Hello everyone,
we all know the Panzer 35t – its original name being LT Vz.35 (light tank, 1935 pattern), but what fewer people know is that not only the Vz.38, but also the Vz.35 were developed during the war. In the beginning of the war, the older LT Vz.35 was clearly inferior to the Vz.38 (often cited as the best light tank in the world during the early stage of the war), but that does not mean no development was going on.
In fact, there were numerous versions of the original Š-IIa (LT Vz.35), mostly for export markets (specifically for Yugoslavia, where Czechoslovakia tried to export the tank with a diesel engine, an attempt that ended in failure). One of the first developments was the Škoda T-11, a well-documented tank, that actually fought in the war in Bulgarian service. It is described well-enough in the Bulgarian armor article, if you are interested, check it out.
The T-12 tank that came next already used the wartime Škoda designation system (the first number meant first the category (1 – light tank), the second number meant the project number in the category) and came to be as an attempt to correct the failure of the original Škoda Š-IIa-j tank, intended for export to Yugoslavia. The original attempt to sell the vehicle to Yugoslavia failed, as written above, due to the fact that the diesel engine broke down completely during trials and the Yugoslavian officers were less than amused, let alone impressed.
The Škoda designers learned from the failure of the diesel engine and instead, they proposed by the end of 1938 a tank, powered by a petrol engine. The main improvement of this vehicle however was that instead of the original 37mm A3 gun, a much more powerful 47mm Škoda A9 cannon was used. This gun was – with standard APC ammunition – capable of penetrating 52mm of armor at 100 meters, or, with subcaliber wartime ammunition, a 100mm plate (at 90 degrees).
The prototype was based on the original LT Vz.35 tank and it was built from early 1939 as a private Škoda venture. The hull had the same shape as the older Vz.35, but the turret was brand new in order to house the larger gun. That was the reason why the rear of the turret was prolonged – to distribute the turret weight and balance it properly. Commanders cupola was also reworked. The vehicle was powered by an improved Škoda engine (designated T-11/2, 8,62 liter water-cooled, 4 cylinder) with 135 horsepower at 2000 RPM. The vehicle weighed 10,95 tons (12,32 hp/t). Maximum speed was 32,8 km/h. It had a crew of four.
Armor – hull: 25/16/16 (8mm roof, bottom)
Armor – turret: 25/16/16 (8mm roof)
Dimensions
Length: 4,9m
Width: 2,055m
Height: 2,4m
Clearance: 0,35m
It could traverse a 2m-wide trench, climb a 0,8m wall and ford through 0,8-0,9 meters of water. Maximum scaleable slope was 40 degrees.
The prototype was ready in the beginning of 1940 and was trialed in Pilsen. Yugoslavian military delegation also had a look at it, but decided to postpone the decision to purchase a tank – as it turned out, indefinitely. Another potentially interested party was Hungary – Hungarian military officials witnessed the trials between 7.5. and 9.5.1940, but there was no real interest from the Hungarian side and so, the prototype was moved back to Škoda Pilsen, where it remained in a shed as a source for spare parts. It was gradually dismantled and did not survive the war.
In World of Tanks, it would be a nice tier 3 premium tank (depends on balance of course).
Source:
Pavel Pilař – Lehké tanky Škoda T-11, T-12 a T-13M HPM 2/2002
Vladimír Francev, Charles K. Kliment – Československá obněná vozidla 1918-1948
Ivo Pejčoch – Obrněná technika
Nice…I’d buy it if it was a premium. I’m one of the oddballs that actually liked the Pz.38(t)nA :p
I never particularly minded the 38nA, it’s the matchmaking that always pissed me off.
Tier 8 game in what is effectively a small medium? No thanks.
Bit better these days with the limit at tier 7, but it’s still a ridiculous tier range.
nA is not a scout.
Couldnt said it better woras
It’s not much of a light tank, either. Hence my saying that it’s “effectively a small medium”.
Still gets tier 4 scout MM, though, unless they’ve changed it since the 9.1 table came out. It SHOULD get the same MM as the British cruisers, but…well…Wargaming :v
Hell of a camera angle on that first picture.
That or it was very steep slope.
What would differentiate it from the ingame T-15? Just the 47mm?
Comparing the hp/t ratios the T-12 might make a better tier 2 premium. One with a nice “heavy” 47mm but a bit sluggish and paper armour.
47mm Skoda gun is fantastic beast on tier III Pz38(t), on tier II that tank would be clearly OP because of camo and turret. Panzerjaeger has the same gun and its paper, slow and turretless.
+ how far I know T-15 is further development of Pz38(t), but T-12 is based on Pz35(t). If I understand well…
Cool