- Yes
- No
- German Tech Tree
- A Minor nations tech tree with other Eastern European Nations
- Czechoslovakian Tech Tree
- I voted No to the first question
Brief Summary:
The Škoda T-15 light tank represents the combination of German and Czech designs into a hybrid design looking similar to a Panzer II whilst having the components and gun more resembling the older Czech vehicles on pre-occupation Czechoslovakia.
History:
In September of 1939 the German war office ordered specifications for the development and production of heavier more armoured light vehicles to eventually replace the older Panzers for the scout reconnissance role. The specification demands required a 2cm or 3.7cm, a minimum top speed of 50km/h and a minimum of 30mm of frontal armour. They had tasked MAN originally to develop the light tank however by the 31st of July 1940 they also tasked Škoda and BMM (the former Czechoslovakian company CKD) to also produce prototypes. The name given to the T-15’s by the Germans was the Panzerspähwagen II Ausführung Skoda (Armoured Scout Car II version Škoda)
wooden mockup of the first prototype
The first two T-15 prototypes were built from mild steel and resembled the look of a Panzer II with the first of them being completed in December 1941 and tested in March and June of 1942 with further tested being conducted between July and October. The tanks layout combined the Panzer II and Panzer 38t designs into a vehicle with a vehicle with welded armour. The hull and turret were both 30mm thick frontally and 25mm on the sides alongside a commanders cupola being present on the turret. The main armament was the 3.7cm Škoda A19 also known as the KwK 38(t) L/47 being able to fire AP and HE shells. The secondary armament was a 7.92mm MG34 machinegun mounted in the turret. The driver and radio operator were situated in the front of the tank being able to look out the armoured vision ports located on the front of the hull similar to the later Panzer II’s. The commander and gunner were situated in the turret.
The tank was powered by a Škoda water-cooled V8 10.8 litre 220hp petrol engine with a transmission that had 6 forward gears and 1 reverse. The suspension of the tank had the drive wheel at the back whilst the idler was situated at the front of the tank with four large road wheels and three pairs of return rollers on a semi-elliptic leaf spring system.
T-15 on trials
Two more prototypes were completed with redesigns to the tank including a different curved turret with the capabilities of fitting 4.7cm guns a different cupola and the drivers vision port now located on the side of the tank. in 1944 production had stopped with a fifth prototype under construction but incomplete as the Panzer IIL had entered mass production however the final T-15 would be produced in May 1945 and presented to the Czech army after the war in 1946.
Wooden Mockup of how the 2nd version looked like.
Specification:
Dimensions (L-W-H): 4.58m x 2.17m x 2.16m (15’ x 7’1’’ x 7’1’’ ft)
Total Weight: 10.8 tons
Crew: 4 (Driver, Radio Operator, Gunner, Commander)
Propulsion: 8 cylinder Škoda water-cooled V8 10.8 litre, 220hp engine (2800rpm)
Transmission: 6 forward 1 reverse
Power to Weight Ratio: 20.37hp/ton
Suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf springs
Top Speed: 60km/h (37 mph)
Main Armament: 3.7cm Škoda A19 (60-78 rounds (sources vary)) (KwK 38(t) L/47)
Vertical Guidance: N/A
Secondary Armament: 1x coaxial 7.92mm MG34 (2100 rounds)
Stabiliser: No
Armour: 30mm frontal, 25mm sides and rear (Hull)
30mm frontal, 25mm sides and rear (Turret)
20mm observation and revolving towers
12mm roof and floor
8mm above engine compartment
5mm for the fenders
Production: 5 prototypes
Additional Images:
Documentations
Wooden Mockups
Sources: