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Germany's 6/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G:
Either a PzKpfw III Ausf F or PzKpfw III Ausf G with the Afrika Korps in 1941.  Imperial War Museum |
PzKpfw III Ausf G: |
Design
In January 1939 and order for 1,250 was placed, however this was changed to 800 in May 1939 when the PzKpfw 38(t) production became available. Originally armed with 37 mm (50 were built, but most were later unarmored to the 50 mm) but changed to 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 in July 1940. Late models had 30 mm plates added to hull and superstructure in front, and lower hull in the rear.
The second coaxial MG was removed from this model forward.12
Some of the improvements was a stowage bin added to turret rear, more armor, new driver's visor, exhaust fan installed in roof of turret and one signal port removed. Smoke candles had armor added. Midway through production a new commander's cupola was installed.
The PzKpfw III Ausf G used a FuG5 radio.3
Variants
- Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G:
- Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G (Tp): Tp (tropical) version was fitted with special equipment for using in Africa. Some of that equipment was Fiefel filters fitted externally on the engine compartment.
Used in North Africa.
Usage
Early models were issued as replacements to the Panzer regiments from April 19407 to June 1940. All of these were the 37 mm KwK models. 54 PzKpfw III Ausf Gs were still in service in September 1944.
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3,13 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 44,753 lb 20.3 tons3,13, 19.5 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 17' 8", 17' 9"13 5.41 m3,13, 5.38 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8'13 2.44 m2,3,13 |
| Width | 9' 6", 9' 7"13 2.912, 2.92 m13, 2.95 m3 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 14.1 psi 0.99 kg/cm2, 0.92 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 50 mm L/422 5 cm KwK13 50 mm KwK L/423,7 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG13 2: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| MG - coaxial | 7.92 mm MG34 |
| MG - bow | 7.92 mm MG34 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 992,13, 99 Pzgr & Sprgr3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,700 Patr SmK3, 4,5002 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 30+3012 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 302,13 30@9°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@21°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 302,13 30@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 202 21@10°3 & 29°3 |
| Hull Top | 162, 1813 17@77°-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 12, 152 16@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 302,13 30@15°3 Mantlet: 37@0-45°3 |
| 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 TRM2,3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 30013 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Maybach Variorex SGR 328.145, 10 forward, 1 reverse.2 10 forward, 4 reverse.3 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 320 liters2 Use per 100 km of road: 183 liters |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.3 |
| Max speed | 24.8 mph13, 25 mph 40 kph3,13, 67 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 18 kph |
| Road radius | 108 miles13, 109 miles 165 km2,3, 175 km13 |
| Cross country radius | 60 miles13 95 km2, 97km13 |
| 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) | Torsion bar |
| Wheels each side | 6x22 |
| Return rollers each side | 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 14.1"13, 15.75" 0.36 m13, 0.38 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8' 2"13 2.49 m13 |
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
- Airfix Magazine Guide #8 German Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gande and Peter Chamberlain, 1975
