TNH

TNH Series of Czechoslovakian Built Light Tanks

Basis For Panzerjäger III and More

This was probably the best light tank of its time period, and it is owes to its appearance to the Shah of Iran, who decided to rearm and to reorganize the Iranian army in the middle 1930s. In early 1935 Skoda and CKD received an order from Iran for 100 tanks. The order was very large for the time. The main designer at CKD was the engineer Alexander Surin, who had emigrated from Russia, his successful design solutions for tanks produced by CKD were a notable success and made Czechoslovakia a main arms producer. CKD won the tender with what was effectively a paper design and in September 1935 the prototype left the assembly shop for running tests. The running gear of the TNH was different but very effective. By November 1936 the order was completed and sent to the Iran. In the spring of 1938 negotiations began for the delivery to Iran of the next 200 tanks but eventually it was stopped by the German invasion.
In 1938 a slightly modified version - the TNH-S, was adopted by the Czech army under the designation Lehky Tank vz.38.
30 countries expressed an interest in the TNH/TNH-S and the LT-38 in various versions were exported to a number of countries or manufactured under license.
In 1938-39 Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, and in March, 1939 150 unfinished LT-38 were confiscated and transferred to CKD in Prague for completion. All of them were included in the German army as PzKpfw 38 (t) Ausf A - Sd. Kfz.140 and the tank became the most widely used of the captured tanks in the German Army along with the Lt-35, and remained in production until June, 1942.
During the war PzKpfw 38(t) were exported and used by the allies of Germany: Rumania (50), Slovakia (90), Bulgaria (10) and Hungary (102). Some were captured by the Red Army and were used in battle. Lastly in May 1945 Pz.Kpfw. 38(t), under the designation LT-38/37, were returned to Czechoslovakia and was used by their army as a training tank until the beginning of 1950.
Approximately 1400 PzKpfw 38 (t) were released in 8 versions (Ausf A/B/C/D/E/F/S/G) with various modifications and with improved armour. All of them were armed with Czech gun of 37mm Skoda A7 vz.38 [37mm KwK 38 (t) L/48]. The armour of early PzKpfw 38(t) was riveted but the later versions were welded. Later the armour of early model Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) was improved and some were rearmed with German guns of 37mm KwK 35/36 L/46.5.
PzKpfw 38 (t) were used in the Polish campaign (3rd light division), in Norway (31st army unit), France (6th, 7th and 8th tank divisions), in the Balkan campaign (8th tank division) and in the USSR (6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 19th and 20th tank division). In a course of campaign in the USSR, the shortcomings of the armour and armament rendered the Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) ineffective and, practically, useless. Eventually as they were returned for repair they were reworked into various SPG or tank destroyer versions. After 1942 any tank versions that remained were assigned to minor roles usually reconnaissance, rear area security and Panzer crew training.
The usual German practice of adaptation of the chassis to various roles began with Marder III and Flakpanzer 38 (t). In 1942/43, after removal of the turret, Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) were used as training machines for the drivers of tanks. These machines received the designation PzKpfw 38 (t) Schulfahrwanne and were used in training schools of the Wehrmacht and NSKK.
Several Pz.Kpfw. 38 (t) were converted in flame throwing tanks by replacement of the hull machine-gun with a flame thrower, and fuel for them was fed through a hose from a 200 liter tank trailer towed behind the tank. Also the prototype of the floating tank AP-1 was developed, but it was not placed in production. In the beginning of 1942 15 PzKpfw 38 (t) nA (neuer Art) were made by BMM (CKD/Praga), but this version was not adopted for full-scale production.
351 PzKpfw 38(t) turrets were used in German fortifications in Norway (75), Denmark (20), on western Atlantic coast (9), in Southwest Europe (150) and Eastern Europe (78).

Technical Information on the Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Ausf.A-G and Ausf.S

	Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Ausf.A-D and Ausf.S	Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Ausf.E-G
Physical specifications
Length	4.61 m.
Width	2.14 m.
Height	2.25 m.
Weight	9.7 t.	9.85 t.
Engine	TNHPS 4 cylinder water cooled 7.75 l. gasoline
Horse powers	125 @ 2,200 rmp.
Crew	Commander Gunner Loader Driver
Armour	8-25 mm.	12-50 mm.
Armament
Main gun	3,7 cm Kw.K.38(t) L/48,7
Ammunition storage	90
Secondary guns	2 machine guns
Ammunition storage	2,700 machine gun rounds
Performance
Maximum speed	42 km./h.	42 km./h.
Range (on road)	250 km.
Range (cross country)	160 km.
Fuel capacity	220 l.
Fuel usage (on road)	0.88 l./km.
Fuel usage (cross-country)	1.38 l./km.
Fording	0.8 m.
Ground pressure	0.0.57 kg./cm²

Bibliography

"Panzertruppen - The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force - 1933-1942". JENTZ, Thomas Schiffer Military History Circa 1996

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