German reconnaissance units were intended for scouting – but by the time of the Normandy campaign, they were increasingly used on the front line – mostly in wheeled vehicles. However – the Panzer II Ausf L (or ‘Luchs’) was an exception to that rule.
Development of the Luchs (Lynx), a specialised light reconnaissance tank, began in April 1939. MAN developed the superstructure while Daimler Benz designed the chassis.
The first prototype was running by April 1942 and a production order for 800 vehicles was placed with MAN. The first 100 tanks were fitted with the 2cm KwK 38 gun; the remaining 700 were to have the 5cm KwK 39/1 in a larger turret and were to be called the Leopard.
These vehicles never appeared, as the production contract was cut back in January 1943 to the first 100 Luchs tanks.
The wartime Luchs was developed from two earlier prototypes, the VK901 and VK 1301, and retained the same hull and suspension. The suspension uses torsion bars and has the large interleaved road wheels favoured by German designers. These spread the weight of the tank more evenly over the ground but are liable to clogging by ice and mud. The superstructure was widened to accommodate a larger turret. The turret has two rotating periscopes for the commander and gunner.
The Luchs was relatively fast and manoeuvrable, with a top speed of 60 Km/Hr, but the armour was thin and its’ gun inadequate. As a result crews relied on agility, speed and its’ small size to keep out of trouble.
Production finally started in September 1943 and the 100th Luchs was delivered in January 1944. They were issued to the reconnaissance units of various Panzer Divisions and served on both the Eastern and Western fronts.
The Tank Museum’s Panzer II Ausf L
The Museum’s Luchs belonged to the 1st Company of the Armoured Reconnaissance Unit of the 9th Panzer Division, (1. Kompanie, Panzer Aufklarung Abteilung, 9. Panzer Division).
This unit had 26 Luchs on 1 July 1944. After fighting in Normandy 9th Panzer retreated to Aachen and finally surrendered in the Ruhr in 1945.
