What does a German tank look like sew on 02 03. Historical information about the development and use of medium tanks PzKpfw III

In 1935, the Armaments Directorate, following Guderian's concept of mat. parts of tank divisions, issued a number of companies with an order for a medium tank weighing 15 tons. The project presented by Daimler-Benz turned out to be the best. It was this company that was assigned the right to be the main developer of the machine. In the period from 1937 to 1938, the company produced small batches of experimental tanks of modifications A, B, C and D. All vehicles in this series had armor thickness of only 14.5 millimeters. In 1938, the present began with the release of modification E mass production. The maximum speed of the vehicle, which had a combat weight of 19,500 kg, was 40 km/h. The crew of the combat vehicle included 5 people (driver, commander, gunner-radio operator, gunner and loader). The layout of the Pz Kpfw III was traditional for German tank building - in the stern there was a power compartment, in the bow there was a combined control compartment and transmission compartment, in the turret and in the middle of the hull there was a fighting compartment. The front wheels were driving. The turret and hull are welded, made from surface-hardened chrome-nickel armor steel sheets. The armor of the turret and hull was the same - 30 millimeters.

The armament included a 37 mm caliber semi-automatic tank gun and three machine guns (two in the turret and the front one).

A. Hitler, after the French campaign, demanded to rearm the Pz Kpfw III with a 50-mm long-barreled L/60 cannon (this designation is the length of the barrel in bulbs). The reason for this decision was the appearance of the British Matilda tanks with thick armor. However, the Armament Directorate made a different decision and preferred a gun with a 42-caliber length and a low muzzle velocity. The cannon was equipped with Pz Kpfw III tanks of modifications E, F, G. It was with these vehicles that the German army began the war with the USSR. Subsequently, the initiative of the Armaments Directorate was very costly for the tank units - a 50-mm cannon shell could hardly penetrate the armor of the Soviet T-34 and KB.

On modification N, which appeared in 1940, due to the screens, the thickness of the armor of the stern and frontal parts of the hull was increased to 60 millimeters. The combat weight, which increased to 21,800 kg, required wide tracks in order to maintain a sufficiently high specific ground pressure at the same level.

German tank crews on PzKpfw III in northern Africa

Unloading German equipment at the port of Tripoli. In the foreground is a PzKpfw III Ausf G tank.

German tank PzKpfw III Ausf. L on a flatbed trailer, which was most often used with the 18-ton FAMO half-track tractor

Modification J tanks (created in the second half of 1941) were finally equipped with the long-barreled gun that A. Hitler spoke about. An armor-piercing projectile penetrated an armor plate 75 millimeters thick at a range of 500 meters, and a sub-caliber projectile penetrated 115 millimeters. The mass of the tank was 21,500 kg.

In July 1942, serial production of modification L began, and in October - modification M, which was distinguished by enhanced armor protection of the frontal part of the hull. The total thickness of the armor plates and 20 mm screens reached 70 mm.

The latest modification N was armed with the same short-barreled 75 mm caliber gun, which was previously installed on the Pz Kpfw IV tank. This modification should be classified as assault tanks, not linear tanks. Between 1942 and 1943, 660 tanks were built.

In total, twelve modifications of the Pz Kpfw III were produced in the amount of 5,691 units. In addition, 220 command vehicles were built without cannon armament, 50 with a long-barreled gun and 81 with a short-barreled gun. In 1943, they produced 100 Pz Kpfw III Flamm flamethrowing vehicles. From February 43rd to April 44th - 262 artillery observation tanks Sd Kfz 143 (Pz Beob Wg III). There are 150 tanks in repair and evacuation areas.

From a technical point of view, this medium tank was an interesting vehicle. The Pz Kpfw III featured many innovations: the road wheels had a torsion bar suspension, control was carried out using planetary turning mechanisms and servos, and so on.

On the other hand, the “troika” was characterized by low cross-country ability and insufficient mobility. Attempts at modernization did not bring significant results, except for a partial increase in armor and strengthening of weapons. The engine group was never revised, and therefore, as the mass increased, the specific power decreased.

The Germans, no matter how hard they wanted, were unable to equalize fighting qualities Pz Kpfw III with T-34, mainly due to the lack of structural reserves. Production of these tanks ceased in August 1943. The freed up factory capacity was used to produce assault guns based on these vehicles.

Combat and specifications medium tanks Pz Kpfw III (Ausf E/Ausf G/Ausf M/Ausf N):
Year of manufacture – 1938/1940/1942/1942;
Combat weight - 19500/20300/22700/23000 kg;
Crew – 5 people;
Body length – 5380/5410/5410/5650 mm;
Length with gun forward – 5380/5410/6410/5650 mm;
Width – 2910/2950/2950/2950 mm;
Height – 2440/2442/2500/2500 mm;
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the hull (angle of inclination to the vertical) is 30 mm (21 degrees)/30 mm (21 degrees)/50 mm (21 degrees)/50 mm (21 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates on the sides of the hull is 30 mm (the angle of inclination to the vertical is 0 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the front part of the turret is 30/30/57/57 mm (the angle of inclination to the vertical is 15 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the roof and bottom of the hull is 17 and 16/18 and 16/18 and 16/18 and 16;
Gun brand – KwK/KwK38/KwK39/KwK37;
Gun caliber – 37/50/50/75 mm;
Barrel length – 46.5/42/60/24 klb.;
Ammunition, rounds – 131/99/92/64 pcs.;
Number of machine guns – 3/3/2/2;
Machine gun caliber - 7.92 mm;
Ammunition, cartridges - 4500/2700/3750/3750 pcs.;
Engine type and brand – Maybach HL120TR/Maybach HL120TRM/Maybach HL120TRM/Maybach HL120TRM;
Engine power – 300 l. With.;
Maximum speed on the highway – 40 km/h;
Fuel capacity – 320/320/318/318 l;
Cruising range on the highway – 165/165/155/155 km;
Average ground pressure – 0.95/0.93/0.94/0.94 kg/cm2.

German tank PzKpfw III and its crew

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf.J. This modification had a lighter hull, and the thickness of the frontal armor was increased to 50 mm

Modern battle tanks Russia and the world photos, videos, pictures watch online. This article gives an idea of ​​the modern tank fleet. It is based on the principle of classification used in the most authoritative reference book to date, but in a slightly modified and improved form. And if the latter in its original form can still be found in the armies of a number of countries, then others have already become museum pieces. And just for 10 years! Follow in the footsteps of Jane's Guide and skip this one combat vehicle(very interesting in design and fiercely discussed at one time), which formed the basis of the tank fleet of the last quarter of the 20th century, was considered unfair by the authors.

Films about tanks where there is still no alternative to this type of weapon ground forces. The tank was and will probably remain for a long time modern weapons thanks to the ability to combine such seemingly contradictory qualities as high mobility, powerful weapons and reliable crew protection. These unique qualities of tanks continue to be constantly improved, and the experience and technology accumulated over decades predetermine new frontiers in combat properties and achievements of the military-technical level. In the eternal confrontation between “projectile and armor”, as practice shows, protection against projectiles is increasingly being improved, acquiring new qualities: activity, multi-layeredness, self-defense. At the same time, the projectile becomes more accurate and powerful.

Russian tanks are specific in that they allow you to destroy the enemy from a safe distance, have the ability to make quick maneuvers on off-road, contaminated terrain, can “walk” through territory occupied by the enemy, seize a decisive bridgehead, cause panic in the rear and suppress the enemy with fire and tracks . The war of 1939-1945 became the most difficult test for all humanity, since almost all countries of the world were involved in it. It was a clash of the titans - the most unique period that theorists argued about in the early 1930s and during which tanks were used in large quantities virtually all warring parties. At this time, a “lice test” and a deep reform of the first theories of the use of tank forces took place. And it is the Soviet tank forces that are most affected by all this.

Tanks in battle have become a symbol of the past war, the backbone of the Soviet armored forces? Who created them and under what conditions? How did the USSR, having lost most of its European territories and with difficulty recruiting tanks for the defense of Moscow, was able to release powerful tank formations onto the battlefields already in 1943? This book, which tells about the development, is intended to answer these questions Soviet tanks"in the days of testing", from 1937 to the beginning of 1943. When writing the book, materials from Russian archives and private collections of tank builders were used. There was a period in our history that remained in my memory with some kind of depressing feeling. It began with the return of our first military advisers from Spain, and only stopped at the beginning of forty-three,” said former general designer of self-propelled guns L. Gorlitsky, “some kind of pre-storm state was felt.

Tanks of the Second World War It was M. Koshkin, almost underground (but, of course, with the support of “the wisest of the wise leaders of all nations”), who was able to create the tank that a few years later would shock the Germans tank generals. And not only that, he not only created it, the designer managed to prove to these military fools that it was his T-34 that they needed, and not just another wheeled-tracked "motor vehicle." The author is in slightly different positions, which formed in him after meeting the pre-war documents of the RGVA and RGEA. Therefore, working on this segment of the history of the Soviet tank, the author will inevitably contradict something “generally accepted.” This work describes the history of Soviet tank building in the most difficult years - from the beginning of a radical restructuring of the entire activity of design bureaus and people's commissariats in general, during the frantic race to equip new tank formations of the Red Army, transfer industry to wartime rails and evacuation.

Tanks Wikipedia, the author would like to express his special gratitude to M. Kolomiets for his assistance in selecting and processing materials, and also thank A. Solyankin, I. Zheltov and M. Pavlov, the authors of the reference publication “Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. 1905 - 1941” , since this book helped to understand the fate of some projects that was previously unclear. I would also like to remember with gratitude those conversations with Lev Izraelevich Gorlitsky, the former chief designer of UZTM, which helped to take a fresh look at the entire history of the Soviet tank during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War Soviet Union. For some reason today it is common for us to talk about 1937-1938. only from the point of view of repression, but few people remember that it was during this period that those tanks were born that became legends of the wartime...” From the memoirs of L.I. Gorlinky.

Soviet tanks, a detailed assessment of them at that time was heard from many lips. Many old people recalled that it was from the events in Spain that it became clear to everyone that the war was getting closer and closer to the threshold and it was Hitler who would have to fight. In 1937, mass purges and repressions began in the USSR, and against the backdrop of these difficult events, the Soviet tank began to transform from “mechanized cavalry” (in which one of its combat qualities was emphasized at the expense of others) into a balanced combat vehicle, simultaneously possessing powerful weapons, sufficient to suppress most targets, good maneuverability and mobility with armor protection capable of maintaining its combat effectiveness when fired upon by the most massive anti-tank weapons of a potential enemy.

It was recommended that large tanks be supplemented with only special tanks - amphibious tanks, chemical tanks. The brigade now had 4 separate battalions of 54 tanks each and was strengthened by moving from three-tank platoons to five-tank ones. In addition, D. Pavlov justified the refusal to form three additional mechanized corps in addition to the four existing mechanized corps in 1938, believing that these formations were immobile and difficult to control, and most importantly, they required a different rear organization. The tactical and technical requirements for promising tanks, as expected, were adjusted. In particular, in a letter dated December 23 to the head of the design bureau of plant No. 185 named after. CM. Kirov, the new boss demanded that the armor of the new tanks be strengthened so that at a distance of 600-800 meters (effective range).

The newest tanks in the world, when designing new tanks, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of increasing the level of armor protection during modernization by at least one stage...” This problem could be solved in two ways: Firstly, by increasing the thickness of the armor plates and, secondly, by “using increased armor resistance." It is not difficult to guess that the second way was considered more promising, since the use of specially strengthened armor plates, or even two-layer armor, could, while maintaining the same thickness (and the mass of the tank as a whole), increase its durability by 1.2-1.5 It was this path (the use of especially hardened armor) that was chosen at that moment to create new types of tanks.

Tanks of the USSR at the dawn of tank production, armor was most widely used, the properties of which were identical in all areas. Such armor was called homogeneous (homogeneous), and from the very beginning of armor making, craftsmen sought to create just such armor, because homogeneity ensured stability of characteristics and simplified processing. However, at the end of the 19th century, it was noticed that when the surface of an armor plate was saturated (to a depth of several tenths to several millimeters) with carbon and silicon, its surface strength increased sharply, while the rest of the plate remained viscous. This is how heterogeneous (non-uniform) armor came into use.

For military tanks, the use of heterogeneous armor was very important, since an increase in the hardness of the entire thickness of the armor plate led to a decrease in its elasticity and (as a consequence) to an increase in fragility. Thus, the most durable armor, all other things being equal, turned out to be very fragile and often chipped even from the explosions of high-explosive fragmentation shells. Therefore, at the dawn of armor production, when producing homogeneous sheets, the task of the metallurgist was to achieve the maximum possible hardness of the armor, but at the same time not to lose its elasticity. Surface-hardened armor with carbon and silicon saturation was called cemented (cemented) and was considered at that time a panacea for many ills. But cementation is a complex, harmful process (for example, treating a hot plate with a jet of illuminating gas) and relatively expensive, and therefore its development in a series required large expenses and improved production standards.

Wartime tanks, even in operation, these hulls were less successful than homogeneous ones, since for no apparent reason cracks formed in them (mainly in loaded seams), and it was very difficult to put patches on holes in cemented slabs during repairs. But it was still expected that a tank protected by 15-20 mm cemented armor would be equivalent in level of protection to the same one, but covered with 22-30 mm sheets, without a significant increase in weight.
Also, by the mid-1930s, tank building had learned to harden the surface of relatively thin armor plates by uneven hardening, known since the end of the 19th century in shipbuilding as the “Krupp method.” Surface hardening led to a significant increase in hardness front side sheet, leaving the main thickness of the armor viscous.

How tanks fire video up to half the thickness of the slab, which was, of course, worse than cementation, since while the hardness of the surface layer was higher than with cementation, the elasticity of the hull sheets was significantly reduced. So the “Krupp method” in tank building made it possible to increase the strength of armor even slightly more than cementation. But the hardening technology that was used for thick naval armor was no longer suitable for relatively thin tank armor. Before the war, this method was almost not used in our serial tank building due to technological difficulties and relatively high cost.

Combat use of tanks The most proven tank gun was the 45-mm tank gun model 1932/34. (20K), and before the event in Spain it was believed that its power was quite sufficient to perform most tank tasks. But the battles in Spain showed that a 45-mm gun can only satisfy the task of fighting enemy tanks, since even shelling of manpower in the mountains and forests turned out to be ineffective, and it was only possible to disable a dug-in enemy firing point in the event of a direct hit . Firing at shelters and bunkers was ineffective due to the low high-explosive effect of a projectile weighing only about two kg.

Types of tanks photos so that even one shell hit can reliably disable an anti-tank gun or machine gun; and thirdly, to increase the penetrating effect of a tank gun against the armor of a potential enemy, since in the example French tanks(already having an armor thickness of about 40-42 mm) it became clear that the armor protection of foreign combat vehicles tends to be significantly strengthened. There was a sure way for this - increasing the caliber of tank guns and simultaneously increasing the length of their barrel, since a long gun of a larger caliber fires heavier projectiles with a higher initial velocity over a greater distance without correcting the aiming.

The best tanks in the world had a large-caliber cannon, and also had a large breech, significantly more weight and increased recoil response. And this required an increase in the mass of the entire tank as a whole. In addition, placing large-sized rounds in a closed tank volume led to a decrease in transportable ammunition.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that at the beginning of 1938 it suddenly turned out that there was simply no one to give the order for the design of a new, more powerful tank gun. P. Syachintov and his entire design team were repressed, as well as the core of the Bolshevik design bureau under the leadership of G. Magdesiev. Only the group of S. Makhanov remained in the wild, who, since the beginning of 1935, had been trying to develop his new 76.2-mm semi-automatic single gun L-10, and the staff of plant No. 8 was slowly finishing the “forty-five”.

Photos of tanks with names The number of developments is large, but mass production in the period 1933-1937. not a single one has been accepted..." In fact, none of the five air-cooled tank diesel engines, work on which was carried out in 1933-1937 in the engine department of plant No. 185, was brought to series. Moreover, despite the decisions the highest levels about the transition in tank building exclusively to diesel engines, this process was constrained by a number of factors. Of course, diesel had significant efficiency. It consumed less fuel per unit of power per hour. Diesel fuel less susceptible to fire, since the flash point of its vapor was very high.

New tanks video, even the most advanced of them, the MT-5 tank engine, required a reorganization of engine production for serial production, which was expressed in the construction of new workshops, the supply of advanced foreign equipment (they did not yet have their own machines of the required accuracy), financial investments and strengthening of personnel. It was planned that in 1939 this diesel would produce 180 hp. will go to production tanks and artillery tractors, but due to investigative work to determine the causes of tank engine failures, which lasted from April to November 1938, these plans were not implemented. The development of a slightly increased six-cylinder gasoline engine No. 745 with a power of 130-150 hp was also started.

Brands of tanks had specific indicators that suited tank builders quite well. The tanks were tested using a new technique, specially developed at the insistence of the new head of the ABTU D. Pavlov in relation to combat service in war time. The basis of the tests was a run of 3-4 days (at least 10-12 hours of daily non-stop movement) with a one-day break for technical inspection and restoration work. Moreover, repairs were allowed to be carried out only by field workshops without the involvement of factory specialists. This was followed by a “platform” with obstacles, “swimming” in water with an additional load that simulated an infantry landing, after which the tank was sent for inspection.

Super tanks online, after improvement work, seemed to remove all claims from the tanks. And the general progress of the tests confirmed the fundamental correctness of the main design changes - an increase in displacement by 450-600 kg, the use of the GAZ-M1 engine, as well as the Komsomolets transmission and suspension. But during testing, numerous minor defects again appeared in the tanks. Chief designer N. Astrov was removed from work and was under arrest and investigation for several months. In addition, the tank received a new turret with improved protection. The modified layout made it possible to place on the tank more ammunition for a machine gun and two small fire extinguishers (previously there were no fire extinguishers on small tanks of the Red Army).

US tanks as part of modernization work, on one production model of the tank in 1938-1939. The torsion bar suspension developed by the designer of the design bureau of plant No. 185 V. Kulikov was tested. It was distinguished by the design of a composite short coaxial torsion bar (long monotorsion bars could not be used coaxially). However, such a short torsion bar did not show good enough results in tests, and therefore the torsion bar suspension did not immediately pave the way for itself in the course of further work. Obstacles to be overcome: climbs of at least 40 degrees, vertical wall 0.7 m, covered ditch 2-2.5 m."

YouTube about tanks, work on the production of prototypes of the D-180 and D-200 engines for reconnaissance tanks is not being carried out, jeopardizing the production of prototypes." Justifying his choice, N. Astrov said that the wheeled-tracked non-floating reconnaissance aircraft (factory designation 101 or 10-1), as well as the amphibious tank variant (factory designation 102 or 10-2), are a compromise solution, since it is not possible to fully satisfy the ABTU requirements. Option 101 was a tank weighing 7.5 tons with a hull according to the type of hull, but with vertical side sheets of cemented armor 10-13 mm thick, since: “The inclined sides, causing serious weighting of the suspension and hull, require a significant (up to 300 mm) widening of the hull, not to mention the complication of the tank.

Video reviews of tanks in which the tank’s power unit was planned to be based on the 250-horsepower MG-31F aircraft engine, which was being developed by industry for agricultural aircraft and gyroplanes. 1st grade gasoline was placed in the tank under the floor of the fighting compartment and in additional onboard gas tanks. The armament fully corresponded to the task and consisted of coaxial machine guns DK 12.7 mm caliber and DT (in the second version of the project even ShKAS is listed) 7.62 mm caliber. The combat weight of the tank with torsion bar suspension was 5.2 tons, with spring suspension - 5.26 tons. Tests took place from July 9 to August 21 according to the methodology approved in 1938, with special attention being paid to tanks.

Pz Kpfw III (T-III)

Until the summer of 1943, the Germans divided theirs into light, medium and heavy weapons. Therefore, with approximately equal mass and armor thickness of the Pz. III was considered average, and Pz. IV - heavy.
However, it was the Pz. III was destined to become one of the concrete embodiments of the military doctrine of Nazi Germany. Not forming a majority in the Wehrmacht tank divisions either in the Polish (96 units) or in the French campaign (381 units), by the time of the attack on the USSR it was already being produced in significant quantities and was the main vehicle of the Panzerwaffe. Its history began simultaneously with other tanks. with which Germany entered the second world war.
In 1934, the Army Weapons Service issued an order for a combat vehicle with a 37-mm cannon, which received the designation ZW (Zugfuhrerwagen - company commander). From four companies. participating in the competition. only one - Daimler-Benz - received an order for the production of a pilot batch of 10 cars. In 1936, these tanks were transferred to military testing under the army designation PzKpfw III Ausf. A (or Pz. IIIA). They clearly bore the mark of the influence of W. Christie's designs - five large-diameter road wheels.
The second experimental batch of 12 Model B units had a completely different chassis with 8 small road wheels, reminiscent of the Pz, IV. On the next 15 experimental Ausf tanks The chassis was similar, but the suspension was noticeably improved. It should be emphasized that all other combat characteristics of the mentioned modifications, in principle, remained unchanged.
This cannot be said about the D series tanks (50 units), the frontal and side armor of which was increased to 30 mm, while the mass of the tank reached 19.5 tons, and the specific armor increased from 0.77 to 0.96 kg/cm2.
In 1938, at the factories of three companies at once - Daimler-Benz, " " and MAN - production of the first mass modification of the Troika began - Ausf. E. 96 tanks of this model received a chassis with six rubber-coated road wheels and a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers. which was no longer subject to significant changes. The combat weight of the tank was 19.5 tons. The crew consisted of 5 people. This number of crew members, starting with PzKpfw III. became standard on all subsequent German medium and heavy tanks Thus, already from the mid-30s, the Germans achieved a functional division of duties among crew members. Their opponents came to this much later - only by 1943-1944.
The PzKpfw III E was armed with a 37 mm cannon with a 46.5 caliber barrel and three MG 34 machine guns (131 rounds and 4,500 rounds). 12-cylinder carburetor Maybach HL 120TR with a power of 300 hp. at 3000 rpm allowed the tank to develop maximum speed on the highway 40 km/h; The cruising range was 165 km on the highway and 95 km when driving over rough terrain.
The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which shortened the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplifying the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, the prerequisites were created for increasing the size of the fighting compartment.
Characteristic of the hull of this tank is... however, for all German tanks of that period, there was equal strength of the armor plates on all main planes and an abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred ease of access to units over the strength of the hull.
Deserves a positive assessment, characteristic of which was a large number of gears in a gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was ensured by a “shaftless” gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servomechanisms were used.
The width of the caterpillar tracks - 360 mm - was chosen based mainly on road traffic conditions, while off-road capability was significantly limited. However, in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations, off-road conditions still had to be looked for.
Medium tank The PzKpfw III was the Wehrmacht's first truly combat tank. It was developed as a vehicle for platoon leaders, but from 1940 to early 1943 it was the main medium tank of the German army. PzKpfw III of various modifications were produced from 1936 to 1943 by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Alkett, Krupp, FAMO, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG.
Germany entered the Second World War armed with, in addition to light weapons, PzKpfw tanks I and PzKpfw II medium tanks PzKpfw III versions A, B, C, D and E (see chapter "Tanks of the interwar period. 1918-1939", section "Germany").
Between October 1939 and July 1940, FAMO, Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN and Alkett produced 435 PzKpfw III Ausf tanks. F, which differed slightly from the previous modification E. The tanks received armor protection for the air intakes brake system and control systems, access hatches to the control system mechanisms were made of two parts, the base of the tower was covered with special protection so that if a projectile hits the tower it would not jam. Additional side lights were installed on the wings. Three running lights of the "Notek" type were located on the front of the hull and the left wing of the tank.
PzKpfw III Ausf. F were armed with a 37-mm cannon with a so-called internal mantlet, and 100 vehicles of the same version were armed with a 50-mm cannon with an external mantlet. In 1942-1943, some tanks received a 50-mm KwK 39 L/60 cannon, the first 10 vehicles with The 50 mm gun was built back in June 1940.
Production of version G tanks began in April - May 1940, and by February 1941, 600 tanks of this type had entered the Wehrmacht tank units. The initial order was 1,250 vehicles, but after the capture of Czechoslovakia, when the Germans put many Czechoslovak LT-38 tanks into service, which received the designation PzKpfw 38 (t) in the German army, the order was reduced to 800 vehicles.
On the PzKpfw III Ausf. G the thickness of the stern armor increased to 30 mm. The driver's inspection slot began to be closed by an armored flap. An electric one in a protective casing appeared on the roof of the tower.
The tanks were supposed to be armed with a 37 mm cannon, but most of the vehicles left the assembly shops with the 50 mm KwK 39 L/42 cannon, developed by Krupp in 1938. At the same time, the re-equipment of previously produced tanks of models E and F with a new artillery system began. The new gun consisted of 99 rounds, and 3,750 rounds were intended for two MG 34 machine guns. After rearmament, the tank's weight increased to 20.3 tons.
The location of boxes with spare parts and tools on the fenders has changed. The roof of the turret had a hole for launching signal flares. An additional equipment box was often attached to the rear wall of the turret. received the humorous name "Rommel's chest".
Tanks of later production were equipped with a new type of commander's cupola, which was also installed on the PzKpfw IV and was equipped with five periscopes.
Tropical tanks were also built. They were designated PzKpfw III Ausf. G (trop) and featured an improved cooling system and air filters. 54 units of these vehicles were produced.
The G version tanks entered service with the Wehrmacht during the French campaign.
In October 1940, from MAN, Alkett. Henschel, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG launched mass production of tanks of the N version. By April 1941, 310 (according to some sources 408) vehicles were built out of 759 ordered in January 1939.
The thickness of the armor of the rear wall of the turret of the PzKpfw III Ausf tanks. H increased to 50 mm. Applicated frontal armor was reinforced with an additional armor plate 30 mm thick.
Due to the increase in the mass of the tank and the use of 400 mm wide tracks, special guides had to be installed on the support and support rollers, which increased the diameter of the rollers by 40 mm. To eliminate excessive track sag, the front support roller, which on version G tanks was located almost next to the spring shock absorber, had to be moved forward.
Other improvements include changes in the position of the fender lights, tow hooks, and the shape of the access hatches. The designers moved the box with smoke bombs under the canopy of the rear plate of the power compartment. An angular profile was installed at the base of the tower, protecting the base from being hit by a projectile.
Instead of the Variorex gearbox, version H vehicles were equipped with the SSG 77 type (six forward gears and one reverse). The design of the turret was changed in such a way that the crew members in it rotated with the turret. The tank commander, as well as the gunner and loader, had their own hatches in the side walls and roof of the turret.
Baptism of fire tanks PzKpfw III Ausf. H received during Operation Barbarossa. In 1942-1943, the tanks were re-equipped with a 50-mm KwK L/60 cannon.
The next production version was the PzKpfw III Ausf. J. They were produced from March 1941 to July 1942. The front and rear of the vehicle were protected by 50 mm armor. The armor on the sides and turret was 30 mm. The armor protection of the gun mantlet has increased by 20 mm. Among other minor improvements, the most significant was new type installation of the MG 34 machine gun.
Initially the PzKpfw III Ausf. J were armed with a 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 cannon, but starting in December 1941, they began to be equipped with a new 50 mm KwK 39 cannon with a barrel length of 60 calibers. A total of 1,549 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/42 cannon and 1,067 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/60 cannon were built.
Appearance new version-PzKpfw III Ausf. L - due to unsuccessful installation work on the PzKpfw III Ausf. J of the standard turret of the PzKpfw IV Ausf G tank. After the failure of this experiment, it was decided to begin production of a new series of tanks with the improvements provided for the L version and armed with a 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 cannon.
Between June and December 1942, 703 tanks of the L version were produced. Compared to previous versions, the new vehicles had reinforced armor for the cannon mantlet, which simultaneously served as a counterweight to the elongated barrel of the KwK 39 L/60 gun. The front of the hull and turret was protected by additional 20 mm armor plates. The driver's viewing slot and the MG 34 machine gun's mantlet were located in holes in the frontal armor. Other changes concerned the mechanism for tensioning the tracks, the location of smoke bombs at the rear of the tank under the bend of the armor, the design and location of navigation lights and the placement of tools on the fenders. The loader's viewing slot in the additional armor of the gun mantlet was eliminated. At the top of the armor protection of the mask there was a small hole for inspection and maintenance of the mechanisms of the gun's recoil device. Besides. the designers eliminated the armor protection of the turret base, which was located on top of the tank’s hull, and the viewing slots on the sides of the turret. One L version tank was tested with the KwK 0725 recoilless rifle.
Of the ordered 1000 PzKpfw III Ausf. L, only 653 were built. The rest were converted to N version tanks, equipped with a 75 mm caliber gun.
Latest version The PzKpfw III tank with a 50-mm cannon was M. Tanks of this modification were a further development of the PzKpfw III Ausf. L and were built from October 1942 to February 1943. The initial order for the new vehicles was 1,000 units, but given the advantages of Soviet tanks over the PzKpfw III with a 50 mm cannon, the order was reduced to 250 vehicles. Some of the remaining tanks were converted to Stug III self-propelled guns and PzKpfw III (FI) flamethrower tanks, and the other part was converted to the N version, installing 75-mm cannons on the vehicles.
Compared to the L version, the PzKpfw III Ausf. M had minor differences. NbKWg smoke grenade launchers of 90 mm caliber were installed on both sides of the turret, a counterweight to the KwK 39 L/60 gun was mounted, and evacuation hatches were eliminated in the side walls of the hull. All this made it possible to increase the ammunition load from 84 to 98 rounds.
The exhaust system of the tank allowed it to overcome water obstacles up to 1.3 m deep without preparation.
Other improvements concerned changing the shape of towing hooks, navigation lights, installing a rack for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun, and brackets for attaching additional armored screens. The price of one PzKpfw III Ausf. M (without weapons) amounted to 96,183 Reichsmarks.
On April 4, 1942, Hitler ordered a study into the feasibility of rearming PzKpfw III tanks with a 50-mm Pak 38 cannon. For this purpose, one tank was equipped with a new cannon, but the experiment ended unsuccessfully.
The tanks of the latest production version were designated PzKpfw III Ausf. N. They had the same hull and turret as the L and M versions. For their production, 447 and 213 chassis and turrets of both versions were used, respectively. The main thing that distinguished the PzKpfw III Ausf. N from its predecessors, this is the 75-mm KwK 37 L/24, which was armed with the PzKpfw IV tanks of the A-F1 versions. The ammunition load was 64 rounds. PzKpfw III Ausf. N had a modified gun mantlet and a solid commander's cupola, the armor of which reached 100 mm. The viewing slot to the right of the gun was eliminated. In addition, there were a number of other minor differences from earlier versions of the car.
Production of N version tanks began in June 1942 and continued until August 1943. A total of 663 vehicles were produced, another 37 tanks were converted to the Ausf standard. N during the repair of machines of other versions.
In addition to combat, so-called linear tanks, 5 types of command tanks were produced total number 435 pieces. 262 tanks were converted into artillery fire control vehicles. A special order - 100 flamethrower tanks - was completed by Wegmann. For a flamethrower with a range of up to 60 meters, 1000 liters of fire mixture were required. The tanks were intended for Stalingrad, but only reached the front at the beginning of July 1943 - near Kursk.
At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 tanks of versions F, G and H were converted for movement under water and were to be used during the landings on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15m; fresh was supplied with a hose 18 m long and 20 cm in diameter. In the spring of 1941, experiments were continued with a 3.5-m pipe - a “snorkel”. Since the landing in England did not take place, a number of such tanks from the 18th tank division On June 22, 1941, it crossed the bottom of the Western Bug.
Since July 1944, the PzKpfw III was also used as an ARV. At the same time, a square wheelhouse was installed in place of the tower. In addition, small batches of vehicles were produced for transporting ammunition and carrying out engineering work. There were prototypes of a minesweeper tank and options for converting a linear tank into a railcar.
PzKpfw IIIs were used in all theaters of war - from the Eastern Front to the African desert, enjoying the love of German tank crews everywhere. The amenities created for the crew's work could be considered a role model. Not a single Soviet, English or American tank of that time had them. Excellent observation and aiming devices allowed the Troika to successfully fight the more powerful T-34, KB and Matildas in cases where the latter did not have time to detect it. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were favorite command vehicles in the Red Army precisely for the reasons listed above: comfort, excellent optics, plus an excellent radio station. However, they, like other German tanks, were successfully used by Soviet tankers for their intended combat purpose. There were entire battalions armed with captured tanks.
Production of PzKpfw III tanks was discontinued in 1943, after approximately 6,000 vehicles had been produced. Subsequently, only the production of self-propelled guns based on them continued. Encyclopedia of technology

Not long ago, the restoration of the German Pz.III tank was completed, about the process of which we have a small photo report:. Now let's take a look inside and look at the jobs of the tank crew.

2. The crew of the PzKpfw III consisted of five people: a driver and a gunner-radio operator, located in the control compartment and a commander, gunner and loader, located in a three-seat turret.

3. At the bottom of the photo, on the left, is the driver’s seat, and at the bottom right is the radio operator’s position. A gearbox is installed between them.

4. Driver's mechanic position. The viewing slot has an armored curtain with several positions and is clearly visible in photographs from the outside. The side clutches, thanks to which the tank turns, are painted gray.

5. Radio operator position.

6. View of the fighting compartment from the driver’s seat. The transmission tunnel is painted gray at the bottom, inside of which there is a driveshaft that transmits engine torque to the gearbox. The side cabinets contained stowage shells. The tower is three-seater.

7. Gunner's sight. On the right is the breech of the gun with the year of manufacture stamped, 1941.

Photographer: Moiseenkov Andrey.

We express our gratitude to the staff of the Central Museum of Armored Weapons and Equipment for their assistance in photographing.

Until the summer of 1943, the Wehrmacht divided its tanks into light, medium and heavy armaments. Therefore, with approximately equal weight and armor thickness, the Pz. III was considered average, and Pz. IV - heavy.

However, it was the Pz. III was destined to become one of the concrete embodiments of the military doctrine of Nazi Germany. Not forming a majority in the Wehrmacht tank divisions either in the Polish (96 units) or in the French campaign (381 units), by the time of the attack on the USSR it was already being produced in significant quantities and was the main vehicle of the Panzerwaffe. Its history began simultaneously with other tanks. with which Germany entered the Second World War.

In 1934, the Army Weapons Service issued an order for a combat vehicle with a 37-mm cannon, which received the designation ZW (Zugfuhrerwagen - company command vehicle). From four companies. participating in the competition. only one - Daimler-Benz - received an order for the production of a pilot batch of 10 cars. In 1936, these tanks were transferred to military testing under the army designation PzKpfw III Ausf. A (or Pz. IIIA). They clearly bore the mark of the influence of W. Christie's designs - five large-diameter road wheels.

The second experimental batch of 12 Model B units had a completely different chassis with 8 small road wheels, reminiscent of the Pz, IV. On the next 15 experimental Ausf C tanks, the chassis was similar, but the suspension was noticeably improved. It should be emphasized that all other combat characteristics of the mentioned modifications remained essentially unchanged. This cannot be said about the D series tanks (50 units), the frontal and side armor of which was increased to 30 mm, while the mass of the tank reached 19.5 tons, and the specific ground pressure increased from 0.77 to 0.96 kg/cm2 .

In 1938, at the factories of three companies at once - Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN - production of the first mass modification of the Troika began - Ausf. E. 96 tanks of this model received a chassis with six rubber-coated road wheels and a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers. which was no longer subject to significant changes. The combat weight of the tank was 19.5 tons. The crew consisted of 5 people. This number of crew members, starting with PzKpfw III. became standard on all subsequent German medium and heavy tanks. Thus, already from the mid-30s, the Germans achieved a functional division of duties among crew members. Their opponents came to this much later - only by 1943-1944.

The PzKpfw III E was armed with a 37-mm cannon with a 46.5-caliber barrel length and three MG 34 machine guns (131 rounds of ammunition and 4,500 rounds of ammunition). 12-cylinder carburetor engine "Maybach" HL 120TR with a power of 300 hp. at 3000 rpm it allowed the tank to reach a maximum speed on the highway of 40 km/h; The cruising range was 165 km on the highway and 95 km when driving over rough terrain.

The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which shortened the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplifying the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, the prerequisites were created for increasing the size of the fighting compartment.

Characteristic of the hull of this tank is... however, for all German tanks of that period, there was equal strength of the armor plates on all main planes and an abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred ease of access to units over the strength of the hull.
The transmission deserves a positive assessment, which was characterized by a large number of gears in the gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was ensured by a “shaftless” gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servomechanisms were used.

The width of the caterpillar tracks - 360 mm - was chosen based mainly on road traffic conditions, while off-road capability was significantly limited. However, in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations, off-road conditions still had to be looked for.

The PzKpfw III medium tank was the first truly combat tank of the Wehrmacht. It was developed as a vehicle for platoon leaders, but from 1940 to early 1943 it was the main medium tank of the German army. PzKpfw III tanks of various modifications were produced from 1936 to 1943 by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Alkett, Krupp, FAMO, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG.

Germany entered the Second World War armed with, in addition to the light tanks PzKpfw I and PzKpfw II, medium tanks PzKpfw III versions A, B, C, D and E (see chapter "Tanks of the interwar period. 1918-1939", section " Germany").
Between October 1939 and July 1940, FAMO, Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN and Alkett produced 435 PzKpfw III Ausf tanks. F, which differed slightly from the previous modification E. The tanks received armor protection for the air intakes of the braking system and control system, access hatches to the control system mechanisms were made of two parts, and the base of the turret was covered with special protection so that if a projectile hits the turret, it would not jam. Additional side lights were installed on the wings. Three running lights of the "Notek" type were located on the front of the hull and the left wing of the tank.

PzKpfw III Ausf. F were armed with a 37-mm cannon with a so-called internal mantlet, and 100 vehicles of the same version were armed with a 50-mm cannon with an external mantlet. In 1942-1943, some tanks received a 50-mm KwK 39 L/60 cannon, the first 10 vehicles with The 50 mm gun was built back in June 1940.

Production of version G tanks began in April - May 1940, and by February 1941, 600 tanks of this type had entered the Wehrmacht tank units. The initial order was 1,250 vehicles, but after the capture of Czechoslovakia, when the Germans put many Czechoslovak LT-38 tanks into service, which received the designation PzKpfw 38 (t) in the German army, the order was reduced to 800 vehicles.

On the PzKpfw III Ausf. G the thickness of the stern armor increased to 30 mm. The driver's inspection slot began to be closed by an armored flap. An electric fan in a protective casing appeared on the roof of the tower.
The tanks were supposed to be armed with a 37 mm cannon, but most of the vehicles left the assembly shops with the 50 mm KwK 39 L/42 cannon, developed by Krupp in 1938. At the same time, the re-equipment of the previously produced E and F tanks with a new artillery system began. The ammunition load of the new gun consisted of 99 rounds, and 3,750 rounds of ammunition were intended for two MG 34 machine guns. After rearmament, the tank's weight increased to 20.3 tons.

The location of boxes with spare parts and tools on the fenders has changed. The roof of the turret had a hole for launching signal flares. An additional equipment box was often attached to the rear wall of the turret. received the humorous name "Rommel's chest".

Tanks of later production were equipped with a new type of commander's cupola, which was also installed on the PzKpfw IV and was equipped with five periscopes.
Tropical tanks were also built. They were designated PzKpfw III Ausf. G (trop) and featured an improved cooling system and air filters. 54 units of these vehicles were produced.
The G version tanks entered service with the Wehrmacht during the French campaign.

In October 1940, from MAN, Alkett. Henschel, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG launched mass production of tanks of the N version. By April 1941, 310 (according to some sources 408) vehicles were built out of 759 ordered in January 1939.
The thickness of the armor of the rear wall of the turret of the PzKpfw III Ausf tanks. H increased to 50 mm. The applicated frontal armor was reinforced with an additional 30 mm thick armor plate.

Due to the increase in the mass of the tank and the use of 400 mm wide tracks, special guides had to be installed on the support and support rollers, which increased the diameter of the rollers by 40 mm. To eliminate excessive track sag, the front support roller, which on version G tanks was located almost next to the spring shock absorber, had to be moved forward.

Other improvements include changes in the position of the fender lights, tow hooks, and the shape of the access hatches. The designers moved the box with smoke bombs under the canopy of the rear plate of the power compartment. An angular profile was installed at the base of the tower, protecting the base from being hit by a projectile.
Instead of the Variorex gearbox, the H version vehicles were equipped with a SSG 77 type gearbox (six forward gears and one reverse). The design of the turret was changed in such a way that the crew members in it rotated with the turret. The tank commander, as well as the gunner and loader, had their own hatches in the side walls and roof of the turret.
Baptism of fire tanks PzKpfw III Ausf. H received during Operation Barbarossa. In 1942-1943, the tanks were re-equipped with a 50-mm KwK L/60 cannon.

Initially the PzKpfw III Ausf. J were armed with a 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 cannon, but starting in December 1941, they began to be equipped with a new 50 mm KwK 39 cannon with a barrel length of 60 calibers. A total of 1,549 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/42 cannon and 1,067 vehicles with the KwK 38 L/60 cannon were built.

The appearance of a new version - PzKpfw III Ausf. L - due to unsuccessful installation work on the PzKpfw III Ausf chassis. J of the standard turret of the PzKpfw IV Ausf G tank. After the failure of this experiment, it was decided to begin production of a new series of tanks with the improvements provided for the L version and armed with a 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 cannon.
Between June and December 1942, 703 tanks of the L version were produced. Compared to previous versions, the new vehicles had reinforced armor for the cannon mantlet, which simultaneously served as a counterweight to the elongated barrel of the KwK 39 L/60 gun. The front of the hull and turret was protected by additional 20 mm armor plates. The driver's viewing slot and the MG 34 machine gun's mantlet were located in holes in the frontal armor. Other changes concerned the mechanism for tensioning the tracks, the location of smoke bombs at the rear of the tank under the bend of the armor, the design and location of navigation lights and the placement of tools on the fenders. The loader's viewing slot in the additional armor of the gun mantlet was eliminated. At the top of the armor protection of the mask there was a small hole for inspection and maintenance of the mechanisms of the gun's recoil device. Besides. the designers eliminated the armor protection of the turret base, which was located on top of the tank’s hull, and the viewing slots on the sides of the turret. One L version tank was tested with the KwK 0725 recoilless rifle.

Of the ordered 1000 PzKpfw III Ausf. L, only 653 were built. The rest were converted to N version tanks, equipped with a 75 mm caliber gun.

The latest version of the PzKpfw III tank with a 50-mm cannon was the M model. Tanks of this modification were a further development of the PzKpfw III Ausf. L and were built from October 1942 to February 1943. The initial order for the new vehicles was 1,000 units, but given the advantages of Soviet tanks over the PzKpfw III with a 50 mm cannon, the order was reduced to 250 vehicles. Some of the remaining tanks were converted to Stug III self-propelled guns and PzKpfw III (FI) flamethrower tanks, and the other part was converted to the N version, installing 75-mm cannons on the vehicles.

Compared to the L version, the PzKpfw III Ausf. M had minor differences. NbKWg smoke grenade launchers of 90 mm caliber were installed on both sides of the turret, a counterweight to the KwK 39 L/60 gun was mounted, and evacuation hatches were eliminated in the side walls of the hull. All this made it possible to increase the ammunition load from 84 to 98 rounds.

The exhaust system of the tank allowed it to overcome water obstacles up to 1.3 m deep without preparation.
Other improvements concerned changing the shape of towing hooks, navigation lights, installing a rack for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun, and brackets for attaching additional armored screens. The price of one PzKpfw III Ausf. M (without weapons) amounted to 96,183 Reichsmarks.

On April 4, 1942, Hitler ordered a study into the feasibility of rearming PzKpfw III tanks with a 50-mm Pak 38 cannon. For this purpose, one tank was equipped with a new cannon, but the experiment ended unsuccessfully.

The tanks of the latest production version were designated PzKpfw III Ausf. N. They had the same hull and turret as the L and M versions. For their production, 447 and 213 chassis and turrets of both versions were used, respectively. The main thing that distinguished the PzKpfw III Ausf. N from its predecessors, this is the 75-mm KwK 37 L/24 cannon, which was armed with the PzKpfw IV tanks of the A-F1 versions. The ammunition load was 64 rounds. PzKpfw III Ausf. N had a modified gun mantlet and a solid hatch for the commander's cupola, the armor of which reached 100 mm. The viewing slot to the right of the gun was eliminated. In addition, there were a number of other minor differences from earlier versions of the car.

Production of N version tanks began in June 1942 and continued until August 1943. A total of 663 vehicles were produced, another 37 tanks were converted to the Ausf standard. N during the repair of machines of other versions.
In addition to combat, so-called linear tanks, 5 types of command tanks were produced with a total of 435 units. 262 tanks were converted into artillery fire control vehicles. A special order - 100 flamethrower tanks - was completed by Wegmann. For a flamethrower with a range of up to 60 meters, 1000 liters of fire mixture were required. The tanks were intended for Stalingrad, but only reached the front at the beginning of July 1943 - near Kursk.

At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 tanks of versions F, G and H were converted for movement under water and were to be used during the landings on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15m; fresh air was supplied by a hose 18 m long and 20 cm in diameter. In the spring of 1941, experiments were continued with a 3.5-m pipe - a “snorkel”.
Since the landing in England did not take place, a number of such tanks from the 18th Panzer Division crossed the bottom of the Western Bug on June 22, 1941.

Since July 1944, the PzKpfw III was also used as an ARV. At the same time, a square wheelhouse was installed in place of the tower. In addition, small batches of vehicles were produced for transporting ammunition and carrying out engineering work. There were prototypes of a minesweeper tank and options for converting a linear tank into a railcar.

PzKpfw IIIs were used in all theaters of war - from the Eastern Front to the African desert, enjoying the love of German tank crews everywhere. The amenities created for the crew's work could be considered a role model. Not a single Soviet, English or American tank of that time had them. Excellent observation and aiming devices allowed the Troika to successfully fight the more powerful T-34, KB and Matildas in cases where the latter did not have time to detect it. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were favorite command vehicles in the Red Army precisely for the reasons listed above: comfort, excellent optics, plus an excellent radio station. However, they, like other German tanks, were successfully used by Soviet tankers for their intended combat purpose. There were entire battalions armed with captured tanks.

Production of PzKpfw III tanks was discontinued in 1943, after approximately 6,000 vehicles had been produced. Subsequently, only the production of self-propelled guns based on them continued.