Category: WW2 German Panzer III

German Reich (1939)
Medium Tank – 435 Built

The Panzer III Ausf.F succeeded the Ausf.E as the next of the Panzer III series of tanks and was essentially a refined version of its predecessor, with a few upgrades and modifications. The Ausf.F was produced in greater numbers than the Ausf.E, with over 400 built between 1939 and 1941. This made it one of the most numerous of the Panzer IIIs and allowed it to play a crucial role in the early stages of the war, starting from the invasion of the West in May 1940.

 

History and Production

The Panzer III Ausf.E was an important milestone in the development of the Panzer III series of tanks used by the German military during the Second World War. It represented a significant simplification of the tank’s design, particularly its suspension system. The earlier Panzer III versions featured complicated suspension systems that were difficult to maintain. By replacing them with a much simpler torsion bar suspension, the Panzer III Ausf.E was not only easier and cheaper to produce, but it was also more reliable and easy to maintain in the field. In addition to the simplification of the suspension system, the Panzer III Ausf.E also standardized the design of the tank’s armored body and construction.

Despite the improvements made on the Panzer III Ausf.E, it was still produced in relatively small numbers. However, the overall design (with the exception of the transmission unit) proved to be so successful that the next version of the tank was essentially a copy of it. This allowed for larger numbers of the tank to be produced, and for further improvements to be made. The next in the line would be the Panzer III Ausf.F, of which over 400 would be built, in contrast to only 96 of the Ausf.E.

In comparison to the previous version, the Panzer III Ausf.F received a much greater production order of 435 vehicles. Another novelty implemented on the Ausf.F was the inclusion of additional factories to meet war demands for more tanks. Six such companies would be chosen to assemble the new Panzer III Ausf.F. Production quotas were very different, because the limitations of the production capacities of some of them were taken into account. The production order was as follows:

Manufacturer	Number of produced vehicles
Daimler-Benz	95
M.A.N.	96
Famo	28
Henschel	120
MIAG	60
Alkett	36
In total	435

In addition, there were also many smaller subcontractors who provided other necessary equipment and parts. Wegmann and Henschel of Kassel were responsible for the production of turrets, which were then delivered to M.A.N. and Henschel for assembly onto the tanks. Krupp was responsible for the delivery of armored plates, which were used to protect the crew and vital components of the tank. Maybach and Daimler-Benz of Berlin-Marienfelde were responsible for the delivery of engines.

Almost from the start, the production of the new Panzer III Ausf.F was plagued with setbacks, primarily due to the delay in the delivery of parts and components, such as the transmission and armor plates. These setbacks resulted in Henschel being unable to deliver its first vehicle until August 1939, well after the planned delivery date of April 1939. To make up for lost time, Henschel agreed to assist Daimler-Benz in fulfilling its production quota. Of the 95 vehicles ordered to be built by Daimler-Benz, some 50 chassis were actually completed by Henschel. The remaining 45 vehicles were completed by Daimler-Benz between November 1939 and July 1940. The production rate was not very high, with an average of only 5 to 6 vehicles per month. The delays in production were a result of several factors, including difficulties in the supply of materials and the complexity of the assembly process.

Once Henschel was done with this initial run, it was finally ready to commence its own production order. The surviving records mention Henschel delivered its first vehicles in January 1940. It is unclear when the full order was completed. MIAG production lasted from September 1939 to June 1940. M.A.N. and Alkett started around September and did not complete their last vehicles until May 1941. The main reason for their slow production was the problem with the availability of armored plates, which arrived at a slow pace. Famo’s production records did not survive the war.

The German pre-war industry was not prepared for the demands of war production. The slow pace of production by M.A.N and Alkett due to the lack of availability of armored plates highlights the challenges faced by manufacturers in meeting the demands of war.

Specifications

The Panzer III Ausf.E and F were similar in appearance, and it can be difficult to distinguish between the two at first glance. It is important to note that it was not uncommon for older components to be reused on newly built vehicles due to production demands. So it is possible to see a Panzer III Ausf.F with components from older versions and vice versa.

Hull

The Panzer III Ausf.F was based on the same hull design as its predecessor. The hull consisted of three sections: the forward compartment housed the transmission and steering systems, the central compartment accommodated the crew, and the rear compartment contained the engine.

The Panzer III Ausf.F received armored ventilation ports for the steering brakes placed in the frontal glacis armor plate. Generally, in theory, Panzer III Ausf.Fs had these ports, and it should be a distinguishing feature from the Panzer III Ausf.E. However, some Panzer III Ausf.Es had these ports too. To complicate matters, in some instances, these were not present on Panzer III Ausf.Fs, which can make it difficult to differentiate between the two models based solely on this feature.

Suspension

The Panzer Ausf.F used a six-road wheel torsion bar suspension system. It had previously been tested on the Panzer III Ausf.E variant and was found to be adequate for the job. Although not much was changed in this aspect of the vehicle, the 75 mm wide rubber rim was noted to wear out quickly. To address this issue, the rubber rim was increased to 95 mm to increase its service life. However, given the availability of older models, they were not immediately retired from service and were often reused in combination with new wheels.

Another change included moving the front return roller slightly forward to prevent the part of the track from hitting the front-mounted shock absorber, which often occurred. Additionally, in some cases, the Panzer III Ausf.F was issued with the older 36 cm narrow tracks. The reason for this decision is unclear, but it is possible that it was due to a lack of resources and production components.

Engine

The engine was the same twelve-cylinder, water-cooled Maybach HL 120 TR which produced 265 hp@ 2,800 rpm. The only minor difference was the use of a slightly improved electric starter and modified ventilation ports. The overall performance was the same as on the previous version. The maximum speed was 40 km/h, while the cross-country speed was 15 km/h. With a fuel load of 310 l, the Panzer III Ausf.F’s operational range was 165 km and 95 km cross-country.

Transmission

As its predecessor, the Panzer III Ausf.F was equipped with the ten-speed (and one reverse) Maybach Variotex SRG 32 8 145 semi-automatic transmissions. This proved to be mechanically unreliable and prone to breakdowns. The poor quality of production also led to problems with parts not being properly connected. These issues affected the performance of the Panzer III, as it prevented proper crew training and required constant maintenance, some of which could not be undertaken in the field.

The problems with the transmission were highlighted in the report made by the 2nd Panzer Division in March 1940, which identified 58 Panzer III with mechanical problems related to their transmissions. It needed constant maintenance and some of the problems could not be fixed in the field. Despite attempts to improve the transmission, the issues persisted, leading to its eventual replacement with the older and properly tested SSG 76 in the Panzer III Ausf.H.

Superstructure

The superstructure’s overall design was the same. One change that was already incorporated on some Panzer III Ausf.Es was the addition of the radio operator side vision port. Three-part deflectors meant to protect the small gap where the hull connected with the turret were placed on the superstructure’s top. This was another modification that was not present on all vehicles.

Turret

Most produced Panzer III Ausf.Fs lacked the left fake periscope cover, located on top of the turret. As the Panzer III Ausf.F was slowly being rearmed with stronger guns, a new gun mantled was added. In addition, a properly dedicated ventilation port was placed on top of the turret. It was protected by a round-shaped cover. From April 1941 onwards, all Panzer IIIs that did not have it received a rear-positioned turret storage bin.

Armor Protection

The armor protection remained on the same level as the previous version, with the front and sides being 30 mm thick. The rear parts were slightly less protected, with 20 mm of armor. The Panzer III Ausf.E and F used face-hardened forward armor plates. Starting in June 1940, the side armor plates were to be replaced with face-hardened plates of the same thickness.

The Panzer III Ausf.F was also equipped with a Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung (smoke grenade rack system) placed on the rear of the hull. This rack contained five grenades which were activated with a wired system by the Panzer III’s commander.

In the early years of the war, German Army officials discussed how to improve the Panzer III’s protection. One proposal was to replace the existing 30 mm armor plates with thicker 50 mm plates, although nothing came of this proposal. The decision not to increase the armor thickness of the Panzer III vehicles earlier in the war was likely due to a number of factors, including limited resources and competing priorities within the German Army. However, as the war progressed and the limitations of the 30 mm armor became more apparent, steps were taken to reinforce the vehicles with additional plates. In an effort to further increase its protection, most available Panzer IIIs, including the Ausf.F, were to be reinforced with additional 30 mm face-hardened plates. These plates were to be either welded or bolted down to the front, but also to the rear. It is worth mentioning that not all Panzer IIIs actually received the extra protection, for various reasons, but mostly due to the slow production of the necessary components. Overall, the decision to reinforce the Panzer III with additional armor was a necessary one, given the changing nature of the conflict and the evolving threat posed by Allied tanks.

Main Armament

Initially, the Panzer III Ausf.F received the standard 3.7 cm KwK 36 main that was used on all previous versions. In addition, there were three 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine guns, with one of the superstructure and two more in the turret. On the Panzer III Ausf.F, the machine gun drum feed magazines were replaced with belt feeds. These belts held 150 rounds and there were 30 of them stored inside, for a total ammunition load of 4,5000 rounds.

German Army officials were aware of the well-protected French tanks and the need to improve their own anti-tank capabilities. In a Waffenamt (Eng. Ordnance department) document dated October 1935, it was noted that the anti-tank capabilities of the German Army had to be improved. It was estimated that the French had over 1,000 tanks that had armor protection of 40 mm. The use of a 5 cm tank gun was seen as an important step in increasing the firepower of tank forces. Given the limitation of the German industry, this gun could not be adopted before mid-1940.

Installation of stronger armament was somewhat postponed by WaPrüf 4 (Eng. Inspector of Artillery). WaPrüf 4, which was responsible for the development of tank and anti-tank guns, insisted on using the 3.7 cm caliber for these roles. Although this may seem like an irrational decision, especially from today’s point of view, it must not be forgotten, that due to the underdeveloped industry, WaPrüf 4 wanted to standardize ammunition and guns. Nevertheless, it was agreed to develop a much longer 3.7 cm L/65 gun. Even this project was hindered by the belief that longer gun barrels could lead to it accidental damage during driving. This decision to avoid using longer tank guns greatly hindered Germany’s early tank gun development and was not discarded until the invasion of the Soviet Union. The 3.7 cm L/65 project would not be adopted, as it would require new ammunition and it was expected thatbetter armament would enter production at some point in the future.

The effectiveness of the 3.7 cm gun was further misinterpreted when the Germans tested a captured Polish Renault R35 tank. This vehicle was bought from France by Poland but arrived too late to have any real impact on the war with the Germans in September 1939. This tank was used as a firing test target. The result of these was issued by the High Command of the 11th Army Corp in December of 1939.

“… Ballistic tests on a captured French PzKpfw R-35 have shown that it is easily penetrated by our anti-tank weapons despite having 40 mm-thick armor. This result is mainly due to the fact that the superstructure and turret are made of cast steel; only the side parts of the hull are made of rolled steel. The R-35 is penetrated by the 3.7 cm tank shell (anti-tank round) at an angle of impact of 60 degrees, from the front at 600 m, at the turret and from the side at 350 m. At a favorable angle of impact, the R-35 is penetrated at 100 m by the 2.8 cm Panzerbüchse 38 and the 2 cm PzGr from the front. The turret flaps are particularly vulnerable against fire from all weapons, as the retaining screws break off when hit and the flap is torn out. The bottom plates of bow and hull are only weakly armored (10–13 mm) and therefore very sensitive to bullet penetration and the effect of anti-tank mines…”

Experience gained during the battles for the West in France quickly showed that the 3.7 cm gun was insufficient for dealing with modern tank designs. After May 1940, extensive efforts were made in order to introduce the 5 cm gun as soon as possible. Work on such guns was carried out by Rheinmetall-Borsing prior to the war. Its development would lead to the creation of the 5 cm PaK 38 L/60 anti-tank gun. For early war standards, this was an effective gun, and had it been ready for service prior to May 1940, it could have easily dealt with French tanks. Production was quite slow and only some 20 guns were available by the start of the war in the West and did not see action there, besides some troop trials.

While this gun would have been an excellent choice for the Panzer III in 1940/41, concerns about its barrel length meant that it was not adopted for this role initially. Instead, Krupp, which was developing its own 5 cm version, was tasked with creating a shorter gun. This would be the 5 cm KwK L/42 semi-automatic gun. It was almost 1 m shorter (2.1 m in comparison to 3 m) than Rheinmetall-Borsing’s weapon. Krupp’s gun had a maximum range of 6.5 km and a maximum rate of fire of 12 to 15 rounds per minute. It could fire a few different rounds:

Type of Ammunition	Muzzle Velocity
SprGrPatr 38 high-explosive	450 m/s
PzGrPatr 39 armor-piercing	685 m/s
PzGrPatr 40 tungsten cored armor-piercing	1,050 m/s

Using a standard armor-piercing round, the 5 cm L/42 was able to defeat 47 mm of armor at 500 m and 37 mm at 1 km distance. With the installation of the new gun, the ammunition load was reduced from the original 120 to 87 rounds.

Due to the extra weight of the gun, armament, and armor, it was necessary to adopt some modifications in order to not lose the overall drive performance. To cope with the added weight, stronger torsion bars were used together with wider 40 cm tracks. This highlights the importance of balancing the different components of a vehicle in order to optimize its performance.

Despite the urgent need for such weapons, by the end of 1940, there were only 347 guns available for installation. This meant that some Panzer IIIs still had the weaker 3.7 cm armament after 1941. The last reported Panzer III still armed with the 3.7 cm gun was finally rearmed in 1943.

With the installation of the new gun and mantlet, the number of turret-positioned machine guns was reduced to one. Although the firepower against enemy infantry was reduced, there was practically no need to install both machine guns. This was also reflected in the reduction to 3,750 rounds of ammunition for the remaining machine guns.

Crew

The Panzer III Ausf.F had the same crew of five, which included the commander, gunner, and loader, who were positioned in the turret, and the driver and radio operator in the hull. Their positions and their duties were the same as in all versions.

In Service

In France

As the Panzer III Ausf.F became available, it was initially issued to training units. The first operational use was during the German invasion of the West. By May 1940, the number of Panzer IIIs was increased to 349 vehicles which were distributed to seven Panzer divisions. The disposition of Panzer III tanks was as follows.

Panzer Division	Number of Panzer IIIs operated
1st	58
2nd	58
3rd	42
4th	40
5th	52
9th	41
10th	58
Total:	349

One of the earliest successes of the Panzer III in the West was during the fighting around the village of Hannut (Belgium) on 12th May 1940. There, Panzer IIIs managed to destroy 8 (out of 11 destroyed that day) Hotchkiss tanks. German after-combat reports mentioned that, despite the well-camouflaged French positions, their tanks did not open fire at the advancing German tanks. At a distance of 100 m, the French tanks were spotted and engaged by the Germans. Later analysis confirmed that, due to the poor visibility of their tanks, the French simply failed to spot the Germans in time to properly react. In addition, these reports also mentioned a situation where the Hotchkiss turret speed was too slow to follow a quickly moving Panzer III. But it was also noted that the 3.7 cm gun had trouble penetrating the French armor at these distances.

On 13th May, near Merdorp (Belgium), some 22 French tanks were taken out. Interestingly, during this engagement, one S35 was targeted with all tank calibers (from 2 cm to 7.5 cm) at a distance of 800 m, but all failed to penetrate its armor. The 3rd Panzer Brigade that saw service that day against the French 3rd Mechanized Division reported having destroyed 87 tanks. They reported that the most effective weapon was the Panzer IV’s 7.5 cm gun. The 3.7 cm was generally ineffective against the armor of the Somua S35 and the D2 at combat ranges. Penetration was noted only at close ranges of less than 300 m. Another interesting fact is that, due to trouble penetrating the enemy’s armor, this unit spent all its 3.7 and 7.5 cm ammunition.

On 17th May, at Mortiers (France), the Germans engaged a B1 tank. After numerous attempts to destroy it failed, three Panzer IIIs tried to approach it from behind. One vehicle fired over 10 rounds but failed to do any damage to it. The remaining two Panzer IIIs tried to disable its turret. This also did little to the B1 as its crew proceeded to engage the Germans. Eventually, the crew would abandon the vehicle, with some of them being wounded. Surprisingly, German reports mentioned a crew of five on the B1. The B1, despite receiving a dozen or so hits from various German guns, was largely intact. Only one round was able to penetrate its rear plates and disable the engine.

On 10th June 1940, elements of the 1st Panzer Division engaged a group of French tanks, including a B1, near Neuflize (France, near Reims). Once again, the German tank guns had trouble dealing with the heavy enemy armor. Even the tungsten-cored rounds, which had been recently issued for use, could do nothing at ranges over 300 m. Only once the French tanks got at close range were the Germans able to destroy most of them.

The combat experience in the West showed that the Panzer III was not protected against the French 47 mm gun, nor was its 3.7 cm gun effective. Thanks to their speed, training, better tactics, and use of radios, the German tanks could easily outmaneuver the enemy tanks and engage them from a more advantageous position. The five-man crew proved to be superior in contrast to the French two to three-crew tanks. In the case of most French tanks, the commander had to take on several roles during the heat of a battle, including loading and firing the gun, finding targets, and commanding the vehicle, overburdening him. On the other hand, in German vehicles, each crew member had a specific role to complete, which provided their tanks with a greater tactical advantage. While the French tanks were better in terms of firepower and armament, they were clearly obsolete in most other regards. Total Panzer III losses were 133 vehicles.

After the French campaign, the Germans tried to amend some of the shortcomings identified with the Panzer III, especially regarding its armor and firepower. The Panzer III would be rearmed with the 5 cm L/42 gun and receive an additional 30 mm of frontal and rear armor.

On 4th June 1940, the Allgemeine Heeresnamt (Eng. General Army Office) issued the following statement about the 3.7 cm gun’s performance.

“… The experience gained in the previous operations of our armored units against the Western enemy has proven that the 3.7cm KwK in the PzKpfw III is unsuitable as an armor-piercing weapon. The Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres (Commander-in-Chief of the Army), General-Feldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch, therefore demands that the introduction of the 5cm KwK as the main ordnance of the PzKpfw III be accelerated by all means. The currently valid date for the start of deliveries of PzKpfw III with 5 cm KwK in autumn 1940 is definitely too late. Furthermore, it must be expected that rearmament of the existing PzKpfw III (3.7 cm) to 5 cm weapons will not be possible for the time being, since these vehicles will then not be available for combat operations for several months. It is therefore all the more urgent that series production of the PzKpfw III (5 cm) begins as soon as possible… “

In the Balkans

Following the conclusion of the Western camping, the Germans next turned their attention to the Balkans. The Italians had tried and failed to conquer Greece, and their forces were bogged down and facing total collapse. To complicate matters, a friendly Yugoslavian government was taken down by a ‘coup’ and replaced with a more pro-Allied government. Thus, on the order of Hitler himself, the 2nd and 12th Army Groups were dispatched to deal with these problems. The 2nd Army was tasked with conquering Yugoslavia and was supported by the 6th and 14th Panzer Divisions. The 12th was to engage Greece from Bulgaria and it had the 2nd, 5th, 9th, and 11th Panzer divisions at its disposal. In total, the Germans had over 270 Panzer IIIs, of which some 109 were armed with 3.7 cm guns. Both Greece and Yugoslavia had limited armored forces, and, as a result, tank versus tank battles were rare. Even the British forces stationed in Greece had a limited number of tanks. Even so, some 31 Panzer III had to be written off.

In Africa

The Panzer III Ausf.F would see service in the North African campaign. The extreme heat and harsh weather conditions of the desert environment presented a number of challenges for the tank crews and its mechanical systems. To address some of these challenges, the Panzer III Ausf.F was modified with several changes to its engine compartment and ventilation system. Holes were cut into the engine compartment armor to improve ventilation, and these were covered by armored caps to protect the engine from damage. In addition, the tank’s ventilation system was improved with the installation of additional air filters to prevent dust and sand from entering the engine. The addition of extra storage space for jerry cans allowed the tank to carry additional fuel and water.

In March 1941, Germany dispatched its forces to Tripoli to support their desperate Italian ally. This force was supported by the 5th Panzer Regiment, which had 25 Panzer Is, 45 Panzer IIs, 71 Panzer IIIs armed with the 5 cm gun, 20 Panzer IVs, and 7 command tanks. In May, the German armored forces would be supplemented by the newly arrived 15th Panzer Division, which had 71 Panzer IIIs. The most dominant variants in North Africa were the later Panzer III Ausf.G and H. At least a few Panzer III Ausf.Fs also saw service on this front.

Operation Barbarossa

For the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Panzer III was the backbone of the German armored thrust. The German tanks were able to quickly overcome the older Soviets models, such as the T-26 and the BT series. The T-34 and KV vehicles proved to be almost invulnerable to the German tank guns. Even the short 5 cm gun, let alone the older 3.7 cm, proved almost useless against these vehicles. This can be demonstrated in the battle report of the 3rd Panzer Division.

“ …. On 19 August 1941 at 05.30am, strong Russian forces attacked Unetscha from the northwest and tried with six heavy tanks of the type T-34 to enter the city via the bridge. In the city, several tanks of I. and II.Abteilung were waiting for their workshop company. Leutnant Büschen moved to the north-western boundary with his Panzer IIIs to defend against the enemy attack. The Panzer IV had already taken position there and stopped a heavy Russian tank with a hit on the running gear. The crew abandoned the tank and escaped. Subsequently, a Panzer IV was hit by another attacking Russian tank. Two further tanks were destroyed by Panzer IIIs some 70 m before reaching the bridge… A further tank managed to enter the city despite heavy fire. Leutnant Störk in Panzer III (731) followed it. At the railway embankment, the Russian tank was caught and set on fire by a demolition charge thrown into the engine compartment… “

“ The I.Abteilung destroyed three tanks with Christie-type suspension (T-34) on 19 August. Clear penetrations were achieved using PzGr 40 only at favorable angles and at ranges below 400 m, and only on weak points such as the gun mantlet or the hull sides. Binocular observation revealed that direct hits by PzGr 40 on the turret resulted in ricochets; even at ranges under 400 m. Direct fire at the tracks resulted in clear penetrations, which, however, did not stop the tank due to the width of the tracks. In one case, fire from 7.5 cm rounds resulted in the crew abandoning their undamaged vehicle . …”

At the end of 1941, the German Army groups North and Center only had 180 operational Panzer IIIs left. Another 254 were under repair. Delays in repairing these vehicles occurred due to a general lack of spare parts and problems with logistics.

Variants based on the Panzer III Ausf.F

Tauchpanzer III

For the planned seaborne invasion of the United Kingdom, the Germans modified over 150 Panzer III tanks to be used as Tauchpanzer (Eng. Submersible tank). These tanks were designed to be able to move slowly along the seabed and then surface close to the beach to launch their attack.

The extensive modifications made to the tanks were aimed at making them watertight and able to operate underwater. The tanks were equipped with rubber seals on all hatches and openings and the exhaust mufflers were replaced with non-return valves to prevent water from entering the engine. The crew of the Tauchpanzer relied on a 15 m long hose attached to a rubber hood placed above the commanding cupola for air supply. The tank’s cooling system was modified to use seawater.

However, the planned invasion of the United Kingdom was ultimately canceled, and the Tauchpanzer tanks were deployed to fight on the Eastern Front instead. The tanks proved useful in crossing water obstacles such as rivers and lakes, but using them like this was always a risky option for their crews, who had to rely on the modified equipment to keep them safe while operating underwater.

Panzerbeobachtungswagen III

Given their combat obsolescence, some 262 Panzer IIIs would be altered to perform the role of target spotters for self-propelled artillery batteries during the period from February 1943 to April 1944. Some 90 (or even more) Panzer III Ausf.Fs were modified for this role. The first prototype was actually built using an Ausf.F chassis at the start of 1943. These vehicles were modified by removing the main gun and replacing it with a new gun mantlet that had a wooden dummy gun and a ball mount placed in the center of it. Additional scissors and tubular periscopes were also added for the crew.

Sturmgeschütz III

The Panzer III Ausf.F chassis would also see service during the construction of StuG IIIs. These were meant to provide close fire support to German infantry. They proved to be quite successful and remained in use throughout the entire war.

Conclusion

The Panzer III Ausf.F was more or less a direct copy of the Panzer III Ausf.E and it was one of the most important tanks used by the German Army in the early years of World War II. The Panzer III Ausf.F saw more widespread use than the Ausf.E, with over 400 being produced between 1940 and 1941. It was used extensively in the early stages of the war, particularly during the invasion of France in 1940. It was also used during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

The decision to upgrade to a 5 cm tank gun was an important step towards increasing the firepower of the tank forces. However, due to limitations in the German industry, the adoption of the new gun had to wait until mid-1940. Even this gun relatively quickly became obsolete once modern, well-armored tanks such as the T-34 were encountered.

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.F Technical specifications
Crew	Commander, gunner, loader, driver, and radio operator
Weight	19.5 tonnes
Dimensions	Length 5.38 m, Width 2.91 m, Height 2.5 m
Engine	Maybach HL 120 TR 285 hp@ 2,800 rpm
Speed	40 km/h, 15 km/h (cross-country)
Range	165 km, 95 km (cross-country)
Primary Armament	3.7 cm Kw.K. L/46.5 / 5 cm L/42
Secondary Armament	Two or three 7.92 mm M.G. 34
Elevation	-10° to +20°
Armor	10-30 mm / up to 60 (30 + 30 mm)

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German Reich (1937)
Medium Tank – 25 Built + 5 Hulls

The Panzer III Ausf.D was the last version of the experimental series developed starting from the Ausf.A. It incorporated a number of improvements, of which the most obvious was the redesign of the rear engine compartment and introduction of a slightly modified 8-wheel suspension. It was also different from the previous version by being built in somewhat larger (but still limited) numbers. The Panzer III Ausf.D also had the longest service life, soldiering on to 1941 and possibly even after that

Development

Daimler-Benz, which was responsible for the construction of the Panzer III Ausf.A, was contacted by Waffen Prüfwesen 6 (Wa Prw 6 – the automotive design office of the German Army) to produce an additional number of experimental chassis to test new types of suspensions and other elements that could be further improved (like the commander’s cupola, engine compartment interior, etcetera). To fulfill the production orders, Daimler-Benz built the Versuchs-Fahrgestell (experimental chassis) Z.W.3 (Zugführerwagen platoon commander’s vehicle), which would lead to the Panzer III Ausf.B. The Z.W.4 would be used as the base of the Panzer III Ausf.C (marked as 3a. Serie Z.W.) and D (marked as 3b. Serie Z.W.).

Production

The Heeres Waffenamt issued an order to Daimler-Benz to produce 25 Panzer III Ausf.D chassis. Other components, such as the turrets, were to be provided by Krupp-Gruson Werke and Alkett. The main guns were to be provided by Krupp-Essen and Rheinmetall. For the acquisition of necessary armored parts, numerous subcontractors, like AG Vochum, Deutsche Edelstahlwerke AG, etcetera were contracted. While the production of these vehicles began sometime in early 1938, it took several months to actually build them. The last of the 25 vehicles was completed either in July or September 1938. Five more chassis would be built by Daimler-Benz and merged with five Panzer III Ausf.B turrets during 1940.

Interestingly, according to H. Scheibert (Panzer III), 55 Panzer III Ausf.D were produced during 1938. If he includes the modified chassis and command vehicles based on the Panzer III Ausf.D in this counting is not clear.

Specifications

The Panzer III Ausf.D received some modification to its overall design, in many aspects, like the armament and engine, it was virtually unchanged.

The engine compartment

While the engine type used was the same as on the previous versions, there were some changes and rearrangements of some elements of the engine compartment. The position of the two radiators was changed, as they were now placed completely vertical. They were previously in an angled position. In addition, these were provided with louvres which could be controlled by the crew (from the crew compartment) to provide a better flow of air, depending on the need. The previously used mechanical fuel pumps were replaced with electrically operated ones. Lastly, four smaller and armored fuel tanks (each could contain 75 liters) were placed under the engine in pairs.

The overall design of the engine compartment was changed due to the modifications of its interior. The rear part of the engine compartment was put at a steeper angle. Two cooling air grills were placed on each side of the engine compartment. While no additional ventilation ports were placed on the armor cover of the engine, the four hatches (two on top, and two more on the angled side) could be opened to act as improvised ventilation ports. The change in design of the engine compartment led to a slight extension of the whole Panzer III Ausf.D, from 5.66 m to 5.92 m.

The transmission

Panzer IIIs from A to C incorporated a 5 speed transmission. The Ausf.D received an improved 6 speed SSG 76 type transmission. As the remaining components of the drivetrain were essentially unchanged, the drive performance was also left largely unchanged.

Suspension

The Panzer III Ausf.D suspension was quite similar to the Ausf.C one in appearance and could sometimes be difficult to distinguish. The Ausf.D also employed the same 8 small road wheels. However, they were divided into three parts, with two pairs of double wheels placed in front and to the rear and four pairs in the middle. There were also three return rollers, one drive sprocket and one idler per side.

The change included the repositioning of the front and rear swing arms’ pivoting points. These were centrally placed. The leaf spring units’ positions on the first and last pairs of road wheels were placed diagonally in contrast to the vertical ones used previously. Lastly, two improved shock absorbers were placed on each suspension side. One was placed behind the drive sprocket and the second in front of the idler.

Armor protection

Regarding the precise armor thickness of the Panzer III Ausf.D, the sources are basically split into two camps. Authors such as D. Nešić, (Naoružanje Drugog Svetskog Rata-Nemačka) and Walter J. Spielberger (Panzer III and its Variants) mention that the overall armor protection was increased to 30 mm (same as the later built Ausf.E). The increase in armor, together with other modifications, raised the Ausf.D’s weight to nearly 20 tonnes.

On the other hand, authors such as T. L. Jentz and H. L. Doyle (Panzer Tracts No.3-1 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.A, B, C, und D) and P. Chamberlain (Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two – Revised Edition) note that the armor thickness was the same as on the previous versions, up to 14.5 mm. In addition, the overall weight of the Panzer III Ausf.D was, again like the previous versions, at 16 tonnes. The reason for this divergence of sources is unclear. One possible culprit for this may be the command vehicle that was developed based on the Panzer III Ausf.D, as it had 30 mm of armor.

In Combat

When the war with Poland broke out in September 1939, the Germans had less than 98 Panzer III tanks. Of these, some 87 saw actual combat service, while the remaining were used as replacement and training vehicles. These were distributed to Panzer Regiments in limited numbers. The exceptions were the 1st Panzer Regiment, which had 20, and the 2nd which had 6 Panzer IIIs.

To determine the precise combat engagements of the Ausf.D (but also other older versions) is difficult. The issue is that the sources list them simply as Panzer IIIs, without mentioning the precise version in question. For example, Panzer IIIs from the 4th Panzer Regiment were ordered to take the Polish barracks and train station at Kamionka on 19th September. While the barracks were successfully stormed, the train managed to leave the station. What followed was a race between the German Panzer III and IV tanks and the elusive train. After sustaining heavy damage from German fire, the Panzers, reaching a speed of over 40 km/h, eventually managed to capture the train. The Germans lost some 30 Panzer IIIs during the entirety of the campaign, but most of these would be repaired and put back into use.

Following the completion of the Polish Campaign, the Germans initiated a slow withdrawal of the earlier types of the Panzer III, including the Ausf.D. This was mainly done as more advanced versions were developed and became available in sufficient numbers to replace the older experimental Panzer IIIs. From February 1940 onwards, all available Panzer III Ausf.A to D tanks, after an extensive overhaul, were given to training units. This did not include the five modified Ausf.Ds that were equipped with Ausf.B turrets.

Variants based on the Panzer III Ausf.D

Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf.D1

The Panzer III Ausf.D was used for the Panzerbefehlswagen (tank command vehicle) configuration. This included a number of modifications, some of which was reducing the armament to only one machine gun (located in the turret), using a dummy main gun (to hide its main purpose as a command vehicle), fixing the turret in place, replacing the gunner and the loader with one more radio operator and a commander adjutant, adding additional radio equipment, and, probably most noticeably, adding a large antenna to the rear of the turret. Another large change was that the armor protection was reinforced with another 14.5 m of armor, raising the overall protection to 29 mm. The driver’s visor and the machine gun ball mount were also replaced with newer models. Daimler-Benz produced 26 brand-new vehicles in 1938 and 4 more in 1939. This vehicle was designated as Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf.D1. These were used starting from Poland in 1939 up to possibly the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 or even after that.

Panzer III Ausf.D/B hybrid

During the late 1930s, the Germans were developing the Sturmgeschütz concept. For this purpose, some 5 Panzer III Ausf.B chassis were allocated to be rebuilt as Sturmgeschütz III test series. Not wanting to waste the turrets from these tanks, the Heeres Waffenamt gave Daimler-Benz instructions to build an additional five Ausf.D chassis to be merged with them. As these were never a huge priority, it took Daimler-Benz some two years (until October 1940) to actually complete these vehicles.

During their construction, Daimler-Benz introduced some improved components that were not present on the 25 original Panzer III Ausf.D vehicles. The best example is the use of the new Kugel Blende 30 type of machine ball mount. Additionally, these received a new idler and the position of the rear shock absorber was slightly lowered.

It is unclear how many, but likely all five were transported to Norway in the summer of 1941 and allocated to Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 40 (special assignment unit). These may have participated in the German combat operations in Finland during the Invasion of the Soviet Union.

Conclusion

The Panzer III Ausf.D would be a further improvement of the previously built Ausf.C. It would incorporate a majority of elements from this previous version, except for the suspension and some interior modifications. Following the completion of the Ausf.D series, Daimler-Benz and the German Army officials simply gave up on the idea of using the unnecessarily complicated 8 wheel suspension and instead developed a brand new torsion bar that would be used as standard from the Ausf.E onward.
The whole experimental Panzer III Ausf.A to D series, while not long in service, was vital for the Germans in gaining valuable experience in tank design, but also in training the Panzer crews. Given the fact that these were built by the yet underdeveloped German industry, they could be considered a success, as they paved the way for further Panzer development.

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.D Specifications
Dimensions (l-w-h)	5.92 m x 2.82 m x 2.41 m
Total weight, battle-ready	16 tonnes
Crew	5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Radio Operator and Driver)
Propulsion	Maybach HL 108 TR 250 hp@ 2800 rpm
Speed (road/off road)	35 km/h, 10-12 km/h (cross country)
Range (road/off road)	165 km, 95 km
Primary Armament	3.7 cm Kw.K. L/46.5
Secondary Armament	Three 7.92 mm MG 34
Elevation	-10° to +20°
Armor	5-30mm

Source:

• D. Nešić, (2008) Naoružanje Drugog Svetskog Rata-Nemačka, Beograd
• T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2006) Panzer Tracts No.3-1 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.A, B, C, und D.
• T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2010) Panzer Tracts No.3-4 Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.D1, E, H, J, und K.
• T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (20) Panzer Tracts No.23 Panzer production from 1933 to 1945.
• P. Chamberlain and H. Doyle (1978) Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two – Revised Edition, Arms and Armor press.
• D. Doyle (2005) German military Vehicles, Krause Publications.
• G. Parada, S. Jablonski and W. hryniewicki, Panzer III Ausf.L/M. Kagero.
• Walter J. Spielberger (2007) Panzer III and its Variants, Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
• Walter J. Spieberger, AFV Panzerkampfwagen III, Profile Publications
• B. Perret (1980) The Panzerkampfwagen III, Osprey Publishing
• A. Lüdeke (2007) Waffentechnik im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Parragon Books.
• G. L. Rottman (2008) M3 Medium tank Vs Panzer III, Osprey Publishing
• H. Scheibert (1994) Panzer III, Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

German Reich (1937)
Medium Tank – 5,764 Built

Panzer III Ausf.F

The Panzer III Ausf.F tank was very similar to the Ausf.E and Ausf.G. The previous versions had been used to test different suspension systems and other features. The Panzer III Ausf.E was fitted with torsion bar suspension with six roadwheels on individual swing axles. Three track return rollers were positioned above the road wheels.
A turret ring deflector guard was added to the front of the hull superstructure. The dummy periscope designed to draw sniper fire was removed from in front of the commanders cupola on later built turrets. Some early ones still had it. A smoke grenade launcher was added to the rear of the tank chassis. Two armoured brake vents were fitted to the front upper glacis plate.
It was fitted with the 285 hp HL 120 TRM petrol/gasoline engine which had a different magneto and modified cooling system than the HL 120 TR 250 hp engine fitted on the Ausf.E.
The armor on the Ausf.E to G was thickened to 30 mm on the turret front, rear and sides. The armor on the front and sides of the hull were also 30 mm thick. The angled front glacis and lower hull plates were 25 mm thick. The hull rear was 20 mm thick.
The 3.7 cm KampfwagonKanone (Kw.K – tank gun) has a length of 1716 mm (L/46.5) from the muzzle to the back of the breech. It had a rate of fire of up to 20 rounds per minute. This was achieved by having a semi-automatic breech which opens shortly before the end of the recoil and the spent casing ejected.
The factory painted dark grey (dunkelgrau RAL 46) and dark brown (dunkelbraun RAL 45) camouflage pattern was discontinued by order dated 31 July 1940. They were just painted dunkelgrau after that date. Most were used in the invasion of Holland, Belgium and France in May 1940. These tanks were upgraded during their combat life with different guns, turrets and more armour.
Later Panzer III Ausf.F were fitted with 5 cm Kw.K 38 L/42 guns. An armoured vent was fitted to the roof of the turret and rear engine deck to enable it to cope with the dust and heat of the North African desert. It was paint it in dark yellow (dunkelgelb). They were used on the Eastern Front.

Early production Panzer III Ausf.F

Mid production Panzer III Ausf.F with false gunsight removed from the top of the turret.

Panzer III Ausf.F specifications
Dimensions	5.38 m x 2.91 m x 2.50 m (17ft 8in x 9ft 6in x 8ft 2in)
Armament	3.7 cm KwK 36 L/46.5 or 5 cm KwK 38 L/42
Machine Guns	3 × 7.92 mm MG34 (The 5 cm gun turret only had one coaxial machine gun not two)
Weight	19.5 tons
Armor	10 mm – 30 mm (additional 30mm plate added later)
Crew	5
Propulsion	Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 285hp gasoline/petrol engine
Max Speed	40 km/h (24.85 mph)
Range	165 km (102 miles)
Total built	636

Panzer III Ausf.G

The Panzer III Ausf.G was produced between March 1940 and early 1941. It was very similar to the Ausf.E and Ausf.F with minor differences in specifications. The previous versions had been used to test different suspension systems and other features. The Panzer III Ausf.G was fitted with torsion bar suspension with six roadwheels on individual swing axles. Three track return rollers were positioned above the road wheels.
It was fitted with the 285 hp HL 120 TRM petrol/gasoline engine which had a different magneto and modified cooling system than the HL 120 TR 250 hp engine fitted on the Ausf.E.
The armor on the Panzer III Ausf.E – Ausf.F tanks was thickened to 30 mm on the turret front, rear and sides. The armor on the front and sides of the hull were also 30 mm thick. The angled front glacis and lower hull plates were 25 mm thick. The hull rear was 30 mm thick on the Ausf.G.
A turret ring deflector guard was added to the front of the hull superstructure. The dummy periscope designed to draw sniper fire was removed from in front of the commander’s cupola on later built turrets. Some early ones still had it. A smoke grenade launcher was added to the rear of the tank chassis. Two armored brake vents were fitted to the front upper glacis plate. Armored vents were added to the turret roof and to the rear of the engine deck.
The first Ausf.G tanks were armed with 3.7 cm Kw.K L/46.5 tank gun. Some took part in the invasion of Holland, Belgium and France in May 1940. After experiences during the battle of France later versions were armed with the 5 cm Kw.K 38 L/42 gun. They were used on the Eastern Front and in North Africa. These tanks were upgraded during their combat life with different guns, turrets and more armour. Rear turret stowage boxes were sometimes fitted later.
The factory painted dark grey (dunkelgrau RAL 46) and dark brown (dunkelbraun RAL 45) camouflage pattern was discontinued by order dated 31 July 1940. They were just painted dunkelgrau after that date. Those going to North African were painted dark yellow (dunkelgelb).

Panzer III Ausf.G specifications
Dimensions	5.38 m x 2.91 m x 2.50 m (17ft 8in x 9ft 6in x 8ft 2in)
Armament	3.7 cm KwK 36 L/46.5 or 5 cm KwK 38 L/42
Machine Guns	3 × 7.92 mm MG34 (The 5 cm gun turret only had one coaxial machine gun not two)
Armor	10 mm – 30 mm (additional 30mm plate added later)
Crew	5
Propulsion	Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 285hp gasoline/petrol engine
Max Speed	40 km/h (24.85 mph)
Range	165 km (102 miles)
Total built	950

Panzer III Ausf.H

The Panzer III Ausf.H was the first version of the tank to be designed with a turret fitted with the 5 cm Kw.K 38 L/42 tank gun and with 60 mm of frontal armour, rather than having these specifications added later in an upgrade program. They started to be delivered in late 1940 and early 1941.
The 5 cm Kampfwagenkanone L/42 tank gun was semi-automatic: the breech block remained open after firing to enable the next round to be loaded quicker. Its standard armour piercing AP shell could penetrate or 55 mm of armour laid at an angle of 30 degrees at a range of 100 m, 46 mm at 500 m and 36 mm at a range of 1 km. The turret only had one coaxial 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun, another MG34 was mounted in the hull.
The tank was still powered by the Maybach HL 120 TRM 285 hp petrol/gasoline which gave it a top road speed of 42 km/h (26 mph). Two armoured brake vents were fitted to the front of the hull armour.
The 60 mm thick armor on the hull front, upper hull front and rear was constructed by welding two 30 mm armor plates together. The side armour was 30 mm thick and the angled front glacis and lower hull front plate was 25 mm thick. The angled armor on the front rear and sides of the turret was 30 mm thick. The curved gun mantle was 35 mm thick. The turret had an armored ventilation fan. Tanks going to North Africa were fitted with armored vents on the engine deck. Rear turret stowage bins were fitted later.
Because of the increase in weight wider wheels and tracks were introduced. New front drive wheels and rear idler wheels were fitted as well as a different shock absorber. Because of supply problems, some of the early Ausf.H tanks were fitted with shock absorbers and wheels used on the Ausf.G.

Panzer III Ausf.H specifications
Dimensions	5.38 m x 2.95 m x 2.50 m (17ft 8in x 9ft 8in x 8ft 2in)
Armament	5 cm KwK 38 L/42
Machine Guns	2 × 7.92 mm MG34
Armor	10 mm – 60mm
Weight	21.5 tons
Crew	5
Propulsion	Maybach HL 120 TR V-12 265hp gasoline/petrol engine
Max Speed	42 km/h (26 mph)
Range	165 km (102 miles)
Total built	500

Panzer III Ausf.J & Ausf.L

The Panzer III Ausf.J was very similar to the Panzer.III Ausf.G. It was built with a turret fitted with a 5 cm Kw.K 38 L/42 tank gun. It had similar armor thickness and was powered by the same Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol/gasoline 285 hp engine.
The basic armor thickness at the hull front, upper hull front and rear of the tank was now 50 mm. The front glacis was 25 mm thick. 30 mm armour was used on the hull sides, lower hull rear and front. The armor on the front, sides and rear of the turret was 30 mm thick. The rounded gun mantle was 50 mm thick. In the spring of 1941, additional armor plate was added internally to the front of the turret increasing it to a maximum of 57 mm in places.
The chassis was lengthened to create better engine compartment ventilation and tow eyes. The design of the armored front brake vents was changed. The turret was fitted with an armoured extractor fan on the roof.
The 5 cm KampfwagonKanone (Kw.K – tank gun) had a length of 2100 mm (L/42) from the muzzle to the back of the breech. It had a rate of fire of up to 20 rounds per minute. This was achieved by having a semi-automatic breech which opened before the end of the recoil, ejected the spent casing and allowed for the quick loading of the next shell.
From December 1941 the 5 cm Kw.K L/60 tank gun had a length of 3000 mm. It started to be fitted instead of the 5 cm Kw.K L/42 gun, as stocks arrived in factories. They were renamed Panzer III Ausf.L. Tanks sent to North Africa had armoured vents fitted on the rear engine deck. In April 1941 stowage bins started to be fitted to the rear of the turret.
Using the appearance of spaced armor on Panzer III tanks is not a reliable way of identifying the different Ausf version. Late production Ausf.J tanks had 20 mm spaced armor fitted to the front of the turret and the hull. Some older tanks had it back fitted later.

The Ausf.J was a real step forward because of its new, slightly larger and redesigned hull, with increased armor up to 50 mm (1.97 in) at the front, and the J1 variant received the 50 mm (1.97 in) KwK 38 L42 gun right from the start, with a new mantlet. The hull machine gun received a ball mount and the visor was also new. This early Ausf.J (482 built in 1941) fought with the Vth Division in Kuban, Ukraine, March 1942. The short barrel 50 mm (1.97 in) was replaced by the long barrel version. By 1943, only a handful had survived.

Although nearly all Panzer IIIs were upgraded with the L42 gun, this medium barrel never gave satisfaction against the superior armor of the Russian KV-1 and thick sloped armor of the T-34. The introduction of the new gun emerged from to the will of Hitler after the fall of France, but this weapon was available in short numbers, so the Waffenamt postponed its use nearly one year and a half. The late J came just in time for the depleted German Panzerdivisions, which had already lost most of their combat effectiveness. The gun also used longer ammunition, thus reducing their storage from 90 to 84. Most served until 1944.

Panzer III Ausf.J & Ausf.L specifications
Dimensions Ausf.J	5.49 m x 2.95 m x 2.50 m (18ft x 9ft 8in x 8ft 2in)
Dimensions Ausf.L	6.41 m x 2.95 m x 2.50 m (21ft x 9ft 8in x 8ft 2in)
Armament Ausf.J	5 cm Kw.K 38 L/42
Armament Ausf.L	5 cm Kw.K L/60
Machine Guns	2 × 7.92 mm MG34
Armor	10 mm – 50mm (later 57mm)
Weight Ausf.J	21.6 tonnes
Weight Ausf.L	25.5 tonnes
Crew	5
Propulsion	Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 285hp gasoline/petrol engine
Max Speed	40 km/h (24.85 mph)
Range	155 km (96.31 miles)
Total built	about 1521 L/42 (about 1021 L/60)

Panzer III Ausf.K

The Ausf.K was a command tank (Befehlspanzer) version of the Ausf.J, but different from the former Befehlspanzer versions, as their armament was real and not a dummy gun. The contract for these vehicles was cancelled.

Panzer III Ausf.M

Contracts were placed for the Panzer III Ausf.M in February 1942. They had the same features as the Ausf.L but they were fitted with deep-wading equipment. It was armed with the same 5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 39 L/60 (5 cm KwK 39 L/60) tank gun had a length of 3000 mm, as used on the Ausf.L. The longer barrel gave the gun a higher velocity and penetration power over the shorter 5 cm Kw.K L/42 but it had problems penetrating the frontal armour of the T-34 and KV-1 at long range.

Starting in May 1943 Schürzen 5 mm skirt armour plates were mounted on the hull side and 10 mm plates on the turret, to prevent the Soviet 14.5 mm anti-tank rifle penetrating the side armour of the Panzer III. Draftgeflecht metal mesh screens were also trialled. They were both as effective as each other, but the Schürzen skirt armour plates entered production as it would have taken too long to develop the support hangers for the metal mesh screens.

Panzer III Ausf.M specifications
Dimensions	6.41 m x 2.95 m x 2.50 m (21ft x 9ft 8in x 8ft 2in)
Armament	5 cm Kw.K L/60
Machine Guns	2 × 7.92 mm MG34
Armor	16 mm – 60 mm
Weight	22.5 tonnes
Crew	5
Propulsion	Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 285hp gasoline/petrol engine
Max Speed	40 km/h (24.85 mph)
Range	155 km (96 miles)
Total built	250 approx.

Panzer III Ausf.N

The Ausf.N, mounted a short-barrel 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24 (7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24) tank gun, previously used on the Panzer IV. It was a low-velocity tank gun that was designed to fire mainly high explosive shells. If it had to engage armoured vehicles in combat it could fire the Panzergranate armour-piercing AP shell, but it was only effective at short ranges. Later on in the war, crews had the option to load the new 7.5 cm HL-granaten 39 hollow-charge high-explosive anti-tank HEAT projectiles which had a greater effect against tank armour. The Panzer III Ausf.N was increasingly used in the infantry support role once the 75 mm long barrelled Panzer IV, Panther and 88mm armed Tiger tank entered service.
Starting in May 1943 Schürzen 5 mm skirt armour plates were mounted on the hull side and 10 mm plates on the turret, to prevent the Soviet 14.5 mm anti-tank rifle penetrating the side armour of the Panzer III. Draftgeflecht metal mesh screens were also trialed. They were both as effective as each other but the Schürzen skirt armour plates entered production as it would have taken too long to develop the support hangers for the metal mesh screens.

Panzer III Ausf.N specifications
Dimensions	5.49 m x 2.95 m x 2.50 m (18ft x 9ft 8in x 8ft 2in)
Armament	75 cm Kw.K L/24
Machine Guns	2 × 7.92 mm MG34
Armor	16 mm – 60 mm
Weight	23 tonnes
Crew	5
Propulsion	Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 285hp gasoline/petrol engine
Max Speed	40 km/h (24.85 mph)
Range	155 km (96 miles)
Total built	614 – 750 approx.

In October 1941, it was decided to use the standard Panzer III Ausf.J to accommodate a new, smaller radio, without giving up their main gun and firepower, but sacrificing one ammunition rack. 300 of these Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf.K mit 5cm KwK L/42 command tanks were converted and gradually introduced on the front in 1943. Since the L60 gun fielded by the Ausf.L and M had a far better muzzle velocity, 50 of these upgunned types were to be chosen for the same task, and equipped with new long, medium and short range radio sets. The custom-built Ausf.K arrived in late 1942/early 1943. Most were given to SS Panzerdivisions fighting on the Eastern front, like this one.

Panzer III Ausf.L TP early production vehicle (1942), a transition model equipped with the Ausf.J turret, the standard long barrel 50 mm (1.97 in) KwK 38 L60, and specialized equipment for desert warfare (hence the name TP, “Tropisch”), essentially additional air filters and new cooling ratio. Facing mostly light Stuarts, Crusaders and half-tracks, the late Panzer IIIs ruled the Tunisian battlefield despite inferior numbers. Their only valuable opponent was the M3 Lee/Grant, which was outclassed by the Ausf.L.

A prototype based on the Ausf L, in a fictional livery, with the muzzle brake still fitted on the KwK 39. The KwK 39 was basically a Pak 38 without a muzzle brake and modified to be fitted in the Panzer III turret. Notice the protective panels around the turret, to deal with the AP rifles of the Russian infantry.

Pz.Kpfw.III variants

Besides the famous StuG, or Sturmgeschütz III, family (9500 built) based on the Panzer III chassis, suspensions, tracks and engine, almost a dozen specially modified versions were produced. Adding the 1024 Sturmhaubitze 42 (StuH 42), the Panzer III was by far the most widely used of all Axis chassis.
One of the first derivatives was the Tauchpanzer III, an improvised “submarine version” designed for operation Sea Lion (invasion of Great Britain) in August 1940. Modifications included a complete waterproof hull, new exhaust, schnorchel-like tubes and periscope. The total number of these “dive Panzers”, designed to cross the Channel under 20 feet (6 m) of water, amounted to just a few tested machines. The mass-conversion program never materialized, as the invasion was postponed.
The Panzerbefehlswagen III command tanks were converted from all versions after the Ausf.E (roughly one for twelve), and were characterized by powerful radios and a new redesigned, roomier turret interior. They had a dummy gun until the specialized Ausf.K, and this was often an issue in the heat of battle.
The Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III was an advanced artillery observation model of which 262 were produced, appearing on the Russian front in 1943.
The Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B (or sIG-33B) was a 1941-42 conversion of regular Panzer III, done by Alkett, into self-propelled chassis for the massive 150 mm (5.9 in) field gun. They found themselves far more suited for this role than the earlier sIG 33s based on the Panzer I Ausf B. However, only 24 were produced.
The Flammpanzer III Ausf.M(Fl) was an Ausf.M-based flamethrower version, of which 100 were derived and used mostly on the Eastern Front, starting from 1942.
The Berganpanzer III recovery tank was a late (1944) version affected to the Eastern Front, mostly to Tiger units.

Panzer III operational history

War on the West: May-June 1940

On May, 9, hell broke loose for the west, after a long, idle waiting, during which both sides built up their forces, with a clear advantage to the Germans. The French, despaired of the state of their air force in particular, rushed rearmament programs and bought quantities of modern fighters and bombers from the USA. However, the French armored forces, with the added weight of the well-trained and well-equipped BEF (British Expeditionary Forces), were more than a match for the Wehrmacht. The first assault was conducted against Luxembourg, almost without opposition. Then, the small Belgian and Dutch armies were quickly overrun. The Belgian armored forces mostly consisted of small, light tanks, derived from licence-built Vickers tankettes. Some French light tanks had been bought, the most potent of which were a small batch of Renault AMC-35s equipped with medium-velocity, AP guns. Eben-Emael, the key of the Belgian defense, fell to glider and paratrooper commandos, allowing German armored forces to rush towards the coast and the French border. They faced a courageous, but weightless opposition. The Netherlands, on the other hand, was ill-equipped. Its armored forces comprised of only 39 armored cars and five tankettes. They had almost no antitank guns and weak aircraft support. Despite flooded lands and some improvised barrages and hopeless infantry opposition, the German advance was swift and brutal, and on the 14th of May, this was all over. Belgium, despite resolute opposition, capitulated on the 28th of May.

The battle of France

The French apparently superior forces made the international press have confidence once again that the Allies will contain the German onslaught. Gamelin’s grand plans were unlikely focused on the northern sector defense, showed many weaknesses, of which we should mention the poor or nonexistent communication network and the last minute neutrality of the Low Countries, which prevented an early, efficient deployment in Belgium. The German generals with traditional strategical views were not especially confident of the countries’ capabilities against the French, but the “Blitzkrieg advocates” led by Guderian, thought otherwise. They were the original brains behind Fall Gelb, Case Yellow, also called the “falx plan”, a surprise attack through the thick Ardennes forest, the weakest point of the French defense. German armored forces were instrumental in it, well served by a good road network and air superiority. Panzer IIIs engaged there were all Ausf.E, F and Gs armed with 37 mm (1.46 in) guns. Only a handful of 75 mm (2.95 in) armed Panzer IVs were available, a few for each Panzerdivision. Facing this, the Allied armored forces had better protected tanks, almost impregnable except at short range. Two of them were impregnable to all available German weapons except the 88 mm (3.46 in). These were the French B1 and the British Matilda. During the six weeks of fighting, the Panzer III prevailed through its own qualities. They benefited from excellent communication and coordination, well served by their three-man turret, flexible tactics, speed, and constant cover by the Luftwaffe. However, the Germans suffered 160,000 casualties and 795 tanks were lost of all types, a significant number which highlighted the weaknesses of the same Panzer III, namely the lack of penetrating power of their main KwK 36, and insufficient protection.

War in Africa (1941-1943)

During almost a year, the Third Reich, now master of all of Europe, prepared for even more ambitious operations. The war industry delivered new batches of the improved Ausf.G and H, and a major upgunning plan was on the move, with the new 50 mm (1.97 in) KwK 38 L42. 1941 was, however, not a quiet year. Since the fall of 1940, the disastrous Italian offensives in Greece and later in Egypt, led to a critical situation for the Axis in Africa. Hitler, waging war against the British Empire, could not afford to see their positions threatened in the Mediterranean theater. In January 1941, an expeditionary force led by the already famous gen. Erwin Rommel landed in Libya, with provisions of Panzer III Ausf.F and Gs, which constituted the backbone of his forces. Against the British tanks, besides the Matildas, they had some success, but proved easy targets for the famous six-pounder. They fought well in the desert, were their speed, combined with the tactical genius of the “Desert Fox”, proved invaluable. But constant losses and few replacements led to a growing mixed-equipped force, comprising many captured Allied models, and the Panzer III might was gradually weakened in these operations. After El Alamein in June 1942, the Afrika Korps was in a dangerous position, but the arrival of new forces under the command of gen. Kesselring in Tunisia in 1943, seemed to bring new hope for the Axis. Alongside came a few Tigers and the new Panzer III Ausf.L and M, better armored and equipped with an effective high velocity KwK 38 L60 gun. These, along with cunning counterattacks, US bad preparation and bad weather ensured most of the Axis forces held on, then evacuated to Sicily, a prelude to a long and bloody defensive war in the so-called “soft underbelly of Europe” (Sir W. Churchill).

In the Russian steppes (1941-1943)

Operation Barbarossa was a major undertaking and echoed Napoleon attempt, after his failure to land in Britain, to turn against Russia. Hitler was aware that the Soviets were a strong enemy, but also that the internal disorders of the regime would cause, in case of a quick offensive, a total collapse from the interior. The other motivation, in Hitler’s personal mythology, was to grab considerable lands for the “master race” (Lebensräum). In July 1941, a considerable effort was made by the Germany war industry, and invasion forces were divided between three large armored corps, North, Center and South. These consisted of many new Panzerdivisions, in fact, made from split former units. These forces mostly counted on Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs, with many Panzer I and IIs in flanking and scouting units. All Panzer IIIs were now upgunned to the J1 standard, with a KwK 38 L42 50 mm (1.97 in) gun. This gun was sufficient against the tens of thousands of BT-7s and T-26s which constituted the bulk of the Russian armored forces. However, the German crews son discovered that both the KV-1 and and the T-34 were immune to their weaponry, even at short range. Later on, the northern offensive ground to a halt around Leningrad. The central offensive, after weeks of struggle in the mud, froze just miles from Moscow. The southern offensive was kept busy in Crimea. The following year, in 1942, a large Soviet counter-offensive repulsed the Center Army Group, and the southern army was mostly destroyed and captured at Stalingrad. The extremes of the Russian weather brought considerable turmoil to the crews and support troops, showing that the Panzer III was not adapted to very low temperatures or to the deep mud of the Russian bad roads. All hopes to regain control were lost at Kursk in the summer of 1943, were many modernized Ausf.Js (with the L60 long barrel), Ls and Ms, equipped with added protection (Schürzen), faced overwhelming swarms of T-34/76s.

The defensive war (1944-1945)

The last versions of the Panzer III, the Ausf.M and N, had improved protection, better guns and AP ammunition, which were conceived to deal with the latest Russian tanks on the Eastern Front. They were used in successive defensive lines, facing overwhelming forces, until the fall of 1944. The L60 used by the Ausf.L and M proved insufficient, but the idea of adapting directly the Panzer IV turret to the Panzer III chassis failed. However, Daimler-Benz engineers succeed in mounting the 75 mm (2.95 in) low velocity gun on the N version, the very last of a long and famous lineage. Production ended in August 1943. By then, these versions were affected to heavy tank companies, which at full strength contained ten Panzer III Ausf.Ns for nine Tigers. By then, older surviving Ausf.J to M tanks joined the Italian front, together with other veteran models, some having fought on since 1941 in Africa. The long barrel, high muzzle velocity guns, combined with improved AP charges like tungsten rounds, good use of the rugged terrain and camouflage by hardened veterans, pinned down Allied assaults in Italy until the end of 1944.
A few, improved Ausf.J to M fought in limited numbers in Normandy, but their movements were constrained because of Allied air supremacy. However, once again, a good use of the bocage proved that the Panzer III was still a match for most Allied tanks. By the end of 1944 the regular Panzer III were no longer the bulk of the German armored forces. They were spread into composite small defensive units. And as the production had stopped earlier, their numbers decreased even more, and by fall of 1944, they were perhaps 80 still operational on the Eastern Front. By then, new generations of US, British and Soviet tanks had nailed their coffin. This type had reached its limits, its former advanced features were now commonly used, and no further up-gunning was possible. However, the Panzer III will remain iconic in the German military of WWII, along with the Messerschmidt Bf-109 and the versatile 88 mm (3.46 in) gun.

Surviving Panzer IIIs

The last Panzer IIIs fought in the Low Countries (Market Garden), Northern Italy (Gothic line), and in eastern Prussia. Perhaps a handful still operational were spread between desperately weakened companies in March-April 1945, like the Steiner Brigade. Others were kept inactive, in operational reserves, in quiet sectors like Norway or Holland, until the capitulation. The remaining were abandoned, disabled and captured. They ended in many museums throughout the world, like the US Army Ordnance museum, Bovington, Saumur and the Deutsches Panzermuseum, among others. It is still possible today to find some wrecks in remote areas, because of the sheer geographic scale of its deployment, including three continents. More information and a gallery of surviving Panzer IIIs.

Sources

Panzer Tracks No.3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 and 3-5 by Thomas L.Jentz and Hilary Louis Doyle
The Panzer III on Wikipedia
The Panzerkampfwagen III on Achtungpanzer

History of the Panzer III video

Germans Tanks of ww2