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Germany's 7/ZW; Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf H; PzKpfw III Ausf H ; SdKfz 141 medium tank
Sofia, 1941  Imperial War Museum |
Russia, summer 1941. PzKpfw III Ausf H on left, PzKpfw III Ausf J on right.  Imperial War Museum |
Captured by the Russians on December 4, 1942 |
PzKpfw III Ausf H: |
PzKpfw III Ausf H: |
PzKpfw III Ausf H: |
PzKpfw III Ausf H, North Africa: |
| Diecast 1/72 Armor |
|---|
| Admiral Toys |
72002: |
Design
An initial order of 759 were placed on January 1939. The turret was redesigned to accommodate the 50 mm KwK 38 L/42. Also a turret basket was fitted for first time in this model series.
Additional 30 mm plates were bolted to the upper and lower nose-plates.1 The tracks were widened to distribute the extra weight.1,6 Rear plate on the turret was made one piece and this eliminated bulge below commander's hatch. New sprockets, idler wheels, and reshaped shock absorbers were added.6 The 1st return roller was moved a little forward to help distribute the heavier track's weight better.6
Some of the late production vehicles had a 50 mm L/60 installed.6
Production
The PzKpfw III series production figures.
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf H | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3,4 |
| Radio | FuG53 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 47,619 lb, 43,600 lb 21.5 tons2, 21.6 tons1, 21.8 tons3, 26.6 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 18' 1", 18.33'4 5.38 m2, 5.41 m3, 5.52 m |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8', 9' 8", 8.33'4 2.44 m3, 2.5 m2 |
| Width | 9' 6", 9.8'4 2.95 m2,3 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 8 cm, 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 13.5 psi, 0.97 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 50 mm L/422,5 50 mm KwK L/423 50 mm4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MGs2,4 2: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| MG - coaxial | 7.92 MG 34 |
| MG - hull | 7.92 MG 34 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 992, 99 Pzgr & Sprgr3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,700 Patr SmK3, 3,7502 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 18 - 30+304 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 30+302 30+30@90°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30+30@23°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 302 30@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 30+302 30+30@8°3 |
| Hull Top | 162 17@77°-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 12, 152 16@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 352 30@13°3 Mantlet: 37@0-45°3 |
| Turret Sides | 302 30@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 302 30@13°3 |
| Turret Top | 102 12@85°-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM2,3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Maybach Variorex ZF SSG 77 6 forward, 1 reverse.2,3 |
| 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 | 25 mph4 40 kph3, 42 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 18 kph |
| Road radius | 109 miles 155 km2, 165 km3, 175 km |
| Cross country radius | 95 km2 |
| Turning radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 8' 6", 7' 6" 2.59 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 | 0.4 m2 15.75" |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.51 m |
Sources:
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- 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
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
