- Yes
- No
T-38(t) - Bohemian Freight
Panzer 38(t) tanks in service with the Red Army being moved on a train
The separate special tank battalion was commanded by Major Fedor Vasilievich Nebylov and was formed in July 1942 until it was disbanded at the end of October 1942
It was composed entirely of German captured tanks : 10 Panzer.38(t), 2 Stug III, 12 Panzer III and 6 Panzer IV
History
The Soviet Union’s operational use of the Panzer 38(t) was defined by practical opportunism on the battlefield, though it remained far more limited than their use of captured German medium tanks like the Panzer III or IV.
During the early, desperate phases of Operation Barbarossa, Soviet armored formations suffered staggering vehicle losses. Field commanders pressed almost any functional captured vehicle directly into frontline combat. Small groups of Panzer 38(t)s often captured during German supply overruns or counterattacks around Smolensk and the Crimea were put to immediate use by Red Army tank brigades. They served primarily as mobile fire points, reconnaissance scouts, or infantry support vehicles. Soviet crews painted large red stars or identification marks over the German Balkenkreuz to avoid friendly fire from anti-tank gunners and aviation.
Testing at Kubinka
Beyond battlefield stopgaps, the Red Army utilized captured Panzer 38(t)s for technical research. After intense fighting around Krapivnya in late summer 1941, abandoned vehicles from the German 20th Tank Division were recovered and shipped to the NIIBT Proving Ground at Kubinka.
- Mechanics: Soviet testers were deeply impressed by the vehicle’s mechanical layout. The 6-cylinder Praga engine, planetary steering, and suspension system were noted for exceptionally smooth operation and ease of maintenance.
- Ergonomics: The layout provided surprising interior space for a light tank, giving Soviet engineers useful points of comparison for light vehicle ergonomics.
- Armor & Armament: The evaluations confirmed that its 37 mm Škoda gun and thin riveted armor were inadequate against modern Soviet armor like the T-34 or KV-1.
Exhibition and Propaganda Because the Panzer 38(t) was one of the most recognizable light tanks fielded by the Wehrmacht early in the war, intact trophies were prominently displayed in Soviet wartime propaganda exhibits. Captured examples were showcased at public displays of enemy equipment in Moscow’s Gorky Park starting in 1943, serving as tangible proof of victories on the Eastern Front.
Chassis Conversion and Later Variants By mid-war, intact standard Panzer 38(t) tanks had largely disappeared from Red Army service due to a lack of 37 mm ammunition, non-standard spare parts, and overall obsolescence. However, later in the war, the Soviets frequently encountered and captured specialized vehicles built on the same robust chassis such as the Marder III tank destroyer and the Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Hetzer). While a few Jagdpanzer 38(t)s were used briefly by Soviet forces during the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945, most were disarmed, scrapped, or returnedto Czechoslovak authorities after the war to help rebuild the post-war Czechoslovak Army.
Specifications
General
- Origin: Czechoslovakia
- Mass: 9.85 tonnes (fully loaded for combat)
- Length: 4.61 m
- Width: 2.14 m
- Height: 2.40 m
- Ground Clearance: 350mm
- Track Width: 293mm
- Suspension Type: Leaf spring, four large road wheels per side
Mobility & Engine Performance
- Powerplant: Praga EPA AC, 6-cylinder inline, 4-stroke, water-cooled petrol engine
- Displacement: 7.75 liters
- Power Output: 125 hp at 2,200 RPM
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 12.7 hp/tonne
- Transmission: Praga-Wilson preselector gearbox (5 forward gears, 1 reverse gear)
- Maximum Road Speed: 42 km/h
- Maximum Reverse Speed: ~6 km/h
- Fuel Capacity: 220 liters (internal tanks)
- Operational Range: 250 km on roads/160 km cross-country
Armament
- Primary Weapon: 3,7 cm KwK 38(t) L/47.8 cannon
- Gun Depression / Elevation: -10° / +25°
- Turret Traverse Speed: 17.5° to 25° per second (manual traverse)
- Rate of Fire: Up to 15-20 rounds per minute
- Total Ammunition Carry: 72 to 90 rounds