Pz.Kpfw. II Luchs
Pz.Kpfw. II Luchs
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[Client Values; Actual values in
155,000  Cost |
| 495104 HP Hit Points |
| 11.7/12.56.09/15.5 t Weight Limit |
- Commander (Gunner)
- Radio Operator
- Driver
- Loader
| 140360 hp Engine Power |
| 60/22 km/h Speed Limit |
| 3033 deg/s Traverse |
| 11.9759.11 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| YesYes Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 30/20/2050/30/30 mm Turret Armor |
AP/APCR
AP/APCR/HE Shells |
3/400
32/1200/6 Shell Cost |
| 11/11/30/30/40 HP Damage |
| 23/46/95/110/15 mm Penetration |
|
143.88 r/m ▲
30.72 r/m Magazine-fed Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Magazine-fed Gun |
|
44.99 ▲
Magazine-fed Gun
▼
372.6 Magazine-fed Gun
▲
Magazine-fed Gun
▼
Magazine-fed Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Magazine-fed Gun |
|
0.57 m ▲
0.5 m With 50% Crew: 0.725 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.636 m |
| 1.5 s 2.2 s Aim time |
| 4238 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -10°/+20°-10°/+20° Elevation Arc |
| 660420 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 2020 % Chance of Fire |
| 330 m 360 m View Range |
| 310 m 455 m Signal Range |
IV
155000
The Pz.Kpfw. II Luchs is a German tier 4 light tank.
As compared to the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C, the vehicle featured a new hull and turret, as well as a chassis with a staggered arrangement of roadwheels. The reconnaissance tank had strong characteristics, but only 131 vehicles of the L modification were built, after manufacture proved to be too expensive.
The first of five dedicated scouting tanks in the German tech tree, the Luchs is a fast and nimble tank. When equipped with the 3cm autocannon it can decimate most Tier III's and some Tier IV's with one clip and hurt many Tier V's and VI's, as it has decent damage for an autocannon and outstanding penetration (95mm with AP on the 3cm Mk 103).
The Pz.Kpfw. II Luchs leads to the VK 16.02 Leopard.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Guns
| Tier | Gun | Penetration (mm) |
Damage (HP) |
Rate of fire (rounds/minute) |
Dispersion (m/100m) |
Aiming time (s) |
Weight (kg) |
Price (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 5 cm Kw.K. 39 L/60 | 67/130/25 | 70/70/90 | 24 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 700 | 13970 | |
| II | 2 cm Flak 38 | 39/51 | 11/11 | 153.85 | 0.45 | 1.4 | 110 | 3160 | |
| I | 2 cm Kw.K. 38 | 23/46 | 11/11 | 153.85 | 0.57 | 1.4 | 70 | 1920 | |
| I | 3,7 cm Kw.K. 36 L/46.5 | 40/74/18 | 36/36/42 | 26.09 | 0.46 | 1.7 | 100 | 0 | |
| III | 5 cm Kw.K. 38 L/42 | 60/96/25 | 70/70/90 | 24 | 0.48 | 2.3 | 700 | 8570 | |
| V | 3 cm M.K. 103 | 95/110/15 | 30/30/40 | 30.77 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 141 | 33500 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| III | Maybach HL 62 TR | 140 | 20 | 550 | 4220 | |
| IV | Maybach HL 66 P | 180 | 20 | 550 | 8650 | |
| V | Maybach HL 90 | 360 | 20 | 550 | 16400 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | Luchs | 12.5 | 30 | 0 | 3000 | 3680 | |
| V | Luchs verstärkteketten | 15.5 | 33 | 0 | 3000 | 9650 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| III | FuG 5 | 310 | 50 | 630 | |
| VI | FuG 7 | 415 | 70 | 8160 | |
| VII | FuG Spr. 1 | 455 | 150 | 21600 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- A choice of two viable main guns: high penetration and burst damage on the 3cm autocannon, while the 5cm L/60 provides accuracy and high DPM
- Good camouflage values, and very small size: only the Pz. 38(t) n.A. is smaller and (with the 4.7cm gun) stealthier
- Excellent top speed, maneuverability (also able to pivot), and acceleration
- Good view range
- Adorable
Cons:
- 3cm autocannon has a long reload time (around 16-19 seconds) along with very poor accuracy, and just equipping it drags down the tank's overall concealment compared to the 5cm gun
- Drifts very easily (but can be useful if you want to cross up tanks)
- Sluggish with the stock engine
- Short radio range of 455 meters strains the scouting role; much worse than predecessors
- Often targeted as an easy kill when spotted
Performance
As a stock tank the Luchs has maneuverability similar to the Leichttraktor and guns that are usually inadequate against the tanks it meets. But once upgraded the Luchs gains incredibly high acceleration; the ability to turn on a dime often causing it to drift when turning at high speeds.
Compared to other Tier IV scout tanks the Luchs has access to a unique gun: the 3cm M.K. 103, an autocannon with high penetration (95mm) which fires two shots per burst and has five bursts in the magazine (just four in the stock turret). The weapon is meant for "hit and run tactics": charge in and unload your magazine into an enemy tank and get away quickly as you reload. However the main problem is the agonizing long reload of the gun, taking roughly 16-19 seconds. This is why the gun is somewhat unfit to hunt multiple artillery as the long reloads can slow down their destruction. Its general inaccuracy at over 300 meters makes it strictly a short- to point-blank range weapon.
The other option is to equip the 5cm Kw.K. 39 L/60: a fast-firing and accurate cannon but with penetration that averages 67mm; 130mm with "special" ammo. It's only Tier IV so try both and see which one you prefer.
(Note the similarities between the Pz. 38(t) n.A. (the other Tier IV German light) and the Pz. II Luchs. Given the 5cm gun on both the Luchs has worse hull and turret traverse speeds, elevation, top speed, concealment (very slightly), view range, radio range, and is a slightly larger target, but enjoys better top turret armor, suspension repair speed, engine power, and reverse speed. But give the n.A. its 4.7mm gun (not available on the Luchs) and it gains a significant concealment advantage over it (and the difference is even greater compared to a Luchs with the 3cm). The Luchs is a better ambusher and active scout, while the Pz. 38(t) n.A. -- especially with the 4.7cm gun -- is a significantly better sniper and passive scout; if you have both tanks you might choose to specialize your equipment and tactics to play to their strengths.)
The Pz. II Luchs' crew setup -- Commander (Gunner), Driver, Radio Operator, Loader -- is compatible with the Pz. M 15 and Pz. T 15, both premium tanks can use the Luchs' crew without penalty.
The Luchs would almost be the perfect Tier IV scout if it wasn't held back by a poor top radio, the FUG Spr. 1 with up to 455 meters range, which is below average for a scout tank. But with the version 9.1 matchmaker changes the Luchs is very capable scout that often gets to be a deadly combat light when in Tier IV and V matches.
Early Research
- The FuG 7 and FuG Spr. 1 radios carry over from the Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. C and Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. G, as does the 2cm Flak 38 L/112 and 3cm M.K. 103 auto-cannon; install the FuG 7 and 3cm M.K. 103 immediately
- Decide if you want to stick with the 3cm autocannon or move to the top 5cm gun as soon as possible, if so you'll have to research three intermediate guns and the top turret to get there; consider spending some free xp to make the journey a little easier. You'll also have to either research the top suspension or install Improved Hardening first
- If you're sticking with the 3cm -- at least for now -- consider grinding to the top turret for extra armor and view range (but poorer turret traverse speed)
- The stock engine is very weak, researching the top engine should be the next priority
- Research the top suspension if you haven't already, and if you went the Improved Suspension route then decide if you want to keep it or swap it out for some other equipment; if you like to active-scout and/or use the 3cm then keeping the hardening to reduce the chance of being tracked might be a good idea
- Lastly research any modules you haven't already to elite the tank, and don't forget to turn on Accelerate Crew Training
Suggested Equipment
Suspension
External Reviews and Opinions
Gallery
Historical Info
This light reconnaissance tank saw service until the end of the war on both the Eastern and Western Front with Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilungen (armored reconnaissance detachments) of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. Reported users include the 116th Panzer Division on the Western Front, and the 3rd, 4th, and 6th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front. It is reported that both the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf and 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking on the Eastern Front also used the Luchs.
Vehicles sent to the Eastern Front were mounted with additional frontal armor plates for increased protection. Small numbers was fitted with additional radio equipment and antennas, serving as reconnaissance communication vehicles. The Luchs was to be eventually armed with the (Luchs 5cm) 50mm KwK 39 L/60 gun (VK 1602 Leopard), but only variants with 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon were produced. The 20mm cannon was fitted with a TZF6 optical sight and had a rate of fire of 420 to 480 rounds per minute. It is also reported, but not confirmed, that 31 Luchs were mounted with an open-top turret armed with the 50mm KwK 39 L/60 gun and began equipping troops in late 1943. Also, plans were made to produce a recovery version, the Bergepanzer Luchs, but they never materialized. Along with Bergepanzer Luchs, a scale model of the Flakpanzer Luchs anti-aircraft tank based on a lengthened chassis (VK 1305) and armed with either the 20mm Flakvierling or 37mm Flak 36 gun was made, but this project was never realized.
Historical Gallery
Historical Accuracy Errata
The 2cm Flak 38 and 3cm M.K. 103 configurations are fictitious, neither gun was ever equipped on the Luchs.
