5/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf F:
Either a PzKpfw III Ausf F or PzKpfw III Ausf G with the Afrika Korps in 1941.
Imperial War Museum
Was basically the same as the Ausf E.12 Improvements to the covers on the air intakes (bow near headlights)12, improved brake system, and additional position lights were fitted. Armed with 37mm but later changed to 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 (approximately 100 were built). From August 1940 to 1942 most of the remaining tanks were converted to the 50 mm main gun and had additional 30 mm armor plates added to the bow and superstructure. Used FuG5 radio.3
Was the first main production model of the PzKpfw III series.7 Were issued to the Panzer divisions starting in late 19397 and early 1940. Some were still being used by the 116th Panzer division in June 1944 in Normandy.
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf F | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator10 51,2,3,10 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 44,753 lb, 19,500 kg1 19.2 tons1, 19.5 tons2,10, 19.8 tons3,6, 20.3 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 17' 8", 17' 4.5"1 5.38 m1,2,3,6,10, 5.41 m |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8', 7' 11.75"1 2.44 m2,3,6, 2.435 m1,10 |
| Width | 9.75'4, 9' 6", 9', 10.9"1 2.91 m1,2,3,6,10 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.38 m2, 0.385 m10 |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 14.1 psi 0.99 (kg/cm2)10, 0.92 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm KwK 36 L/45 37 mm KwK L/4510 37 mm1 37 mm L/46.52 37 mm KwK L/46.53 Later models: 50 mm KwK 39 L/4210 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG34 coaxial (2), bow 2: 7.92 MG34, coaxial, hull10 2: 7.92 mm MG1 3: MGs2 3: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 37: 131 Pzgr & Sprgr3, 12010, 1212 50: 9910 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,75010, 4,5002, 4,500 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 306 Side: 306 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 302 30@9°3,10 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@20°10, 30@21°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 302 30@0°3 , 30@90°10 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°3, 30@90°10 |
| Hull Rear | 202 21@10°3 & 29°3 |
| Hull Top | 162 , 17@0°10, 17@77°-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 12, 152 16@0°10, 16@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 302 30@15°3,10 Mantlet: 30 round10 |
| Turret Sides | 302 30@25°3,10 |
| Turret Rear | 302 30@12°10, 30@0°-21°3 |
| Turret Top | 102, 1210 12@83°-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TR Maybach HL 120 TRM1,2,3,10 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water10 |
| Cylinders | V-1210 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 3006, 300@3,000 rpm10 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Maybach Variorex SGR 328.145, 10 forward, 1 reverse.2 10 forward, 4 reverse.3 Maybach SRG 328145 Variotex pre-selector, 10 forward, 1 reverse10 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline10 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 320 liters2,10 Use per 100 km of road: 183 liters |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand3,10 |
| Max speed | 25 mph, 24.8 mph1 40 kph1,3,6,10, 67 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 18 kph |
| Road radius | 102.5 miles1, 109 miles 165 km1,2,3,10, 175 km |
| Cross country radius | 95 km2, 100 km10 |
| Turning radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +10° 10 -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" 0.8 m2,10 |
| Trench crossing | 8' 6", 7' 6" 2.3 m10 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 0.60 m |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar10 |
| Wheels each side | 6x22, 610 |
| Return rollers each side | 310 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 14" 0.36 m10, 0.38 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.49 m |
| Production | 1939-1940: 43512 |
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
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