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| The PzKpfw I Ausf. B evolved from Ausf. A and appeared in 1935. The more powerful engine required a longer and higher engine compartment, resulting in five suspension wheels and four return rollers. The rear idler wheel was raised clear of the ground which improved the ride. The armament, armor and crew number remained the same, but the nose plate was redesigned to provide the necessary room for a five-speed gearbox. The turret was set over to the right-hand side of the superstructure with the driver on the left-hand side of the hull. In both the Ausf. A and B no special provision was made for observation by the commander who was the gunner as well. |
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| The PzKpfw I looked impressive on the parade-ground, but was not a battle tank and its vulnerability became clear during the Spanish Civil War. In this war, the Germans had seen opportunity to test many of their new weapons in real battles. The Condor Legion got 180 PzKpfw I's in January 1937, commanded by Colonel Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma. Spain revealed the inadequacy of the PzKpfw I as a combat vehicle to such an extent that von Thoma offered a reward of 500 pesetas for every Russian T-26 captured, this tank being armed with a 45mm high-velocity gun and a co-axial machinegun. It became clear that tanks with far heavier weapons, better armor and longer endurance would be necessary for a future war of mobility. |
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during the Spanish Civil War |
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| Two hundred of the PzKpfw I chassis were modified to produce the SdKfz
265 Kl.Pz.Bef.Wg. (Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen, command tank), the
first German armored command vehicle. The revolving turret was replaced
by a rectangular non-rotating turret which carried a 7.92mm machine-gun
in a ball mounting in the front plate for defensive purposes. This vehicle
enabled a commander to be up with his leading troops and provided him with
the means of controlling a battle and issuing the necessary orders. The
crew of these tanks was increased to three men and provision was made for
a small table for the display of maps, and two wireless radio sets were
fitted.
When the PzKpfw Is were not longer required as tanks they were converted for other duties. Some were used for the carriage of ammunition while many of the vehicles ended their days as tractors. The chassis of the PzKpfw I was also used to construct the Panzerjäger I self-propelled gun armed with a 47mm gun, and others mounted the 150mm heavy infantry gun sIG 33 for close support of infantry. |
