank destroyer, although it may also be used for other kinds of self-propelled guns. Literally translated from German, ''Jagdpanzer'' is "hunting tank". It typi ...

(tank destroyer) design with an 88 mm L/71 PaK 43 gun on Panzer V chassis (Sd. Kfz. 173) * Panther ''Ausf''. F - a Panther development with narrow front ''

Schmalturm The ''Schmalturm'' (German for "narrow turret") was a tank turret designed for use on the Panther Ausf. F medium tank. There was a Krupp proposal to fit it onto the Panzer IV medium tank as well. It featured a narrow front to maximize protecti ...

'' turret, none built * Bergepanther = an

armoured recovery vehicle An armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) is typically a powerful tank or armoured personnel carrier (APC) chassis modified for use during combat for military vehicle recovery (towing) or repair of battle-damaged, stuck, and/or inoperable armoured f ...

, 339 built

Panther II

Panther II tank The Panther II tank, a German tank-design proposal of the Second World War, was based on the design of the Panther tank. It had slightly thicker armour than the Panther and adopted some standardised components from the Tiger II tank design. ...

successor tank to the Panther while visually similar, was planned to use a new turret, longer 75mm gun, thicker armour, new engine and different components from the Tiger and Tiger II. Only one chassis was built and was later fitted with an Ausf G turret

Panzer VI Ausf. E "Tiger"

Also known as: ''PzKpfw VI E, 'Panzer VI E', Tiger I, Sd. Kfz. 181''
The

Tiger I The Tiger I () was a German heavy tank of World War II that operated beginning in 1942 in Africa and in the Soviet Union, usually in independent heavy tank battalions. It gave the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle that mounted ...

(Panzer VI Ausf.H, later renamed later Panzer VI Ausf.E ) was armed with an 88 mm L/56 gun. On May 26, 1941 Hitler ordered the

Henschel Henschel & Son (german: Henschel und Sohn) was a German company, located in Kassel, best known during the 20th century as a maker of transportation equipment, including locomotives, trucks, buses and trolleybuses, and armoured fighting vehicle ...

and

Porsche Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, usually shortened to Porsche (; see #Pronunciation, below), is a German automobile manufacturer specializing in high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans, headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany ...

firms to design a new heavy tank to be delivered in 1942. Porsche used their existing VK 30.01 (P) Leopard design while Henschel based theirs on their earlier VK 36.01 (H). The Henschel design won the competition and became the ''

Tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...

''. A few Porsche Tigers were made, with a different chassis and hybrid gasoline-electric powerplant, but these were not as reliable as the Henschel model. Many of the Porsche chassis were converted into tank destroyers, known as ''

Ferdinand Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "protection", "peace" (PIE "to love, to make peace") or alternatively "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "co ...

'' then rebuilt as ''Elefant'' Variant: *

Sturmtiger () was a World War II German assault gun built on the Tiger I chassis and armed with a 380mm rocket-propelled mortar. The official German designation was ''Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61''. Its primary task was to provide heavy f ...

was armed with a 380 mm rocket.

Panzer VI Ausf. B "Königstiger"

Also known as: ''PzKpfw VIB, 'Panzer VIB', Tiger II, King Tiger, Royal Tiger, Sd. Kfz. 182''
The Panzerkampfwagen VI

Tiger II The Tiger II is a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was ''Panzerkampfwagen'' Tiger ''Ausf''. B,'' Panzerkampfwagen'' – abbr: ''Pz.'' or ''Pz.Kfw.'' (English: "armoured fighting vehicle"), ''Ausf.' ...

Ausf. B "Königstiger" (Sd. Kfz.182) / VK4503(H) was a heavy tank in the later half of World War II. Armed with an 88 mm L/71 gun, the vehicle could perform well in the defensive role on the eastern and western fronts but was an expensive failure for

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

when used in an offensive role as a

main battle tank A main battle tank (MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies. Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension sys ...

. The Tiger II combined one of the most capable AT guns of the period with heavy armour, but had an over-burdened engine and lacked reliability. Variant: *

Jagdtiger The ''Jagdtiger'' ("Hunting Tiger"; officially designated ''Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B'') is a German casemate-type heavy tank destroyer (''Jagdpanzer'') of World War II. It was built upon the slightly lengthened chassis of a Tiger II. Its or ...

was armed with a 128 mm L/55 Pak44 gun (Sd. Kfz. 186)

Panzer VII "Löwe"

Panzer VII Löwe The ''Panzerkampfwagen VII Löwe'' (Lion) was a design for a super-heavy tank created by Krupp for the German government during World War II. The project, initially code-named VK 70.01 (K), never left the drawing board, and was dropped on 5– ...

was a proposed superheavy tank design. It never left the drawing board.

Panzer VIII "Maus"

Also known as: "Panzer VIII", 'Maus'

Panzer VIII Maus ''Panzerkampfwagen'' VIII ''Maus'' (English: 'mouse') was a German World War II super-heavy tank completed in late 1944. It is the heaviest fully enclosed armored fighting vehicle ever built. Five were ordered, but only two hulls and one turre ...

was a German 188t super heavy tank. Two prototypes were built and only one prototype got a turret.

Self-propelled artillery

Wespe The Sd.Kfz. 124 ''Wespe'' (German for "wasp"), also known as ''Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf.)'' ("Light field howitzer 18 on Panzer II chassis (self-propelled)"), is a German self-propelled gun developed and ...

105 mm howitzer built on

chassis

Grille Grill or grille may refer to: Food * Barbecue grill, a device or surface used for cooking food, usually fuelled by gas or charcoal, or the part of a cooker that performs this function * Flattop grill, a cooking device often used in restaurants, ...

150 mm heavy infantry gun built on

chassis, sometimes wrongly named "Bison"

Hummel

The Hummel was a self-propelled artillery piece fielding a 150 mm howitzer on a chassis that combined features of both the

and

. 714 Hummels plus 150 Hummel ammunition carriers were built from 1943 to 1944.

Heuschrecke

The Heuschrecke was a self-propelled artillery piece with a 10.5cm leFH 18/1 L/28 on a

chassis. Production never started as it would have affected production of tanks.

Self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery

Several types of armored self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons ("

flakpanzer Flakpanzer is a German term for "anti-aircraft tanks" ("flak" is derived from ''Flugabwehrkanone'', literally "aircraft defence cannon"; "panzer" is derived from ''Panzerkampfwagen'', literally "armored fighting vehicle"). These vehicles are modif ...

s" in German) were used in the war. *

, a converted version of the, Panzer I tank. *

, based on the Panzer 38(t) light tank * Flakpanzer IV, the general designation for a series of vehicles based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV medium tank chassis, including the: **

** Kugelblitz, in prototype stage at the end of World War II

Assault guns

assault gun Assault gun (from german: Sturmgeschütz - "storm gun", as in "storming/assaulting") is a type of self-propelled artillery which uses an infantry support gun mounted on a motorized chassis, normally an armored fighting vehicle, which are designed ...

is an

armoured fighting vehicle An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured car ...

similar to a tank, but typically does not have a rotating turret, and may have an open roof. The removal of the turret allows for a much larger gun to be carried on a smaller chassis. They are not intended to fight other AFVs, but instead directly support infantry during assaults on prepared positions. However they were still often fitted with AT guns to destroy AFVs. During World War II Germany built many more assault guns than tanks, because of their relative cheapness and simplicity. ;

:built on the

chassis ;

:built on the

chassis with 75 mm gun ; Sturmpanzer IV ("Brummbär") :with 150 mm gun built on the

chassis ;

:built on repaired

chassis, 380 mm rocket projector

Tank destroyers

;

:built on the

chassis ; Jagdpanzer 38 :built on modified

chassis ;

:built on the

chassis ;

:built on the

Panzer V The Panther tank, officially ''Panzerkampfwagen V Panther'' (abbreviated PzKpfw V) with ordnance inventory designation: ''Sd.Kfz.'' 171, is a German medium tank of World War II. It was used on the Eastern and Western Fronts from mid-1943 to ...

chassis ;

Marder I The ''Marder I'' "Marten" (Sd.Kfz. 135) was a German World War II tank destroyer, armed with a 75 mm Pak-40 anti-tank gun. Most Marder Is were built on the base of the ''Tracteur Blindé'' 37L (Lorraine), a French artillery tractor/armou ...

:built on chassis of captured French and some Polish tanks ;

:built on the

chassis ;

:built on the

chassis ;

Nashorn ''Nashorn'' (, German for "rhinoceros"), initially known as ''Hornisse'' (German "hornet"), was a German ''Panzerjäger'' ("tank hunter") of World War II. It was developed as an interim solution in 1942 by equipping a light turretless chassis ...

;

:based on the

;

Elefant The ''Elefant'' (German for "elephant") was a heavy tank destroyer used by German Wehrmacht Panzerjäger during World War II. Ninety-one units were built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche, using VK 45.01 ...

:The ''

'' (Sd. Kfz. 184) used the chassis of Porsche's losing entry for the

competition. On top of this chassis, a forward-facing 88 mm L/71 gun was mounted. A total of 90 Elefants were produced, all in early 1943 and known then as the ''Ferdinand'', after its designer, Dr

Ferdinand Porsche Ferdinand Porsche (3 September 1875 – 30 January 1951) was an Austrian-German automotive engineer and founder of the Porsche AG. He is best known for creating the first gasoline–electric hybrid vehicle (Lohner–Porsche), the Volkswag ...

. Those still in use in late 1943 were modified and renamed ''Elefant''.

Half-tracks

Maultier Maultier (English: "mule") or Sd.Kfz. 3 is the name given to series of half-track trucks used by Germany during World War II. They were based on Opel, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa-Romeo or Ford trucks. History Soon after invading the USSR, German troops ...

- "mule" conversions of trucks to half tracks *

Sd.Kfz. 2 The (german: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 2) is a half-track motorcycle with a single front wheel, better known as the (), shortened to (pl. ). It was used by the military of Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Design The started its life as ...

* Sd.Kfz. 4 *

Sd.Kfz. 6 The Sd.Kfz. 6 ('' Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' 6) was a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was designed to be used as the main towing vehicle for the 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer. Development Develop ...

Sd.Kfz. 7 The Sd.Kfz. 7 was a half-track military vehicle used by the German Army, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS during the Second World War. Sd.Kfz. is an abbreviation of the German word ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'', "special purpose vehicle". A longer designati ...

Sd.Kfz. 8 The ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' 8 ("special motorized vehicle 8"), usually abbreviated to Sd.Kfz. 8, was a Military of Germany, German half-track designed by Daimler-Benz that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main roles were as a artillery tra ...

Sd.Kfz. 9 The Sd.Kfz. 9 (also known as "Famo" ) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II, and the heaviest half-track vehicle of any type built in quantity in Nazi Germany during the war years. Its main roles were as a prime mover f ...

Sd.Kfz. 10 The Sd.Kfz. 10 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug – special motorized vehicle) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for small towed guns, such as the 2 cm Flak 30, the 7.5 cm leIG, or the 3.7 ...

Sd.Kfz. 11 The Sd.Kfz. 11 (''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' – special motor vehicle) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II. Its main role was as a prime mover for medium towed guns ranging from the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 anti-aircraft gun up t ...

Sd.Kfz. 250 The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured half-track, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in Worl ...

Sd.Kfz. 251 The Sd.Kfz. 251 (''Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251'') half-track was a World War II German armored personnel carrier designed by the Hanomag company, based on its earlier, unarmored Sd.Kfz. 11 vehicle. The Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the ''Panz ...

Armoured cars

* Kfz 13 *

Leichter Panzerspähwagen The ''Leichter Panzerspähwagen'' (German: "light armoured reconnaissance vehicle") was a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944. Development history The Sd.Kfz. 221 was the first in a series of ...

- 4 wheeled

armoured cars Armored (or armoured) car or vehicle may refer to: Wheeled armored vehicles * Armoured fighting vehicle, any armed combat vehicle protected by armor ** Armored car (military), a military wheeled armored vehicle * Armored car (valuables), an arm ...

** Sd.Kfz. 221 ** Sd.Kfz. 222 **

Sd.Kfz. 223 ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' (abbreviated ''Sd.Kfz.'', German for "special purpose vehicle") was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany during World War II for military vehicles; for example ''Sd.Kfz.'' 101 for the Panzer I. Sd.Kfz. n ...

Schwerer Panzerspähwagen The term (German for 'heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle'), covers the six- and eight-wheeled armoured cars Germany used during the Second World War. In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the traditional cavalry missions of r ...

- 6 and 8 wheel armoured cars **

Sd.Kfz. 231 ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' (abbreviated ''Sd.Kfz.'', German for "special purpose vehicle") was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany during World War II for military vehicles; for example ''Sd.Kfz.'' 101 for the Panzer I. Sd.Kfz. nu ...

Sd.Kfz. 232 ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' (abbreviated ''Sd.Kfz.'', German for "special purpose vehicle") was the ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany during World War II for military vehicles; for example ''Sd.Kfz.'' 101 for the Panzer I. Sd.Kfz. n ...

Sd.Kfz. 233 ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' (abbreviated ''Sd.Kfz.'', German language, German for "special purpose vehicle") was the Military logistics, ordnance inventory designation used by Nazi Germany during World War II for military vehicles; for example ''Sd.Kfz ...

Sd.Kfz. 234 The Sd.Kfz. 234 (''List of Sd.Kfz. designations, Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234'', Special Purpose Vehicle 234), was a family of Armored car (military), armoured cars designed and built in Nazi Germany, Germany during World War II. The vehicles were li ...

** Sd.Kfz. 263 * Panzerwagen ADGZ - Austrian armoured car used for police work

Armoured recovery vehicle

*''

Bergepanzer III The ''Panzerkampfwagen III'', commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight othe ...

'' -

PzKpfw III The ''Panzerkampfwagen III'', commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight othe ...

chassis *'' Bergepanzer IV'' -

PzKpfw IV The ''Panzerkampfwagen'' IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV), commonly known as the ''Panzer'' IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161. The Panze ...

chassis *''Bergepanther (Sd.Kfz. 179)'' - PzKpfw V Panther chassis 347 produced (1943 to 1945). *''

Bergetiger The Bergetiger was the name the Allied forces gave to a German World War II armored tracked vehicle based on the Tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus ''Panthera''. It is most r ...

'' - PzKpfw VI Tiger I chassis *''Bergepanzer 38(t)'' - Jagdpanzer 38 chassis, 170 produced (1944 to 1945). *''Bergepanzer T-34'' - Captured

T-34 The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940. When introduced its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was less powerful than its contemporaries while its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, anti-tan ...

chassis

Sd. Kfz. numbers

Sd.Kfz. stood for Sonder Kraftfahrzeug or ‘special-purpose vehicle'. Sd.Kfz. designations were assigned to armoured vehicles and other vehicles put in military service for a specific purpose. The system was used by Germany prior to and throughout World War II. *Sd. Kfz. 100s for PzKpfw I versions *Sd. Kfz. 120s for PzKpfw II versions *Sd. Kfz. 140s for PzKpfw III versions *Sd. Kfz. 160s for PzKpfw IV versions *Sd. Kfz. 170s for PzKpfw V versions *Sd. Kfz. 180s for PzKpfw VI versions *Sd. Kfz. 1s, 10s, and 200s for

half-track A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cro ...

s and armoured cars

Country codes for adopted foreign equipment

*a -

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

(''Amerika'') *b -

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

*e -

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

(''England'') *f -

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

(example: Panzerkampfwagen S35 739 (f)) *j -

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

(''Jugoslawien'') *h -

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

(''Holland'') *i -

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

*k -

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

(''Kanada'') *ö -

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

(''Österreich'') *p -

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

*r -

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

(''Russland'', ‘Russia’) (example: Panzerkampfwagen

747 (r)) *t -

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

(''Tschechoslowakei''), for example,

Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), commonly shortened to Panzer 35(t) or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was a Czechoslovak-designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II World War II or the Second World War, often a ...

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Achtung Panzer!
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armoured fighting vehicles World War II armoured fighting vehicles of Germany

Combat vehicles A combat vehicle, also known as a ground combat vehicle, is a self-propelled, weaponized military vehicle used for combat operations in mechanized warfare. Combat vehicles can be wheeled or tracked. History Ancient The chariot is a type of ...

Tanks

Leichttraktor

Panzerkampfwagen I (PzKpfw I)

Panzerkampfwagen II (PzKpfw II)

Panzer 35(t)

Panzer 38(t)

Panzer III

Panzer IV

Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther"

Panther II

Panzer VI Ausf. E "Tiger"

Panzer VI Ausf. B "Königstiger"

Panzer VII "Löwe"

Panzer VIII "Maus"

Self-propelled artillery

Wespe The Sd.Kfz. 124 ''Wespe'' (German for "wasp"), also known as ''Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf.)'' ("Light field howitzer 18 on Panzer II chassis (self-propelled)"), is a German self-propelled gun developed and ...

Grille Grill or grille may refer to: Food * Barbecue grill, a device or surface used for cooking food, usually fuelled by gas or charcoal, or the part of a cooker that performs this function * Flattop grill, a cooking device often used in restaurants, ...

Hummel

Heuschrecke

Self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery

Assault guns

Tank destroyers

Half-tracks

Armoured cars

Armoured recovery vehicle

Sd. Kfz. numbers

Country codes for adopted foreign equipment

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links