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:	197 kW (265 hp)
Crew:	5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver and radio operator)

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.

Panzer III Ausf A,B,C,D - pre-production models in 1937-38. 75 produced.
Panzer III Ausf E,F - Production models 1939-1940. Armed with 37mm (later 50mm) guns. 531 produced.
Panzer III Ausf G - More armour on gun mantlet. Armed with 37mm (later 50mm) guns. 600 produced in 1940-41.
Panzer III Ausf H - Minor modifications. Bolt-on armor added to front hull (30mm+30mm plates). 308 produced in 1940-41.
Panzer III Ausf J - The hull was lenghtened. Front armor modified again (50mm single plate). Later models had a more effective 50mm/L60 gun. 2616 produced in 1941-42.
Panzer III Ausf L - Minor modifications Uparmoured to 50mm+20mm plates. 653 produced in 1942.
Panzer III Ausf M - 250 produced in 1942-43.
Panzer III Ausf N - Armed with a 75mm L/24 gun. 700 produced in 1942-43.

Tauchpanzer III - Some tanks were converted to "diving tanks" for Operation Sealion.
Bergepanzer III - In 1944 all Panzer IIIs were converted to armoured recovery vehicles.
Sturmgeschütz III - Assault gun with 75mm StuK.

Used in the campaigns agains Poland, France, the Soviet Union and in North Africa. Some were still in use in Normandy in 1944.