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Germany's 10/ZW; Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf M; PzKpfw III Ausf M; SdKfz 141 medium tank

Design

Water tight covers were put around access doors, air inlets in the engine, gun mantlet, and all vents had new seals for wading. Bosch lights were fitted to fenders. Smoke candles were replaced by 90 mm NBK smoke mortars on each side of turret. Many were fitted with side skirts on hull and turret (Schürzen).⁷ Late models had a deflector ring around the commander's cupola. Some had Fliegerbeschussgeraet (machine gun mount) installed on the cupola for antiaircraft defense.

The hull escape door was eliminated.¹

In July 1942 the order for 1,000 was reduced to 775 as the OKH had plans for replacing the PzKpfw IIIs with Panthers. It was decided to use 165 PzKpfw III chassis to build StuG III. 100 were converted to flame-thrower versions.

The 75 mm gun's AP round weighed 15 lbs, and had a muzzle velocity of 1,263'/sec.²

Production

• PzKpfw III Ausf M: 250⁴
  • Production: 1942 - 1943⁴

The PzKpfw III series production figures.

	Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf M,  SdKfz 141/1
Crew	Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3,5,6
Radio	FuG53
Physical Characteristics
Weight	27,557 lb, 49,163 lb, 49,160 lb5,6, 49,200 lb 22,300 kg5,6 22.7 tons3, 22.3 tons , 25.5 tons2
Length w/gun	17.75'2, 20' 7", 21'5,6, 21' 1" 6.41 m3,5,6
Length w/o gun	17' 8", 18' 1.5"5,6 5.52 m5,6
Height	8' 2.5"5,6, 9.2'2, 9' 8" 2.5 m3,5,6, 2.51 m
Width	9.6'2, 9' 8"5,6, 9' 8.25" 2.95 m3,5,6
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 2", 15.4"2 0.41 m, 0.38 m
Ground contact length	112.5"2 2.86 m
Ground pressure	13.5 psi, 14.4 psi2 0.94 kg/cm2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	50 mm KwK 39 L/603 75 mm L/245 75 mm KwK L/242,6
Secondary
MG	2: 7.92 mm MG343
MG - coaxial	7.92 mm MG342
MG - bow	7.92 mm MG342
Side arms
Quantity
Main	642,6, 78, 92 Pzgr & Sprgr3
Secondary
MG	3,4502 3,750 Patr SmK3
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	Front: 2+0.8"2 Side: 1.2"2
Hull Front, Upper	50+20@9°3
Hull Front, Lower	50@21°3
Hull Sides, Upper	30@0°3
Hull Sides, Lower	30@0°3
Hull Rear	50@9°3 & 17°3
Hull Top	18@79°-90°3
Hull Bottom	16@90°3
Turret Front	2.24"+0.8"2 57@15°3 Mantlet: 50+20@0°-45°3
Turret Sides	1.2"2 30@25°3
Turret Rear	30@12°3
Turret Top	10@83°-90°3
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 120 TRM2,3,5,6
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water2
Cylinders	V-122, 126
Capacity
Net HP	300@3,000 rpm2 3006
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio	6.5:12
Transmission (Type)	ZF SSG 77 Synchromesh2 6 forward, 1 reverse.2,3
Steering	Clutch brake2
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric and inertia2
Electrical system	Starting: 24-volt2 Running: 12-volt2
Ignition	Magneto2
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2,6
Octane
Quantity	85 gallons2 320 liters2
Road consumption	1.5 mpg2 100 km/183 liters
Cross country consumption	0.62 mpg2
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand.2,3
Max speed	24.9 mph, 25 mph5,6, 28 mph2 40 kph3,5,6
Cross country speed	11 mph2, 11.2 mph 19 kph
Road radius	90 miles2, 93 miles, 109 miles, 110 miles5,6 155 km3, 175 km5,6
Cross country radius	53 miles2 97 km
Turning radius	5.8 m
Elevation limits	-10° to +20°3
Fording depth	31.5"2, 2' 8"5,6, 4' 3" 0.8 m5,6
Trench crossing	8.5'2, 8' 6"5,6 2.59 m5,6
Vertical obstacle	23.6"2, 2'5,6 0.6 m5,6
Climbing ability	30° (57%) slope2 60%6
Suspension (Type)	Torsion bar2
Wheels each side	62, 6x2
Return rollers each side	32
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin2
Length
Width	15.75"2 0.4 m
Diameter
Number of links	922
Pitch	4.9"2
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	8.25'2 2.51 m

Sources:

1. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
2. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
3. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
4. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
5. Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
6. Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004

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