10/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf M:
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. Used FuG5 radio.3
The hull escape door was eliminated.8
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.11
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf M, SdKfz 141/1 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 53,5,11,13 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 27,557 lb, 49,163 lb, 49,160 lb5,13, 49,200 lb 22,300 kg5,13 22.7 tons3, 22.3 tons , 25.5 tons11 |
| Length w/gun | 17.75'11, 20' 7", 21'5,13, 21' 1" 6.41 m3,5,13 |
| Length w/o gun | 17' 8", 18' 1.5"5,13 5.52 m5,13 |
| Height | 8' 2.5"5,13, 9.2'11, 9' 8" 2.5 m3,5,13, 2.51 m |
| Width | 9.6'11, 9' 8"5,13, 9' 8.25" 2.95 m3,5,13 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 2", 15.4"11 0.41 m, 0.38 m |
| Ground contact length | 112.5"11 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 13.5 psi, 14.4 psi11 0.94 kg/cm2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 50 mm KwK 39 L/603 75 mm L/245 75 mm KwK L/2411,13 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: 7.92 mm MG34 coaxial, bow11 2: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 6411,13, 78, 92 Pzgr & Sprgr3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,45011 3,750 Patr SmK3 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 2+0.8"11 Side: 1.2"11 |
| 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"11 57@15°3 Mantlet: 50+20@0°-45°3 |
| Turret Sides | 1.2"11 30@25°3 |
| Turret Rear | 30@12°3 |
| Turret Top | 10@83°-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM3,5,11,13 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water11 |
| Cylinders | V-1211, 1213 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 300@3,000 rpm11 30013 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:111 |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF SSG 77 Synchromesh11 6 forward, 1 reverse.3,11 |
| Steering | Clutch brake11 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric and inertia11 |
| Electrical system | Starting: 24-volt11 Running: 12-volt11 |
| Ignition | Magneto11 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline11,13 |
| Octane | |
| 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, 25 mph5,13, 28 mph11 40 kph3,5,13 |
| Cross country speed | 11 mph11, 11.2 mph 19 kph |
| Road radius | 90 miles11, 93 miles, 109 miles, 110 miles5,13 155 km3, 175 km5,13 |
| Cross country radius | 53 miles11 97 km |
| Turning radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 31.5"11, 2' 8"5,13, 4' 3" 0.8 m5,13 |
| Trench crossing | 8.5'11, 8' 6"5,13 2.59 m5,13 |
| Vertical obstacle | 23.6"11, 2'5,13 0.6 m5,13 |
| Climbing ability | 30° (57%) slope11 60%13 |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar11 |
| Wheels each side | 611, 6x2 |
| Return rollers each side | 311 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin11 |
| Length | |
| Width | 15.75"11 0.4 m |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 9211 |
| Pitch | 4.9"11 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8.25'11 2.51 m |
| Production | 1942-1943: 25012 |
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
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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