Products tagged with 'Panzerjager I B'

The Panzerjäger I was the very first tank hunter in German service. In 1939, as new medium tanks were entering mass production, older Panzer Is were already considered obsolescent. Many such chassis were available, which were perfect for being converted into self-propelled guns. One such idea came from the experience of the Polish campaign, were many Panzers were destroyed by the tiny, but efficient Polish TKS, using light antitank guns, like the Reinmetall Solothurn 20 mm (0.79 in). The capture of the Czech war industry also provided many suitable antitank guns, like the excellent 47 mm (1.85 in), far better suited than the average 37 mm (1.46 in) KwK 36, provided in large numbers to the German infantry at the time . The idea of mounting the Škoda 4.7 cm (1.85 in) cm PaK(t) on a Panzer I Ausf.B chassis was meant to quickly provide a potent way to deal with French tanks, especially SOMUA and B1, for the upcoming Western campaign.