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Germany's 2/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf B, SdKfz 141:
Design
Fifteen7 (chassis no. 60201-60215) were produced in 19377. New suspension with 2 leaf springs on 2 bogie trucks with 4 wheels each and 3 return rollers.7,8 The exhaust system and driver's vision port were modified. A new commander's cupola was installed (same as on PzKpfw IV). The rear deck and air louvers were changed. Between 1937 and 1938 5 chassis were used for the 0-series of the StuG III. Used FuG5 radio.3
In October 1940, 5 (which had been used in experimental Sturmgeschütz) were returned to the armored troops for use as training vehicles.
Usage
Used in Poland but withdrawn before the invasion of France.7,12
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf B | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3,14 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 35,053 lb, 33,069 lb 15 tons14, 15.9 tons3, 16 tons2, 18 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 18' 6", 18' 7", 18' 8"14 5.67 m3, 5.69 m14, 5.66-5.922 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 10", 8' 4"14, 8.4'4 2.39 m3, 2.39-2.422, 2.54 m14, 2.81 m3 |
| Width | 9' 2", 9' 2.6"14 2.81 m14, 2.82 m2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 15.3 psi 0.68 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm KwK 36 L/45 37 mm KwK14 37 mm L/46.52 37 mm KwK L/46.53 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: MGs2 3: 7.92 mm MG343 3: 7.92 mm MG14 |
| MG - coaxial | 2: 7.92 mm MG3413 |
| MG - hull | 1: 7.92 mm MG3413 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1212,3,7, Pzgr & Sprgr3, 15014 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 4,5002,14, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 14.58 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 14.52,14 15@10°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 15@25°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 14.52,14 15@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 15@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 14.52 15@0-21°3 & 15@0°3 |
| Hull Top | 102, 1814 10@90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 52 5@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 14.514, 152 15@15°3 Mantlet: 15 round3 |
| Turret Sides | 14.52 15@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 14.52 15@0-21° |
| Turret Top | 102 10@83-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 108 TR2,3 |
| Bore/stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 23014 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 5 forward, 1 reverse.2,3 6 forward, 1 reverse ZF SFG 75, 5 forward, 1 reverse 5 speed8 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical System | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 300 liters2 Use per 100 km of road: 200 liters |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.3 |
| Max speed | 19.8 mph14, 20 mph, 22 mph, 24.9 mph 32 kph14, 35 kph2, 40 kph3 |
| Cross country speed | |
| Road radius | 93 miles14, 94 miles, 102.5 miles 150 km14, 165 km2,3 |
| Cross country radius | 59 miles14 95 km2,14 |
| Turning Radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 8' 6", 7' 6" 2.3 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 0.60 m |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf spring2 |
| Wheels each side | 8x22,7,8 |
| Return rollers each side | 37 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | 10' 4" |
| Width | 1' 2.1"14 0.36 m14, 0.38 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8' 2"14 2.49 m14 |
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
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- 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
- Airfix Magazine Guide #8 German Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gande and Peter Chamberlain, 1975
