The PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf B,C,D was a Light Tank designed in 1939, manufactured by Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG, it was based on the fully tracked Czech LT Vz 38 chassis and was in use from 1940 to 1945. It was commonly called a Panzer 38t. General Details (Light Tank) Specifications Operational Date(s) 1940 - 1945 Quantity Produced 325 Weight 9.5 tonne Crew 4 M.G's small 2 M.G's large(>10mm) n/a Length 4.61 mtr Width 2.14 mtr Height 2.40 mtr Engine Details/Performance Max Road Speed 26 mph Max Cross Country Speed 15 mph Range Road 156 miles Range Cross Country 62 miles Fuel Type Petrol Fuel Capacity unknown Horse Power 125 hp Power/Weight 13 hp/tonne General Information The PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf B,C,D was a Light Tank designed in 1939, manufactured by Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG, it was based on the fully tracked Czech LT Vz 38 chassis and was in use from 1940 to 1945. It was commonly called a Panzer 38t. The vehicle was powered by Praga 'EPA' petrol powerplant producing 125 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 26 mph with a range of about 156 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 15 mph and a range of about 62 miles. It was armed with 2 light machine guns which were ZB vz.53 or MG-37(t)s and ZB vz.53 or MG-37(t). Its main armament consisted of an Skoda 37mm P.U.V. vz38 L/39 which could penetrate 40.9 mm of flat plate at 400 metres. Production of the Praga(TNH)LT-38 was taken over when Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, and was designated the Panzer Kampfwagen 38(t). The version A was a German modification of the original Czech version by adding a loader and reducing the ammunition storage by 18 rounds to compensate. The Ausf(Model) B,C and D were manufactured from January 1940 until November 1940 when it was superceeded by the Ausf E. They incorporated only slight modifications from the model A with radio arials removed, smoke dispensers added and anti splash protection added on the model D. The PzKpfW 38(t) tank was discontinued in 1942, however the chassis continued to be produced till 1945 as the basis for a range of Tank Destroyers. Armour Details Turret Front 25mm @ 10° (25mm) Side 15mm @ 10° (15mm) Rear 15mm @ 10° (15mm) Top 10mm @ 90° (10mm) Superstructure Front 25mm @ 17° (26mm) Side 15mm @ 0° (15mm) Rear 10mm @ 60° (20mm) Top 8mm @ 90° (8mm) Hull Front 25mm @ 16° (26mm) Side 15mm @ 0° (15mm) Rear 15mm @ 12° (15mm) Top 8mm @ 90° (8mm) Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°) Effective Armour - Maximum 26 mm - Minimum 8 mm Weapon Details Skoda 37mm P.U.V. vz38 L/39 (Tank Gun) Manufactured 1934 - 1945 Calibre 37mm Length L/39 Rate of Fire 10 rpm Number of Rounds  72 Ammunition Details Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content 37mm Armour Piercing (AP Armor Piercing) 37mm 0.66Kg 762M/Sec Quoted Penetration 42mm @ 100mtr/30° ( ? 48mm/0?) Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 0.27 0.57 1.23 1.97 2.79 3.68 4.63 Penetration(mm@30°) 42 40 35 27 21 17 13 10 Penetration(mm@0°) 49 46 41 32 25 20 16 12 Hit Probability(%) 79 79 76 71 55 30 12 6 37mm Tungsten Cored (AP40 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored) 37mm 0.37Kg 1020M/Sec Quoted Penetration 59mm @ 100mtr/30° ( ? 68mm/0?) Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.1 0.2 0.42 0.88 1.4 1.96 2.56 3.21 Penetration(mm@30°) 57 54 49 41 34 29 24 20 Penetration(mm@0°) 66 63 58 48 40 34 28 23 Hit Probability(%) 79 79 79 74 66 55 30 20 Weapon Details ZB vz.53 or MG-37(t) (Machine Gun) x 2 History This heavy machine gun which used the German 7.92×57mm Mauser ammunition was mostly used as the main armament of the Skoda T-11(PzKpfw 35t) and Skoda T-25(PzKpfw 38t) tanks. In German use this gun was known as the MG-37{t} Manufacturer Zbrojovka Brno Manufactured 1939 - 1966 Calibre 7.92mm Length L/93 Rate of Fire 450 rpm Number of Rounds  2400 Ammunition Details Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content S.m.K.H tungsten cored (AP Standard Small Arms) 7.92mm 0.013Kg 910M/Sec Quoted Penetration 13mm@100m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.11 0.22 0.44 Penetration(mm@30°) 7 6 5 Penetration(mm@0°) 9 7 6 Hit Probability(%) 74 74 74 S.m.K (BALL Standard Small Arms) 7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec Quoted Penetration 8mm@100m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 Penetration(mm@30°) 1 Penetration(mm@0°) 2 Hit Probability(%) 74 About Penetration Figures All penetration figures in this database are calculated to a common standard based on German WWII testing criteria (complete penetration with functioning fuze). This allows direct comparison between all nations' guns. Original national test figures would be higher for some nations due to different criteria: German: 1.00? (baseline - strictest) British: 1.02? (slightly looser) American: 1.05? (50% mass through plate) Soviet: 1.10? (75% mass through plate) For example, a Soviet gun showing 159mm here would be published as ~175mm in Soviet documents, and a German gun showing 120mm would be published as 120mm in German documents. The 159mm figure is directly comparable to the German 120mm - the Soviet gun really was more powerful. National Testing Standards German: 1.00? - Complete penetration, fuze functions (strictest) British: 1.02? - Complete penetration American: 1.05? - 50% of shell mass through plate Soviet: 1.10? - 75% of shell mass through plate All database figures are normalized to German standard for direct comparison. Multiply by the factor above to see original national test figures.

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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