Panzer: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:PzKpfw IV Ausf A.jpg|thumb|[[Panzer IV|Panzer IV Ausf. A]], a medium tank first built in 1937]] |
[[Image:PzKpfw IV Ausf A.jpg|thumb|[[Panzer IV|Panzer IV Ausf. A]], a medium tank first built in 1937]] |
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[[Image:Lt.frohberg.jpg|thumb| |
[[Image:Lt.frohberg.jpg|thumb|Leutnant [[Helmut Frohberg]] of the [[German 11th Panzer Division]]]] |
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'''Panzer''' refers to an armoured [[tank]] or other vehicle, usually a [[World War II|Second World War]] [[Nazi Germany|German]] model. The term is rarely, if ever, used outside this context. ''Panzer'' also describes [[armoured forces]], as in "[[panzer division]]". |
'''Panzer''' refers to an armoured [[tank]] or other vehicle, usually a [[World War II|Second World War]] [[Nazi Germany|German]] model. The term is rarely, if ever, used outside this context. ''Panzer'' also describes [[armoured forces]], as in "[[panzer division]]". |
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Revision as of 20:32, 2 December 2006
Panzer refers to an armoured tank or other vehicle, usually a Second World War German model. The term is rarely, if ever, used outside this context. Panzer also describes armoured forces, as in "panzer division".
Panzer is a loanword from German. The German noun Panzer (plural: Panzer) means armour in the sense of protective equipment such as Plattenpanzer (plate armour) or Schutzpanzer (protective armour), or armoured forces (today, tank organizations and the tanks themselves). The term gained infamy in English during Germany's successful Blitzkrieg armoured advances of World War II. It is derived from the French pancier ("breastplate", compare English paunch). German pronunciation [ˈpanʦer] (), English [ˈpænzɝ]. The word has been calqued in many languages, such as Swedish "pansarvagn" or Finnish "panssarivaunu" for any tracked armoured fighting vehicle.
German panzers
Panzer is also an abbreviation of the WWII German designation for tanks, Panzerkampfwagen ("armoured combat vehicle", abbreviated PzKpfw), used by the German Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht. German panzer models were given designations like Panzer I, or Panzer VI Tiger. For a list, see German armoured fighting vehicles of World War II. "PzKpfW" means literally the same as AFV (armoured fighting vehicle).
Individual variations of these basic marks were given an Ausführung (version) letter, and consequently the field of Panzer recognition is extremely complex. Great lengths have been gone to explain the differences between a Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. E(U) and a Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. F(U), for example. The word panzer is occasionally confused with the name of the Pzkpfw V Panther tank.
Tank destroyers were Panzerjäger or Jagdpanzer ("hunting tanks"), self-propelled infantry guns were Sturmgeschütze ("assault guns"), while self-propelled artillery pieces were usually referred to as Panzerfeldhaubitze.
See also
Other uses
- In some forms of coalminers' jargon, a panzer is a type of underground conveyor belt for carrying coal, made entirely out of metal.
- Erik "Panzer" Hagen
- In sweden the official name for a tank is pansarvagn or stridsvagn (stridsvagn litterely meaning combat wagon), and a tank regiment is called Pansarregemente
External links
- Detailed information about every aspect of the Panzerkampfwagen VI at the Tiger I Information Center
| Tanks |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled artillery | ||
| Assault guns | ||
| Tank destroyers (Panzerjäger, Jagdpanzer) | ||
| Half-tracks | ||
| Armored cars | ||
| Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns |
| |
| Demolition vehicles | ||
| Experimental vehicles, prototypes | ||
| Proposed designs | ||
| Designations | ||