Introducing the Panzer 38

The Panzer 38 (t) was a light tank designed by the Czech company ČKD in the 1930s After the German annexation of the Sudentenland (in 1938) and subsequently, the rest of  Czechoslovakia, the German army incorporated this tank into their arsenal under the designation Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t), the letter t being the first letter in tschechisch, the German word for Czech. The Panzer 38 was considered superior to the Panzer I and Panzer II which made up most of the armored ranks of the German army at the time. About 1400 of them were produced up to 1942, when they were no longer deemed a match for the medium Soviet tanks like the T34. In the meantime, they saw action during the invasion of Poland and France, and the early years of the war on the eastern front. The Panzer 38 was armed with a 37mm gun, and two 7.9mm machine guns. It was operated by a crew of 4: commander & loader in the turret, and driver (on the right) and radio operator/machine gunner (on the left). The commander was also the one who aimed and fired the main gun. The maximum thikness of the armor (in the front) was 25-30mm in the earlier models (Ausf A-D), and it was increased to 50mm for the Ausf E model (and G as well). Its 123.3 hp engine provided it with a maximum speed of 9 mph off-road, and 26 mph on-road. The Panzer 38 had a good reputation for reliability and ease of maintenance. After production stopped, its chassis was still used for other vehicles, such as the Marder, the Jagdpanzer 38, a Flakpanzer 38, and even a reconnaissance vehicle,  the Aufklärungspanzer 38.

21st Century Toys Panzer 38 (t)

The 21C Panzer 38, does not only represent a light tank, but it is also literally, a light tank. Made up entirely of plastic, it feels quite underweight in your hand. As is the case with other 21C tanks, the tracks move, as does the turret, although this one catches a bit the tools on the side. Also the machine gun in the turret moves along the vertical axis, but the one next to the driver is fixed. This Panzer 38 came with the antenna a bit bent, but other models have it straight. I did not bother to straighten it out as I feel it gives it character, and I did not want to risk it breaking off. All in all, this is not a very common model to run into, so I was happy to be able to add it to the ranks of my German army.

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