With their success in the Weltkrieg, the Imperial German Army became the preeminent authority on tank design. While early German attempts at armored fighting vehicles were clumsy and slow, their later models were quite modern and technically advanced, though they all suffered from the common flaw of being relatively lightly armored, a trend which has continued to this day.

Light Tanks

Leichter Kampfwagen II (1918)

Produced at the tail end of the war, the LK II was the first of the modern German cavalry tank designs. Armed with a single 37mm or 57mm gun (or two machine guns) mounted in a rear turret, the LK II weighed in at just under 9 tons and could reach a speed of about 18 km/h.

About 400 of this tank type was produced, with production continuing through the early 1920s Today, the tanks of this type that haven't been scrapped are found in the disparate regions of the empire, such as Mittelafrika and East Asia.

Leichter Kampfwagen III (1927)

Improving the LK II was greenlit in the latter half of the 20s, as it became increasingly obvious that new tank designs would be required to counter the Syndicalists in the East and other threats abroad. Thus the LK III was developed. The main improvement was a more powerful engine, though the armor was also slightly thickened. The armament was settled on a 37mm quick-firing gun with a coaxial machine gun, or two 7.92mm machine guns. Weight increased to 9.7 tons, though this was more than compensated by the improved engine.

The LK III was produced in wide numbers, with almost 800 of the type having been completed. Many are held in Europe, though quite a few are found abroad in the German Empire.

Leichter Kampfwagen IV (1933)

Whereas the LK II and LK III were basically siblings, the LK IV was an almost total redesign to accommodate a more modern, centrally-mounted turret, while utilizing a hull similar to the LK III. The LK IV utilizes a number of advanced features, such as welded construction, periscopes, and an anti-tank 37mm gun with coaxial machine gun. Weight has gone up again to 11.5 tons, with a 150hp engine pushing the tank to 40 km/h. Like all LK IV models, however, the maximum armor is only 15mm.

Around 150 have been produced since entering service in 1933.

Medium Tanks

Sturmpanzerwagen Oberschlesien I (1918)

A radical concept when first introduced, the SO I is now regarded as the first true medium tank. Weighing in at 19 tons, the SO I could reach 16 km/h and was armed with a 37mm or 57mm QF gun, along with two machine guns. The cannon was mounted in a central revolving turret, with the machine guns mounted in front-facing and rear-facing hull mounts. Like all Weltkrieg designs, the SO I was lightly armored, with a maximum thickness of only 14mm.

Only produced in small numbers at the end of the war, less than two hundred of this type were eventually completed. Very few are still in service; if any are found, they are in colonial service, and there they are disliked for being too heavy for easy transport. The LK II or III are preferred.

Sturmpanzerwagen II (1925)

Dropping the Upper Silesia sobriquet, the SPz II improved on the SO I concept. A main goal was to reach a speed of 30 km/h, and this was achieved through the use of a powerful 290 hp engine. In fact, the tank's top speed is 32 km/h, though this is difficult to achieve in rough terrain. Other aspects of the design were also improved. The main armament is a 37mm or 57mm cannon. Three machine guns - one coaxial, one hull-mounted and one mounted in a rear-facing turret, are also featured in the design. In appearance, the SPz II is longer and larger than the SO I, with a weight approximately similar. However, this was accomplished by using the same armor thickness as the SO I.

The SPz II was produced in more numbers than the SO I, with around 350 of the type being produced. This was less than originally intended, as an amount of production capacity was diverted to the GK project.

Sturmpanzerwagen III (1934)

After the success of the modern LK IV project, a similar treatment was decided upon for the SPz II. Improving upon the speed of the SPz II, the SPz could reach 40 km/h. Armament was standardized on a 57mm QF gun to complement the LK IV's 37mm gun. The triple machine gun armament was retained; despite advice against it, the rear-facing machine gun turret was retained for political reasons. The SPz III is one of the few German tanks to receive thicker armor, with a maximum thickness of 30mm - considered heavy for the time. The SPz weighs in at 23 tons.

The SPz III has produced 200 examples so far.

Heavy Tanks

Großkampfwagen (1918)

The largest tank to ever enter service, the Großkampfwagen was a 120 tonne monster, building upon the A7V concept. Its huge size meant it was only operationally deployed twice at the very tail end of the Weltkrieg, and only engaged in one or maybe two engagements with other tanks. Armed with four 77mm guns, seven 7.92mm machine guns, two engines making 650 HP collectively and (very thick for the time) 30mm armor, the GK was too large to justify continued production after the war, especially considering its gigantic crew of 27(!). Speed was barely more than walking pace at 7.5 km/h.

Only eight were ever completed, and none remain in service, except as curiosities during military parades in remembrance of the Weltkrieg.

Großkampfwagen II (1929)

Joseph Vollmer, the illustrious designer of many of the late Weltkrieg German success stories, had enormous political influence after the war. He held an admitted soft-spot for the GK, and personal entreaties to the Kaiser resulted in the creation of an improved design. Weighing in at a "lighter" 74 tonnes, the GK II is still a monster. Shedding the sponsons of the previous design, the GK II concentrates its main 105mm gun in a huge front-mounted turret. Three smaller machine gun turrets surround the main turret. The tank has a long rear deck sheltering the two engines, collectively making about 700 horsepower. With thicker, 45mm armor, the GK II is regarded as the most powerful tank in the world. The crew has also been decreased to "only" 15. Speed is still meager, with the tank only reaching 12 km/h.

Twenty have been produced and are in service, though Vollmer continues to produce for an even larger GK III. Only time will tell if he gets his wish.