Talismans 

Development of the PzKpfw III tank. Medium tank Pz Kpfw III and its modifications Surveillance and communications equipment

Panzerkampfwagen III (T-III)- German medium tank from the Second World War, mass-produced from 1938 to 1943. The abbreviated names of this tank were PzKpfw III, Panzer III, Pz III. In the departmental rubricator of military equipment of Nazi Germany, this tank was designated Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - special purpose vehicle 141). In Soviet historical documents and popular literature, the PzKpfw III was referred to as "Type 3", T-III or T-3.
These combat vehicles were used by the Wehrmacht from the first day of World War II. The latest records of the combat use of PzKpfw III in regular Wehrmacht units date back to mid-1944; single tanks fought until the surrender of Germany.
From mid-1941 to early 1943 PzKpfw III was the basis of the armored forces of the Wehrmacht(Panzerwaffe) and, despite its relative weakness compared to its contemporary tanks from the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, made a significant contribution to the successes of the Wehrmacht of that period. Tanks of this type were supplied to the armies of Germany's Axis allies. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were used by the Red Army and the Allies with good results. On the basis of the PzKpfw III, self-propelled artillery mounts (self-propelled guns) for various purposes were created in Germany and the USSR.
By the time of the invasion of the USSR The PzKpfw III was the main weapon of the Wehrmacht tank units. As of June 22, 1941, there were about 1,000 vehicles of this type in divisions sent to the USSR, which amounted to 25 to 34% of the total number of tanks sent to the USSR.
As part of a tank battalion PzKpfw III were part of a light tank company (three platoons of five tanks each, plus two in the control platoon). Thus, a typical Wehrmacht tank division during the invasion of the USSR with one two-battalion tank regiment had 71 PzKpfw III units for combat purposes plus 6 special commander units for control. In fact, the division into light and medium tank companies in 1941 was formal. Since the end of 1940, the tank divisions were reorganized (instead of a tank brigade of two regiments, they were left with one regiment of two or three battalions) and the main vehicle of the light tank company became the Pz III (17 Pz III and 5 Pz II in each), and the main vehicle of the medium tank company was the Pz IV (14 Pz IV and 5 Pz II). Thus, taking into account the headquarters tanks, each tank battalion had 37 Pz III tanks. So a typical tank division (not equipped with Czech tanks) had from 77 to 114 Pz III tanks.
Tank PzKpfw III was, in general, a typical representative of the German school of tank building, but with some significant features characteristic of other design concepts. Therefore, in its design and layout solutions, on the one hand, it inherited the advantages and disadvantages of the classical “German type” layout, and on the other hand, it did not have some of its negative features. In particular, an individual torsion bar suspension with small-diameter road wheels was unusual for German cars, although it has proven itself very well in production and operation. Later “Panthers” and “Tigers” had a “checkerboard” suspension, which was less reliable in operation and repair and was structurally more complex, traditional for German tanks.
Generally PzKpfw III It was a reliable, easy-to-drive vehicle with a high level of operating comfort for the crew; its modernization potential for 1939-1942 was quite sufficient. On the other hand, despite its reliability and manufacturability, the overloaded chassis and the volume of the turret box, insufficient to accommodate a more powerful gun, did not allow it to remain in production longer than 1943, when all the reserves for turning a “light-medium” tank into a full-fledged medium tank were exhausted.


The photo shows a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J at the Museum of Armored Vehicles in Kubinka. This option had the following tactical and technical characteristics:

Dimensions:
Combat weight – 21.5 t
Length – 5.52 m
Width – 2.95 m
Height - 2.50 m
Booking, mm:
Body forehead – 50
Sides and stern of the hull – 30-50
Tower forehead – 30-50
Sides and stern – 30
Roof – 10-17
Bottom – 16
Weapons:
Gun – 50 mm KwK 38
Machine guns – 2x7.92 – mm MG-34
Ammunition, shots/cartridges – 99/2700
Mobility:
Engine – Maybach
Specific power, l. s./t – 14.0
Maximum speed on the highway, km/h - 40
Average speed on a country road, km/h - 18
Cruising range on the highway, km - 155
Cruising range on a country road, km - 85
Specific ground pressure, kg/cm? - 0.94
Ditch to be overcome, m - 2.0
Wall to be overcome, m - 0.6
Fordability, m – 0.8


At Ausf. J had a torsion bar suspension and six medium-sized road wheels. The modifications differed from each other mainly in the sizes of the rollers and rubber tires, the design and design of the drive wheel and idler.
Ausf. J was produced from 1941 to 1942, a total of 1549 units were produced.


One of the T-3 tanks has been preserved and exhibited at the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. The presented tank is a type G and took part in battles in North Africa. Production of this modification began in April-May 1940; by February 1941, 600 vehicles of this type entered the Wehrmacht tank units. On March 11, 1941, units of the 5-1 light division of the Wehrmacht, which consisted of up to 80 T-3 tanks, began to unload in Tripoli. These were mainly P-type vehicles. At the time of its arrival, the T-3 was superior to any English tank in Africa, with the exception of the Matilda.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III
and its modifications

In total, during the period from 1937 to August 1943, 5,922 Pz Kpfw III tanks of various modifications were produced, of which 700 units were produced with a 75-mm gun and more than 2,600 with a 50-mm gun. Based on the Pz Kpfw III, and other combat vehicles: assault guns, flamethrowers and command tanks. Some of the tanks in 1943-1944. was converted into armored observer vehicles and ARVs.

The crew consisted of 5 people. This number of crew members, starting with the Pz Kpfw III, became standard on all subsequent German medium and heavy tanks. This number determined the functional division of duties of the crew members: commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator.

All Pz Kpfw III battle tanks were equipped with the FuG5 radio.

Medium tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf A, B, C, D(Sd Kfz 141)


Pz Kpfw III Ausf B Pz Kpfw III Ausf D

Combat weight - 15.4–16 tons. Length - 5.67...5.92 m. Width - 2.81...2.82 m. Height - 2.34...2.42 m.
Armor 15 mm.
Engine - Maybach HL 108TR. Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Cruising range is 165 km on the highway and up to 95 km on the ground.
Armament: 37 mm KwK L/46.5 cannon and three 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns (two in the turret).

Pz Kpfw III Ausf A: 10 cars were produced in 1937.

Pz Kpfw III Ausf B: 15 cars were produced in 1937.

Pz Kpfw III Ausf C: 15 vehicles were produced at the end of 1937 and January 1938.

Pz Kpfw III Ausf D: 30 vehicles were produced from January to June 1938.

The Pz Kpfw III Ausf A tanks had five large diameter road wheels. In the following modifications B and C, the chassis was completely different. These tanks had 8 small road wheels and 3 support rollers. On the Pz Kpfw III Ausf D tanks, the shape of the commander's cupola, which had five viewing slots, was changed, and its armor was increased to 30 mm.

Tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf A, B, C, D participated in the Polish campaign. Pz Kpfw III Ausf A and Ausf B were withdrawn from combat service in February 1940. Pz Kpfw III Ausf D tanks took part in the occupation of Norway in April 1940, then were withdrawn from service.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf E(Sd Kfz 141)

96 tanks were produced from December 1938 to October 1939.


Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf E

Pz Kpfw III Ausf E - the first mass series. They used a new 12-cylinder carburetor engine Maybach HL 120TR (3000 rpm) with a power of 300 hp. With. and a new gearbox. The frontal and side armor was increased to 30 mm, while the mass of the tank reached 19.5 tons, and the pressure on the ground increased from 0.77 to 0.96 kg/cm 2. The hull was made from solid armor plates instead of composite ones, as on previous models. Emergency hatches were made on both sides, and a radio operator's viewing device was installed on the starboard side of the hull. The chassis of the tank of this modification had six rubber-coated road wheels and an individual torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers, which did not undergo significant changes in subsequent modifications.

Combat weight - 19.5 tons. Length - 5.38 m. Width - 2.94 m. Height - 2.44 m.



Many vehicles were re-equipped with a 50-mm cannon from August 1940 to 1942. At the same time, the front and rear parts of the hull were shielded with 30-mm armor plates.

Production was carried out at the factories of three companies - Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf F(Sd Kfz 141)

435 vehicles were produced from September 1939 to July 1940.

The Pz Kpfw III Ausf F tank had the same dimensions and armor as the Pz Kpfw III Ausf E and minor design improvements, including a new type of commander's cupola. Added air intakes on the roof.

Combat weight - 19.8 tons.
Armor: turret, front and sides of the superstructure and hull – 30 mm, rear of the superstructure and hull – 21 mm.
Engine - Maybach NL 120TR. Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Cruising range - 165 km.
Armament: 37 mm KwK L/46.5 cannon and three 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns (two in the turret).
The gun's ammunition capacity is 131 shots.

The last 100 tanks were armed with the 50 mm KwK38 L/42 cannon, and later most of the previously released tanks in this series were also rearmed with these guns. At the same time, additional armor plates 30 mm thick were installed.

The last Pz Kpfw III Ausf F were in full service in June 1944.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf G(Sd Kfz 141)

600 vehicles were produced from April 1940 to February 1941.

Tanks of the Pz Kpfw III Ausf G modification received the 50-mm KwK38 L/42 tank gun, developed by Krupp in 1938, as their main armament. At the same time, the re-equipment of previously produced tanks of modifications E and F with a new artillery system began. The ammunition load of the new gun consisted of 99 rounds. The thickness of the rear hull armor was increased to 30 mm. The tank's mass reached 20.3 tons. The turret design was changed: an exhaust fan was installed on the roof and a new commander's cupola was installed. A rotating driver's viewing device is used.

Combat weight - 20.3 tons. Length - 5.41 m. Width - 2.95 m. Height - 2.44 m.
Armor of the turret, superstructure and hull – 30 mm.
Engine - Maybach NL 120TR. Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Cruising range - 165 km.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf H(Sd Kfz 141)

308 vehicles were produced from October 1940 to April 1941.

The Pz Kpfw III Ausf H received a new transmission, an improved turret, a new commander's cupola, additional 30-mm armored front and rear hull screens and frontal superstructures (30+30 mm). In 1941, the frontal armor of the Pz Kpfw III Ausf H tank was not penetrated by shells from Soviet 45 mm anti-tank guns of the 1937 model, American 37 mm M5 guns and British 40 mm guns.

Combat weight - 21.8 tons. Dimensions are the same.
The armor of the turret, superstructure and hull is 30 mm, additional armor plates on the forehead and rear of the hull and on the forehead of the superstructure are 30 mm.
Armament: 50 mm 5cm KwK38 L/42 cannon and two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns.
The gun's ammunition capacity is 99 rounds.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf J(Sd Kfz 141)

1549 vehicles were produced from March 1941 to July 1942.


Pz Kpfw III Ausf J with short-barreled 5cm KwK38 L/42 cannon




Armament: 50 mm 5cm KwK38 L/42 cannon and two 7.92 mm MG34 machine guns.
The gun's ammunition capacity is 99 rounds.

The Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tank was protected by even thicker armor - 50 mm. A new type of installation for the radio operator's machine gun has been introduced - ball. The first 1,549 tanks were armed with a 50-mm short-barreled KwK38 L/42 cannon. Beginning in December 1941, the new 50-mm long-barreled gun KwK39 L/60 began to be installed on Pz III Ausf J tanks for the first time.

The first Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tanks with a short-barreled gun entered service with a separate tank regiment sent to the Eastern Front in September 1941. The rest went to make up for losses on the Eastern Front and North Africa.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf J(Sd Kfz 141/1)

1067 vehicles were produced from December 1941 to July 1942.


Pz Kpfw III Ausf J with 5cm KwK39 L/60 long-barreled gun

These tanks were equipped with a more powerful 50-mm long-barreled KwK39 L/60 gun. The need for this arose from the experience of fighting on the Eastern Front. In tanks with the new L/60 cannon, the ammunition load was reduced due to the new cartridge (shot) length from 99 to 84 pieces.

Combat weight - 21.5 tons. Length - 5.52 m. Width - 2.95 m. Height - 2.50 m.
Armor: front and rear of superstructure and hull – 50 mm, turret and sides – 30 mm.
Engine - Maybach NL 120TR. Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Power reserve - 155 km.
Armament: 50 mm 5cm KwK39 L/60 cannon and two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns.
The gun's ammunition capacity is 84 rounds.

Pz Kpfw III J tanks with a 50-mm L/60 long-barreled gun entered service with five new tank battalions formed for and. The rest came to make up for high losses on the Eastern Front. Tanks with the L/60 gun fought very successfully in North Africa with British tanks, but were ineffective in battle with the Soviet T-34 and KV.

In June 1942, there were about 500 Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tanks with a 50 mm cannon at the fronts and in reserve. Before the start of the offensive near Kursk, 141 Pz Kpfw III Ausf J were located in Army Groups “Center” and “South”.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf L(Sd Kfz 141/1)

653 vehicles were produced from June to December 1942.


Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf L

Combat weight - 22.7 tons. Length - 6.28 m. Width - 2.95 m. Height, m ​​- 2.50 m.
Frontal armor of the turret – 57 mm, superstructure – 50+20 mm, hull – 50 mm. The armor of the sides and stern of the turret and the sides of the superstructure and hull is 30 mm. Armor of the stern of the superstructure and hull – 50 mm.
Engine - Maybach NL 120TR. Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Power reserve - 155 km.
Armament: 50 mm 5cm KwK39 L/60 cannon and two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns.

The first Pz Kpfw III Ausf L tanks entered service, and and.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf M(Sd Kfz 141/1)

250 vehicles were produced from October 1942 to February 1943.

Performance characteristics similar to Pz Kpfw III Ausf L.

Three grenade launchers for smoke grenades were installed on the sides of the turret. The width of the vehicle with the eastern caterpillar increased to 3.27 m. When installing screens on the sides of the hull, the width of the tank reached 3.41 m.

Medium support tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf N(Sd Kfz 141/2)

663 vehicles were produced from June 1942 to August 1943. Another 37 vehicles from Pz Kpfw III J were converted.

Performance characteristics are the same as modifications L, M.

Armament: 75mm 7.5cm KwK L/24 cannon and two 7.92mm MG 34 machine guns.

Intended to provide support to the Tigers or to perform functions in tank regiments that were performed by tanks Pz Kpfw IV with a short-barreled 75 mm cannon.

Medium flamethrower tank Pz Kpfw III (F1)(Sd Kfz 141/3)

100 vehicles were produced from February to April 1943. Created on the basis of the Pz Kpfw III Ausf M tank.

Crew – 3 people.
Combat weight - 23 tons.
Armament: flamethrower (1000 liters of fire mixture) and 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun.
Flame throwing range – up to 60 m.

Command tanks based on Pz Kpfw III

Medium command tank Pz Bef Wg(Sd Kfz 141)

81 vehicles were produced from August to November 1942.

This tank is based on the Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tank. The frontal machine gun was removed and the gun's ammunition load was reduced to 75 rounds.

Armament: 50 mm 5cm KwK L/42 cannon and 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun in the turret.
Radio stations – FuG5 and FuG7 (or FuG 8).

Medium command tank Pz Bef Wg Ausf K

50 vehicles were produced from December 1942 to February 1943. This command tank is based on the Pz Kpfw III Ausf M tank.

Armament: 50mm long-barreled 5cm KwK39 L/60 cannon and 7.92mm MG 34 machine gun in the turret.
Radio stations – FuG 5 and FuG 8 (or FuG7).

In the period from June 1938 to September 1941, command tanks of the D, E, H series with one machine gun in the turret (a mock-up instead of a cannon) were also produced. A total of 220 vehicles of these series with various radio stations were built.

Combat use of medium tanks Pz Kpfw III

By the beginning of the invasion of the USSR, the Wehrmacht and SS troops had about 1,550 Pz Kpfw III tanks. The troops intended to attack the USSR numbered 960 tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf E, F, G, H, J.


Panzerkampfwagen III is a German medium tank from World War II, mass-produced from 1938 to 1943. The abbreviated names of this tank were PzKpfw III, Panzer III, Pz III. In the departmental rubricator of military equipment of Nazi Germany, this tank was designated Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - special purpose vehicle 141). In Soviet historical documents and popular literature, the PzKpfw III was referred to as "Type 3", T-III or T-3.


Captured tank Pz.Kpfw. III from the Soviet 107th separate tank battalion. Volkhov Front, April 1942.

These combat vehicles were used by the Wehrmacht from the first day of World War II. The latest records of the combat use of PzKpfw III in regular Wehrmacht units date back to mid-1944; single tanks fought until the surrender of Germany. From mid-1941 to early 1943, the PzKpfw III was the backbone of the Wehrmacht's armored forces (Panzerwaffe) and, despite its relative weakness compared to its contemporary tanks from the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, made a significant contribution to the successes of the Wehrmacht of that period. Tanks of this type were supplied to the armies of Germany's Axis allies. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were used by the Red Army and the Allies with good results. On the basis of the PzKpfw III, self-propelled artillery mounts (self-propelled guns) for various purposes were created in Germany and the USSR.


German soldiers around a medium tank Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J stuck in the mud with tail number 201 from the 17th Panzer Division (17.Pz.Div.) of the Wehrmacht. Eastern Front. A flag is attached to the roof of the tower for identification by its aircraft.

History of creation and production

Zugführerwagen

Although Germany, which was defeated in the First World War, was prohibited from having armored forces under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty, work on the creation of armored vehicles had been carried out since 1925. The first tank eventually launched was the light tank PzKpfw I, then known under the code designation “small tractor” (German: Kleintraktor), which had been in development since 1930. At the same time, the shortcomings of the PzKpfw I, which had a crew of two, machine gun armament and bulletproof armor, were obvious even at the design stage, so soon the Reichswehr Armament Directorate formulated the need to develop heavier tanks. According to documents from the Krupp company for 1933, the Armament Directorate planned to create two tanks - somewhat larger than the PzKpfw I and armed with a 20-mm cannon, the future PzKpfw II, the development of which was entrusted to Daimler-Benz and armed with a 37-mm cannon and a tank weighing about 10 tons, the development contract for which Krupp planned to receive. The final decision to begin the development of these two vehicles was made after a meeting of the leadership of the Armaments Directorate took place on January 11, 1934 to determine priority programs in the face of a lack of funding. Formal permission to begin work on the tank (German: Gefechtskampfwagen) was issued to the Armored Forces Inspection Office on January 27 of the same year.


German tank Pz.Kpfw. III from the 24th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht (24. Panzer-Division), knocked out at Stalingrad

In February 1934, the Armament Directorate organized a competition to develop a new tank, codenamed “platoon commander’s tank” (German: Zugführerwagen) or Z.W. After researching the capabilities of various companies, four companies were invited to participate in the competition: Daimler-Benz, Krupp, M.A.N. and Rheinmetall. Technical requirements for the tank included:

— weight about 10 tons;
— armament from a 37-mm cannon in a rotating turret;
— maximum speed of at least 40 km/h;
— use of the HL 100 engine with a power of 300 hp. With. manufactured by Maybach, SSG 75 transmission from Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, Wilson-Cletrac type turning mechanism and Kgs.65/326/100 tracks.

After studying the preliminary designs submitted by Daimler-Benz, M.A.N. and Rheinmetall, the Armament Directorate issued orders for the production of prototypes in the summer of 1934:

— “Daimler-Benz” - two chassis prototypes;
- M.A.N. - one prototype chassis;
— “Krupp” - two prototypes of the tower;
— "Rheinmetall" - one prototype of the tower.

Based on the results of testing prototypes, the Daimler-Benz chassis was chosen, the first copy of which was assembled in August 1935. In addition to the first chassis, designated Z.W.1 and Z.W.2, Daimler-Benz was contracted to build two more improved prototypes, the Z.W.3 and Z.W.4. Two prototypes of the Krupp turrets were completed back in August 1934, but they were finally selected only after comparative tests of them along with the Rheinmetall turrets on chassis prototypes.


Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. A, B, C and D

The order for the production of the “zero series” of 25 tanks, intended for military testing, was issued by the Armament Directorate in December 1935, while the release of the first tanks was scheduled for October 1936 in order to transfer all 25 vehicles to the troops by April 1, 1937 year. By that time, the designation of the tank had changed several times, until by order of April 3, 1936 it was established in the final version - Panzerkampfwagen III.

The contract for the production of the first pre-production batch (1.Serie/Z.W.) of 10 vehicles was awarded to Daimler-Benz, while the turrets for the tanks were to be supplied by Krupp. In addition to them, a number of other companies were involved in production, producing individual units and components of the tank. Thus, the armored hulls and turret armor were manufactured by Deutsche Edelstalwerke; a number of other companies supplied optical instruments and components of the power plant and chassis. Ten vehicles of this series, later designated Ausführung A (Ausf. A - “model A”), were a development of the design of the Z.W.1 prototype. A characteristic feature of this modification was the chassis, with five large-diameter road wheels with individual suspension on vertical springs and two support rollers on each side. Mass Ausf. A was 15 tons, but the maximum speed was lower than the customer’s requirements and amounted to only 35 km/h. Daimler-Benz planned to complete the assembly of the two chassis by November 1936, but the actual start of production of the Ausf. A dragged on until 1937. The exact dates of production of vehicles of this modification are unknown, but their approximate period is known - between May 1, 1937, when, according to reports, not a single tank had yet been accepted, and October 1 of the same year, when 12 PzKpfw IIIs were already in service.


German tank landing on a T-III tank, 1941.

The second order, issued by Daimler-Benz and Krupp, provided for the production of a second pre-production batch (2.Serie/Z.W.) of 15 cars, which were a development of the Z.W.3 prototype and designated Ausf. B. From Ausf. And they were distinguished primarily by the chassis, which had 8 small-diameter road wheels on each side, interlocked in pairs into bogies, suspended on two groups of leaf springs and equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. In addition, a number of less significant changes were made to the design of the tank. Five Ausf chassis. B were redirected for the production of the zero series of Sturmgeschütz III self-propelled guns, so as tanks, according to German documentation, only 10 of them were completed, although many sources nevertheless say 15 tanks of this modification were produced. After testing, all 5 vehicles of the zero series Sturmgeschütz III were used for training purposes until 1941. Production of tanks of this modification began after the completion of work on vehicles from the Ausf. Ah, and the latest Ausf tanks. B were delivered to the troops by the end of November - beginning of December 1937.

An order for the third pre-production batch of PzKpfw III (3.Serie/Z.W.) of 40 tanks was also issued to Daimler-Benz and Krupp, and a number of both previous and new subcontractors for individual units and components of the tank were also involved in the production. 3.Serie/Z.W. included two parties - 3a.Serie/Z.W. of 15 vehicles and 3b.Serie/Z.W. of the 25 vehicles designated, respectively, Ausf. C and Ausf. D. Structurally Ausf. C tanks were different from Ausf tanks. First of all, a modified suspension, 8 rollers of which on each side were now arranged into three bogies - the outermost rollers of two and the middle of four rollers, still suspended on leaf springs, and the outer bogies also on shock absorbers. In addition, the power plant units were improved, primarily the turning mechanism and final drives. Produced by Ausf. C was conducted from mid-1937 to January 1938.


German tank PzKpfw III Ausf. H

The last pre-production modification of the PzKpfw III was the Ausf. D. Tanks of this modification were distinguished by a modified rear hull and a new commander's cupola design, as well as changes in the power plant and suspension elements. Many features of Ausf. D, for example, the design of the rear part, was subsequently adopted into production vehicles. Historians have differing opinions regarding the armor of tanks of this modification. The traditional version is about 30 mm vertical armor Ausf. D, as on the tanks of the first production modifications, according to various sources, all, or all except for the first 5 vehicles, Ausf. D. However, this version is disputed by historian T. Jentz, who points out that this data, like many others, comes from British intelligence reports written during and shortly after World War II and is only erroneous speculation. Jentz himself, based on German documents from that period, claims that the armor of all Ausf tanks. D remained unchanged compared to previous modifications, and only the new commander's cupola had 30 mm armor. Produced by Ausf. D began in January 1938, immediately after the completion of the Ausf. C. According to German documents, in the report for July 1, 1938, 56 Ausf tanks were listed in service. A - Ausf. D, but, according to historians, the last Ausf. D were issued back in June or July 1938. Initial order Ausf. D amounted to 25 vehicles, however, due to the fact that 5 Ausf chassis. B were previously allocated for the construction of self-propelled guns, the upper parts of the hull and turret already made for them remained unclaimed, and the Armament Directorate ordered Daimler-Benz to manufacture 5 additional chassis in 3b.Serie/Z.W. (No. 60221-60225). However, by that time the production of subsequent series of PzKpfw III had already become a priority, so the assembly of these five vehicles, designated in some documents as 3c.Serie/Z.W., took place only in October 1940. It was these 5 tanks, which entered the 40th Special Purpose Tank Battalion in Norway, that took part in the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in northern Finland. In total, 30 tanks of the Ausf modification were produced. D, although some sources also give figures of 29 or even 50 cars.


German tank Pz.Kpfw. III, hit and overturned on the Eastern Front.

Production


Modifications

At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 Panzerkampfwagen III tanks of versions F, G and H were converted for movement under water and were to be used during the landings on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15 m; fresh air was supplied by a hose 18 m long and 20 cm in diameter. In the spring of 1941, experiments were continued with a 3.5-m pipe - a “snorkel”. Since the landing in England did not take place, a number of such tanks from the 18th Panzer Division crossed the bottom of the Western Bug on June 22, 1941.
Most of the 600 tanks of versions F and G built before the end of 1941 were armed with a new 50 mm cannon and, accordingly, could withstand the armor of the T-34 (sides) at distances of less than 500 meters. And partially KV (bottom of the forehead of the hull).


Tauchpanzer III

Design

The PzKpfw III had a layout with the engine compartment located in the rear, the transmission compartment in the front, and the control and fighting compartments in the middle part of the tank. The crew of the PzKpfw III consisted of five people: a driver and a gunner-radio operator, located in the control compartment and a commander, gunner and loader, located in a three-seat turret.

Armament


The armor-piercing effect of armor-piercing shells was not always effective since the projectile was severely damaged; sub-caliber shells generally have an unpredictable armor-piercing effect. This further reduces the effectiveness of the fire. Taking into account the caliber, these factors were of sufficient importance (caliber of the level of a hand-held offensive (light) grenade). On the other hand, in a confined space and dense layout, any action causes damage. By the end of the war, with an increase in calibers, the effect of shells on armor reached a destructive effect (after a series of hits without penetration, the IS-2 lost the strength of its hull and began to fall apart; under the influence of its larger-caliber shells, the German armor, which had become fragile, was destroyed even from the first hit in large volumes (turret shift from the shoulder strap by 20 cm or more)).

Surveillance and communications equipment

All PzKpfw III tanks were equipped with a FuG 5 radio station, located above the gearbox, to the left of the radio operator. Range - 6.4 km by telephone and 9.4 km by telegraph. Internal communication between crew members was carried out using a TPU and a signaling device.


Red Army soldiers inspect German Pz tanks. Kfpw. III, knocked out near Mogilev. The vehicles were hit by units of the 388th Infantry Regiment.

Engine and transmission

All modifications were equipped with twelve-cylinder gasoline carburetor Maybach engines. Modifications Ausf.A-Ausf.D - HL108TR engine with a volume of 10.8 liters and a power of 250 hp. Modifications Ausf.E-Ausf.N - HL120TR engine with a volume of 11.9 liters, power 300-320 hp. Structurally, the second motor was a development of the first; The engines differed in cylinder diameter and compression ratio.

Gearboxes: modifications Ausf.A-Ausf.D - six-speed (+5;-1); modifications Ausf.E-Ausf.G - fourteen-speed (+10;-4); modifications Ausf.H-Ausf.N - seven-speed (+6;-1). The fourteen-speed gearbox of the Ausf.E-Ausf.G modifications was a rare type of the so-called shaftless preselective gearbox of the Maybach Variorex model.

The rotation mechanism is single-speed planetary. It consisted of two identical differential gearboxes, one for each side, performing a dual function - the function of the turning mechanism itself and the function of one of the reduction stages of the main gear. Each differential gearbox had its own rotation brake. The turning mechanism is controlled by two levers, each of which is connected both to its own turning brake and to the stopping brake of its side. Group drive of stopping brakes - pedal.

The main gear had three stages of reduction. The first stage consisted of a bevel gear reducer for transmitting torque from the gearbox to the common drive shaft of the turning mechanism. The second is from a pair of differential gearboxes of the rotation mechanism. The third is from a pair of onboard spur gearboxes. The general gear ratio on different modifications is 7-9 depending on the engine and gearbox type.


Chassis of various modifications of the tank

Chassis

The chassis of the tank was distinguished by significant diversity. There were still common features - the traditional arrangement of the drive wheels in the front for German tank building and the idlers in the back, the presence of support rollers. The road wheels were rubberized. Modifications (German “Ausfuehrung” or “Ausf.”) differed in the number of rollers, their sizes, and shock-absorbing structure. It should be noted that during the evolution, three fundamentally different depreciation options were used.

Ausf. A: the only modification with a spring suspension (a spring for each roller), two support rollers (all others have three), five support rollers of increased diameter.

Ausf. B, C, D: eight reduced-size road wheels, spring suspension. At Ausf. B two semi-elliptic springs rested with their ends on rollers interlocked in pairs, Ausf. C, D already had three springs, and the latter had springs located at an angle.

Ausf. E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N: torsion bar suspension, six medium-sized road wheels. The modifications differed from each other mainly in the sizes of the rollers and rubber tires, the design and design of the drive wheel and idler.


Flammpanzer III (Sd.Kfz. 141/3), Eastern Front 1943/1944.

Vehicles based on Panzerkampfwagen III

On the basis of the linear PzKpfw III, specialized tanks and armored vehicles were built:

in Germany:

— Panzerbefehlswagen III - command tank;
— Flammpanzer III - flamethrower tank;
— Tauchpanzer III - underwater tank;
- Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III - observation armored artillery vehicle (vehicle of advanced artillery observers);
— Sturmgeschütz III - self-propelled guns;
— Sturmhaubitze 42 - self-propelled guns;
- Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33 Ausf.B;

in the USSR (based on captured tanks):

— SU-76i - self-propelled guns;
— SU-85i - self-propelled guns;
— SG-122 - self-propelled guns.


StuG III Ausf. G Finnish Tank Division

Combat use

Invasion of the USSR

By the time of the invasion of the USSR, the PzKpfw III was the main weapon of the Wehrmacht tank units. As of June 22, 1941, there were about 1,000 vehicles of this type in divisions sent to the USSR, which amounted to 25 to 34% of the total number of tanks sent to the USSR.

The PzKpfw III tank battalion included light tank companies (three platoons of five tanks of this type, plus two such tanks in the control platoon. There are two such companies in the tank battalion). Thus, a typical Wehrmacht tank division during the invasion of the USSR with one two-battalion tank regiment had 71 PzKpfw III units for combat purposes plus 6 special commander units for control. In fact, the division into light and medium tank companies in 1941 was formal. Since the end of 1940, the tank divisions were reorganized (instead of a two-regiment tank brigade, they were left with one regiment of two or three battalions) and the Pz III became the main vehicle of a light tank company (17 Pz III and 5 Pz II in each), and the main vehicle of a light tank company was Pz IV (12 Pz IV and 7 Pz II). Thus, each tank battalion had 34 Pz III tanks. Another 3 Pz III tanks were in the regimental command platoon. So a typical tank division (not equipped with Czech tanks) had from 71 to 105 Pz III tanks, depending on the number of tank battalions in the tank regiment.

Having begun the Second World War with the invasion of Poland, Germany had only about a hundred Panzer III tanks, so in the Polish campaign and battles with the French and British armies in the west, this tank was not so noticeable among the mass of more obsolete tanks with which the tank forces were armed at that time Germany. But by the beginning of the Wehrmacht's eastern campaign, the Pz.III had already become the main tank of the German army. On June 22, 1941, there were 965 Panzer III tanks on the Soviet borders.

Description

The development of the Panzer III medium tank has been carried out since 1934 by such well-known German concerns as Friedrich Krupp, MAN, Daimler-Benz and Rheinmetal Borsing. Each manufacturer presented its own sample of the tank. As a result, the military gave preference to the Daimler-Benz project. The tank was put into production in 1937 and received its final name - "Pz.Kpfw.III". The first modification of the "Panzer III Ausf.A" had only 14.5 mm bulletproof armor and a 37 mm caliber gun. The tank was quickly improved and refined. Modifications A, B, C, D and E were released in small quantities. The first large batch (435 units) was produced of the Panzer III Ausf.F tank. Most of the F modification tanks were already armed with the 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 cannon. The reinforced frontal armor was now 30mm. The tank continued to be improved, making various design changes, increasing armor and strengthening weapons. Thus, the frontal armor of the Panzer III Ausf.H was already increased to 60mm. For the late 30s, early 40s, this was very good anti-ballistic armor. Work on the tank
continued during the first major victories of the Wehrmacht in the West, and then during the war with the Soviet Union, where the Panzer III was already the main tank of the German army. The combat value of the most widely produced Pz.III can be compared with the Soviet T-28 medium tank in terms of firepower and armor, since after the Finnish War the 30mm armor of these Soviet tanks was increased to 50-80mm. Light tanks of the Red Army, such as the T-26 and BT-7, could fight on equal terms with the Pz.III only under very favorable conditions, such as sudden fire from an ambush at very close range, but as a rule the trio was superior to the light Soviet ones tanks due to the best tactical and technical characteristics, primarily armor and guns, as well as thanks to excellent guidance devices, excellent optics and the division of duties of a crew of five people, each of whom did his own thing, while, for example, Soviet crews of three the T-26 was overloaded with work. Comfortable working conditions for the crew significantly increased the effectiveness of the Pz.III in combat. And yet, with all its advantages, the troika could not fight on absolutely equal terms with the new types of Soviet combat vehicles - the T-34 and KV. Only at a very close range was the fire from the Pz.III cannon effective against these tanks - the weak gun at that time became the most serious drawback of this excellent combat vehicle. Soviet tanks had the ability to penetrate the armor of the Panzer III while being at a fairly large distance outside the effective zone of destruction of the latter. The only thing that prevented Soviet tankers from fully realizing their advantages in battle was the lack of radio communications, problems with the T-34 and especially the KV transmission, as well as poor visibility from the tank. In this, the “troika” had advantages, but these shortcomings on the T-34 were eliminated during the war, which completely negated some of the superiority of the Pz.III. "Panzer III" was assigned the role of the main tank in the Eastern Campaign of 1941, and an unpleasant surprise for the Germans was its poor maneuverability in the war against the USSR - too wide caterpillar tracks made it difficult for the tank to move along Russian off-road conditions. The commander of the third German tank group, Hermann Hoth, noted that the lack of roads hampered the advance of his tanks, which were moving through Belarus to Moscow, almost more than the Soviet armies.
Assessing the latest modifications of the Panzer III tank, namely "Ausf.J", "Ausf.L" and "Ausf.M", it is worth saying that in the late 30s, early 40s this would have been simply an excellent tank, however At the time of the deployment of truly mass production of these tanks of the latest series, Germany’s opponents already also possessed good examples of armored vehicles, in no way inferior, and in a number of characteristics even superior to the German tank. The British could oppose the German Pz.III with their Matilda with 78mm frontal armor, as well as the well-armored Valentine infantry tank. The Soviet Union mass-produced T-34 medium tanks, and the Americans began sending M4 Sherman tanks to the allies under Lend-Lease. The maximum potential of the Panzer III design was achieved during the development of modifications L and M. It was not possible to further strengthen the armor and install a more powerful gun on the "troika". The Soviet Union, Britain and the USA continued to improve the characteristics of their combat vehicles and it was no longer possible to bring the Panzer III to their level. By that time, Germany had long had a more advanced tank - the Panzer IV, which it finally decided to rely on after the obvious impossibility of further modernizing the Panzer III.

Not long ago, the restoration of the German Pz.III tank was completed, about the process of which we have a small photo report:. Now let's take a look inside and look at the jobs of the tank crew.


2. The crew of the PzKpfw III consisted of five people: a driver and gunner-radio operator, located in the control compartment and a commander, gunner and loader, located in a three-seat turret.

3. At the bottom of the photo, on the left, is the driver’s seat, and at the bottom right is the radio operator’s position. A gearbox is installed between them.

4. Driver's mechanic position. The viewing slot has an armored curtain with several positions and is clearly visible in photographs from the outside. The side clutches, thanks to which the tank turns, are painted gray.

5. Radio operator position.

6. View of the fighting compartment from the driver’s seat. The transmission tunnel is painted gray at the bottom, inside of which there is a driveshaft that transmits engine torque to the gearbox. The side cabinets contained stowage shells. The tower is three-seater.

7. Gunner's sight. On the right is the breech of the gun with the year of manufacture stamped, 1941.

Photographer: Moiseenkov Andrey.

We express our gratitude to the staff of the Central Museum of Armored Weapons and Equipment for their assistance in photographing.