4/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf E:
Imperial War Museum
3rd Panzer Division at the river Kshen on July 30, 1942
New suspension with individually supported road wheels.12 Early models had the pre-production turrets that had 2 MGs coaxially. The transmission was rather complicated but it was intended to make gear changing easier. The 9th and 10th gears were overdrive. New improvements were a 2 part visor for the driver, and the single door in the side of the turret was replaced by a double door with vision slots and pistol ports. Used FuG5 radio.3
Had a new transmission and more powerful engine.7 The suspension was redesigned with 6 independent bogie road wheels, suspended from torsion bars.7,12
Last of the pre-production series.7,8
These were still on troop trial on September 1, 1939. A few had the 50 mm L/42 gun installed with covers on air intakes.
Usage
98 were used in Poland, and 350 in France.9
Majority of PzKpfw IIIs used in Poland were Ausf Es.7 Were also used in the West in 1940, Russia in 1941-1942, and North Africa to late 1942.7
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf E | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator9 52,3,6,9 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 42,769 lb9 19.5 tons2,3, 20 tons4, 21 tons12 19,400 kg9 |
| Length w/gun | 17' 8"8, 17.6'12, 17.7'9 5.38 m2,3,12, 5.4 m9 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8'8,9,12 2.4 m9 2.44 m2,3,12 |
| Width | 9' 6"9,12, 9' 7"8 2.9 m9, 2.91 m2,3,12 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 13.5 psi9 0.92 (kg/cm2)2, 0.97 (kg/cm2)9 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm KwK 36 L/45 37 mm L/46.52 37 mm KwK L/46.53,6 50 mm (late vehicles).4 50 mm KwK 39 L/429 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG34 coaxial (2), hull8 3: MGs2 3: 7.92 MG343 2: MGs4, coxial6, hull6 2: 7.92 mm MG 34, coaxial, hull9 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 131 Pzgr & Sprgr3, 1212, 1316 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 4,5002,6, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 30 - 909 Turret: 3012 Hull: 3012 Superstructure: 3012 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 302 30@9°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@21°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 302 30@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 202 21@10°3 & 29°3 |
| Hull Top | 162 17@77°-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 12, 152 16@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 302 30@15°3 Mantlet: 30 round |
| Turret Sides | 302 30@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 302 30@0°-21°3 |
| Turret Top | 102 12@83°-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TR3,7,8 Maybach HL 120 TRM2,9 Maybach12 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | water9 |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 3008,12, 3207 300@3,000 rpm9 |
| Power to weight ratio | 15.7 hp/ton9 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Maybach Variorex8 ZF SSG 76, 10 forward, 1 reverse.2 10 forward, 4 reverse.3,6,12 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline9,12 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 320 liters2 Use per 100 km of road: 183 liters |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.4,5002, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Max speed | 24.5 mph12, 25 mph9 40 kph3,9,12, 67 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 11 mph9 18 kph9 |
| Road radius | 102.5 miles12, 109 miles9 165 km2,3,12, 175 km9 |
| Cross country radius | 95 km2 |
| Turning radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°4,5002, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 8' 6", 7' 6"9 2.3 m9 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 0.60 m |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar7,12 Transverse torsion bar8 |
| Wheels each side | 6x22,12 |
| Return rollers each side | 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 14" 0.38 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.49 m |
| Production |
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
| Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle. |
