11/ZW7
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf N:
Had 75 mm L/24 installed to be used as a support vehicle for Tiger Is. It was based on the Ausf L chassis. A triple smoke launcher was mounted on the turret sides. After 1943 some of the vehicles who had returned to the factories for overhauls were given a coating of Zimmerit (antimagnetic mine paste). At the Ruegenwalde factory starting on March 19, 1943, the Ausf Ns had Seitenschürzen (armored side skirts) installed. Some received a single piece hatch instead of the double hatch. Some also had Fliegerbeschussgeraet installed. Used FuG5 radio.3
The initial order of 450 was filled by converting 3 Ausf Js and 447 Ausf Ls. As reports filtered back that the troops liked the Ausf Ns an additional 213 Ausf Ms were converted. 37 PzKpfw IIIs returned from the front for overhaul and they were converted to Ausf Ns.
From September 1942 to May 1943 there were 10 assigned to the heavy tank companies to provide support to Tiger Is.
| Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf N, SdKfz 141/2 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,3 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 49,163 lb, 50,706 lb 22.3 tons, 23 tons2,3,6 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 7" 5.65 m2,6 (L): 21' 1", 5.52 m3 (M): 21' 1", 5.65 m3 |
| Length w/o gun | 5.52 m |
| Height | 8' 2.5", 9' 8" 2.5 m2,3,6, 2.51 m |
| Width | 9' 8.25" 2.95 m3,6, 2.97 m2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.41 m, 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 2.86 m |
| Ground pressure | 13.5 psi 1.04 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK 37 L/2413 75 mm L/242,5,8 75 mm KwK L/253 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG34 coaxial, bow 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG343 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 642,5,13 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,450 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 576 Side: 306 |
| 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 | 50+202 57@15°3 Mantlet: 50@0°-45°3 |
| Turret Sides | 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 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 3006 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF SSG 77, Synchromesh 6 forward, 1 reverse.2,3 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 320 liters2 |
| Road consumption | 100 km/183 liters |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.3 |
| Max speed | 24.9 mph 40 kph2,3,6 |
| Cross country speed | 11.2 mph 19 kph |
| Road radius | 109 miles 97 km, 145 km2, 155 km3 |
| Cross country radius | 85 km2 |
| Turning radius | 5.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -8° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" 1.3 m, 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 8' 6" 2.59 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 60 cm |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar |
| Wheels each side | 6x22 |
| Return rollers each side | 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 0.4 m2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.51 m |
| Production | June 1942 - August 194312 |
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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