Medium tank Pz Kpfw III
and its modifications

A total of 5,922 Pz Kpfw III tanks were produced between 1937 and August 1943 various modifications, of which 700 units were produced with a 75-mm cannon and more than 2,600 with a 50-mm cannon. Other combat vehicles were also produced on the basis of the Pz Kpfw III: assault guns, flamethrower and command tanks. Part 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 line tanks were equipped with a 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. Power reserve - 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 cars were produced at the end of 1937 and January 1938.

Pz Kpfw III Ausf D: 30 cars 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 running gear 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 was changed, which had five viewing slots, 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 Pz Kpfw III Ausf A and Ausf B in February 1940 were withdrawn from combat strength. Tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf D in April 1940 participated in the occupation of Norway, then were withdrawn from service.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 Maybach HL 120TR carburetor engine (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, a radio operator's viewing device was installed on the starboard side of the hull. The undercarriage 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, frontal and aft hull parts 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: tower, forehead and sides of the superstructure and hull - 30 mm, stern of the superstructure and hull - 21 mm.
Engine - "Maybach" НL 120TR. Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 165 km.
Armament: 37 mm KwK L/46.5 cannon and three 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns (two in the turret).
Gun ammunition - 131 shots.

The last 100 tanks were armed with the 50 mm KwK38 L/42 cannon, and later most of the earlier produced tanks of 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 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 a 50-mm KwK38 L / 42 tank gun, developed by Krupp in 1938, as the main armament. At the same time, the re-equipment of previously released 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 armor of the aft hull was increased to 30 mm. The mass of the tank reached 20.3 tons. The design of the turret was changed: an exhaust fan was installed on the roof and a new commander's cupola was installed. The rotary viewing device of the driver is applied.

Combat weight - 20.3 tons. Length - 5.41 m. Width - 2.95 m. Height - 2.44 m.
Armor of the tower, superstructure and hull - 30 mm.
Engine - "Maybach" НL 120TR. Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 165 km.

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

308 vehicles produced from October 1940 to April 1941

The Pz Kpfw III Ausf H received a new transmission, an improved turret, a new commander's turret, additional 30 mm armored frontal and aft 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 English 40 mm guns.

Combat weight - 21.8 tons. The dimensions are the same.
Armor of the tower, superstructure and hull - 30 mm, additional armor plates on the forehead and rear of the hull and on the forehead of the superstructure - 30 mm.
Armament: 50mm 5cm KwK38 L/42 cannon and two 7.92mm MG 34 machine guns.
Gun ammunition - 99 shots.

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 5cm KwK38 L/42 short barrel gun

Armament: 50mm 5cm KwK38 L/42 cannon and two 7.92mm MG34 machine guns.
Gun ammunition - 99 shots.

The Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tank was protected by even thicker armor - 50 mm. Introduced new type installation of a machine gun radio operator - ball. The first 1549 tanks were armed with a 50 mm KwK38 L/42 short-barreled gun. Beginning in December 1941, the new 50-mm KwK39 L/60 long-barreled gun was first installed on Pz III Ausf J tanks.

The first tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf J with a short-barreled gun entered service with a separate tank regiment, sent in September 1941 to the Eastern Front. The rest went to make up for losses on the Eastern Front and in 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 long gun KwK39 L/60

These tanks were equipped with a more powerful 50 mm KwK39 L/60 long-barreled 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: forehead and stern of the superstructure and hull - 50 mm, tower and sides - 30 mm.
Engine - "Maybach" НL 120TR. Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 155 km.
Armament: 50mm 5cm KwK39 L/60 cannon and two 7.92mm MG 34 machine guns.
Gun ammunition - 84 shots.

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

In June 1942, there were about 500 Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tanks with a 50-mm gun on the fronts and in reserve. Before the start of the offensive near Kursk, Army Groups Center and South included 141 Pz Kpfw III Ausf J.

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 tower - 57 mm, add-ons - 50 + 20 mm, hull - 50 mm. Armor of the sides and stern of the tower and sides of the superstructure and hull - 30 mm. Armor of the stern of the superstructure and hull - 50 mm.
Engine - "Maybach" НL 120TR. Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 155 km.
Armament: 50mm 5cm KwK39 L/60 cannon and two 7.92mm 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 produced from October 1942 to February 1943

TTX like Pz Kpfw III Ausf L.

Three grenade launchers for smoke grenades were installed along the sides of the tower. 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. 37 more vehicles converted from Pz Kpfw III J.

TTX as in modifications L, M.

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

They were intended to provide support for the "Tigers" or to perform the functions in tank regiments that were performed by tanks Pz Kpfw IV with a short-barreled 75 mm gun.

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 tank Pz Kpfw III Ausf M.

Crew - 3 people.
Combat weight - 23 tons.
Armament: flamethrower (1000 liters of fire mixture) and 7.92 mm machine gun MG 34.
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 was created on the basis of the Pz Kpfw III Ausf J tank. The frontal machine gun was removed and the ammunition load for the cannon 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 was created on the basis of the Pz Kpfw III Ausf M.

Armament: 50 mm long-barreled 5cm KwK39 L/60 gun and 7.92 mm 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 were also produced with one machine gun in the turret (instead of a gun - a mock-up). A total of 220 machines of these series were built with various radio stations.

Combat use of medium tanks Pz Kpfw III

By the beginning of the invasion of the USSR, the Wehrmacht and the SS troops had about 1550 Pz Kpfw III tanks. The troops intended to attack the USSR, there were 960 tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf E, F, G, H, J.

Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E

Main characteristics

Briefly

in detail

1.7 / 1.7 / 1.7 BR

5 people Crew

Mobility

19.5 tons Weight

10 forward
4 back checkpoint

Armament

131 shells ammo

10° / 20° UVN

3,600 rounds of ammunition

150 rounds clip size

900 shots/min rate of fire

Economy

Description

Panzerkampfwagen III (3.7 cm) Ausführung E or Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E. - German medium tank during 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 military equipment Nazi Germany, this tank had the designation Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - machine special purpose 141).

The PzKpfw III tank was generally a typical representative of the German school of tank building, but with some significant features inherent in other design concepts. Therefore, in terms of its design and layout solutions, on the one hand, it inherited the advantages and disadvantages of the classical layout. german type”, 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 vehicles, although it proved itself very well in production and operation. Later "Panthers" and "Tigers" had a less reliable in operation and repair and structurally more complex "chessboard" suspension, traditional for German tanks.

On the whole, the PzKpfw III was a reliable, easy-to-operate vehicle with a high level of crew comfort; its modernization potential for 1939-1942 was quite sufficient. On the other hand, despite the reliability and manufacturability, the overloaded undercarriage and the volume of the turret box, insufficient to accommodate a more powerful gun, did not allow it to stay in production longer than 1943, when all the reserves for turning a "light-medium" tank into a full-fledged medium were exhausted.

Main characteristics

Armor protection and survivability

Booking Pz.III E is not outstanding and does not have rational tilt angles. In view of this, to increase security, it is recommended to put the tank "diamond".

The crew of the tank is 5 people, which sometimes allows you to survive a direct hit on the turret, but penetration into the side or center of the hull with a chamber shell will lead to a one-shot. It is worth noting that the tank has a massive commander's turret, when shooting at it, an enemy tank has a chance to destroy all the crew members in the turret.

The location of the tank modules is good. The transmission in the front of the hull can withstand low-yield chamber shells.

The tank has a lot of ammo racks, and to increase survivability it is recommended to take no more than 30 shells with you.

The layout of the Pz.Kpfw modules. III Ausf. E

Mobility

Good mobility, high top speed and excellent turning on the spot. The tank rides well over rough terrain and holds its speed well, but the tank picks up speed very mediocrely.

Armament

main gun

Barrel length - 45 calibers. Elevation angles - from -10° to +20°. The rate of fire is 15-18 rounds / min, which is a very good indicator. Ammunition consists of 131 rounds.

3.7 cm KwK36 is tank version 3.7 cm PaK35/36. KwK36 was installed on early modifications of the Pz.Kpfw. III from Ausf.A to some Ausf.F. Starting from the Aust.F series on the Pz.Kpfw. III began to put 5 cm KwK38.

The gun has the following nomenclature of shells:

PzGr- armor-piercing chamber shells with a flight speed of up to 745 m / s. It has an average armor effect, however, the high rate of fire of the gun and excellent penetration of the projectile compensates for this. Recommended as the main projectile
PzGr 40- armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a flight speed of up to 1020 m / s. It has excellent penetration, but poor armor action. Recommended for point shots on heavily armored targets.

Machine gun armament

Two 7.92 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG-34 machine guns were paired with a 37 mm cannon. The third, the same, machine gun was installed in the frontal sheet of the hull. Machine gun ammunition consisted of 4425 rounds. It can be effective against vehicles that do not have any armor, such as Soviet GAZ trucks.

Use in combat

Classic german tank entry level. The combat rating of 1.7 is quite comfortable for this tank. There are no difficult opponents, it all depends on the ability to accurately shoot and drive in the right direction. A good weapon with a good rate of fire helps in every possible way in battle. Sub-caliber shells are available. Basically, the opponents are lightly armored and there are no special problems for the gun to break through them. If you go to capture the point, it is best to choose the most direct section and, preferably, not turn, because at the slightest turn, precious speed is lost, which is gained not so quickly. The Pz.Kpfw has the same problem. III Ausf. F. If the battle takes place in realistic mode and the point was captured, then usually there are enough respawn points to take the aircraft. But regardless of the mode, it is better to continue the battle by retreating from the point. The enemy can use Art-Strike, and the armor will not save you from a close hit, and even more so a direct one. In addition, there are opponents who want to recapture the point.

Also, using high speed it is possible and necessary to use flank bypasses with an approach to the rear of the enemy.

With a successful detour from the flank, or in another way, you should not immediately break into battle, shooting at everything that is visible. You need to choose the highest priority target. Firstly, these are singles or cars in the rearguard (closing). When firing, remember that the 37mm cannon has a very weak armor effect, so you need to deliver pinpoint strikes on vital modules.

For example, when meeting with a tank, you can shoot at the turret, thereby damaging the breech or knocking out the gunner (or maybe both options at once), which will give time to reload and deliver a second shot, preferably in the ammunition area or in the MTO (immobilize the enemy). If the enemy catches fire, we quickly look around in search of a second target, if there is no one, we finish off. Then we act according to the situation. If we meet with an enemy self-propelled gun, then the first module needs to knock out the engine, thereby making the self-propelled gun helpless and calmly finish it off. When attacking two opponents at once, the chances of winning are significantly reduced. But even here there are nuances. For example, if this is an SPG, then with the first shot we try to knock out the engine and only then open fire on the tank. Of course, this is just a scenario, and not a 100% rule. We carefully monitor the surroundings.

Open combat (shootout) is not recommended since the frontal armor is only 30 mm and is penetrated by all opponents. Shrapnel is especially dangerous at close range. In fact, it provides death with one shot.

Tank ambush is a very common and familiar tactic. We choose any suitable, as you think, place for an ambush and wait for the enemy. It is desirable that the ambush site provides shooting at the enemy's side. In addition, an ambush must be arranged in places unexpected for the enemy, the main thing in an ambush is surprise, to take the enemy by surprise.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Good mobility.
The small size of the tank.
Good accuracy.
rapid fire gun

Flaws:

Slow turret traverse speed.
Small firepower.
Slow speed up

Historical reference

Modification PzKpfw III Ausf.E went into production in 1938. Until October 1939, 96 tanks of this type were built at the Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN factories. PzKpfw III Ausf.E became the first modification to go into a large series. A feature of the tank was a new torsion bar suspension designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

It consisted of six road wheels, three support rollers, driving and steering wheels. All road wheels were independently suspended on torsion bars. The armament of the tank remained the same - a 37 mm KwK35/36 L/46.5 cannon and three MG-34 machine guns. The thickness of the reservation was increased to 12 mm-30 mm.

The PzKpfw III Ausf.E tanks were equipped with the "Maybach" HL120TR engine with a power of 300 hp. and a 10-speed "Maybach Variorex" gearbox. The mass of the PzKpfw III Ausf.E tank reached 19.5 tons. From August 1940 to 1942, all Ausf.Es produced were re-equipped with a new 50-mm KwK38 L / 42 cannon. The gun was paired not with two, but with only one machine gun. The frontal armor of the hull and superstructure, as well as the aft armor plate, were reinforced with a 30-mm appliqué. Part of the Ausf.E tanks over time went through a rework to the Ausf.F standard. The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which reduced the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplified the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, prerequisites were created for increasing the dimensions of the fighting compartment. Characteristic for the hull of this tank, as, indeed, for all German tanks of that period, was the equal strength of the armor plates on all main planes and the abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred the convenience of access to the units to the strength of the hull. The transmission deserves a positive assessment, characteristic of which was a large number of gears in the gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was provided by a “shaftless” gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servo mechanisms were used. The width of the track chains - 360 mm - was chosen mainly based on road traffic conditions, significantly limiting off-road patency. However, the latter in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations was quite difficult to find.

Media

Links

· Family Pz.III
3.7 cm KwK 36	Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. B Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E
5 cm KwK 38	Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. F Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J ▂T-III
5 cm KwK 39

Modern battle tanks Russia and the world photo, video, pictures watch online. This article gives an idea of the modern tank fleet. It is based on the classification principle used in the most authoritative reference book to date, but in a slightly modified and improved form. And if the latter in its original form can still be found in the armies of a number of countries, then others have already become a museum exhibit. And all for 10 years! To follow in the footsteps of the Jane's guide and not consider this combat vehicle (quite by the way, curious in design and fiercely discussed at the time), which formed the basis of the tank fleet of the last quarter of the 20th century, the authors considered it unfair.

Films about tanks where there is still no alternative to this type of armament of the ground forces. The tank was and probably will remain a modern weapon for a long time due to the ability to combine such seemingly contradictory qualities as high mobility, powerful weapons and reliable crew protection. These unique qualities of tanks continue to be constantly improved, and the experience and technologies accumulated over decades predetermine new frontiers of combat properties and military-technical achievements. In the age-old confrontation "projectile - armor", as practice shows, protection from a projectile is being improved more and more, acquiring new qualities: activity, multi-layeredness, self-defense. At the same time, the projectile becomes more accurate and powerful.

Russian tanks are specific in that they allow you to destroy the enemy from a safe distance, have the ability to perform quick maneuvers on impassable roads, contaminated terrain, can “walk” through the territory occupied by the enemy, seize a decisive bridgehead, induce panic in the rear and suppress the enemy with fire and caterpillars . The war of 1939-1945 was the most ordeal for all mankind, since almost all countries of the world were involved in it. It was the battle of the titans - the most unique period that theorists argued about in the early 1930s and during which tanks were used in large quantities virtually all warring parties. At this time, a "check for lice" and a deep reform of the first theories of the use of tank troops took place. And it is the Soviet tank forces all of which are the most affected.

Tanks in battle that have become a symbol last war, the backbone of the Soviet armored forces? Who created them and under what conditions? How did the USSR, having lost most of its European territories and having difficulty recruiting tanks for the defense of Moscow, be able to launch powerful tank formations on the battlefield already in 1943? This book, which tells about the development of Soviet tanks "in the days of testing ", from 1937 to the beginning of 1943. When writing the book, materials from the archives of Russia and private collections of tank builders were used. There was a period in our history that was deposited in my memory with some depressing feeling. It began with the return of our first military advisers from Spain, and stopped only at the beginning of forty-third, - said the former general designer of self-propelled guns L. Gorlitsky, - there was some kind of pre-stormy state.

Tanks of the Second World War, it was M. Koshkin, almost underground (but, of course, with the support of "the wisest of the wise leader of all peoples"), who was able to create the tank that, a few years later, would shock German tank generals. And what’s more, he didn’t just create it, the designer managed to prove to these stupid military men that it was his T-34 that they needed, and not just another wheeled-tracked “highway”. The author is in slightly different positions that he formed after meeting with the pre-war documents RGVA and RGAE Therefore, working on this segment of the history of the Soviet tank, the author will inevitably contradict something "generally accepted". this work describes history Soviet tank building in the most difficult years - from the beginning of a radical restructuring of all the activities of design bureaus and people's commissariats as a whole, during a frantic race to equip new tank formations of the Red Army, the transfer of industry to wartime rails and evacuation.

Tanks Wikipedia the author wants to express his special gratitude for the help in the selection and processing of materials to M. Kolomiyets, and also to thank A. Solyankin, I. Zheltov and M. Pavlov, the authors reference edition"Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. 1905 - 1941", as this book helped to understand the fate of some projects, unclear before. I would also like to recall with gratitude those conversations with Lev Izraelevich Gorlitsky, the former Chief Designer of UZTM, which helped to take a fresh look at the entire history of the Soviet tank during the Great Patriotic War Soviet Union. Today, for some reason, it is customary to talk about 1937-1938 in our country. only from the point of view of repressions, but few people remember that it was during this period that those tanks were born that became legends of the wartime ... "From the memoirs of L.I. Gorlinkogo.

Soviet tanks, a detailed assessment of them at that time sounded from many lips. Many old people recalled that it was from the events in Spain that it became clear to everyone that the war was getting closer to the threshold and it was Hitler who would have to fight. In 1937, mass purges and repressions began in the USSR, and against the backdrop of these difficult events, the Soviet tank began to turn from a "mechanized cavalry" (in which one of its combat qualities protruded by reducing others) into a balanced combat vehicle, which simultaneously had powerful weapons, sufficient to suppress most targets, good maneuverability and mobility with armor protection, capable of maintaining its combat effectiveness when fired upon by the most massive anti-tank weapons potential adversary.

It was recommended that large tanks be introduced into the composition in addition only special tanks - floating, chemical. The brigade now had 4 separate battalions of 54 tanks each and was reinforced by the transition from three-tank platoons to five-tank ones. In addition, D. Pavlov justified the refusal to form in 1938 to the four existing mechanized corps three more additionally, believing that these formations are immobile and difficult to control, and most importantly, they require a different organization of the rear. The tactical and technical requirements for promising tanks, as expected, have been adjusted. In particular, in a letter dated December 23 to the head of the design bureau of plant No. 185 named after. CM. Kirov, the new chief demanded to strengthen the armor of new tanks so that at a distance of 600-800 meters (effective range).

The latest tanks in the world when designing new tanks, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of increasing the level of armor protection during modernization by at least one step ... "This problem could be solved in two ways. Firstly, by increasing the thickness of the armor plates and, secondly," by using increased armor resistance". It is easy to guess that the second way was considered more promising, since the use of specially hardened armor plates, or even two-layer armor, could, while maintaining the same thickness (and the mass of the tank as a whole), increase its durability by 1.2-1.5 It was this path (the use of specially hardened armor) that was chosen at that moment to create new types of tanks.

Tanks of the USSR at the dawn of tank production, armor was most massively used, the properties of which were identical in all directions. Such armor was called homogeneous (homogeneous), and from the very beginning of the armor business, the craftsmen strove to create just such armor, because uniformity ensured stability of characteristics and simplified processing. However, at the end of the 19th century, it was noticed that when the surface of the armor plate was saturated (to a depth of several tenths to several millimeters) with carbon and silicon, its surface strength increased sharply, while the rest of the plate remained viscous. So heterogeneous (heterogeneous) armor came into use.

In military tanks, the use of heterogeneous armor was very important, since an increase in the hardness of the entire thickness of the armor plate led to a decrease in its elasticity and (as a result) to an increase in brittleness. Thus, the most durable armor, other things being equal, turned out to be very fragile and often pricked even from bursts of high-explosive fragmentation shells. Therefore, at the dawn of armor production in the manufacture of homogeneous sheets, the task of the metallurgist was to achieve the highest possible hardness of the armor, but at the same time not to lose its elasticity. Surface-hardened by saturation with carbon and silicon armor was called cemented (cemented) and was considered at that time a panacea for many ills. But cementation is a complex, harmful process (for example, processing a hot plate with a jet of lighting gas) and relatively expensive, and therefore its development in a series required high costs and an increase in production culture.

Tank of the war years, even in operation, these hulls were less successful than homogeneous ones, since for no apparent reason cracks formed in them (mainly in loaded seams), and it was very difficult to put patches on holes in cemented slabs during repairs. But it was still expected that a tank protected by 15-20 mm cemented armor would be equivalent in terms of protection to the same, but covered with 22-30 mm sheets, without a significant increase in mass.
Also, by the mid-1930s, in tank building, they learned how to harden the surface of relatively thin armor plates by uneven hardening, known since the end of the 19th century in shipbuilding as the "Krupp method". Surface hardening led to a significant increase in the hardness of the front side of the sheet, leaving the main thickness of the armor viscous.

How tanks shoot videos up to half the thickness of the plate, which, of course, was worse than carburizing, since despite the fact that the hardness of the surface layer was higher than during carburizing, the elasticity of the hull sheets was significantly reduced. So the "Krupp method" in tank building made it possible to increase the strength of armor even somewhat more than carburizing. But the hardening technology that was used for sea armor of large thicknesses was no longer suitable for relatively thin tank armor. Before the war, this method was almost never used in our serial tank building due to technological difficulties and relatively high cost.

Combat use of tanks The most developed for tanks was the 45-mm tank gun mod 1932/34. (20K), and before the event in Spain, it was believed that its power was enough to perform most tank tasks. But the battles in Spain showed that the 45-mm gun could only satisfy the task of fighting enemy tanks, since even the shelling of manpower in the mountains and forests turned out to be ineffective, and it was only possible to disable a dug-in enemy firing point in the event of a direct hit . Shooting at shelters and bunkers was ineffective due to the small high-explosive action of a projectile weighing only about two kg.

Types of tanks photo so that even one hit of a projectile reliably disables anti-tank gun or machine gun; and thirdly, to increase the penetrating effect of a tank gun on the armor of a potential enemy, as in the example French tanks(already having an armor thickness of the order of 40-42 mm) it became clear that the armor protection of foreign combat vehicles tends to be significantly strengthened. There was a right way to do this - an increase in the caliber of tank guns and a simultaneous increase in the length of their barrel, since a long gun of a larger caliber fires heavier shells with a larger initial speed over a longer distance without correcting the pickup.

The best tanks in the world had a large caliber gun, also had a large breech, significantly more weight and increased recoil reaction. And this required an increase in the mass of the entire tank as a whole. In addition, the placement of large shots in the closed volume of the tank led to a decrease in the ammunition load.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that at the beginning of 1938 it suddenly turned out that there was simply no one to give an order for the design of a new, more powerful tank gun. P. Syachintov and his entire design team were repressed, as well as the core of the Bolshevik Design Bureau under the leadership of G. Magdesiev. Only the group of S. Makhanov remained at liberty, who from the beginning of 1935 tried to bring his new 76.2-mm semi-automatic single gun L-10, and the team of plant No. 8 slowly brought the "forty-five".

Photos of tanks with names The number of developments is large, but in mass production in the period 1933-1937. not a single one was accepted ... "In fact, none of the five air-cooled tank diesel engines, which were worked on in 1933-1937 in the engine department of plant No. 185, was brought to the series. Moreover, despite the decisions on the highest levels about the transition in tank building exclusively to diesel engines This process was hampered by a number of factors. Of course, diesel had significant efficiency. It used less fuel per unit of power per hour. Diesel fuel is less prone to ignition, since the flash point of its vapors was very high.

Even the most finished of them, the MT-5 tank engine, required reorganization of engine production for serial production, which was expressed in the construction of new workshops, the supply of advanced foreign equipment (there were no machine tools of the required accuracy yet), financial investments and strengthening personnel. It was planned that in 1939 this diesel engine with a capacity of 180 hp. will go to mass-produced tanks and artillery tractors, but due to investigative work to find out the causes of tank engine accidents, which lasted from April to November 1938, these plans were not fulfilled. The development of a slightly increased six-cylinder gasoline engine No. 745 with a power of 130-150 hp was also started.

Brands of tanks with specific indicators that suited the tank builders quite well. Tank tests were carried out according to a new methodology, specially developed at the insistence of the new head of the ABTU D. Pavlov in relation to combat service in war time. The basis of the tests was a run of 3-4 days (at least 10-12 hours of daily non-stop traffic) with a one-day break for technical inspection and restoration work. Moreover, repairs were allowed to be carried out only by field workshops without the involvement of factory specialists. This was followed by a "platform" with obstacles, "bathing" in the water with an additional load, simulating an infantry landing, after which the tank was sent for examination.

Super tanks online after the improvement work seemed to remove all claims from the tanks. AND general course tests confirmed the fundamental correctness of the main design changes - an increase in displacement by 450-600 kg, the use of the GAZ-M1 engine, as well as the Komsomolets transmission and suspension. But during the tests, numerous minor defects again appeared in the tanks. The chief designer N. Astrov was suspended from work and was under arrest and investigation for several months. In addition, the tank received a new improved protection turret. The modified layout made it possible to place on the tank a larger ammunition load for a machine gun and two small fire extinguishers (before there were no fire extinguishers on small tanks of the Red Army).

US tanks as part of modernization work, on one serial model of the tank in 1938-1939. the torsion bar suspension developed by the designer of the Design Bureau of Plant No. 185 V. Kulikov was tested. It was distinguished by the design of a composite short coaxial torsion bar (long monotorsion bars could not be used coaxially). However, such a short torsion bar did not show good enough results in tests, and therefore the torsion bar suspension did not immediately pave its way in the course of further work. Obstacles to be overcome: rises not less than 40 degrees, vertical wall 0.7 m, overlapping ditch 2-2.5 m.

Youtube about tanks work on the production of prototypes of D-180 and D-200 engines for reconnaissance tanks is not being carried out, jeopardizing the production of prototypes. 10-1), as well as the amphibious tank version (factory designation 102 or 10-2), are a compromise solution, since it is not possible to fully meet the requirements of the ABTU.Variant 101 was a tank weighing 7.5 tons with a hull according to the type of hull, but with vertical side sheets of case-hardened armor 10-13 mm thick, because: "Sloped sides, causing serious weighting of the suspension and hull, require a significant (up to 300 mm) broadening of the hull, not to mention the complication of the tank.

Video reviews of tanks in which the power unit of the tank was planned to be based on the 250-horsepower MG-31F aircraft engine, which was mastered by the industry for agricultural aircraft and gyroplanes. Gasoline of the 1st grade was placed in a tank under the floor of the fighting compartment and in additional onboard gas tanks. The armament fully met the task and consisted of coaxial machine guns DK caliber 12.7 mm and DT (in the second version of the project even ShKAS appears) caliber 7.62 mm. The combat weight of a tank with a torsion bar suspension was 5.2 tons, with a spring suspension - 5.26 tons. The tests were carried out from July 9 to August 21 according to the methodology approved in 1938, and Special attention given to tanks.

Until the summer of 1943, the Wehrmacht divided its tanks into light, medium and heavy armaments. Therefore, with approximately equal weight and armor thickness Pz. III was considered medium, and Pz. IV - heavy.

However, it was the tank Pz. III was destined to become one of the specific incarnations military doctrine Nazi Germany. Not making up the majority in the Wehrmacht tank divisions either in the Polish (96 units) or in the French campaign (381 units), by the time of the attack on the USSR, it was already produced in significant quantities and was the main vehicle of the Panzerwaffe. Its history began simultaneously with other tanks. with which Germany entered the second world war.

In 1934, the army weapons service issued an order for a combat vehicle with a 37-mm cannon, which received the designation ZW (Zugfuhrerwagen - company command vehicle). from four firms. participating in the competition. only one - "Daimler-Benz" - received an order for the production of an experimental batch of 10 cars. In 1936, these tanks were transferred for military trials under the army designation PzKpfw III Ausf. A (or Pz. IIIA). They clearly bore the stamp of the influence of W. Christie's designs - five large-diameter road wheels.

The second experimental batch of 12 pieces of model B had a completely different undercarriage with 8 small road wheels, reminiscent of Pz, IV. On the next 15 experimental Ausf tanks The chassis was similar, but the suspension was noticeably improved. It should be emphasized that all other combat characteristics on the mentioned modifications, in principle, remained unchanged. This cannot be said about the tanks of the D series (50 units), the frontal and side armor of which was increased to 30 mm, while the mass of the tank reached 19.5 tons, and the ground pressure increased from 0.77 to 0.96 kg / cm2 .

In 1938, the factories of three companies at once - Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN - began production of the first mass modification of the "troika" - Ausf. E. 96 tanks of this model received a chassis with six rubber-coated road wheels and a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers. which has not been significantly changed since then. The combat weight of the tank was 19.5 tons. The crew consisted of 5 people. This is the number of crew members, starting with the PzKpfw III. became standard on all subsequent German medium and heavy tanks. Thus, already from the mid-30s, the Germans achieved a functional separation of duties of crew members. Opponents of them came to this much later - only by 1943-1944.

The PzKpfw III E was armed with a 37 mm cannon with a barrel length of 46.5 calibers and three MG 34 machine guns (ammunition load 131 rounds and 4500 rounds). Maybach HL 120TR 12-cylinder carburetor engine with 300 hp. at 3000 rpm allowed the tank to develop top speed on the highway 40 km/h; the cruising range at the same time was 165 km on the highway and 95 km - when driving over rough terrain.

The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which reduced the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplified the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, prerequisites were created for increasing the dimensions of the fighting compartment.

Characteristic for the hull of this tank, as. however, for all German tanks of that period, there was an equal strength of armor plates on all main planes and an abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred the convenience of access to the units to the strength of the hull.
The transmission deserves a positive assessment, which was characterized by a large number of gears in the gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was provided by a "shaftless" gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servo mechanisms were used.

The width of the tracks - 360 mm - was chosen based mainly on the conditions of traffic on the roads, while off-road patency was significantly limited. However, in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations, off-road still had to be looked for.

The PzKpfw III medium tank was the first truly battle tank of the Wehrmacht. It was developed as a vehicle for platoon commanders, but from 1940 to early 1943 it was the main medium tank. german army. PzKpfw III tanks of various modifications were produced from 1936 to 1943 by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Alkett, Krupp, FAMO, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG.

Germany entered World War II, having in service, in addition to light tanks PzKpfw I and PzKpfw II, medium tanks PzKpfw III versions A, B, C, D and E (see the chapter "Tanks of the interwar period. 1918-1939", section " Germany").
Between October 1939 and July 1940, FAMO, Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN and Alkett produced 435 PzKpfw III Ausf. F, which slightly differed from the previous modification E. The tanks received armored protection for the air intakes of the brake system and control system, access hatches to the mechanisms of the control system were made of two parts, the base of the turret was covered by special protection so that the turret would not jam when a projectile hit. Additional marker lights were installed on the wings. Three running lamps of the Notek type were located on the front of the hull and the left wing of the tank.

PzKpfw III Ausf. F were armed with a 37 mm cannon with the so-called internal mantlet, and 100 vehicles of the same version were armed with a 50 mm cannon with an external mantlet. 50 mm guns were built as early as June 1940.

Production of tanks of the G version began in April - May 1940, and by February 1941, 600 tanks of this type entered the tank units of the Wehrmacht. The initial order was 1250 vehicles, but after the capture of Czechoslovakia, when the Germans put into operation many Czechoslovak LT-38 tanks, received the designation PzKpfw 38 (t) in the German army, the order was reduced to 800 vehicles.

On the PzKpfw III Ausf. G rear armor thickness increased to 30 mm. The observation slot of the driver began to be closed by an armored flap. An electric fan in a protective casing appeared on the roof of the tower.
The tanks were supposed to be armed with a 37 mm gun, but most of the vehicles left the assembly shops with a 50 mm KwK 39 L / 42 gun, developed by Krupp in 1938. At the same time, the re-equipment of previously released tanks of models E and F with a new artillery system began. The ammunition load of the new gun consisted of 99 rounds, 3750 rounds were intended for two MG 34 machine guns. After rearmament, the weight of the tank increased to 20.3 tons.

The location of the boxes with spare parts and tools on the fenders has changed There was a launch hole on the roof of the tower flares. An additional box for equipment was often attached to the rear wall of the tower. jokingly called "Rommel's chest".

Tanks of a later production were equipped with a new type of commander's cupola, which was also installed on the PzKpfw IV and was equipped with five periscopes.
Tropicalized tanks were also built. They were designated PzKpfw III Ausf. G (trop) and featured an improved cooling system and air filters. Such machines were produced 54 units.
Version G tanks entered service with the Wehrmacht during the French campaign.

In October 1940, the company MAN, Alkett. Henschel, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG launched serial production of version N tanks. By April 1941, 310 (according to some sources 408) vehicles were built out of 759 ordered in January 1939.
The armor thickness of the rear wall of the PzKpfw III Ausf. H increased to 50 mm. The applied frontal armor was reinforced with an additional armor plate 30 mm thick.

Due to the increase in the mass of the tank and the use of tracks 400 mm wide, special guides had to be installed on the support and road wheels, which increased the diameter of the rollers by 40 mm. To eliminate excessive track sag, the front carrier roller, which on the G version tanks was located almost next to the spring damper, had to be moved forward.

Among other improvements, it should be noted a change in the position of the headlight on the wing, towing hooks, and the shape of the access hatches. The box with smoke bombs was moved by the designers under the canopy of the rear plate of the power compartment. An angular profile was installed at the base of the tower, protecting the base from a projectile.
Instead of the Variorex gearbox, the H version was equipped with an SSG 77 gearbox (six gears forward and one reverse). The turret design was changed in such a way that the crew members who were in it rotated with the turret. The tank commander, as well as the gunner and loader, had their own hatches in the side walls and roof of the tower.
Baptism of fire tanks PzKpfw III Ausf. H received during Operation Barbarossa. In 1942-1943, the tanks were re-equipped with a 50 mm KwK L/60 cannon.

Initially tanks PzKpfw III Ausf. J were armed with a 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 cannon, but starting from December 1941, they began to install a new 50 mm KwK 39 cannon with a barrel length of 60 calibers. A total of 1549 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/42 gun and 1067 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/60 gun were built.

The appearance of a new version -PzKpfw III Ausf. L - due to the unsuccessful progress of the installation on the chassis of the PzKpfw III Ausf. J of the standard turret of the PzKpfw IV Ausf G tank. After the failure of this experiment, it was decided to start production new series tanks with the improvements provided for the L version and armed with a 50 mm KwK 39 L / 60 cannon.
Between June and December 1942, 703 tanks of the L version were produced. Compared to previous versions The new vehicles had reinforced cannon mantlet armor, which also served as a counterbalance to the elongated barrel of the KwK 39 L/60 gun. The forehead of the hull and turret was protected by additional 20 mm armor plates. The driver's viewing slot and the mask of the MG 34 course machine gun were located in the holes in the frontal armor. Other changes concerned the mechanism for tensioning the tracks, the location of smoke bombs on the stern of the tank under the bend of the armor, the design and location of navigation lights and the placement of tools on the fenders. The viewing slot of the loader in the additional armor of the gun mask was eliminated. At the top of the armor protection of the mask there was a small hole for inspection and maintenance of the gun's recoil mechanism. Besides. the designers eliminated the armor protection of the base of the turret, which was located on top of the tank hull, and viewing slots on the sides of the turret. One tank of the L version was tested with the KwK 0725 recoilless rifle.

Of the ordered 1000 PzKpfw III Ausf. Only 653 L tanks were built. The rest were converted to N version tanks equipped with a 75 mm cannon.

latest version The PzKpfw III tank with a 50-mm gun was model M. The tanks of this modification were a further development of the PzKpfw III Ausf. L and were built from October 1942 to February 1943. The initial order for new vehicles was 1,000 units, but given the advantages of Soviet tanks over the PzKpfw III with a 50 mm gun, the order was reduced to 250 vehicles. Some of the remaining tanks were converted to Stug III self-propelled guns and PzKpfw III (FI) flamethrower tanks, while the other part was converted to the N version, installing 75-mm guns on the vehicles.

Compared to the L version, the PzKpfw III Ausf. M had minor differences. Built-in 90 mm NbKWg smoke grenade launchers were installed on both sides of the turret, a counterweight for the KwK 39 L / 60 gun was mounted, and escape hatches were eliminated in the side walls of the hull. All this made it possible to increase the ammunition load from 84 to 98 shots.

The exhaust system of the tank allowed him to overcome water obstacles up to 1.3 m deep without preparation.
Other improvements concerned changing the shape of tow hooks, running lights, installing a rack for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun, and brackets for attaching additional armored screens. The price of one PzKpfw III Ausf. M (unarmed) amounted to 96183 Reichsmarks.

On April 4, 1942, Hitler ordered to study the feasibility of re-equipping the PzKpfw III tanks with the 50-mm Pak 38 cannon. To this end, one tank was equipped with a new cannon, but the experiment ended unsuccessfully.

The tanks of the latest production version received the designation PzKpfw III Ausf. N. They had the same hull and turret as the machines of the L and M versions. 447 and 213 chassis and turrets of both versions were used for their production, respectively. The main thing that distinguished the PzKpfw III Ausf. N from its predecessors, this is the 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun, which was armed with PzKpfw IV A-F1 tanks. Ammunition was 64 rounds. PzKpfw III Ausf. N guns had a modified gun mantlet and a one-piece commander's cupola hatch, armored up to 100 mm. The observation slot to the right of the gun was eliminated. In addition, there were a number of other minor differences from the machines of earlier versions.

Production of the N version tanks began in June 1942 and continued until August 1943. A total of 663 vehicles were produced, and another 37 tanks were converted to Ausf. N during the repair of machines of other versions.
In addition to combat, the so-called linear tanks, 5 types of command tanks were produced with a total number of 435 units. 262 tanks were converted into artillery fire control vehicles. A special order - 100 flamethrower tanks - was carried out by Wegmann. For a flamethrower with a range of up to 60 meters, 1000 liters of fire mixture were required. The tanks were intended for Stalingrad, but they got to the front only at the beginning of July 1943 - near Kursk.

At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 tanks of the F, G and H versions were converted for movement under water and were to be used when landing on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15m; 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 - "snorkel".
Since the landing in England did not take place, a number of such tanks from the 18th Panzer Division on June 22, 1941 crossed the Western Bug along the bottom.

From July 1944, the PzKpfw III was also used as an ARV. At the same time, a square cabin was installed in place of the tower. In addition, small batches of vehicles for transporting ammunition and carrying out engineering work were produced. There were prototypes of a minesweeper tank and options for converting a linear tank into a railcar.

PzKpfw III were used in all theaters of military operations - from the Eastern Front to African desert using love everywhere German tankers. The amenities created for the work of the crew could be considered a role model. Not a single Soviet, English or american tank that time. Excellent observation and aiming devices allowed the "troika" to successfully deal with the more powerful T-34, KB and "Matilda" in cases where the latter did not have time to detect it. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were the favorite command vehicles in the Red Army precisely because of the above reasons: comfort, excellent optics, plus an excellent radio station. However, they, like others german tanks, were successfully used by Soviet tankmen for their direct, combat, purpose. There were entire battalions armed with captured tanks.

The production of PzKpfw III tanks was discontinued in 1943, after the production of approximately 6,000 vehicles. In the future, only the production of self-propelled guns based on them continued.

Pz Kpfw III (T-III)

Until the summer of 1943, the Germans divided theirs into light, medium and heavy armaments. Therefore, with approximately equal weight and armor thickness Pz. III was considered medium, and Pz. IV - heavy.
However, it was the tank Pz. III was destined to become one of the concrete embodiments of the military doctrine of Nazi Germany. Not making up the majority in the Wehrmacht tank divisions either in the Polish (96 units) or in the French campaign (381 units), by the time of the attack on the USSR, it was already produced in significant quantities and was the main vehicle of the Panzerwaffe. Its history began simultaneously with other tanks. with which Germany entered World War II.
In 1934, the army weapons service issued an order for a combat vehicle with a 37-mm cannon, which received the designation ZW (Zugfuhrerwagen - company commander). from four firms. participating in the competition. only one - "Daimler-Benz" - received an order for the production of an experimental batch of 10 cars. In 1936, these tanks were transferred for military trials under the army designation PzKpfw III Ausf. A (or Pz. IIIA). They clearly bore the stamp of the influence of W. Christie's designs - five large-diameter road wheels.
The second experimental batch of 12 Model B units had a completely different undercarriage with 8 small road wheels, reminiscent of the Pz, IV. On the next 15 experimental tanks Ausf C chassis was similar, but the suspension was noticeably improved. It should be emphasized that all other combat characteristics on the mentioned modifications remained basically unchanged.
This cannot be said about the tanks of the D series (50 units), the frontal and side armor of which was increased to 30 mm, while the mass of the tank reached 19.5 tons, and the specific increased from 0.77 to 0.96 kg/cm2.
In 1938, the factories of three companies at once - Daimler-Benz, "" and MAN - began production of the first mass modification of the "troika" - Ausf. E. 96 tanks of this model received a chassis with six rubber-coated road wheels and a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers. which has not been significantly changed since then. The combat weight of the tank was 19.5 tons. The crew consisted of 5 people. This is the number of crew members, starting with the PzKpfw III. became standard on all subsequent German medium and heavy tanks. Thus, already from the mid-30s, the Germans achieved a functional separation of duties of crew members. Opponents of them came to this much later - only by 1943-1944.
The PzKpfw III E was armed with a 37 mm cannon with a barrel length of 46.5 calibers and three MG 34 machine guns (131 shots and 4500 rounds). 12-cylinder carburetor "Maybach" HL 120TR with a capacity of 300 hp. at 3000 rpm allowed the tank to reach a maximum speed of 40 km/h on the highway; the cruising range at the same time was 165 km on the highway and 95 km - when driving over rough terrain.
The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which reduced the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplified the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, prerequisites were created for increasing the dimensions of the fighting compartment.
Characteristic for the hull of this tank, as. however, for all German tanks of that period, there was an equal strength of armor plates on all main planes and an abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred the convenience of access to the units to the strength of the hull.
Deserves a positive assessment, which was characterized by a large number of gears in the gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was provided by a "shaftless" gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servo mechanisms were used.
The width of the tracks - 360 mm - was chosen based mainly on the conditions of traffic on the roads, while off-road patency was significantly limited. However, in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations, off-road still had to be looked for.
The PzKpfw III medium tank was the first truly battle tank of the Wehrmacht. It was developed as a vehicle for platoon commanders, but from 1940 to early 1943 it was the main medium tank of the German army. PzKpfw III of various modifications were produced from 1936 to 1943 by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Alkett, Krupp, FAMO, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG.
Germany entered World War II, having in service, in addition to light tanks PzKpfw I and PzKpfw II, medium tanks PzKpfw III versions A, B, C, D and E (see the chapter "Tanks of the interwar period. 1918-1939", section " Germany").
Between October 1939 and July 1940, FAMO, Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN and Alkett produced 435 PzKpfw III Ausf. F, which slightly differed from the previous modification E. The tanks received armored protection for the air intakes of the brake system and control system, access hatches to the mechanisms of the control system were made of two parts, the base of the turret was covered by special protection so that the turret would not jam when a projectile hit. Additional marker lights were installed on the wings. Three running lamps of the Notek type were located on the front of the hull and the left wing of the tank.
PzKpfw III Ausf. F were armed with a 37 mm cannon with the so-called internal mantlet, and 100 vehicles of the same version were armed with a 50 mm cannon with an external mantlet. 50 mm guns were built as early as June 1940.
Production of tanks of the G version began in April - May 1940, and by February 1941, 600 tanks of this type entered the tank units of the Wehrmacht. The initial order was 1250 vehicles, but after the capture of Czechoslovakia, when the Germans put into operation many Czechoslovak LT-38 tanks, received the designation PzKpfw 38 (t) in the German army, the order was reduced to 800 vehicles.
On the PzKpfw III Ausf. G rear armor thickness increased to 30 mm. The observation slot of the driver began to be closed by an armored flap. On the roof of the tower appeared electric in a protective casing.
The tanks were supposed to be armed with a 37 mm gun, but most of the vehicles left the assembly shops with a 50 mm KwK 39 L / 42 gun, developed by Krupp in 1938. At the same time, the re-equipment of previously released tanks of models E and F with a new artillery system began. The new gun consisted of 99 shots, 3750 rounds were intended for two MG 34 machine guns. After rearmament, the weight of the tank increased to 20.3 tons.
The location of the boxes with spare parts and tools on the fenders has changed. On the roof of the tower there was a hole for launching signal rockets. An additional box for equipment was often attached to the rear wall of the tower. jokingly called "Rommel's chest".
Tanks of a later production were equipped with a new type of commander's cupola, which was also installed on the PzKpfw IV and was equipped with five periscopes.
Tropicalized tanks were also built. They were designated PzKpfw III Ausf. G (trop) and featured an improved cooling system and air filters. Such machines were produced 54 units.
Version G tanks entered service with the Wehrmacht during the French campaign.
In October 1940, the company MAN, Alkett. Henschel, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG launched serial production of version N tanks. By April 1941, 310 (according to some sources 408) vehicles were built out of 759 ordered in January 1939.
The armor thickness of the rear wall of the PzKpfw III Ausf. H increased to 50 mm. The applied frontal armor was reinforced with an additional armor plate 30 mm thick.
Due to the increase in the mass of the tank and the use of tracks 400 mm wide, special guides had to be installed on the support and road wheels, which increased the diameter of the rollers by 40 mm. To eliminate excessive track sag, the front carrier roller, which on the G version tanks was located almost next to the spring damper, had to be moved forward.
Among other improvements, it should be noted a change in the position of the headlight on the wing, towing hooks, and the shape of the access hatches. The box with smoke bombs was moved by the designers under the canopy of the rear plate of the power compartment. An angular profile was installed at the base of the tower, protecting the base from a projectile.
Instead of the Variorex gearbox, the SSG 77 type (six gears forward and one back) was installed on version H machines. The design of the turret changed in such a way that the crew members who were in it rotated with the turret. The tank commander, as well as the gunner and loader, had their own hatches in the side walls and roof of the turret.
Baptism of fire tanks PzKpfw III Ausf. H received during Operation Barbarossa. In 1942-1943, the tanks were re-equipped with a 50 mm KwK L/60 cannon.
The next production version was the PzKpfw III Ausf. J. They were produced from March 1941 to July 1942. The forehead and stern of the car were protected by 50 mm armor. The armor of the sides and the turret was 30 mm. The armor protection of the gun mantlet has increased by 20 mm. Among other minor improvements, the most significant was the new type of installation of the MG 34 machine gun.
Initially tanks PzKpfw III Ausf. J were armed with a 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 cannon, but starting from December 1941, they began to install a new 50 mm KwK 39 cannon with a barrel length of 60 calibers. A total of 1549 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/42 gun and 1067 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/60 gun were built.
The appearance of a new version -PzKpfw III Ausf. L - due to the unsuccessful installation of the PzKpfw III Ausf. J of the standard turret of the PzKpfw IV Ausf G tank. After the failure of this experiment, it was decided to start production of a new series of tanks with the improvements provided for the L version and armed with a 50 mm KwK 39 L / 60 cannon.
Between June and December 1942, 703 tanks of the L version were produced. Compared to previous versions, the new vehicles had reinforced cannon mantlet armor, which at the same time served as a counterweight to the elongated barrel of the KwK 39 L/60 gun. The forehead of the hull and turret was protected by additional 20 mm armor plates. The driver's viewing slot and the mask of the MG 34 course machine gun were located in the holes in the frontal armor. Other changes concerned the mechanism for tensioning the tracks, the location of smoke bombs on the stern of the tank under the bend of the armor, the design and location of navigation lights and the placement of tools on the fenders. The observation slot of the loader in the additional armor of the gun mask was eliminated. At the top of the armor protection of the mask there was a small hole for inspection and maintenance of the gun's recoil mechanism. Besides. the designers eliminated the armor protection of the base of the turret, which was located on top of the tank hull, and viewing slots on the sides of the turret. One tank of the L version was tested with the KwK 0725 recoilless rifle.
Of the ordered 1000 PzKpfw III Ausf. Only 653 L tanks were built. The rest were converted to N version tanks equipped with a 75 mm cannon.
The last version of the PzKpfw III tank with a 50 mm gun was the M. Tanks of this modification were a further development of the PzKpfw III Ausf. L and were built from October 1942 to February 1943. The initial order for new vehicles was 1,000 units, but given the advantages of Soviet tanks over the PzKpfw III with a 50 mm gun, the order was reduced to 250 vehicles. Some of the remaining tanks were converted to Stug III self-propelled guns and PzKpfw III (FI) flamethrower tanks, while the other part was converted to the N version, installing 75-mm guns on the vehicles.
Compared to the L version, the PzKpfw III Ausf. M had minor differences. Built-in 90 mm NbKWg smoke grenade launchers were installed on both sides of the turret, a counterweight for the KwK 39 L / 60 gun was mounted, and escape hatches were eliminated in the side walls of the hull. All this made it possible to increase the ammunition load from 84 to 98 shots.
The exhaust system of the tank allowed him to overcome water obstacles up to 1.3 m deep without preparation.
Other improvements concerned changing the shape of tow hooks, running lights, installing a rack for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun, and brackets for attaching additional armored screens. The price of one PzKpfw III Ausf. M (unarmed) amounted to 96183 Reichsmarks.
On April 4, 1942, Hitler ordered to study the feasibility of re-equipping the PzKpfw III tanks with the 50-mm Pak 38 cannon. To this end, one tank was equipped with a new cannon, but the experiment ended unsuccessfully.
The tanks of the latest production version received the designation PzKpfw III Ausf. N. They had the same hull and turret as the machines of the L and M versions. 447 and 213 chassis and turrets of both versions were used for their production, respectively. The main thing that distinguished the PzKpfw III Ausf. N from its predecessors, this is the 75 mm KwK 37 L/24, which was armed with the PzKpfw IV tanks of the A-F1 versions. Ammunition was 64 rounds. PzKpfw III Ausf. N had a modified gun mantlet and a one-piece commander's cupola, the armor of which reached 100 mm. The observation slot to the right of the gun was eliminated. In addition, there were a number of other minor differences from the machines of earlier versions.
Production of the N version tanks began in June 1942 and continued until August 1943. A total of 663 vehicles were produced, and another 37 tanks were converted to Ausf. N during the repair of machines of other versions.
In addition to combat, the so-called linear tanks, 5 types of command tanks were produced with a total number of 435 units. 262 tanks were converted into artillery fire control vehicles. A special order - 100 flamethrower tanks - was carried out by Wegmann. For a flamethrower with a range of up to 60 meters, 1000 liters of fire mixture were required. The tanks were intended for Stalingrad, but they got to the front only at the beginning of July 1943 - near Kursk.
At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 tanks of the F, G and H versions were converted for movement under water and were to be used when landing on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15m; fresh was supplied with a hose 18 m long and 20 cm in diameter. In the spring of 1941, experiments were continued with a 3.5-m pipe - "snorkel". Since the landing in England did not take place, a number of such tanks from the 18th Panzer Division on June 22, 1941 crossed the Western Bug along the bottom.
From July 1944, the PzKpfw III was also used as an ARV. At the same time, a square cabin was installed in place of the tower. In addition, small batches of vehicles for transporting ammunition and carrying out engineering work were produced. There were prototypes of a minesweeper tank and options for converting a linear tank into a railcar.
PzKpfw IIIs were used in all theaters of operations - from the Eastern Front to the African desert, everywhere enjoying the love of German tankers. The amenities created for the work of the crew could be considered a role model. Not a single Soviet, English or American tank of that time had them. Excellent observation and aiming devices allowed the "troika" to successfully deal with the more powerful T-34, KB and "Matilda" in cases where the latter did not have time to detect it. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were the favorite command vehicles in the Red Army precisely because of the above reasons: comfort, excellent optics, plus an excellent radio station. However, they, like other German tanks, were successfully used by Soviet tankers for their direct, combat, purpose. There were entire battalions armed with captured tanks.
The production of PzKpfw III tanks was discontinued in 1943, after the production of approximately 6,000 vehicles. In the future, only the production of self-propelled guns based on them continued. Encyclopedia of technology