Panzerkampfwagen

In World War II, German term for tanks, abbreviated to PzKw.

The PzKw I was a 5-ton two-man vehicle carrying a 20 mm cannon. The PzKw II was a 9-ton three-man vehicle also with a 20 mm cannon. Both were light tanks and saw little use after 1941, their chassis being adapted to various assault and self-propelled gun designs. The PzKw III was the principal medium tank in 1939 and was constantly improved to 1943 when production stopped. In its final form it weighed 20 tons, had a speed of 40 kph/25 mph, 30 mm/1 in armour, a crew of five, and a 50 mm main gun. The PzKw IV was a close support tank, carrying a 75 mm howitzer in the turret. Like the PzKw III it was constantly improved, and in its final form weighed 25 tons, had a speed of 42 kph/26 mph, 80 mm/3 in armour, a long 75 mm gun, and a crew of five. The subsequent standard tanks were more usually known by their names – Tiger and Panther.