Continued development of the reconnaissance tank
concept led to the much up-armored Ausf. J, which used the same concept as the
PzKpfw IF of the same period, under the experimental designation VK1601. Heavier
armor was added, bringing protection up to 80 mm on the front and 50 mm to the
sides and rear, with 25 mm roof and floor plates, increasing total weight to 18
tons. Equipped with the same
Maybach HL45P as
the PzKpfw IF, top speed was reduced to 31 km/h. Primary armament was the 2 cm
KwK38 L/55 gun. 22 were produced by MAN between April and December 1942, and seven
were issued to the German 12th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front.
