Panzer 38(t) (GE022)

Panzer 38(t) (GE022) Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf B, or C The 38(t) was developed as by Czech company CKD as the TNH light tank in 1935 as an export tank, the Czech army had already purchased the Skoda LT vz.35 (later know under the German designation Panzer 35(t)). Iran took delivery of the first fifty TNH tanks in 1937 and further models were exported to Peru, Switzerland and Latvia.

The early model TNH tanks were fitted with smaller turrets than the model later to become famous as the Panzer 38(t). In 1937 the Czech army decided it would not order further LT vz.35 from Skoda and opened testing for new prototypes.     The TNH breezed through the trial with hardly a problem, was chosen and 150 were ordered. The Swedes also ordered 90 of the TNH SV in 1939 but these were seized by the Germans for their own use. Both the Swedish (TNH SV) and Czech (TNH PS) tanks were the put into use with the German army. CKD continued to manufacture the TNH or the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) as the Germans called it. (t) was the German designation for Czech.

Over 1100 had been manufactured by the end of the war with many more manufactured as self-propelled guns. Just as the Germans had seized them during the early years of the war they were soon handing them to their allies on the eastern front.     Slovakia, Rumania and Hungary had all received 38(t)s by 1943. 102 to Hungary in 1942 and 50 to Rumania in 1943. The Swedes were finally issued their licence to build their version in 1942 as the Strv m/41. The B and C models served with the 7th and 8th Panzer Divisions in France 1940 and with the 8th again in Greece in 1941. Later models served with the 12th, 19th and 20th Divisions in Russia. In France they proved fast and reliable and more than a match for the well armoured and armed but terribly slow French tanks. In Russia they were equals to the BTs but soon found it difficult against the T-34s and KVs.

The Panzer 38(t) B or C models both had 25mm of frontal armour with 15mm on the sides and rear. Technical Data Armament: 3.7cm L/47 Skoda A7 tank gun with a muzzle velocity 750 m/sec. Secondary Armament: Two ZB vz.35 or 37 7.92mm Machine-guns. Crew: Three ~ Commander, Radio Operator/Hull MG gunner, and Driver. Speed: 42 kmph Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Wayne Turner as a Hungarian 38(t) in 1942