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Panzer III

General Characteristics (Ausf J)
Length: 5.52 m
Width:2.9 m
Height:2.5 m
Weight:22 t
Speed:40 km/h (road)
19 km/h (off-road)
Range: 155 km
Primary armament:50mm gun
Secondary armament:Two 7.92mm machine guns
Power plant:197 kW (265 hp)
Crew:5 (Commander, gunner, loader,
driver and radio operator)

The Panzer III is a German medium tank used in World War II.

Production History The first prototype was designed by Daimler-Benz in 1936.

Variants

  • Panzer III Ausf A,B,C,D - pre-production models in 1937-38. 75 produced.
  • Panzer III Ausf E,F - Production models 1939-1940. Armed with 37mm (later 50mm) guns. 531 produced.
  • Panzer III Ausf G - More armour. Armed with 37mm (later 50mm) guns. 600 produced in 1940-41.
  • Panzer III Ausf H - Minor modifications. 308 produced in 1940-41.
  • Panzer III Ausf J - The hull was lenghtened. 2616 produced in 1941-42.
  • Panzer III Ausf L - Minor modifications. 653 produced in 1942.
  • Panzer III Ausf M - 250 produced in 1942-43.
  • Panzer III Ausf N - Armed with a 75mm gun. 700 produced in 1942-43.
  • Tauchpanzer III - Some tanks were converted to "diving tanks" for Operation Sealion[?].
  • Bergepanzer III - In 1944 all Panzer IIIs were converted to armoured recovery vehicles.
  • Sturmgeschütz III[?] - tank destroyer with 75mm StuK.

Combat History Used in the campaigns agains Poland, France, the Soviet Union and in North Africa. Some were still in use in Normandy in 1944.



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