Panzerjager I - Definition and Overview

The first of many tank destroyers, the Panzerjäger I (tank hunter I) was based on the chassis of the Panzer I ausf B and was armed with the Skoda 47 mm Pak L/43 anti-tank gun. The Panzerjäger proved to be a cheap and fairly effective solution to help counter Russian tanks, and served to extend the useable lifetime of the obsolete Panzer I.

As with most tank destroyers, the crew was highly vulnerable, their only protection coming from a frontal gun shield; the gun also had a very limited traverse.

202 of these vehicles were converted, 132 by Alkett and 70 by Skoda. There is a slight difference between them, as the variation by Skoda had a seven sided gun shield versus the five sided model by Alkett.

They were first used in France, and continued to see action in North Africa and on the Eastern Front. After being withdrawn in 1943 on arrival of better vehicles, the Panzerjäger were relegated to policing activities such as anti-partisan operations in the Balkans.

External links

• AFV Database (http://afvdb.50megs.com/germany/pzjag1.html)
• OnWar (http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/tfpzjager1.htm)
• WWII Vehicles (http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/germany/panzerjaeger.html)