Panzer III
| General Characteristics (Ausf J) | |
| Length: | 5.52 m |
| Width: | 2.9 m |
| Height: | 2.5 m |
| Weight: | 22 t |
| Speed: | 40 km/h (road) 19 km/h (off-road) |
| Range: | 155 km |
| Primary armament: | 50mm gun |
| Secondary armament: | Two 7.92mm machine guns |
| Power plant: | - |
| Crew: | - |
The Panzer III is a German medium tank used in World War II.
Production History
The first prototype was designed by Daimler-Benz in 1936.
Variants
- Panzer III Ausf A,B,C,D - pre-production models in 1937-38.
- Panzer III Ausf E,F - Production models. Armed with 37mm (later 50mm) guns.
- Panzer III Ausf G - More armour. Armed with 37mm (later 50mm) guns. 800 were ordered.
- Panzer III Ausf H - Minor modifications. 759 were ordered in 1939.
- Panzer III Ausf J - The hull was lenghtened. 2700 ordered.
- Panzer III Ausf L - Minor modifications. 1100 ordered.
- Panzer III Ausf M - 775 ordered in 1942.
- Panzer III Ausf N - Armed with a 75mm gun.
- 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.
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.