Difference between revisions of "Panzerjager I"

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{{Specs-Card|code=germ_panzerjager_1}}
+
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=germ_panzerjager_1
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', otherwise known as the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]].
 +
 
 +
The vehicle is based on a Pz.Kpfw.I chassis, which is also found on the [[Flakpanzer I]]. This means it has no armour. It has a silhouette slightly resembling a [[Marder III]], but is quite scaled down.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides (Slope angle) !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 13 mm (18°) ''Front plate'' <br> 13 mm (72-75°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 13 mm (26°) ''Lower glacis'' || 13 mm || 13 mm || 8 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Superstructure || 14 mm (26°)|| 14 mm (15-18°)|| N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 10 mm thick while the tracks are 15 mm thick.
 +
 
 +
Any enemies at this rank can pierce your armour. However, the biggest threats are the SPAA vehicles due to their higher rate of fire with effective weapons that will absolutely rip apart the vehicle. Airplanes too are a concern, and artillery is very deadly.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
== Weaponry ==
+
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 142|rbMinHp= 88|<!--AoAweight=(optional) -->}}
=== Main weaponry ===
 
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
 
  
=== Additional weaponry ===
+
=== Modifications and economy ===
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
=== Machine guns ===
+
== Armaments ==
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 +
=== Main armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|Pak.(t)(Sf.) (47 mm)}}
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[Pak.(t)(Sf.) (47 mm)|47 mm Pak.(t)(Sf.)]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 86 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 10.6 || 14.6 || 17.8 || 19.6 || 20.9 || rowspan="2" | 3.9 || rowspan="2" | 3.5 || rowspan="2" | 3.3 || rowspan="2" | 3.0
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10.2 || 11.3 || 12.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:Pak.(t)(Sf.) (47 mm)/Ammunition|Pzgr.36(t), Pzgr.40}}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.35.0.31''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''86''' || 76&nbsp;''(+10)'' || 42&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 27&nbsp;''(+59)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+69)'' || 0&nbsp;''(+86)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes''':
 +
 
 +
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
 +
* Turret empty: 76 ''(+10)'' shells.
 +
* Right flank empty: 17&nbsp;''(+69)'' shells.
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
Although virtually unarmoured, the Panzerjäger I ''can'' be used in a head-on manner. However, this is not recommended. It is much better to snipe or ambush the enemy. Its gun may have a good Rate of Fire, but many other guns of its rank, such as the British 2-pounder, will reload faster than you. However, your gun is extremely powerful for its rank, which means you will go through almost anything, so there is no need to throw yourself in front of the enemy.
 +
 
 +
While the gun can be sufficient and one-shot many enemies from light to medium tanks, more heavily armoured tanks will be a problem unless using the APCR ammunition. The common enemies to be concerned about are the B1 bis, B1 ter, and Matilda Mk II if the Panzerjäger I is used as the highest-BR option in your line-up. The B1 bis is only frontally penetrable on the turret ring or the exposed breech of the hull-mounted 75 mm. The B1 ter is only penetrable in flank shots with APCR or a very lucky turret ring hit. The Matilda is only frontally penetrable on the turret ring or demands use of APCR.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Large ammo reserve of 86 rounds
 +
* Agile vehicle, with a good power-to-weight ratio
 +
* One of the best guns in Rank I, can penetrate most things it comes up against and destroy them in 1-2 penetrating hits due to HE filler
 +
* Access to APCR ammunition for certain targets that the APC-HE cannot penetrate reliably
 +
* Good ballistics for 47 mm, can be used effectively at long range
 +
* Narrow, can fit in tight spaces
 +
* Fast reload
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
 
  
== Historical part ==
+
* Tall profile, bigger target
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Very thin armour, maximum of 15 mm
 +
* Crew operating the gun have no armour protection in the top and rear of their position
 +
* Not a lot of horsepower, poor for towing downed allied vehicles
 +
* No defensive machine gun, open-top SPAA can be a problem
 +
* Gun quickly becomes obsolete in uptiers, it does not cope well with sloped armour
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
===Development===
 +
The heavily armoured tanks in Allied inventory was considered a threat to the German armoured forces, which consisted of mostly 3.7 cm gun that were ineffective. To counter these threats, the  Germans sought for a vehicle able to mount a bigger gun able to fight these tanks. It was found that they could convert obsolete chassis designs like the Panzer I to mount the guns, thus saving the design process of developing a new vehicle for the role. The Czech 4.7 cm Pak(t) anti-tank gun was chosen for this task, and was mounted on a converted Panzer I chassis with the turret removed, a gun shield was used for the mount of the gun. Between 1940 to 1941, 202 Panzer Is were converted by Alkett and Deutz AG to these tank destroyers, designated the "Panzerjäger I", the first of its kind of tank destroyers in the war.
  
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guids, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
===Combat usage===
 +
The Panzerjäger I were organised in anti-tank battalions, each having three companies with nine vehicles each. Five battalions in the war were equipped with the tank destroyer. The first usage of the Panzerjäger I was in the Battle of France, where four battalions were committed. Though, only Anti-Tank Battalion 521 saw service from the beginning to the end as the other four were still in training when the campaign started. The opinion of the crew of these vehicles were positive, saying that the weapon was adequate to distances up to 600 m if the enemy had 45 to 50 mm of armour. 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.
  
== Read also ==
+
After the Battle of France, the Panzerjäger I's in Anti-Tank Battalion 605 were sent to the North African Campaign, though only 3 of the 27 vehicles made it as the transport freighter ''Castellon'' carrying the rest was sunk. The battalion was in full strength during the British offensive in Operation Crusader in November 1941, to which they lost 13 vehicles in the battle. 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 m. The battalion continued this battle of attrition with reinforcement and losses that during the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, only 11 Panzerjäger Is were left in the battalion. The last two replacement vehicle were sent to the battalion in November 1942. In Operation Barbarossa, five anti-tank battalions were equipped with the Panzerjäger Is, which made up a total of 135 vehicles. The combat experience was subpar, while the Panzerjäger I had a good effective range of up to 1,000 to 1,200 m, but the high profile of the vehicle presented a big target to enemy anti-tank weapons and artillery, even shrapnel from high-explosive shells could penetrate the thin armour. Many Panzerjäger I's were destroyed and by the Fall of 1942, many battalions reported to be under equipped for further action and were disbanded. At this point, better anti-tank weaponry and vehicles were more accessible and replaced the Panzerjäger I in service, notably the Marder series.
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
 
 +
 
 +
== Media ==
 +
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_panzerjager_1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|7QXTwiEGLT4|'''PanzerJager 1. Nice little gun, on a nice Chassis!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|gvw95nUZnQE|'''The Panzerjager I, German Tier-1, Tank Destroyer / SPG''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
''ETC.''
+
 
 +
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
 +
 
 +
* [[Flakpanzer I]]
 +
 
 +
;Similar German vehicles
 +
 
 +
* [[Marder III]]
 +
* [[Marder III H]]
 +
 
 +
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
 +
 
 +
* [[M3 GMC]]
 +
* [[SU-5-1]]
 +
* [[SU-57]]
 +
* [[Ho-Ni I]]
 +
* [[47/32 L40]]
 +
* [[Ikv 72]]
  
== Sources ==
+
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
* ''other literature.''
+
 
 +
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/886/|[Development]  The Panzerjäger I, and announcing a branch of German SPGs with open cabins]]
 +
* [[wt:en/news/4478-profile-panzerjäger-i-the-first-german-tank-hunter-en|[Profile] Panzerjäger I - The first German Tank Hunter]]
 +
* [[wikipedia:Panzerjäger_I|Wikipedia - Panzerjäger I]]
 +
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Panzerjager_I.php Tanks Encyclopedia - 4,7 cm PaK (t) (Sfl) auf Pz.Kpfw.I (Sd.Kfz.101) ohne Turm, Panzerjäger I]
 +
 
 +
{{Germany tank destroyers}}

Latest revision as of 07:40, 16 March 2024

RANK 4 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
germ_panzerjager_1.png
GarageImage Panzerjager I.jpg
ArtImage Panzerjager I.png
Panzerjäger I
AB RB SB
1.3 1.3 1.3
Research:4 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:2 100 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The 4,7 cm Pak(t) auf Pz.I Ausf.B, otherwise known as the Panzerjäger I, is a rank I German tank destroyer with a battle rating of 1.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.57 "Battle March".

The vehicle is based on a Pz.Kpfw.I chassis, which is also found on the Flakpanzer I. This means it has no armour. It has a silhouette slightly resembling a Marder III, but is quite scaled down.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull13 / 13 / 13
Turret14 / 5 / 5
Crew3 people
Visibility77 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides (Slope angle) Rear Roof
Hull 13 mm (18°) Front plate
13 mm (72-75°) Front glacis
13 mm (26°) Lower glacis
13 mm 13 mm 8 mm
Superstructure 14 mm (26°) 14 mm (15-18°) N/A N/A

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and bogies are 10 mm thick while the tracks are 15 mm thick.

Any enemies at this rank can pierce your armour. However, the biggest threats are the SPAA vehicles due to their higher rate of fire with effective weapons that will absolutely rip apart the vehicle. Airplanes too are a concern, and artillery is very deadly.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB46 / 5 km/h
RB and SB43 / 5 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight6.4 t
Engine power
AB191 hp
RB and SB100 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB29.8 hp/t
RB and SB15.6 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 46 5 6.4 142 191 22.19 29.84
Realistic 43 5 88 100 13.75 15.63

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB200 → 247 Sl icon.png
RB219 → 270 Sl icon.png
SB253 → 312 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications4 450 Rp icon.png
2 680 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost300 Ge icon.png
Crew training600 Sl icon.png
Experts2 100 Sl icon.png
Aces45 Ge icon.png
Research Aces110 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
20 / 20 / 30 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
180 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
120 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
120 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
440 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
440 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
180 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
120 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ger.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
180 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods aa cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
120 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
47mm_ger_pak_t_sf_APCR_ammo_pack
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
120 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition86 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.9 → 3.0 s
Vertical guidance-8° / 10°
Horizontal guidance-15° / 15°
Main article: Pak.(t)(Sf.) (47 mm)
47 mm Pak.(t)(Sf.) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 86 -8°/+10° ±15° N/A 10.6 14.6 17.8 19.6 20.9 3.9 3.5 3.3 3.0
Realistic 7.1 8.4 10.2 11.3 12.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Pzgr.36(t) APC 87 82 66 50 38 29
Pzgr.40 APCR 119 110 77 50 32 21
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Pzgr.36(t) APC 775 1.65 1.2 9 15 48° 63° 71°
Pzgr.40 APCR 1,080 0.83 - - - 66° 70° 72°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Panzerjager I
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
86 76 (+10) 42 (+44) 27 (+59) 17 (+69) (+86) No

Notes:

  • Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
  • Turret empty: 76 (+10) shells.
  • Right flank empty: 17 (+69) shells.

Usage in battles

Although virtually unarmoured, the Panzerjäger I can be used in a head-on manner. However, this is not recommended. It is much better to snipe or ambush the enemy. Its gun may have a good Rate of Fire, but many other guns of its rank, such as the British 2-pounder, will reload faster than you. However, your gun is extremely powerful for its rank, which means you will go through almost anything, so there is no need to throw yourself in front of the enemy.

While the gun can be sufficient and one-shot many enemies from light to medium tanks, more heavily armoured tanks will be a problem unless using the APCR ammunition. The common enemies to be concerned about are the B1 bis, B1 ter, and Matilda Mk II if the Panzerjäger I is used as the highest-BR option in your line-up. The B1 bis is only frontally penetrable on the turret ring or the exposed breech of the hull-mounted 75 mm. The B1 ter is only penetrable in flank shots with APCR or a very lucky turret ring hit. The Matilda is only frontally penetrable on the turret ring or demands use of APCR.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Large ammo reserve of 86 rounds
  • Agile vehicle, with a good power-to-weight ratio
  • One of the best guns in Rank I, can penetrate most things it comes up against and destroy them in 1-2 penetrating hits due to HE filler
  • Access to APCR ammunition for certain targets that the APC-HE cannot penetrate reliably
  • Good ballistics for 47 mm, can be used effectively at long range
  • Narrow, can fit in tight spaces
  • Fast reload

Cons:

  • Tall profile, bigger target
  • Very thin armour, maximum of 15 mm
  • Crew operating the gun have no armour protection in the top and rear of their position
  • Not a lot of horsepower, poor for towing downed allied vehicles
  • No defensive machine gun, open-top SPAA can be a problem
  • Gun quickly becomes obsolete in uptiers, it does not cope well with sloped armour

History

Development

The heavily armoured tanks in Allied inventory was considered a threat to the German armoured forces, which consisted of mostly 3.7 cm gun that were ineffective. To counter these threats, the Germans sought for a vehicle able to mount a bigger gun able to fight these tanks. It was found that they could convert obsolete chassis designs like the Panzer I to mount the guns, thus saving the design process of developing a new vehicle for the role. The Czech 4.7 cm Pak(t) anti-tank gun was chosen for this task, and was mounted on a converted Panzer I chassis with the turret removed, a gun shield was used for the mount of the gun. Between 1940 to 1941, 202 Panzer Is were converted by Alkett and Deutz AG to these tank destroyers, designated the "Panzerjäger I", the first of its kind of tank destroyers in the war.

Combat usage

The Panzerjäger I were organised in anti-tank battalions, each having three companies with nine vehicles each. Five battalions in the war were equipped with the tank destroyer. The first usage of the Panzerjäger I was in the Battle of France, where four battalions were committed. Though, only Anti-Tank Battalion 521 saw service from the beginning to the end as the other four were still in training when the campaign started. The opinion of the crew of these vehicles were positive, saying that the weapon was adequate to distances up to 600 m if the enemy had 45 to 50 mm of armour. 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.

After the Battle of France, the Panzerjäger I's in Anti-Tank Battalion 605 were sent to the North African Campaign, though only 3 of the 27 vehicles made it as the transport freighter Castellon carrying the rest was sunk. The battalion was in full strength during the British offensive in Operation Crusader in November 1941, to which they lost 13 vehicles in the battle. 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 m. The battalion continued this battle of attrition with reinforcement and losses that during the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, only 11 Panzerjäger Is were left in the battalion. The last two replacement vehicle were sent to the battalion in November 1942. In Operation Barbarossa, five anti-tank battalions were equipped with the Panzerjäger Is, which made up a total of 135 vehicles. The combat experience was subpar, while the Panzerjäger I had a good effective range of up to 1,000 to 1,200 m, but the high profile of the vehicle presented a big target to enemy anti-tank weapons and artillery, even shrapnel from high-explosive shells could penetrate the thin armour. Many Panzerjäger I's were destroyed and by the Fall of 1942, many battalions reported to be under equipped for further action and were disbanded. At this point, better anti-tank weaponry and vehicles were more accessible and replaced the Panzerjäger I in service, notably the Marder series.


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Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Similar German vehicles
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

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Germany tank destroyers
Pz. I Derivatives  Panzerjäger I
Pz. II Derivatives  15cm sIG 33 B Sfl
Pz. 38(t) Derivatives  Marder III · Marder III H · Jagdpanzer 38(t)
Pz. III Derivatives  StuG III A · StuG III F · StuG III G · StuH 42 G
Pz. IV Derivatives  Jagdpanzer IV · Panzer IV/70(A) · Panzer IV/70(V) · Dicker Max · Nashorn · Brummbär · VFW
Pz. V Derivatives  Jagdpanther G1 · Bfw. Jagdpanther G1
Pz. VI Derivatives  Sturer Emil · Elefant · Ferdinand · 38 cm Sturmmörser · Jagdtiger
Wheeled/Half-track  8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl. · Sd.Kfz.251/9 · Sd.Kfz.251/10 · Sd.Kfz.251/22 · Sd.Kfz.234/3 · Sd.Kfz.234/4 · 15 cm Pz.W.42
ATGM Carrier  RakJPz 2 · RakJPz 2 (HOT) · Wiesel 1A2
Other  Waffenträger · M109G · JPz 4-5 · Raketenautomat · VT1-2