Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. L

Photo from German Armored Rarities 1935-1945

The Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. L, more commonly referred to as Luchs (Lynx), was developed to provide the Whermacht with a fully-tracked reconaissance vehicle. The fact that wheeled scout cars had extreme difficulties with unfavorable terrain had been recognized as early as 1939, and the Waffenamt had ordered development of fully-tracked vehicles. Conditions in Russia made the four and six wheeled scout cars almost completely obsolete, so the utmost urgency was attached to the project.

The VK1301 was the first in a line of prototypes based loosely on the existing Panzer II. The ultimate production model was the VK1303. An order for 800 was made, though only 100 Luchs were ever produced. The vehicle served until the end of the war on both fronts.

• Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War II
• German Armored Rarities 1935-1945

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