Panzerjager I (Sd.Kfz.101)
(4.7cm PaK(t) (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B)
It was armed with Czech 47mm Pak(t) 36 L/43.4 (Skoda 47mm A-5 P.U.V vz.36 gun), operated by the crew of three and build on PzKpfw I Ausf B's chassis. Crew was protected only by a gun shield, open at the top and rear. The gun had limited traverse of 15 degrees. 86 rounds of ammunition were carried. Originally, it was intended to use 50mm Pak 38 gun but it was not yet ready for production. From March 1940 to February 1941, 202 were converted by Daimler-Benz, Skoda and Alkett. 132 were produced in three series (40, 50 and 42) from March to May of 1940 by Alkett, followed by 70 produced by February of 1941 by Skoda. Two versions can be distinguished by the number of sides of the gun shield. Those produced by Skoda had seven sides and by Alkett five sides. Small number was also armed with 37mm Pak 35/36 L/45 (with original gun shield) guns mounted directly on the hull in place of a removed turret. They proved inefective and rapidly disappeared because of their inadequate fire power, although some remained in service as late as 1943. Panzerjager I saw service in the West, North Africa and Russia with Panzerjager Abteilungs (e.g. 521st, 605th, 616th, 643rd and 670th Panzerjaeger Abteilung in France, 1940). It is reported that few were armed with 50mm PaK 38 L/60 guns after 1940, but it is not confirmed. It was the first of many self-propelled anti-tank vehicles produced during the war.
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