Introduction
First of all I want to mention the meaning of VK-numbers to show you, what the numbers can tell you, because in this section of Panzer II the literature often uses only the VK numbers without mentioning which Ausf. it is!
The VK-numbers showing the main specification of the project: VK tells you that it is a "Volkettenfahrzeug", which means fully tracked vehicle The first number respectively the first two numbers showed which weight was projected for the tank, means the VK1801 was projected for 18tons. Always the last two numbers showed if it is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ... project in that weight class, so the VK1303 was the 3rd project for the 13ton class.
The Panzer II Ausf.F was the last of the original series of Panzer II. With the development of the mark G they were "Panzer II neuer Art", Panzer II of new type, which differ from the original series in main appearance. Mainly a new chassis and suspension system was developed and the armor was improved. To show you which mark of the Panzer II had which specifications I listed all the "new" Panzer II marks:
Panzer II Ausf.G (VK 901)
In 1938 the Army Ordnance Office gave an order for a light fully tracked reconnaissance vehicle, which was projected as VK901. A maximum speed of 60km/h was demanded. The engine was the Maybach HL62TRM which gave power of 140hp. That was not enough to achieve a speed more than 50km/h. 
The weight was about 9.5 tons and so the VK901 had a power to weight ratio of 14.7hp/t.
The prototype was completed by the end of 1939 and an order was given to produce a pre-production series of 75 VK901 from October 1940 on, but there were lots of delays so only 12 VK901 were built from April 1941 to February 1942.
The VK901 was 4.24m long, 2.38m wide and 2.05m high. An EW141 MG and a MG34, which were in the turret, were given as armament. The armor protection was 30mm on turret- and chassisfront, and 15mm on side and rear of turret and chassis.
Some sources indicate that there were in addition to the Panzer II Ausf.G also the marks: G1, G2 and G4. I really don't know which specifications the particular marks had, respectively what the differences were between them.
It is unknown if a VK901 came to any combat service.
Panzer II Ausf.H (VK 903)
The VK903 should have been the production mark of the VK901 with more powerful engine and improved armor protection.
On 1st September 1941 a prototype was delivered from MAN. The engine was the Maybach HL66p which had 200hp power, so the maximum speed was increased to 60km/h. Also the new SSG 48 gearbox from the Panzer 38(t) n.A. was installed.
The front armor protection of turret and chassis was still 30mm, while the sides and rear of turret and chassis was thickened to 20mm. That increased the weight to 10.5 tons, and because of the new more powerful engine the power to weight ration was fantastic 19hp/t. The armament was a 2cm KwK38 L/55 and a MG34.
For the present an order was given to build 200 VK903 but as before there were permanent delays, so the project was cancelled by the end of 1942. After all it seems that four vehicles were completed but there seems to be no photographic evidence.
Panzer II Ausf.J (VK 1601)
The heaviest possible armor was the main aim of this project which was given to MAN and Daimler-Benz.
At the front of turret and chassis the armor thickness was 80mm and 50mm on the sides and rear of turret and chassis. The weight increased dramatically to 17 tons. With the used Maybach HL45p engine with only 140hp a maximum speed of 31km/h was achieved.
The circular access-hatches were, like on the VK1801, at the sides. A preproduction series of 30 vehicles was ordered and the first VK1601 was finished in June 1940. The production was stopped after the delivery of 22 vehicles.
The armament was a 2cm KwK L/55 and a MG42. About the dimensions and other details on the VK1601 is very less known (If you have further informations .. please write a mail to me!).
Seven of the completed VK1601 were delivered to 12th tank division in 1943 on the Eastern front. The other VK1601 were used for driving schools and special formations.
In 1944 the allied forces found a VK1601 which was converted to an armored recovery vehicle by replacing the turret with a jib (See picture to the right). It is unknown when it was converted or who this conversion did!
Panzer II Ausf.M (VK 1301)
This mark of the Panzer II was ordered to have same appearance and dimensions as the VK901. The combat weight was now 12.9 tons. By the end of April 1942 a prototype of mild-steel was completed.
The picture shows this prototype early in 1942 for winter trials in St.Johann (Austria). This prototype seems to be the only completed vehicle of this mark of the Panzer II line, it was the forerunner of the VK1303 which will be described next.
The armor protection of the VK1301 was like on the VK903 (30mm front turret/chassis and 20mm at rear/sides of turret/chassis). The engine was the Maybach HL66p giving 200hp.
The armament was also still the 2cm KwK38 L/55 and a MG34. More details about this mark are not known!
Panzer II Ausf.L "Luchs" (VK 1303) Sd.Kfz.123
On 15th September 1939 an order was placed for an armored fully-tracked reconnaissance vehicle. After sundry forerunners, which were described above, the development led to the Panzer II Ausf.L "Luchs"(Lynx). The manufacturer MAN and Daimler-Benz were ordered to build these tanks. At first 800 of these vehicles were ordered, but after trials of the first four test-vehicles in August 1942, the order was cut to 100 vehicles in January 1943.
The combat weight was 11.8 tons and the armor protection was like its forerunner (30mm front turret/chassis and 20mm at rear/sides of turret/chassis). Also the engine Maybach HL66p was used and was giving 180hp at 2800rpm because of a speed governor. That gave a power to weight ratio of 15.3hp/t and resulted in a maximum speed of 60km/h.
The length of the "Lynx" was 4.63m, it was 2.48m wide and 2.21m high. The track width was 36cm and with a track on ground length of 2.2m it had a specific ground pressure of 0,75kg/cm2. With a fuel-tank capacity of 235 liters the "Lynx" had a road-range of about 290km. The chassis consisted of rubber-tyred solid steel wheels, which were suspended by lateral torsionbars. Additionally the first and the last roadwheels were supported by a shock-absorber. The tracks fitted were a departure from the previous Panzer II design in that they were of the skeleton pattern with the sole of the links resembling those fitted to the Panzer III. A double guide horn was provided to suit the twin bogie wheels. About 1.6m wide trenches could be crossed, wading waters of up to 1.4m deepness was possible and obstacles of 60cm height could be climbed.
The armament was the well-known 2cm KwK L/55 for which 330 cartridges were carried in 33 magazines as well as 2250 shots for the additional MG34. The main gun fired either the Pzgr AP, the Pzgr 40 AP or the Spgr HE rounds.
For its reconnaissance role the Luchs was equipped with two radios, the Fug12 and the Fug Spr a. The Fug12 was an 80 watt transmitter/receiver for long range communications with a 2 metre rod aerial. The Fug Spr a was a USW transmitter/receiver for inter-vehicle communication with either a 1.4 or 2 metre aerial.
The "Lynx" was issued to the armoured reconnaissance detachments and were mainly used at the Eastern Front. (The picture on the left is showing a "Lynx" probably in Russia).
Very soon it was clear that armor protection as well as armament was insufficient. So 31 more "Lynx" were ordered to get a new constructed, open topped turret which carried the 5cm KwK 39/1 L/60. This also was only little success and the troops were not very satisfied with this.
Only very few Panzer II Ausf.L "Lynx" survived the war and one could be seen in the "Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum" in Bovington, anotherone can be seen in the Panzermuseum in Saumur/France, which is in running order.
If you're interested in more info or photos, please read the following mentioned books.
Literature:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War two, Chamberlain, Doyle, Jentz, 1993, Arms and Armour Press
- Deutsche Panzer Raritäten, Sawodny, 1982, Podzun-Pallas
- Die Panzerkampfwagen I und II und ihre Abarten, Spielberger, 1991, Motorbuch
- Article "Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf.L (SD KFZ 123) (Luchs)" by Richard Benham
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