finally gained sufficient experience to incorporate
ideas of its own in tank designs. The development of
the Panzer I and II and the study of foreign tanks led
to new ideas which turned out to be sometimes quite
elaborate, complicated and costly. Consideration of
the needs of mass production was generally neglected,
for which mistake a high price had to be paid during
later war years. General Guderian had initially
envisaged two basic types to act as main equipment for
the future German armoured force. The first vehicle
was to be equipped with an armour piercing gun, in
addition to two machine-guns, while the other type was
to serve as a support vehicle, being equipped with a
larger gun. The first one, later to become the Panzer-
kampfwagen III, was intended as the standard
equipment for the three light companies of a tank
battalion.
The selection of a suitable weapon caused some
controversy between the Ordnance Department and the
Inspector for Mechanized Troops. While Waffenamt
(the Ordnance Department) seemed to be content with
a 37mm gun, the armoured troops demanded a gun
of at least 5cm calibre; however, since the infantry
had already been equipped with the standard 37mm
anti-tank gun, this weapon also became the main
armament for the Panzer III. Standardization and the
fact that only one gun and its ammunition had to be
procured, supported this decision. It was possible,
however, to make the turret ring diameter big enough
for subsequent up-gunning to 5cm calibre without
basic changes. Total weight was restricted to 24 metric
tons to meet military bridging limitations inside
Germany. Top speed was to be 40 km per hour. The
crew consisted of five men, with the commander,
gunner and loader in the turret, and the driver and
radio operator in the hull front. The commander had
an elevated seat with a circular cupola mounted at the
centre rear of the turret top. The tank commander
communicated with the crew by intercom telephone
using the same microphone and headsets employed
with the vehicle‘s wireless. The commander, wireless
operator and driver were all linked to the external
wireless set. In the Model L on wards there was also a
voice tube between the commander and gunner.
By the time of the invasion of Poland on 01st
September1939, however, the Panzer III was only in
service in small numbers. At this time, the German
Army had a total of five armoured divisions, all of
which were engaged in the campaign. Supplemented
by the Panzer-Lehr Regiment, the Ordnance Department's
own testing unit, they were thrown against the
poorly equipped Polish Army. With the added power
of the German Air Force, this campaign was over
within I8 days. The Polish Army fought bravely, but
their forces proved to be completely inadequate. The
campaign was the first full test of the German ‘Blitzkrieg;
tactics, close co-ordination in attack between
dive-bombers and armoured forces. Though the
Panzer III played only a minimal part in the invasion
of Poland, the tactics evolved by General Guderian, in
which the Panzer III was destined to figure more
prominently later, were fully vindicated by the
success of the campaign.
Preparation for the contemplated invasion of
France brought a basic reorganization of the existing
armoured force. The conversion of the three existing
“Light Divisions” to 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Panzer
Divisions, planned before the war, was now carried
out. Another armoured division, the l0th. newly-
formed, concluded the reorganization. Only six of the
Panzer Divisions,1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and l0th, had
an armoured brigade‘ with a full establishment of
four battalions, equipped with German armour.
Three Panzer Divisions (6th, 7th and 8th) had a tank
brigade with three battalions only. These were
equipped with captured Czech vehicles (Panzer 35(t)
and 38(t)). The 9th Panzer Division in turn had only
two battalions in its tank brigade, each equipped with
German vehicles. A total of 349 Panzer III's, all
mounting the 37 mm gun, were available at the
beginning of the invasion of France and Flanders:
they proved to be a decisive factor in German tank
fortunes in this brilliantly conducted campaign.
Later, re-armed with a 50 mm gun, the Panzer III
became the major equipment of German tank units
during the battles in the Balkans, in North Africa and
in Russia. At a meeting of the Wehrmacht tank
committee on 17th July 194l, the construction of 7,992
Panzer III vehicles was demanded for the contemplated
future army establishment of 36 armoured
divisions. By contrast, at that time total armoured
fighting strength of the Wehrmacht totalled only
about 4,000 vehicles. A production target of approximately
600 vehicles per month could be barely met.
Output was supposed to be increased to 2,000 units
per month, a task which was not finally achieved until
1944. Of special interest is a report describing events
during a meeting with Hitler on 29th November 1941.
Under the influence of the reverses on the Eastern
Front, Hitler himself had obviously developed doubts
as to the future of his armoured force. He called the
Panzer III an inadequate design, since its main armament
was insufficient for a vehicle of its weight. His
quote, “the era of the tank might soon be over"
reflects directly the tremendous shock created by the
events in Russia. It should be emphasized, however,
that the Panzer Ill, for its time, was a modern and
technically advanced armoured vehicle. It would have
been even more useful if Guderian’s earlier demand
for a heavier main armament had been accepted in the
design stage. On 27th September 1939, the Panzer-
kampfwagen III had been accepted as standard issue
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Development orders for a vehicle in the 15-ton class
were issued by the Ordnance Department during I935,
to be made by the firms of MAN (Nurnberg), Daimler-
Benz AG. (Berlin-Marienfelde), Rheinmetall-Borsig
(Berlin), and Krupp AG (Essen). To maintain
secrecy, the Germans used “concealed purpose” titles
for their new generation of AFV designs. The new
vehicle was called "Zugfuehrerwagen" (ZW) or
“troop commander’s vehicle". Extensive trials of
prototypes took place starting in 1936 and resulted in
a production order for the Daimler-Benz design. The
chassis design of this vehicle reflected clearly the
influence of the automotive industry as represented by
Daimler-Benz since it featured independent suspension
and torsion bar springs as finally developed. Krupp by
contrast, with its vast background of locomotive
construction, favoured the more traditional leafsprings
and bogie wheel mountings. While Krupp‘s prototype.
the “MKA" was not accepted for the l5-ton class
tank, incidentally, many of the features of this vehicle
were used in the Panzer IV for which Krupp’s design
was adopted. It is a remarkable fact that production
orders for the new German tanks were placed with
companies which did not necessarily have experience
in automotive mass production. Obviously the need
for production on a massive scale was not foreseen in
I936. Both of Germany’s largest manufacturers, Opel
and Ford. were bypassed because of their foreign
affiliations. Later, however, Panzer Ill production was
organized on mass-production lines.
PANZER III MODELS
The first Panzer III production model, “Ausfuhrung
A“, was completed in I936. Ten vehicles of this type,
“1/ZW“ (chassis numbers 60l0l-60ll0) were built.
eight of them equipped with the 37mm gun. The early
models of the Panzer III Series were intended as
development vehicles, and in the Ausfuhrung A the
suspension consisted of five large road wheels sup-
ported by coil springs. Front sprocket drive and rear
idler wheels, together with two return rollers,
completed the running gear. Armour 5 to 14-5 mm thick
gave the vehicle a total weight of 15-4 metric tons. A
Maybach “HL 108 TR“ 12 cylinder gasoline (petrol)
engine gave it a top speed of 32 km per hour
(20 MPH). Basic hull, turret, and superstructure
remained unchanged throughout the Panzer III
production life.
The second model in the series, Ausfuhrung B,
appeared in 1937. The only basic change was effected
in the chassis design. Eight bogie wheels per side were
now provided, two bogies each supported by one
large horizontal leafspring. The number of return
rollers was increased to three. Fifteen vehicles were
produced (chassis numbers 60201-602l5). Armour
thickness was still 14'5 mm. The third model, the
Ausfuhrung C (chassis numbers 60301-60315) appeared
at about the same time. Again, a total of 15
vehicles was produced. The Ausfuhrung C differed
from the B only by a modification to the suspension.
Extra leafsprings each side were added bringing the
number to four, allowing for an individual suspension
of each bogie. The fourth development was the
Ausfuhrung D (Type 3b/ZW). The basic armour was
increased to 30 mm, bringing the total weight to
19-8 metric tons. The suspension was almost identical
to the Ausfuhrung C, with the smaller leafsprings now
arranged in an angle. Instead of the previous five-
speed gearbox, a six-speed ZF transmission was
installed (chassis numbers Ausfuhrung D, 60221-60225
and 60316-60340).
Basic changes were incorporated with the introduction
of the next model, the Ausfuhrung E, which was
the last of the development models. Built from 1939
until 1940, its Daimler-Benz designation was “ZW 38",
its type "4/ZW” (chassis numbers 60401-60441). This
vehicle had a new engine (Maybach HL 120 TR) and a
new transmission (Maybach Variorex). The most
drastic change, however, was reflected in the suspension
system, which now incorporated transverse
torsion bars with independent road wheels. This basic
suspension remained in production, virtually unchanged,
until the end of the entire model run.
Though this system appears symmetrical, it was, in
fact, offset by about five inches to allow the torsion
bars to fit between each other. Detail changes on this
model included an improved driver’s visor and hull
machine-gun mount.
By 1938 the Ordnance Department had themselves
realised the error of insisting on a 37mm gun for the
Panzer III They now authorized development of an
up-gunned version. Krupp of Essen were asked to
develop the turret and a 5cm gun was specified, as
first requested in vain by General Guderian in 1936.
The new gun mount was not ready, however, by the
time the first major production version of the
Panzer III the Ausftihrung F (Type 5/ZW) appeared
in early 1940. This still had the 37mm gun. Chassis,
superstructure and turret remained unchanged and
only improved ventilators on the turret distinguished
it from the Ausfijhrung E. Both models E and F and
even early production Ausfiihrung G‘s were fitted
with the standard 37mm gun, but starting late in
1940, they were all converted to take the 5cm
KwK L/42. This was against the wish of a determined
Hitler, who immediately had demanded the itting of
the longer and more powerful L/60 5 cm gun.
The Panzer III Ausluhrung F had a modified version
of the Maybach power-plant, the 12 cylinder “HL 120
TRM”, of 300HP Standard fitting on this model in
the light of combat experience was a rack of five smoke
generators on the hull remotely released by a rod from
the turret. A stowage box was added to the rear of the
turret in some vehicles. F series chassis numbers were
6l00l-65000.
The seventh model, the Ausfuhrung G, appeared
also in 1940, all except the very earliest already
equipped with the 50 mm gun. The turret had a new
commander‘s cupola with narrow twin covers that
moved apart from each other instead of sliding
shutters over its five vision ports and thicker armour.
Vehicles destined for Africa received in production (or
retrospectively) additional air filters and a different
cooling fan reduction ratio. These were designated
Ausfuhrung G (TP)*. A new driver's visor was fitted
with a single shutter to offer better protection against
“splash”. Total Ausfuhrung G production was 450,
chassis numbers 6500l-66000.
*TP = Tropical.
The appearance of the Panzer III, Ausfuhrung H at
the very end of 1940 brought a major change in the
suspension system. The track width was increased
from 360 mm to 400 mm. New final drive and idler
wheels were used and the spacing of the return rollers
was increased to give better support to the heavier
track. New sprockets and idlers of simplified pattern
were used and less complicated manual transmission
was installed. Experience gained during previous
battles resulted in a demand to increase the relatively
thin armour of the Panzer III. As an interim solution,
Ausfuhrung H vehicles leaving the production lines in
1941 came equipped with additional 30 mm armour
plates attached to the front faces of both hull and
superstructure. The Ausfuhrung H remained in pro-
duction for the early part of l94l. Some vehicles of
this type were later refitted with the longer L/60 50mm
gun. Chassis numbers of the H series were 66001-68000.
The first batch of the next version, the Ausfuhrung
J, (chassis numbers 6800l-69l00) were still equipped
with the short-barrelled 5cm gun. The basic armour,
however, was increased from 30mm to 50mm. This
necessitated a further change in the driver's visor and
the ball mount for the radio Operator's machine-gun.
From vehicle 72001, the new 5cm KwK 30 L/60 was
used and was fitted in all future production vehicles
until the end of the run of the Ausfuhrung J version
which terminated at chassis 74l00. These later models
had the right turret-front vision slot and the side
vision slot omitted. With the long-barrelled gun,
ammunition stowage was reduced from 99 to 84
rounds. These vehicles were built throughout 1941.
The Panzer Ausfuhrung L was externally almost
identical to its predecessor. However, a major change
was the subsequent addition of a torsion bar compensator
in the suspension to balance the nose-
heaviness induced by the fitting of the 5cm guns, plus
the extra weight of the additional "spaced armour"
now fitted over the superstructure and mantlet front.
Coil springs were found insufficient to counteract the
added weight. Only 78 rounds of ammunition were
carried. With chassis numbers 74101-76000, Ausfuhrung
L was in production until 1942.
Also in 1942 the Ausfuhrung M appeared, simplified
by elimination of the vision slits and the hull escape
door openings. With the introduction of skirting
armour, some of these openings had become superfluous,
and in any event, there was a continual quest
for reducing production time. Some of the Ausfuhrung
M vehicles had a deep wading kit installed, allowing
them to ford streams up to a depth of 4§ ft. Chassis
numbers were in the range from 7600! to 78000.
The final version of the Panzer III, the Ausfuhrung
N came off the production line towards the end of
1942. It was simply a continuation of the Model M,
equipped with the short-barrellcd 75mm gun, the
previous main armament of the Panzer IV. Six
hundred and sixty-six of these vehicles were m
manufactured when the production of the Panzer III was
terminated in August 1943, and its production
capacity given over to Sturmgeschiitz III (Stug III)
vehicles. Some Model L‘s were later refitted with the
short KwK L/24 75mm gun and re-designated
Model (Ausfuhrung) N accordingly. There was also
a tropical version of the Ausfuhrung L with the same
modified fittings as the Ausfuhrung G (TH).
To conclude the Panzer III development story. a
vehicle has to be mentioned which was intended to
replace it. Developed by Daimler-Benz, its designation
was “Panzerkampfwagen VK. 2001 (DB)“. Daimler-
Benz called it “ZW 40" in their production records.
Two prototypes were built and thoroughly tested
during l939/I940. Equipped with a Daimler-Benz
diesel engine, this 22-ton vehicle developed a top speed
of 50 km/h. Leafspring suspension and various
transmission layouts characterized this development which
was finally dropped in favour of heavier vehicles.
PRODUCTION
Since the Panzer II was intended to become the major
equipment of the German tank force, ambitious
production goals were immediately established. To
cope with this production, several manufacturers
received contracts. By 1939, the following companies
were engaged in the manufacturing of “ZW” (i.e.,
Panzcrkampfwagen III) vehicles:
: Altméirkische Kettenfabrik GmbH (ALKETT)
(Spandau works for assembly and Falkensee works
for chassis construction)
: Daimler-Benz AG (Berlin-Marienfelde)
: Fahrzeug-und Motorenbau GmbH (FAMO) (Breslau)
: Henschel & Sohn AG (Mittelfeld-Kassel, No.III plant)
: Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Niirnberg AG (Nurnberg)
: Muhlenbau_und Industrie- und AG (MIAG) (Amme Braunschweig)
: Waggonfabrik Wegmann AG (Kassel)
: Maschlnenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover (MN H) (Hannover-Linden)
Of all the manufacturers mentioned, Alkett produced
the majority of Panzer III vehicles. Wegmann
were engaged from 1937 to 1942. Henschel assembled
most of its Panzer III output from I939 to 1940.
MIAG, starting late, completed approximately 1100
vehicles from 194l to 1943. MNH’s production goal
was 30 vehicles a month, while Daimler-Benz and
FAMO both contributed 26per month.
Most of the hulls, superstructures and turrets were
supplied by Deutsche Edelstahlwerke AG. of Hannover.
The main armament came from Karges-Hammer
of Braunschweig and Franz Garny,
Frankfurt. From November, 1940, a monthly production
target of 108 vehicles per month was established;
it was not always reached. In 1940 and 1941 total
production reached 2,143 “ZW" vehicles, 1,924 of
which were equipped with the 5cm gun. Available to
the armoured forces in July, 1941, were 327 Panzer
III’s with the 37mm gun and 1,174 with the 50mm
armament. By April 1, 1942, the total of 37mm
armed vehicles was reduced to 131, while the 5cm
vehicles had been increased to 1,893. Total production
figures for 5cm L/60 armed Panzer III’s were 40 in
1941, 1,907 in 1942, and 22 in 1943. A grand total of
5,644 Panzer III tanks was reached. The raw material
consumption of a Panzer III was: Steel 39,000-00 kg.
Tin 1-40 kg. Copper 60-10 kg. Aluminium 90-40 kg.
Lead 71-10kg. Zinc 49-10 kg. Rubber 125-00 kg.
For ease of production the Panzer III was divided
into four pre-fabricated sub-assemblies—hull, turret,
and front and rear superstructure. Most of the fittings
were standardized with the Panzer IV. The use of
sophisticated plant for pre-fabrication and assembly
greatly speeded up production, even though mass-
production was not foremost in the mind of the
Ordnance Department when the Panzer III was first
designed.
THE PANZER III DESCRIBED
The Panzer III hull, as stated above, consisted of three
separate sub-assemblies, namely the main hull, the
front superstructure carrying the turret and the rear
superstructure, covering the engine compartment. All
these units were of single skin welded construction and
the individual assemblies were bolted together. The
hull section was divided into two compartments by
means of a bulkhead; the front one housed the gear-
box and steering mechanism. The driver’s vision block
was secured through an adjustable slot in the front
plate of the superstructure. This plate also supported
the ball-mounted machine-gun which was manned by
the radio operator. Sideways vision for these two
crew members was through visor blocks, protected by
armoured flaps, mounted in the side-plate of the
superstructure. Hinged escape doors were centrally
located on both sides of the hull, though these were
eliminated from the Model M. The top front plate of
the main hull had hinged doors, giving access to the
brake mechanism and providing means of escape for
the crew. All armour plates were made of high quality
chromium-molybdenum steel.
The welded turret, similar to that of the Panzer IV,
provided space for the other three crew members,
namely the commander, the gunner and the loader. No
rotating platform was provided, but the commander
and the gunner had their seats suspended from the
turret and thus traversed with it. The turret of Models
H-M were fitted with a 50mm cannon and one
machine-gun which was mounted co-axial with the
main armament. There were large hinged double doors
on the turret sides, equipped with vision slots, and
pistol ports provided for easy accessibility.
Additional observation ports were provided in each
sidewall of the turret, together with two ports in the
mantlet front. All well protected by armoured flaps.
The 50mm gun had an external mantlet, though the
37mm gun of the early models was attached to an
internal shield. The rear plate of the turret had two
circular pistol ports. The turret roof itself provided
openings for ventilators, signal ports, and the circular
commander’s cupola. Mounted centrally at the rear of
the roof, it had five observation ports, equally spaced
around its circumference; it was closed by a pair of
semi-circular hatch covers. ln early development
models the cupola was of the “dustbin” type, and in
models E and F it had armoured walls with projecting
bolts. From Model G on a squatter type of cupola was
fitted which had thicker (50-95mm) armour and
improved shutters.
The main armament of Models E-J was the 5cm
Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) L/42 with a barrel length
of 2,103 mm. No muzzle brake was provided. Its
maximum muzzle velocity with supercharge APC
ammunition was 685 metres per second. It was capable
of penetrating homogeneous armour of 47mm thickness
at a distance of 500 yards. The following different
kinds of ammunition could be carried:
The first was the explosive loaded (supercharge)
armour-piercing capped projectile previously mentioned.
This was designated “Panzergranate 39". The
second type was the “Panzergranate 40", which was a
light-weight projectile with a tungsten carbide core.
This ammunition, also called armour-piercing composite
rigid, achieved a high muzzle velocity because
of its light weight. However, this velocity and hence
the penetration, decreased rapidly with increasing
range, and it was less effective than APC over about
700 yards. At I00 yards however, its penetration was
97mm compared to 55mm for APC. The third type of
ammunition carried was “Sprenggranate 38", or high
explosive, for use against anti-tank guns and lightly-
armoured vehicles. A total of 99 rounds of ammunition
was provided in models with the L/42 gun, plus
2,700 rounds for the two MG 34 machine-guns. Turret
traverse of 360° was by hand wheels, and elevation
limits were —l0° to +l0°.
The main power plant, the HL 120 TRM in Model
F onwards, was built by Maybach, and under licence
by other manufacturers. It was a 12 cylinder "V",
four-stroke gasoline petrol engine with a maximum
output of 300 BHP. Cooling air entered through
louvres in the front of the rear superstructure and also
through wire mesh grids on the sides and passed over
the engine to the two radiators placed one on either
side of the engine compartment. The fans for the
radiators were driven by long twin belts from a
pulley mounted on an eccentric spindle. The pulley
was coupled to the engine by a short universal joint
shaft. Four oil bath air cleaners were mounted parallel
to a manifold attached to the top face of the
carburettors.
Power from the engine was transmitted via a
swaged tubular cardan shaft. The clutch was situated
in a casing mounted at the rear of the gearbox and
transmitted the drive through various gears to the
steering mechanism and final drive. Control of the
transmission was effected through a vacuum-operated
selector and gear change system, coupled with a
hydraulically-operated gear synchromesh clutch. Gear
selection was made by the hand pre-selector lever which
in turn set cams to a pre-determined combination in a
vacuum distribution box. To complete the gear change,
the clutch pedal had to be depressed; this pedal was
coupled to a hydraulic valve controlling the clutch and
a vacuum valve to energize the distribution box. For
engaging forward, neutral or reverse, a hand direction
lever was provided, but once this lever had been set to
forward, each of the ten forward speeds selected
according to road conditions, could be engaged with-
out further action. Speeds l, 2, 3, and 4 were available
only for reverse; however, only one reverse gear was
commonly used. The Maybach "Variorex” 10-speed
gearbox comprised four sets of constant mesh helical
gears and one set of constant mesh spur gears mounted
individually in line and on short shafts and roller
bearings. The changes in ratio were effected through
sliding dog clutches. Disengagement of the drive was
by means of a multi-plate clutch on the primary shaft.
The steering mechanism was mounted at the front
end of the gearbox forming an integral unit. The final
drive and track brake were attached to the hull side
plates. Very short propeller shafts connected these
units. Output from the gearbox was transmitted to a
transverse shaft by means of spiral bevel gears, this
shaft, in turn, driving the annulus of an epicyclic gear
situated at either end. The outer wheel of this gear was
extended outside the casing and carried the clutch
brake drum. The drive itself continued via the planet
wheel carrier to the final drive, which consisted of
heavy spur gears. The Daimler-Benz/Wilson clutch
braking system was operated hydraulically. Both right
and left hand tracks were controlled independently by
identical hydraulic systems, consisting of a steering
control unit, a telescopic cylinder operating the clutch
brake, and another one operating the track brake.
A total of 93 links, similar to the ones used on the
Panzer IV, were needed to complete one track. Made
of manganese steel and of the “skeleton” type, they
were 360 mm wide. The track tensioning device was a
robust ball crank lever to which was mounted the
tensioning wheel. The lever, mounted on the rear
portion of the hull side, was operated by a large
diameter draw screw. The six independent road wheels
per side were suspended by torsion bars. To allow
these torsion bars to extend the full width of the hull,
the corresponding right and left hand road wheels
were staggered as previously noted, the anchor bracket
on each side being constructed in one piece to form a
housing for the suspension arm bearing and a location
for the inner end of the opposite road wheel torsion
bar. The four front and four rear torsion bars were
larger in diameter than the four centre members. This
was done to prevent undue pitching of the vehicle. ln
addition, shock absorbers were fitted to the front and
rear road wheels. Attached to the outer end of each
torsion bar was a suspension arm, made of an alloy
steel forging. The road wheel was mounted at its
extremity on two substantial roller bearings. The road
wheels were fabricated with the tyres vulcanized to the
outer rim.
Electrical equipment consisted of a 600 watt Bosch
GTLN generator, with a maximum output of 70amps.
Two starters were used, one the Bosch BNG 4/24
electric starter, and the other an AL/ZMA/R 4 hand-
operated inertia starter. Two batteries were carried.
MARKS AND HYBRIDS
For the invasion of England (Operation Sea Lion),
expected in l940, a special amphibious tank battalion.
called “Panzerabteilung A", was assembled in Putlos
in northern Germany. Between September and
October, 1940, two additional battalions were formed,
named “Abteilung B“ and All the Panzer III
and IV tanks in these units were made submersible.
All existing openings on the vehicles were closed and
sealed, and the air intake for the engine was completely
eliminated. A rubber tube was inserted between
the turret and superstructure, and rubber covers were
placed over the main armament, the gun mounts an
the commander‘s eupola to keep these assemblies
water-tight. A detonator fuse, imbedded in these
covers and activated after the vehicle had emerged
from the water, was supposed to blow off the rubber
shrouds and make the vehicles battle-ready. Fresh air
supply was secured by means of a flexible tube
18m long with a diameter of approximately 20cm. It
ended in a buoy to which a radio antenna was fitted.
The exhaust silencers were equipped with high
pressure valves to keep water out. When submerged,
seawater was used to cool the power plant. The diving
depth was up to IS m. Mode of operation was to
submerge the vehicles from the landing craft before
the English coast was reached. They were to land on
the beaches by simply driving under water on the
seabed to the shoreline. Extensive trials proved this
theory to be feasible under actual conditions, but
Operation Sea Lion never materialized. The vehicles,
together with amphibious Panzer II’s, later formed the
l8th Panzer Regiment of l8th Panzer Division. They
were used at the beginning of the Russian campaign
to cross the River Bug in I941.
For commanders of large armoured formations
there was a special version of the Panzer III. As early
as I938, some Panzer III Ausfiihrung D‘s had been
adapted to make the so-called “Panzerbefehlswagen“
(armoured command vehicle). Three different models,
differentiated only by their radio equipment, were
converted and designated Sd.Kfz. 266/267/268 respectively.
They were almost identical in appearance to the
standard model but their five-man crews consisted of
the commander, adjutant. driver and two radio
operators. The turret was fixed in position and a
dummy gun barrel replaced the main armament. Two
whip aerials (I-4 m and 2 m long), one retractable
radio mast (9 m long) and the usual frame antenna
mounted above the engine compartment completed
the special equipment. The space left in the turret by
removal of the gun was utilized for map tables and the
additional radio equipment. This vehicle was at first
designated Panzerbefehlswagen Ausfuhrung A. A few
vehicles similarly converted from Panzer III
Ausfuhrung E‘s were originally designated
Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausfuhrung B, later E.
A modified version of the command vehicle was
produced in I940 based on the Panzer III Ausfuihrung
E. Chassis numbers were in the range 6050l to 60545.
Production was completed in March, I940. In November,
1940, a new version, the Panzerbefehlswagen III
Ausfuhrung H, appeared originally designated Aus-
fuhrung C. The lack of a suitable main armament
caused some concern, and the final vehicles of this
type, the Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausftihrung K, were
ordered from Daimler-Benz in January, 194l, with the
5 cm gun in a rotating turret. Only additional radio
equipment distinguished these vehicles from the
standard tank. Production of this later
Panzerbefehlswagen continued until August, I943. Totals of
Panzerbefehlswagen III vehicles available for service
at various times were as follows: 01st July 1941, 331;
01st April 1942, 273.
As an observation post vehicle for armoured
artillery units, the “Panzerbeobachtungswagen III"
(Pz Beob Wg III) was produced. This was originally
considered only as an interim type until the specialized
VK.903 OP vehicle was ready. Equipped with substantial
communication gear, the Pz Beob Wg III
handled communication and fire direction between
artillery units and served in this function until the end
of the war. The VK. 903 in fact never materialized.
Utilized for this conversion were mainly older chassis
oi‘ the Panzer III AusfUhrung E, F and G series; the
main armament was removed and a machine-gun
substituted.
The Panzer III Ausfuhrung F (5/ZW) also formed
the basis for the production models of the "Sturmgesch
geschutz" (assault gun) series. These infantry support
vehicles were demanded as soon as it became obvious
that the newly-established armoured force was to be
used within the framework of strategic warfare. An
order, issued on 15th June 1936, awarded Daimler-Benz
the contract for the construction of an armoured
assault gun. Since they had been instrumental in
creating the Panzer III, they also used its chassis
components for the new vehicle. It carried the short
75mm gun in a limited traverse mount and had
50mm frontal armour. Neither the short 75mm gun
nor the thicker armour were incorporated in the
standard Panzer III until 1943. At that time, the
Sturmgeschutz already had the long-barrelled 75mm
gun and 80mm frontal armour.
Thus, a trend was started to create a versatile vehicle
which later proved to be invaluable in providing
protection for infantry units. They were used in small
numbers for the first time during the invasion of
France in 1940, when they were designated “Gepanzerte
Selbstfahrlafette fur Sturmgeschutz 7-5cm
Kanone" (Sd.Kfz. 142). The official Spcer report of
27th January 1945, gives the following production
figures for Sturrngeschutz vehicles: 1940-184: 194l-
550; 1942—828; 1943—3,3l9: and 1944—7,628. They
were still in production when the war ended in 1945.
Employment
The political situation in Germany after 1933 when the
National Socialists came to power led to much
increased support for the original 10,000 man army
of the former Weimar republic. An ambitious
reorganization plan envisaged the conversion of most
cavalry units to armoured or motorized battalions. In
the meantime the basis for the Panzertruppe had been
established and its nucleus created. The infantry, not
content with a secondary role, also demanded
motorized formations. To control these various trends,
Hitler insisted on one command for all “Schnelle
Truppen”, and this wish was realized on 24th November
1938. Due to bureaucratic delays, however, the new
command was not set up until 19th September 1939,
when Germany was already at war. By this time the
German armoured forces had already proved to the
world that their concept of “Blitzkrieg“ tactics could
be realized. Within the armoured divisions, purpose-
built vehicles played an important role, most
important being the Panzer III, available only in
limited numbers but bearing the distinctive stamp of
its creator, General Guderian. Since most of the tank
fighting in Poland was done by its smaller counter-parts,
the Panzer I and II, the Panzer III was relegated
to a supporting role, by virtue of the limited numbers
available. The basic concept, however, was tested and
found acceptable. Together with the captured Czech
equipment, it proved much more important in France,
in 1940. Improved tactics within sound strategic
thinking made it the major equipment during the 1941
campaigns against Yugoslavia and Greece.
Now equipping three out of four German tank companies,
it fought all the major battles during the following
years, both in Africa and Russia. Up to 1942 no tank
battle was fought anywhere in the European theatre of
war without the Panzer III taking an important and
mostly decisive part. It was not the fault of the
vehicle, nor can it be attributed to its crews, if short-
sightedness and complacency delayed German tank
development to such an extent that the appearance of
the Russian T-34 almost overnight rendered the
German tank force useless. This spelled doom for the
Panzer III, which after 1943 was quickly phased out of
front line service and its production capacity given
over to more powerful vehicles. The necessity to
protect infantry units against ever-increasing numbers
of enemy tanks had hastened this decision, since both
the long 5 cm and the short-barrelled 7-5cm tank
guns, the only weapons the Panzer III could carry,
proved to be inadequate. The Panzer IV, with the
7-5cm KwK 40 L/48, soon became the main armament
of the German tank regiments. The technical
soundness of the Panzer III chassis, however, kept it in
production for the StuG III role until the end of the
war. The fact that a grand total of 15,350 “ZW”
chassis was produced between l935 and I945 speaks
for itself as an indication of its reliability and
usefulness.
The Panzer III, without a doubt, wrote its own
chapter in armoured warfare and dominated, like no
other armoured vehicle, the tank battles of the early
war years. It also helped to start a new trend in the
construction of armoured fighting vehicles. Not least
of its influences was its effect on future design in
British and U.S. tanks. Prior to the appearance of the
Panzer IIII and IV neither British nor U.S. tanks had
been designed with much thought to standardization
or to development potential. The Panzer Ill showed
how a basic chassis could be progressively up-gunned,
up-armoured, and used for several special purpose
variants; contemporary British and U.S. tanks fell
behind the Panzer III in all these respects, one of the
reasons for German tank superiority in the Western
Desert fighting. Ironically enough the Panzer III and
its excellent fighting reputation in the early war years
was one of the factors which led to the development of
such medium tanks as the Shermans and Cromwells
with which the Allies turned the tide of tank warfare
in their favour in 1944-1945.
For this influence on tank development in World War 2, the Panzer
III wins an important place in the history of the A.F.V.
SPECIFICATION: PANZERKAMPFWAGEN III AUSFUHRUNG F (TYPE 5/ZW)
General
Crew : Five-commander, gunner. loader. driver, radio operator.
Battle weight: 19-5 metric tons.
Dry weight: 18 metric tons.
Ground pressure 0-99Kg/cm2.
Dimensions
Length overall: 5.380mm.
Height: 2,43 mm.
Width: 2.910mm.
Track centres : 360 mm.
Ground clearance 385mm.
Armament
Originally, one 3-7cm KwK L/45, later up-gunned to 5 cm KwK 39
L/42.
One MG34 7-92mm. mounted co-axially.
One MG34 7-92mm, mounted in hull front, right.
Fire Control
Turret traverse. 360‘, by hand wheel. elevation by hand 10', depression
10'. Electric primer operated by trigger. Co-axial MG fired by rod and
pedal from gunner's right loot. Hull MG fired by trigger.
3-7cm KwK: 120 rds. mixed HE and AFC.
5cm kwK : 99 rds. mixed.
7-92mm : 3.750 rds.
Sighting and Vision
Main armament: 1 TZFa, vorl. 5cm telescope.
Hull machine gun: 1 telescope.
Commander: 5 vision slots in cupola.
Gunner: 1 vision slit each in turret front and side
Loader: 1 vision slit each in turret from and side.
Hull gunner/R0: 1 vision slit on right hand hull side.
Driver: Fahrerblende 30 and vision slit on loll hand hull side.
Communication:
W/T Set (2 receivers. 1 transmitter) L/T Set.
Armour
Machinable quality armour plate. austenitic welded.
Hull: nose 30mm/20', vertical front plate 30mm/9'. Lower sides
30mm/90‘, upper sides 30mm/90‘. Top 17mm/horizontal,
bottom 16mm horizontal.
Turret: mantlet 30mm/curved, front 30mm/15'. Sides 30mm/25',
rear 30mm/12', roof 12mm. Some series with 30mm spaced
armour on front portions of hull and superstructure.
Engine
Maybach; H L 120 TFIM petrol.
12 cylinders, 60' "V" water cooled.
Capacity: 11867cc.
300 bhp at 3000 rpm.
Fuel: 320 litres in one tank in engine compartment.
Transmission
Maybach: "SRG 328145" Variorex pre-selector.
Type: 10 forward speeds, 1 reverse (4 possible).
Final drive ratio: 4:1.
Steering : Daimler-Benz/Wilson clutch brake, hydraulically assisted.
Suspension: Six independently sprung rubber-tyred road wheels (size. 520*<95—
398) per side. mounted on transverse torsion bars. Torsion bars are
staggered approximately 5in.
Three return rollers per side (size 310 x 70-203).
Track: Cast manganese steel. skeleton type. Width: 260mm, pitch
120mm. 93 links per track.
Electrical System
One 1 2 V generator.
Two 1 2 V batteries.
One 4 hp starter motor.
Performance
Maximum road speed: 40Km/h.
Maximum gradient: 30'.
Trench crossing: 2,300mm.
Wading depth: 800 mm.
Range: Road 165km/cross country 95Km.
Fuel consumption: 187 litres/100Km.
Conversion Table
1 millimetre = 0-0394in.
1 centimetre = 0-3937in.
1 metre = 39-3708 in. (approx.3lt.3in.).
1 kilometre(Km) = 0-6214 mile. (8 Km = 5 miles approx.).
1 litre = 1 -76 pints.
50 litres = 1.1 gallons.
1 kilogram (Kg) = 2-2046 pounds.
1 metric ton = 2204-6 pounds.
1 TON = 2240 pounds.
