Panzer III

Panzerkampfwagen III

Panzer III Ausf. H (auf Ausf. H Fahrgestell). Musée des Blindés, France (2006)
Type Medium tank
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
In service 1939–1945
Used by Nazi Germany
Kingdom of Romania
Slovak Republic
Kingdom of Hungary
Independent State of Croatia
Turkey
Norway
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Daimler-Benz
Designed 1935–1937
Manufacturer Daimler-Benz
Produced 1939–1943
Number built 5,774 (excluding StuG III)
Specifications
Weight 23.0 tonnes (25.4 short tons)
Length 5.56 m (18 ft 3 in)
Width 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
Armour 50 mm (2.0 in)
Main
armament
 1 × 3.7 cm KwK 36 Ausf. A-F
1 × 5 cm KwK 38 Ausf. F-J
1 × 5 cm KwK 39 Ausf. J¹-M
1 × 7.5 cm KwK 37 Ausf. N
Secondary
armament
 2–3 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM
300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight 12 hp/t
Suspension Torsion-bar suspension
Operational
range
 165 km (103 mi)
Speed Road: 40 km/h (25 mph)
Off-road: 20 km/h (12 mph)

The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside the support Panzer IV; however, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, stronger anti-tank guns were needed. Since the Panzer IV had a bigger turret ring, the roles were reversed. The Panzer IV mounted the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun and engaged in tank-to-tank battles. The Panzer III became obsolete in this role and for most purposes was supplanted by the Panzer IV. From 1942, the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, better suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943. However, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war.

Development history

On January 11, 1934, following specifications laid down by Heinz Guderian, the Army Weapons Department drew up plans for a medium tank with a maximum weight of 24,000 kg (53,000 lb) and a top speed of 35 km/h (22 mph). It was intended as the main tank of the German Panzer divisions, capable of engaging and destroying opposing tank forces.

At the time, it was widely held that tanks would be used in two ways. The first use was, of course, direct combat against other tanks and other armoured vehicles, requiring the tank to fire armour piercing (AP) shells. The second use was protecting other tanks against anti-tank guns and infantry, firing high-explosive shells at such soft targets. It was the infantry, in prepared defences and equipped with anti-tank guns, that was thought to present the biggest threat to armour. Tanks designed to operate with friendly infantry against the enemy generally carried more armour and were heavier. The class of tanks known as mediums, was intended to assist infantry in breakthroughs and also exploit gaps in the enemy lines where opposition had been removed, moving through and attacking the enemy's unprotected lines of communication and the rear areas. The Panzer III was built to this lighter standard, and was intended to be paired with the Panzer IV. The infantry-support role was provided by the turretless Sturmgeschütz assault gun, which mounted a short-barrelled gun on a Panzer III chassis.

Daimler-Benz, Krupp, MAN, and Rheinmetall all produced prototypes. Testing of these took place in 1936 and 1937, leading to the Daimler-Benz design being chosen for production. The first model of the Panzer III, the Ausführung A. (Ausf. A), came off the assembly line in May 1937; ten, two of which were unarmed, were produced in that year. Mass production of the Ausf. F version began in 1939. Between 1937 and 1940, attempts were made to standardize parts between Krupp's Panzer IV and Daimler-Benz's Panzer III.

Much of the early development work on the Panzer III was a quest for a suitable suspension. Several varieties of leaf-spring suspensions were tried on Ausf. A through Ausf. D, usually using eight relatively small-diameter road wheels before the torsion-bar suspension of the Ausf. E was standardized, using the six road wheel design that became standard. The Panzer III, along with the Soviet KV heavy tank, was one of the first tanks to use this suspension design.

A distinct feature of the Panzer III, influenced by British Vickers tanks (1924), was the three-man turret. This meant that the commander was not distracted with another role in the tank (e.g. as gunner or loader) and could fully concentrate on maintaining awareness of the situation and directing the tank. Most tanks of the time did not have this capability,[1] providing the Panzer III with a combat advantage versus such tanks. For example, the French Somua S-35 only had a one-man turret crew, and the Soviet T-34 originally had a two-man turret crew. The Panzer III, as opposed to the Panzer IV, had no turret basket, merely a foot rest platform for the gunner.[2]

The Panzer III was intended as the primary battle tank of the German forces. However, when it initially met the KV-1 and T-34 tanks it proved to be inferior in both armour and gun power. To meet the growing need to counter these tanks, the Panzer III was up-gunned with a longer, more powerful 50-millimetre (1.97 in) gun and received more armour although this failed to effectively address the problem caused by the Soviet tank designs. As a result, production of self-propelled guns, as well as the up-gunning of the Panzer IV was initiated.

In 1942, the final version of the Panzer III, the Ausf. N, was created with a 75-millimetre (2.95 in) KwK 37 L/24 cannon, the same short-barreled howitzer-like gun used for the initial models of the Panzer IV, a low-velocity gun designed for anti-infantry and close-support work. For defensive purposes, the Ausf. N was equipped with rounds of HEAT ammunition that could penetrate 70 to 100 millimetres (2.76 to 3.94 in) of armour depending on the round's variant, but these were strictly used for self-defense.

The Japanese government bought two Panzer IIIs from their German allies during the war (one 50 mm and one 75 mm). Purportedly this was for reverse engineering purposes, since Japan put more emphasis on the development of new military aircraft and naval technology and had been dependent on European influence in designing new tanks. By the time the vehicles were delivered, the Panzer III's technology was obsolete.[3]

Armour

The Panzer III Ausf. A through C had 15 mm (0.59 in) of rolled homogeneous armour on all sides with 10 mm (0.39 in) on the top and 5 mm (0.20 in) on the bottom. This was quickly determined to be insufficient, and was upgraded to 30 mm (1.18 in) on the front, sides and rear in the Ausf. D, E, F, and G models, with the H model having a second 30 mm (1.18 in) layer of face-hardened steel applied to the front and rear hull. The Ausf. J model had a solid 50 mm (1.97 in) plate on the front and rear, while the Ausf. J¹, L, and M models had an additional layer of offset 20 mm (0.79 in) homogeneous steel plate on the front hull and turret, with the M model having an additional 5 mm (0.20 in) Schürzen spaced armour on the hull sides, and 8 mm (0.31 in) on the turret sides and rear. This additional frontal armor gave the Panzer III frontal protection from most British and Soviet anti-tank guns at all but close ranges. However, the sides were still vulnerable to many enemy weapons, including anti-tank rifles at close ranges.

Armament

Panzerbefehlswagen (command tank) III ausf E or F in Greece, fitted with a 37 mm gun and two coaxial machine guns (1941).

The Panzer III was intended to fight other tanks; in the initial design stage a 50-millimetre (1.97 in) gun was specified. However, the infantry at the time were being equipped with the 37-millimetre (1.46 in) PaK 36, and it was thought that, in the interest of standardization, the tanks should carry the same armament. As a compromise, the turret ring was made large enough to accommodate a 50-millimetre (1.97 in) gun should a future upgrade be required. This single decision would later assure the Panzer III a prolonged life in the German Army.

The Ausf. A to early Ausf. F were equipped with a 3.7 cm KwK 36 L/45, which proved adequate during the campaigns of 1939 and 1940, but the later Ausf. F to Ausf. J were upgraded with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 and the Ausf. J¹ to M with the longer 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 gun in response to increasingly better armed and armoured opponents.

By 1942, the Panzer IV was becoming Germany's main medium tank because of its better upgrade potential. The Panzer III remained in production as a close support vehicle. The Ausf. N model mounted a low-velocity 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun - the same used by the early Panzer IV Ausf. A to Ausf. F models. These guns had originally been fitted to older Panzer IV Ausf A to F1 models and had been placed into storage when those tanks had also been up armed to longer versions of the 75 mm gun.

All early models up to and including the Ausf. F had two 7.92-millimetre (0.31 in) MG 34 machine guns mounted coaxially with the main gun, and a similar weapon in a hull mount. Models from the Ausf. G and later had a single coaxial MG34 and the hull MG34.

Mobility

The Panzer III Ausf. A through C were powered by a 250 PS (184 kW), 12-cylinder Maybach HL 108 TR engine, giving a top speed of 32 km/h (20 mph) and a range of 150 km (93 mi). All later models were powered by the 300 PS (221 kW), 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM engine. Top speed varied, depending on the transmission and weight, but was around 40 km/h (25 mph). The range was generally around 155 km (96 mi).

Combat history

The Panzer III was used in the campaigns against Poland, France, the Soviet Union and in North Africa. A handful were still in use in Normandy,[4] Anzio,[5] Norway,[6] Finland[7] and in Operation Market Garden[8] in 1944.

A Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf L formerly on display at the US Army Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland and currently housed at the National Armor and Cavalry Restoration Shop at Fort Benning, Georgia.

In the Polish and French campaigns, the Panzer III formed a small part of the German armoured forces. Only a few hundred Ausf. A through F were available in these campaigns, most armed with the 37-millimetre (1.46 in) gun. They were the best medium tank available to the Germans and outclassed, in both firepower and armour, most of their opponents, such as the Polish 7TP, French R-35 and H-35 light tanks and the Soviet T-26 light tank and BT cavalry tanks.

Around the time of Operation Barbarossa, the Panzer III was numerically the most important German tank. At this time, the majority of the available tanks (including re-armed Ausf. E and F, plus new Ausf. G and H models) had the 50-millimetre (1.97 in) KwK 38 L/42 cannon, which also equipped the majority of the tanks in North Africa. Initially, the Panzer IIIs were outclassed by Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. However, the most numerous Soviet tanks were the T-26 and BT tanks. This, along with superior German tactical skill,[9] crew training, and the good ergonomics of the Panzer III all contributed to a rough 6:1 favourable kill ratio for German tanks of all types in 1941.

The crew of a Panzer III of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich rest during the Battle of Kursk.

With the appearance of the T-34 and KV tanks, rearming the Panzer III with a longer, more powerful 50-millimetre (1.97 in) gun was prioritised. The T-34 was generally invulnerable in frontal engagements with the Panzer III until the 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 gun was introduced on the Panzer III Ausf. J¹ in the spring of 1942 (the gun was based on infantry's 50 mm Pak 38 L/60). This could penetrate the T-34 frontally at ranges under 500 metres (1,600 ft).[10] Against the KV tanks, it was a threat if armed with special high velocity tungsten rounds. In addition, to counter anti-tank rifles, in 1943 the Ausf. L version began the use of spaced armour skirts (Schürzen) around the turret and on the hull sides. However, due to the introduction of the upgunned and uparmoured Panzer IV, the Panzer III was, after the Battle of Kursk, relegated to secondary roles, such as training, and it was replaced as the main German medium tank by the Panzer IV and the Panther.

The Panzer III chassis was the basis for the turretless Sturmgeschütz III assault gun, one of the most successful self-propelled guns of the war, and the single most-produced German armoured fighting vehicle design of World War II.

By the end of the war, the Panzer III saw almost no frontline use and many vehicles had been returned to the factories for conversion into StuG assault guns, which were in high demand due to the defensive warfare style adopted by the German Army by then.

Variants and production

Panzerkampfwagen III production - Medium tanks[11]
Ausführung A B C D E F G H J L M N
Year 1936 1937 1937/38 1938,1940 1939/40 1940 1940/41 1940/41 1941/42 1941/42 1942/43 1942/43
Produced 10 10 15 25 + 5 96 450 594 286 1521 1470 517 614
Command tanks Flame tank
Ausführung D E H J K Flamm
Year 1938/39 1939/40 1940/41 1941/42 1942/43 1943
Produced 30 45 175 81 50 100

Designs based on chassis

Su-76i displayed in the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Moscow, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park

See also

Tanks of comparable role, performance and era

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Ralph Zuljan (July 1, 2003). "AFV Development During World War II" (revised ed.). Originally published in "World War II" at Suite101.com on October 1, 1998.
  2. ↑ Some authors say that basket was added in Ausf. H, some object that: Mike Kendall. "German Panzerkampwagen III, Ausf.J, Part 1". Archived from the original on 4 December 2000. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Zaloga (2007), p.17
  4. ↑ Served with Panzer Ersatz und Ausbildungs Abteilung 100 (http://www.normandy-1944.com/PzAbt100.html) and 9th Panzer Division
  5. ↑ Used by Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring
  6. ↑ http://www.armchairgeneral.com/panzer-tanks-found-in-norway.htm
  7. ↑ Panzers in Finland, Kari Kuusala - 6 Ausf. N were deployed with Panzer Abteilung 211
  8. ↑ Some tanks used for training by the Hermann Göring Training and Replacement Regiment were pressed into service to oppose the British advance in Operation Market Garden
  9. ↑ Zaloga (1984), p. 223
  10. ↑ Zaloga (1994), p. 36
  11. ↑ Thomas L.Jentz, Hillary Louis Doyle: Panzer Tracts No.23 - Panzer Production from 1933 to 1945
  12. ↑ Zaloga (1984), p. 180
Bibliography

External links

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