Posted by Ron Klages on March 03, 1999 at 16:41:20:
This post
came from: 12.73.102.235 /
235.seattle-16-17rs.wa.dial-access.att.net
In Reply to: Info on
Panzer I, II and III posted by Danke dich on March 02, 1999 at
21:16:59:
See Table 1 for Percentages
When Germany invaded Poland [Sept 1939] they had the following panzers in the attack:
Pz I 973
PzII 1127
PzIII 87
PzIV
198
Pz35(t) 112 Czech tank
Pz38(t) 55 Czech tank
Invasion of France [May 1940]:
Pz I 554
PzII 920
PzIII 349
PzIV
280
Pz35(t) 118 Czech tank
Pz38(t) 207 Czech tank
Invasion of Russia [June 1941]
Pz I 181
PzII 841
PzIII 1128
(includes 122 Flamm Panzers)
PzIV 442
Pz35(t) 155 Czech
tank
Pz38(t) 625 Czech tank
Summer offensive in Russia [July 1942]
PzII 381
PzIII 1174 (includes 122
Flamm Panzers)
PzIV 364
Pz38(t) 322 Czech tank
As you can see by these numbers the PzIII was not significant until the invasion of Russia and the PzIV was not significant until 1943. Soon after meeting the Russian T-34 tank and several other heavy Russian tanks the Germans found their tank guns and armor thickness inadequate. They began to upsize the gun on the PzIII from 37mm to 50mm then to 75mm. The 20mm found on the PzIIs was inadequate and the machine guns on the PzI soon made it not combat worthy. In Poland the opposition was not that much of a challenge to the German armor and in France superior tactics by the German panzers overcame the better French and British tanks. However, in Russia, the Germans were always trying to stay ahead of Russian armor.
Hope this gives you some insight. Also check the referenced site for more detail on each type of tank.
Ron
