Panzer III - German Medium Tank

• Pz 3 General Characteristics (Ausf J)
• Length:
• 5.53 m
• Width:
• 2.9 m
• Height:
• 2.5 m
• Weight:
• 21.5 Tt
• 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 3 III is a German medium tank used in World War II.

Table of contents

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 L/24 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.