Panzerkampfwagen II
Sd.Kfz. 121

Panzer II Ausf. F light Tank, 1:76 Matchbox 40081.

Panzerkampfwagen II were produced in greater numbers than originally expected, to serve as a stopgap vehicle until production of the Pz.Kpfw. III and Panzer IV series picked up. The earlier Panzer II Ausf. A had been used as the main battle tank in Poland, but it was no match for the heavily armoured Char B1 and Somua tanks which the Wehrmacht encountered in France the following year. Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F received better frontal armour and many of the older Ausf. A, B and C were uparmoured to this standard as well. From 1940, the vehicle served primarily in reconnaissance platoons of five Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F attached to Panzer companies, battalions and regiments. For the invasion of Russia a flamethrower variant, the Pz.Kpfw. II(Fl) was produced. Surviving vehicles were withdrawn from the Eastern Front in 1942 and converted to Marder II tank destroyers, mounting a 7.5 cm PaK 40.

Available Models

  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A/B/C, 1:35 Tamiya 35292
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A/B/C, 1:56 Warlord Games 402412005
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A/B/C, 1:285 GHQ Models G113
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A, 1:72 ALBY 828
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A, 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72877
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A, 1:72 IBG Models W-005
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A, 1:76 MMS 919
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A (ochre), 1:87 Trident Miniatures 90333
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A (grey), 1:87 Trident Miniatures 90333G
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:35 IBG Models 35079
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:72 Alemany Miniaturas FG7211
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72880
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:72 IBG Models W-007
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B with Trailer, 1:72 IBG Models 72166
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:72 S-Model 720121
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:72 TP Model T-7265
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:76 MMS 923
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B (ochre), 1:76 Trident Miniatures 90330
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B (grey), 1:76 Trident Miniatures 90330G
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:144 Dragon 14007
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B, 1:300 Heroics & Ros G06
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:35 Alan 004
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:35 Ark Models 35018
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:35 Tamiya 35299
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:72 ACE 72268
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72870
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (Eastern Front), 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72893
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (Balkans), 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72892
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (Africa), 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72900
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:72 First to Fight PL1939-010
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:72 S-Model 720001
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:76 MMS 916
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (ochre), 1:87 Trident Miniatures 90332
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (grey), 1:87 Trident Miniatures 90332G
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, 1:144 Fairy Kikaku M023
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D, 1:35 Alan 009
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D, 1:35 Ark Models 35016
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D, 1:48 Gaso.line GAS50095K
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D, 1:72 First to Fight PL1939-012
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D, 1:76 MMS 913
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D1, 1:35 Bronco 35061
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:35 5M Hobby 35002
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:35 Academy 13535
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:35 Cyber Hobby 6263
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:72 ACE 72269
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:72 AHM K555
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:72 Attack Hobby Kits 72896
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:72 ESCI 8003
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:72 Hasegawa MB-103
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:72 Italeri 7059
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/153
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:76 Matchbox 40081
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:76 Nitto 533
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:76 Revell 03229
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F (ochre), 1:87 Trident Miniatures 90334
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F (grey), 1:87 Trident Miniatures 90334G
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:87 World Tanks Depot 9
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:285 GHQ Models G114
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F, 1:300 Heroics & Ros G07
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 1:35 Tamiya 35009
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 1:48 Bandai 8261
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 1:76 Fujimi 76076
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 1:76 Nitto 459
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 1:76 Nitto 533
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 1:100 Zvezda 6102
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F/G, 15 mm Battlefront Minitures GBX102
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. G, 1:35 5M Hobby 35001

Technical Specifications

  • Sd.Kfz. 121 Panzerkampfwagen II
  • Type: Main Battle Tank
  • Length: 4800 mm
  • Width: 2290 mm
  • Height: 2000 mm
  • Weight: 9.5 t
  • Armament: 2 cm L.55 KwK 30, MG 34 Machine Gun
  • Speed: 40 km/h on Roads
  • 3 Crew: Commander, Gunner and Driver
  • Production: 1935–1944

Possible Conversions

  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. A, 1939–1940 (tank platoon of five vehicles)
  • Pz.Kpfw. II(Fl) (Flamingo), flamethrower, Eastern Front June 1941 – March 1942
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. G(?), rearmed with a captured French 37 mm L.33 gun. The gun was mounted centrally through the existing mantlet, and the tank lost its coaxial MG. In 1941, one each of these vehicles was issued to Pz.Kpfw. II platoons.
  • Sd.Kfz. 131, Marder II (tank-hunter) with 7.5 cm PaK 40, May 1942–1945
  • Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. L (Lynx), reconnaissance vehicle with 2 cm L.55, 1944–1945

The Pz.Kpfw. II is an important vehicle which saw much more combat than expected. The vehicle had an interesting and varied career, which began as a main battle tank during the 1939 invasion of Poland. Less than a year later, Pz.Kpfw. II were relegated to reconnaissance duties in Panzer formations now operating the mass produced Pz.Kpfw. III.F as their new main battle tank. Flamethrower, reconnaissance and tank-hunter conversions extended the service life of the vehicle until the end of the war. Compared to other Matchbox kits, this particular vehicle is relatively difficult to build and it requires carful attention and patience from the hobbyist. Since many Pz.Kpfw. II and Marder II conversion will be required for wargaming purposes, we recommend that entire platoons of them are produced in assembly-line fashion. Given some experience with the kit, the model builder will achieve more consistent results in less time per vehicle.

German Miniatures of World-War Two