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Germany's 1/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf A, SdKfz 141:
PzKpfw III Ausf A: |
| Gun | Ammo Type | Weight | Muzzle Velocity | Penetration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 yards / 457 m | 1,000 yards / 914 m | ||||
| 37 mm KwK L/4512 | AP12 | 30°: 2.8"12, 70 mm12 | 30°: 1"12, 31 mm12 | ||
Built by Daimler-Benz.7,12 In May 1937, 5 of the PzKpfw III Ausf As became available and another 10 (chassis no. 60101-60110) weren't completed until the end of 1937. Eight of them received the 37 mm gun.8 The turret was built by Rheinmetall-Borsig. The suspension had 5 large double bogie wheels on coil springs.7,8 The drive sprocket was in front and the idler in the rear with 2 return rollers.8
The coaxial machine guns followed the aim of the main armament.12
The radioman operated the hull MG.12
Used FuG5 radio.3
Usage
Tested in Poland, but withdrawn in February 1940.7
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf A | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator8 52,3,4,7,8,12 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 33,824 lb, 33,951 lb, 33,069 lb 15 tons2,4,7, 15.1 tons8, 15.4 tons3 |
| Length w/gun | 18.9'4, 18' 6", 18' 8"7 5.69 m3,7, 5.8 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 7", 7.75'4, 7' 8"7 2.34 m3,7, 2.36 m2 |
| Width | 9' 2", 9.3'4,7 2.81 m3,7, 2.82 m2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.35 m2, 0.38 m |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 15.3 psi 0.67 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm KwK 36 L/45 37 mm L/46.52 37 mm KwK L/46.53 37 mm4 37 mm KwK L/457,12 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: MGs2,4 3: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| MG - coaxial | 2: 7.92 mm MG347,8,13 2: 7.92 mm MG12 |
| Mg - hull | 1: 7.92 mm MG347,8,13 1: 7.92 mm MG12 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 150 Pzgr & Sprgr3, 1212, 1507 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 4,5002,7, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 5 - 14.58 10 - 14.54 Front: 157,12 Side: 157,12 Turret: 1512 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 14.52, 14.5@817 15@10°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 14.5@69°7, 15@20°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 14.52, 14.5@90°7 15@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 15@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 14.52, 14.5@77-80°7 15@0°3 |
| Hull Top | 102 10@70-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 52 5@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 14.5@75°7, 152 15@15°3 Mantlet: 15 round3 |
| Turret Sides | 14.5@65°7, 14.52 15@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 14.52, 14.5@78°7 15@0-21°3 |
| Turret Top | 102, 10@0-7°7 10@82-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 108 TR2,3,7,8 |
| Bore/stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | V-127,8 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 2307 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 5 forward, 1 reverse.2 6 forward, 1 reverse.3 ZF SFG 75, 5 forward, 1 reverse 5 speed8 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical System | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline7,8,12 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 66 gallons7, 79 gallons 300 liters2,7 Use per 100 km of road: 200 liters |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.3 |
| Max speed | 20 mph4,7,8, 21.7 mph 32 kph7, 35 kph2,3 |
| Cross country speed | 12 mph7 19 kph7 |
| Road radius | 93 miles7, 103 miles7 150 km7, 165 km2,3,7 Cross Country: 59 miles7 94 miles, 102.5 miles, 95 km2,7 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 8' 6", 7' 6" 2.6 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 0.60 m |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Coil springs2,12 |
| Wheels each side | 5x2, 52,7,8,12 |
| Return rollers each side | 27 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | 11' 1" |
| Width | 14" 0.36 m, 0.38 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.49 m |
| Production | Daimler-Benz12 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- AFV 2: Panzerkampfwagen III, Walter Spielberger
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
