The Leichterpanzer I is a light/medium tank served during the interwar years. First introduced in 1937, it is armed with a derivative of the KwK 38 autocannon which is used on German Panzer IIs and anti-air artillery.

Development

It was not until 1930 when the Ark Materiel Division allowed the adoption of using tanks in military combat after 510 years of horse-drawn cavalry. However, economic problems rescheduled the competition for a light tank that has a maximum speed of 30 to 35 km/h and an ability to travel on hilly terrain.

The prototype T1 used homogenous steel on its hul with an average thickness of 30/25/25 mm at the hull and about 30/25/25 at the turret able to house a crew of 4. It is powered by an aircraft engine running at about 200 horsepower.

Test trials were performed and despite the decentness of armor quality and the interchangability of armament, it was subpar in terms of handling: the tracks tend to move at about 6° right when accelerated and tends to wobble due to its poor traction. In addition, the tank can only perform well in flat terrain and in urban combat. Nonetheless, the prototype T1 entered serial production and enshrined as the Leichterpanzer I Gunnhildr.

Armament

1x KwK 38 20 mm autocannon firing AP-T-131 AP shells at 51 mm maximum penetration.
2x 7.92 mm machine guns