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Germany's 3a/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf C:
Fifteen (chassis # 60301-60315) were produced from June 1937 to January 1938. Extra leaf springs were added so each bogie was suspended individually.7 There were now 3 leaf springs for the 2 bogie trucks.7 Steering mechanism was improved. Used FuG5 radio.3
Usage
Used in Poland.7,12 Withdrawn in 1940 before campaigns against France.12
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf C | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 35,273 lb, 33,069 lb, 15 tons, 16 tons2,3,7 |
| Length w/gun | 19' 2" 5.69 m, 5.66-5.922, 5.85 m3 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 11", 8' 4" 2.54 m, 2.39-2.422, 2.42 m3 |
| Width | 9' 3", 9' 2" 2.81 m, 2.82 m2,3 |
| 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 L/46.52 37 mm KwK L/46.53 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: MGs2 3: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| MG - coaxial | 2: 7.92 mm MG348,13 |
| MG - hull | 1: 7.92 mm MG348,13 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1212, 121 Pzgr & Sprgr3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 4,5002, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 14.58 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 14.52 15@11°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 15@25°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 14.52 15@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 15@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 14.52 15@23°3 & 15@9°3 |
| Hull Top | 102 10@73-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 52 5@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 152 15@15°3 Mantlet: 15 round3 |
| Turret Sides | 14.52 15@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 14.52 15@0-21°3 30@12° |
| Turret Top | 102 10@83-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 108 TR2,3 |
| Bore/stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | |
| 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 | 20 mph, 24.9 mph 32 kph, 35 kph2, 40 kph3 |
| Cross country speed | |
| Road radius | 65 miles7, 94 miles, 102.5 miles 105 km7, 150 km, 165 km2,3 Cross Country: 95 km2 |
| Cross country radius | |
| 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 |
| Return rollers each side | 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 0.38 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.49 m |
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
