Panzer II "Luchs" – WWII German Light Tank

About the Panzer II "Luchs" – WWII German Light Tank:

The Panzer II Luchs was a Second World War German light tank designed specifically for reconnaissance missions. Designed to replace earlier Panzer II models, the Luchs, or “lynx,” featured advanced suspension systems and improved mobility. The Luchs was the only Panzer II design to feature overlapping road wheels and a slack track. It carried a 20mm KwK 38 auto-cannon and a coaxial MG34 machine gun. Its armor, while relatively thin at 30mm, provided sufficient protection against small arms and artillery fragments. The tank had a crew of four, including a designated radio operator, and was powered by a 6-cylinder Maybach engine that provided speeds of up to 60 kmh (37 mph), making it well-suited for fast reconnaissance.

Despite its advantages in speed and maneuverability, only 100 were produced and the Luchs had limited impact on the battlefield due to its vulnerability and the evolving nature of armored warfare. Debuting on the battlefield in 1942, the Luchs originally was deployed in designated armored reconnaissance units. They saw combat primarily on the Eastern Front, particularly during Operation Citadel around the Kursk salient, but the Luchs also fought in France on the Western Front.