The 4.7 cm PaK(t) (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I ohne Turm, translating as "4.7 cm anti-tank gun (Czech) on turretless Pz.Kpfw. I was the first of its kind of tank destroyers in the war.
It mounted a Czech Škoda 4.7 cm (1.9 in) cm Pak (t) anti-tank gun on a converted Panzer I Ausf. B chassis. It normally carried 74 anti-tank and 10 HE shells. 202 Panzer I were converted by Alkett and Deutz AG to the Panzerjäger I in 1940 and 1941.
Panzerjäger I's were generally organized into nine-vehicle companies, with three companies per battalion. Five battalions in the war were equipped with the tank destroyer. They were employed in the Battle of France, in the North Africa Campaign and on the Eastern Front. Here I leave three battle opinions:
- In the Battle of France. - The opinion of the crew of these vehicles were positive, saying that the weapon was adequate to distances up to 600 meters if the enemy had 45 to 50 mm of armor. However, the crew also say that the ability to observe the battle in the vehicle was terrible, the crew had to look over the shield to see what is ahead, risking themselves to injury to the head.
- In the North African Campaign. - Battle experience praise the accuracy the vehicle provides, but state that the vehicles were too weak for the combat conditions and the gun didn’t have enough penetration in long distance. With an APCR round, it was found it could destroy the venerable Matilda infantry tanks at distance of around 400 meters.
- In Operation Barbarossa. - The combat experience was subpar, while the Panzerjäger I had a good effective range of up to 1,000 to 1,200 meters, but the high profile of the vehicle presented a big target to enemy anti-tank weapons and artillery, even shrapnels from high-explosive shells could penetrate the thin armor.
This Panzerjäger I is the only one left in the world. It was captured by Americans. It was always on display at the Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA, but was sent on loan to Koblenz in the 80s.
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