Tasca Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F • Kit No. ASU24-001
The popular impression of a typical Panzer is a Tiger tank picking off a column of Shermans. In reality, however, the workhorses of the German Panzer Divisions were the Panzers II, III and IV. The Panzer II was an interim development of the Panzer I, enlarged and fitted with 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 cannon and a co-axial 7.92 mm machine gun in a newly designed turret.
The Panzer II remained the most numerous weapon in the Panzer Divisions’ arsenal until after the invasion of France. It was used extensively in Poland, Western Europe, Denmark, Norway, the Balkans, North Africa and during Operation Barbarossa. Although the gun tank was phased out of front line service by the end of 1942, variants based on its chassis would soldier on until the last days of the Second World War.
Almost 1,900 of these lightweight stopgap tanks were built between 1935 and 1943. Despite its modest specifications, the Panzer II proved the effectiveness of the Blitzkrieg concept from 1939 to 1941.