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Germany's 9/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf L:
| Diecast 1/72 Armor | |
|---|---|
| Admiral Toys | |
72001: |
72004: |
Early in the production, the hull escape hatches, loader's vision port on the gun mantlet, and turret side ports were deleted. Other changes were enlarging the radiator access hatches, making a single piece engine access hatch, and air intakes mounted parallel to vehicle's center line. The guns recoil was changed to torsion bar instead of coil, which caused the number of rounds carried to be reduced. Additional 20 mm spaced plates were welded in place to turret shield and driver's plate. A system to transfer heated engine coolant from one vehicle to another was developed.
There was originally an order for 1,100 was reduced in June 1942 so that 450 75 mm KwK L/24 would be mounted and became the Ausf N. Used FuG5 radio.3
These were issued as replacements and helped formed Panzer regiments of 1st, 2nd, 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Divisions and the Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland.
The 37 mm gun's AP round weighed 4.54 lbs. and had a muzzle velocity of 2,740'/sec.11
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf L (Tp):
Air intakes were placed inside engine compartment and special oil filters installed. Larger air inlets were installed with dust filters.
Tropical version that was used in North Africa.
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf L, SdKfz 141/1 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3,11 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 27,557 lb, 49,163 lb, 49,200 lb 22.7 tons2,3, 22.3 tons, 25.4 tons11 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 7", 21' 1" 6.28 m3, 6.41 m, 6.15 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | 17.75'11, 17' 8" 5.52 m |
| Height | 8.2'11, 8' 2.5", 9' 8" 2.5 m2,3, 2.51 m |
| Width | 9.5'11, 9' 8.25" 2.95 m3, 2.97 m2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 2", 15.4"11 0.41 m, 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 112.5"11 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 13.5 psi, 14.4 psi11 1.02 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 50 mm KwK 39 L/603,11 50 mm L/602 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| MG - coaxial | 7.92 mm MG3411 |
| MG - bow | 7.92 mm MG3411 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 787,11, 842, 92 Pzgr & Spgr3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,700, 3,7502, 4,95011, 4,950 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 18 - 50+204 Front: 2"+0.8"11 Side: 1.2"11 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 50+202 50+20@9°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 50@21°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 302 30@0°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 502 50@9°3 & 17°3 |
| Hull Top | 162 18@79°-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 152 16@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 2.24"+0.8"11 50+202 57@15°3 Mantlet: 50+20@0°-45°3 |
| Turret Sides | 1.2"11 302 30@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 302 30@12°3 |
| Turret Top | 102 10@83°-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM2,3,11 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water11 |
| Cylinders | V-1211 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 300@3,000 rpm11 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:111 |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF SSG 77, Synchromesh 6 forward, 1 reverse.2,3,11 Synchromesh11 |
| Steering | Clutch brake11 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric and inertia11 |
| Electrical system | Starting: 24-Volt11 Lighting: 12-Volt11 |
| Ignition | Magneto11 |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | Gasoline11 |
| Quantity | 85 gallons11 320 liters2 |
| Road consumption | 1.5 mpg11 100 km/183 liters |
| Cross country consumption | 0.62 mpg11 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.3,11 |
| Max speed | 24.9 mph, 28 mph11 40 kph2,3 |
| Cross country speed | 11 mph11, 11.2 mph 19 kph |
| Road radius | 90 miles11, 93 miles, 109 miles 145 km2, 155 km3, 175 km |
| Cross country radius | 53 miles11 85 km2 |
| Turning radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 31.5"11, 2' 8" 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 7.2'11, 8' 6" 2.59 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 23.6"11, 2' 0.60 m |
| Climbing ability | 30° (57%) slope11 |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar11 |
| Wheels each side | 611, 6x22 |
| Return rollers each side | 311 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin11 |
| Length | |
| Width | 15.75"11 0.4 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 9211 |
| Pitch | 4.9"11 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 6.9'11 2.51 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
