Tank pz 3 all modifications. Historical information about the development and use of medium tanks PzKpfw III

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 weapons service ground forces issued an order for 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, 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 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 deployed mass production tanks version N. 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 the new type of 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 machines was 1,000 units, but given the advantages 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 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. 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.

Made according to the following layout diagram: power point located at the rear, the fighting compartment and control compartment are in the middle part of the hull, and the power transmission and drive wheels are in the front. The relatively low hull of the tank is welded from rolled armor plates. On modifications A-E the frontal armor had a thickness of 15 mm, on modifications F and G it was 30 mm, on modification H it was reinforced with additional sheets up to 30 mm + 20 mm, and on modifications J-O it was already 50 mm + 20 mm. A multifaceted tower was located in the center of the building. The gun without a muzzle brake was installed in the turret using a wide cylindrical mantlet.

The following modifications of the tank were produced:

• A-E - tank with a 37 mm cannon;
• F-N - tank with a 50 mm cannon;
• M-O - assault tank with a 75 mm howitzer;
• self-propelled flamethrower;
• armored command vehicle;
• armored observation vehicle.

From 1940 to 1942, Pz-III tanks were the main weapon tank divisions. Due to the weakness of armament and armor, since 1943 they have been used only as special vehicles. In total, the German industry produced 5,700 Pz-III tanks of various modifications.

By 1936, in service with the German tank troops was light tank PzKpfw I, armed with only a pair of machine guns and having light bulletproof armor. This tank could not be seriously considered as a combat vehicle; its destiny was to serve in training units, and their role on the battlefield was, at best, limited to reconnaissance and communications. Having come to power, Hitler refused to comply with the restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles and joined the technological race that had begun in Europe. During the three years preceding the Second World War, German technology made a leap, moving from the light tanks PzKpfw I to the medium tanks PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV, which were destined to become the main German tanks, which largely determined the successes and failures of the Third Reich.

The tanks were designed to withstand a direct hit from an armor-piercing shell.
The frontal armor of the tank could withstand a hit from a high-explosive shell. To combat tanks, special anti-tank guns were used, which had a small caliber but fired a projectile at high speed. The 37-mm anti-tank gun in service with the Wehrmacht could penetrate the armor of almost any tank.

When fighting with enemy infantry, high-explosive fragmentation shells with a low initial velocity, but of a larger caliber, were required. Therefore, according to Heinz Guderian, tank units should have adopted two types of tanks with fundamentally different weapons. One tank is for fighting enemy tanks, the other is for fighting infantry.

The PzKpfw III, armed first with a 37 mm and later with a 50 mm cannon, acted as a tank with anti-tank weapons. To fight infantry, they chose the PzKpfw IV, arming it with a short-barreled 75 mm cannon.

The companies MAN, Daimler-Benz AG, Rheinmetall-Borsing and Krupp took part in the competition to create a 15-ton tank. For reasons of secrecy, the tank was assigned symbol"platoon commander's vehicle" ("Zugfuehrerwagen", ZW). The prototypes were tested in 1936-1937. at the training grounds in Kummersdorf and Ulm. In comparative tests, the model presented by Daimler-Benz won, and it was decided to develop it.

Tank PzKpfw III, modifications A, B, C, D

The PzKpfw III tank consisted of four main elements: the hull, the turret, the front part of the superstructure with the turret ring, and the rear part of the superstructure with an over-engine armor plate. The main elements were connected to each other by welding, and the parts of each element were connected with rivets and bolts. Inside, the car body was divided by a bulkhead.

The front compartment contained a gearbox with a steering mechanism, and the rear compartment contained the combat and engine compartments. The shape of the hull, turret and superstructure, as well as the arrangement of all five crew members, remained unchanged throughout the entire period of serial production of the PzKpfw III.

The first version of the PzKpfw III Ausf.A tank was produced in May 1937. 15 vehicles were built, of which only eight received weapons and until 1939 were part of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tank divisions. The remaining tanks were used for testing.

Comparative performance characteristics tanks

Also in 1937, the PzKpfw III Ausf.B tank went into production. This series was also limited to 15 cars. Several of them took part in the September 1939 campaign. In October 1940, five vehicles of this series were used to create prototypes of the Sturmgeschuetz III assault guns.

In July 1937, the PzKpfw III Ausf.C tank went into production. Until January 1938, only 15 pieces were produced. Several tanks of this modification also took part in the September battles in Poland.

In January 1938, production of PzKpfw III Ausf.D tanks began. Until 1939, 55 vehicles of this type were built. Only 30 of them received weapons, the rest were used to test suspension, weapons and engines. Several Ausf.D tanks took part in battles in Poland and Norway.

The first four modifications of the PzKpfw III (Ausf.A, B, C and D) were actually prototypes produced by Daimler-Benz. They were not intended for large-scale production, and each subsequent modification was a modified version of the modification of the previous one. All tanks of these four modifications had Maybach HL108TR engines with a power of 250 hp. and a 5- or 6-speed "Zahnradfabrik" gearbox. Those tanks that were armed carried a 37-mm KwK35/36 L/46.5 cannon and three MG-34 machine guns (two in the turret and one in the superstructure). The armor thickness was only 5mm-15mm. This thickness protected only from rifle fire, but the mass of the tank did not exceed 15 tons. The Ausf.A, B and C tanks had a simple drum turret for the vehicle commander, while the Ausf.D had a cast turret similar to the one on the PzKpfw IV Ausf.B.

Only a few PzKpfw III tanks took part in the Polish campaign of 1939. The remaining vehicles were used for testing and crew training. Several PzKpfw III Ausf.D together with PzAbt zb V 40 (NbFz VI) took part in battles in Norway in April-May 1940. Later, these same vehicles came to Finland, where they served in 1941-1942.

Performance characteristics

* Some Ausf.D vehicles had armor protection similar to Ausf.A - C, and, accordingly, a lower combat weight.

* Some Ausf.D vehicles had armor protection similar to Ausf.A - C, and, accordingly, a lower combat weight.

* Some Ausf.D vehicles had armor protection similar to Ausf.A - C, and, accordingly, a lower combat weight.

Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E

Main characteristics

Briefly

Details

1.7 / 1.7 / 1.7 BR

5 people Crew

88% Visibility

forehead / side / stern Booking

30 / 30 / 20 housings

35 / 30 / 30 towers

Mobility

19.5 tons Weight

572 l/s 300 l/s Engine power

29 hp/t 15 hp/t specific

78 km/h forward
13 km/h back70 km/h forward
11 km/h back Speed

Armament

131 rounds of ammunition

2.9 / 3.7 sec recharge

10° / 20° UVN

3,600 rounds of ammunition

8.0 / 10.4 sec recharge

150 shells clip size

900 rounds/min rate of fire

Economy

Description

Panzerkampfwagen III (3.7 cm) Ausführung E or Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E. is a German medium tank from World War II, mass-produced from 1938 to 1943. The abbreviated names of this tank were PzKpfw III, Panzer III, Pz III. In the departmental rubricator military equipment In Nazi Germany this tank was designated Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - machine special purpose 141).

The PzKpfw III tank was generally a typical representative of the German school of tank building, but with some significant features characteristic of other design concepts. Therefore, in its design and layout solutions, on the one hand, it inherited the advantages and disadvantages of the classical “German type” layout, and on the other hand, it did not have some of its negative features. In particular, an individual torsion bar suspension with small-diameter road wheels was unusual for German cars, although it has proven itself very well in production and operation. Later “Panthers” and “Tigers” had a “checkerboard” suspension, which was less reliable in operation and repair and was structurally more complex, traditional for German tanks.

In general, the PzKpfw III was a reliable, easy-to-control vehicle with high level comfort of work for the crew, its modernization potential for 1939-1942 was quite sufficient. On the other hand, despite its reliability and manufacturability, the overloaded chassis and the volume of the turret box, insufficient to accommodate a more powerful gun, did not allow it to remain in production longer than 1943, when all reserves for turning a “light-medium” tank into a full-fledged medium tank were exhausted.

Main characteristics

Armor protection and survivability

The armor of the Pz.III E is not outstanding and does not have rational angles of inclination. In view of this, to increase security, it is recommended to install the tank in a diamond shape.

The tank's crew consists of 5 people, which sometimes allows it to survive a direct hit to the turret, but penetrating the side or center of the hull with a chamber shell will lead to a one-shot. It is worth not forgetting that the tank has a massive command turret, when fired at, the enemy tank has a chance to destroy all crew members in the turret.

The layout of the tank modules is good. The transmission in the front of the hull can withstand low-power chamber projectiles.

The tank has a lot of ammunition and to increase survivability it is recommended to take no more than 30 shells with you.

Layout of Pz.Kpfw modules. III Ausf. E

Mobility

Good mobility, high top speed and excellent turn on the spot. The tank drives well over rough terrain and maintains its speed well, but the tank picks up speed very mediocrely.

Armament

Main weapon

Barrel length - 45 calibers. Vertical aiming angles - from -10° to +20°. The rate of fire is 15–18 rounds/min, which is a very good indicator. The ammunition load consists of 131 rounds.

The 3.7 cm KwK36 is a tank version of the 3.7 cm PaK35/36. KwK36 was installed on early modifications of the Pz.Kpfw. III starting with Ausf.A, ending with some Ausf.F tanks. Starting from the Aust.F series to Pz.Kpfw. III began to install 5 cm KwK38.

The gun has the following range of shells:

• PzGr- armor-piercing chamber shells with a flight speed of up to 745 m/s. It has an average armor effect, but the gun's high rate of fire and excellent projectile penetration compensate for this. Recommended as a main projectile
• PzGr 40- armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a flight speed of up to 1020 m/s. It has excellent penetration, but poor armor protection. Recommended for precision shots against heavily armored targets.

Machine gun weapons

The 37 mm cannon was paired with two Rheinmetall-Borsig MG-34 machine guns of 7.92 mm caliber. A third, identical machine gun was installed in the front plate of the hull. The machine guns' ammunition consisted of 4425 rounds. Can be effective against vehicles that do not have any armor, such as Soviet GAZ trucks.

Use in combat

Classic German tank of initial levels. A combat rating of 1.7 is very comfortable for this tank. There are no difficult opponents, it all depends on the ability to shoot accurately and drive in the right direction. A good weapon with a good rate of fire helps in every possible way in battle. Sub-caliber shells are available. Mostly opponents are weakly armored and not special problems at the gun to break them through. If you are going to capture a point, then it is best to choose the most direct section and, preferably, not turn, since at the slightest turn, precious speed is lost, which is not gained so quickly. The Pz.Kpfw also has the same problem. III Ausf. F. If the battle takes place in realistic mode and the point was captured, then usually there are enough revival points to capture the plane. But regardless of the mode, it is better to continue the battle by retreating from the point. The enemy can use an Art Strike, but armor will not save you from a close hit, much less a direct one. In addition, there will be opponents who want to recapture the point.

• Also, using high speed, you can and should use flanking moves to go behind enemy lines.

If you successfully bypass the flank, or in some other way, you should not immediately rush into battle shooting at everything in sight. You need to choose the highest priority goal. Firstly, these are singles or vehicles in the rearguard (bringing up). When firing, remember that the 37mm cannon has a very weak armor effect, so you need to deliver targeted strikes on vital modules.

For example, when encountering a tank, you can shoot at the turret, thereby damaging the breech or knocking out the gunner (or maybe both options at once), which will give time to reload and fire a second shot, preferably in the area of ​​the ammunition stowage or in the logistics department (to immobilize the enemy). If the enemy is on fire, we quickly look around in search of a second target, if there is no one, we finish off. Then we act according to the situation. If we encounter an enemy self-propelled gun, then with the first module we need to knock out the engine, thereby rendering the self-propelled gun helpless and calmly finish it off. When attacking two opponents at once, the chances of winning are significantly reduced. But there are nuances here too. For example, if it is a self-propelled gun, then with the first shot we try to knock out the engine and only then open fire on the tank. Of course, this is just a variant of the development of events, and not a 100% valid rule. We carefully observe the surroundings.

• Open combat (shootout) is not recommended since the frontal armor is only 30 mm and can be penetrated by all opponents. Shrapnel is especially dangerous at close range. Essentially ensures one-shot death.

A tank ambush is a very common and familiar tactic. We choose any place you think is suitable for an ambush and wait for the enemy. It is advisable that the ambush location ensures shooting at the enemy's side. In addition, an ambush must be set up in places unexpected for the enemy; the main thing in an ambush is surprise, to take the enemy by surprise.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• Good mobility.
• Small tank dimensions.
• Good accuracy.
• Rapid fire gun

Flaws:

• Slow turret rotation speed.
• Low firepower.
• Slow acceleration

Historical reference

The PzKpfw III Ausf.E modification went into production in 1938. Until October 1939, 96 tanks of this type were built at the Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN factories. The PzKpfw III Ausf.E was the first modification to go into large production. A special feature of the tank was the new torsion bar suspension developed by Ferdinand Porsche.

It consisted of six road wheels, three support rollers, drive and idler wheels. All road wheels were independently suspended on torsion bars. The tank's armament remained the same - a 37-mm KwK35/36 L/46.5 cannon and three MG-34 machine guns. The armor thickness was increased to 12 mm-30 mm.

The PzKpfw III Ausf.E tanks were equipped with a Maybach HL120TR engine with a power of 300 hp. and a 10-speed Maybach Variorex gearbox. The weight of the PzKpfw III Ausf.E tank reached 19.5 tons. From August 1940 to 1942, all produced Ausf.Es underwent rearmament, receiving a new 50-mm KwK38 L/42 gun. The gun was paired not with two, but only with one machine gun. The frontal armor of the hull and superstructure, as well as the aft armor plate, was strengthened with 30-mm armor. Over time, some Ausf.E tanks were converted to the Ausf.F standard. 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, as indeed of all German tanks of that period, was the uniform strength of the armor plates on all main planes and the 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 track chains - 360 mm - was chosen mainly based on road driving conditions, significantly limiting off-road capability. However, the latter was quite difficult to find in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations.

Media

see also

Links

The T-34 tank was by far the best tank of the war from the very beginning, but it had some shortcomings that made it weaker than it seemed at first glance.
In the leadership of the USSR there was a long debate about the advantages and disadvantages of this or that technology and its capabilities in comparison with German models.

At the end of the 1930s, a unique opportunity presented itself to compare German and Soviet models, as several German tanks were purchased.
So we conducted comparative shows.

TESTS
The first such comparative test was carried out in 1940.

Then the Pz.Kpfw.III tank, purchased in Germany, arrived in Kubinka near Moscow for testing.
It was tested both separately and in comparison with domestic tanks - and the results were not very flattering for the latter, including for the wheeled-tracked undercarriage, which was specially designed for high-speed driving deep into Germany along the first-class German autobahns:

German tank T-3
Tank building historian M. Svirin writes about this as follows:

“On a measured kilometer of gravel highway on the Kubinka - Repish - Krutitsy stretch, the German tank showed a maximum speed of 69.7 km/h, best value for T-34 it was 48.2 km/h, for BT-7 - 68.1 km/h.
At the same time, the testers gave preference German tank due to better ride comfort, visibility, and comfortable crew work stations"

The T-34 performed well, although the BT was the fastest, but its armor was weak and it broke down more often.
The only thing in which the T-34 was superior to the German was the cannon, but this advantage was negated by the other numerous disadvantages

T-34 model 1940
As we can see, the Germans had no particular reason to envy the unsurpassed speeds of the Soviet “highway” tanks. With regard to the chassis, the situation was rather exactly the opposite.
And, alas, not only the chassis, but also the radio...
"...Radio station
In addition to report No. 0115b-ss
To study the operating features of the German tank transceiver radio station, it was decided to practically compare it with the one available in the spacecraft on the BT-7 tank (the same as on the T-34. - Author's note). To do this, a tank unit consisting of a German tank and a BT-7 tank was moved by radio commands from the communications center at the training ground, where the necessary measurements were carried out...
On the progress of these tests, report No. 0116b-ss was compiled, which, together with the dismantled radio station, was handed over to Comrade. Osintseva...
Briefly, I have the following to say:
The German tank's radio provides reliable two-way telephone communication while moving and parked, including at the maximum distance specified by the manufacturer...
The operator was able to communicate by phone even at a distance, by 30 percent. exceeding the maximum range, while the radio station of our tank at the maximum distance provides only reliable reception. The transmission range on our tank is significantly reduced compared to the passport data...
A positive quality of the German tank’s transceiver station is also that it provides reliable communication while on the move, while while the BT tank is moving, the reception quality deteriorates significantly until the connection is completely lost...
In all main characteristics, the radio station of a German tank is superior to that installed on domestic tank. I consider it advisable to develop a new type of tank radio station based on existing German models...
And in the same report, the optimistic phrase “with incredible efforts” is used to describe communication support using the Soviet radio station...
We think many readers have heard the phrase at least once:
“The Red Army is strong, but communications will destroy it.”
In the wars of the 20th century, and not only in them, communications are primarily the controllability of troops.
And without control, military formations simply fall apart....
Even in 1936, M. Tukhachevsky considered that the army did not particularly need radios and it was better for the army headquarters to be located directly... in the air.
From there, looking out the window, division commanders and army commanders would point their fingers and direct the actions of the troops... such idiocy was no longer to be found in 1940.

The statement of the fact “while the BT tank is moving, the quality of reception deteriorates significantly, up to a complete loss of communication” meant that after the start of the battle, the Soviet tank commander lost control of his unit - if on the march it is still possible to wave flags, then after the start of shooting, each tankman will see only a narrow strip of land in front of you.
If an anti-tank gun suddenly appears in this stripe firing, the crew will duel with it one on one - he will have practically no chance to “scream out” to his fellow soldiers walking nearby.
ABOUT THE ARMOR OF THE GERMAN TANK
Finally, the tests came to the most important thing - the armor.

And the armor of the German tank also turned out to be an unexpectedly tough nut to crack.
This is what the historian of tank forces M. Svirin writes:

“...As you should know, shelling tests of a new German tank carried out in the fall of 1940 showed that to combat it, a 45-mm anti-tank gun mod. 1937 is unsuitable, as it is capable of penetrating its armor at a distance of no further than 150–300 m...”

Combined with intelligence reports that the Germans were strengthening the armor of the three-ruble gun and rearming it with a more powerful gun, the picture emerged bleak.
The Soviet 45-mm cannon could no longer be a reliable weapon against German tanks; it did not penetrate their armor at long range, limiting itself only to close combat.
It is worth noting that the tank’s armor was constantly being improved.
The relatively low hull of the tank is welded from rolled armor plates.
On modifications A-E, the frontal armor had a thickness of 15 mm, on modifications F and G it was 30 mm, on modification H it was reinforced with additional sheets up to 30 mm + 20 mm, and on modifications J-O it was already 50 -mm+20-mm.
Tests of serial T-34s in November-December 1940 added another layer of ointment to an already not-so-clean ointment.

“As a result of live firing with the solution of fire missions, the following shortcomings were identified:
1) The crew is cramped in the fighting compartment due to the small dimensions of the turret along the shoulder strap.
2) Inconvenience of using ammunition stored in the floor of the fighting compartment.
3) Delay in transferring fire due to the inconvenient location of the turret rotating mechanism (manual and electric drive).
4) Lack of visual communication between tanks when solving a fire mission due to the fact that the only device allowing all-round visibility, the PT-6, is used only for aiming.
5) Inability to use the TOD-6 sight due to the overlap of the aiming angle scale with the PT-6 device.
6) Significant and slowly damping vibrations of the tank when moving have a negative effect on the accuracy of firing from a cannon and machine guns.
The noted shortcomings reduce the rate of fire and cause a large expenditure of time to solve the fire problem.
Determining the rate of fire of a 76 mm gun...
The resulting average practical rate of fire is two shots per minute. The rate of fire is insufficient...

FIRE CONTROL FROM THE TANK AND EASY TO USE SIGHTS, SURVEILLANCE DEVICES AND AMMUNITION
Turret rotating mechanism (manual).
The turret is rotated with the right hand. The location of the flywheel and the rotating mechanism handle does not ensure rapid rotation of the turret and causes severe hand fatigue.
When simultaneously operating the rotating mechanism and observing through the PT-6 device, the flywheel and control handle rest against the chest, making it difficult to quickly rotate the turret. The forces on the handle of the rotating mechanism increase greatly as the angle of roll of the tower increases and significantly complicate the work...
Electric drive of the turret rotating mechanism.
Access to the starting flywheel of the electric drive is difficult from below by the electric motor housing, on the left by the viewing device and the tower housing, on the right by the forehead and the PT-6 device.
Rotation of the turret in any direction is possible only if the head is deviated from the forehead of the PT-6 device, i.e. the rotation of the turret is actually carried out blindly...
Telescopic sight TOD-6.
The window of the aiming angle scale of the telescopic sight is blocked by the terrain angle lever of the PT-6 device... Installation of aiming data is possible at elevation angles of 4–5.5 degrees and 9–12 degrees, which actually makes it impossible to fire with the TOD-6 sight. The aiming angle scale barrel is located in the middle part of the sight and is extremely difficult to access.
Periscope sight PT-6.
At an elevation angle of 7 degrees and below, up to the maximum descent angle, access to the handle of the all-round viewing mechanism is possible with only three fingers due to the fact that the sector of the gun’s lifting mechanism does not allow the handle to be covered by the hand.
The specified position does not provide a quick view of the area.
All-round viewing device.

Access to the device is extremely difficult and observation is possible in a limited sector to the right up to 120 degrees... The limited viewing sector, the complete impossibility of observation in the rest of the sector and ... an uncomfortable position of the head during observation makes the viewing device unsuitable for use.
Tower viewing devices (side).
The location of the viewing devices relative to the observer is inconvenient. The disadvantages are significant dead space (15.5 m), a small viewing angle, the inability to clean the protective glass without leaving the tank, and a low location relative to the seat.
Driver's viewing devices...
IN practical work Driving a tank with the hatch closed revealed significant shortcomings of viewing devices. When driving on a polluted dirt road and virgin soil for 5–10 minutes, the viewing devices become clogged with dirt until visibility is completely lost.
The windshield wiper of the central unit does not clean the protective glass from dirt. Driving a tank with the hatch closed is extremely difficult. When firing, the protective glass of the viewing devices bursts...

The driver's viewing devices are generally unusable.
All PT-6, TOD-6 sighting devices installed on the tank and observation devices in the fighting compartment and control compartment are not protected from atmospheric precipitation, road dust and dirt.
In each individual case of loss of visibility, cleaning of devices can only be carried out with outside tank. In conditions of reduced visibility (fog), the PT-6 sight head fogs up after 3–5 minutes until visibility is completely lost.
Ease of use of ammunition.
Ammunition for 76 mm cannon.
Stowing cartridges in cassettes does not provide a sufficient rate of fire for the following reasons:
1) Inconvenience of removing cartridges from cassettes.
2) Access to cartridges located on the left side along the tank is extremely difficult.
3) It is difficult to place cartridges in cassettes due to the presence large quantity covers (24 pcs.) and rubber gaskets between cartridges. The time spent on stowing a full load of ammunition is determined to be 2–2.5 hours.
4) Lack of sufficient packing density of cartridges in cassettes, leading to self-unscrewing of spacer tubes and cartridge case primers.
5) The presence of sharp edges of the cassettes, causing injuries to the loader’s hands.
6) Contamination of ammunition after a run of 200–300 km in the autumn period reaches a significant level. Using full ammunition is possible only after pre-cleaning all cartridges.
Ammunition for DT machine guns.
When firing machine guns, the following shortcomings were identified:
1) Severe contamination of stores in the control department.
2) Dust on the protruding parts of the magazines placed in the niche of the tower.
3) The impossibility of using ammunition without first cleaning it from contamination.
4) Removing individual magazines in the tower niche is difficult due to their jamming during installation.
Convenience of workplaces and lighting of the fighting compartment.
The seats of the turret commander and loader are large in size. The seat backs do not provide a comfortable position for the body, take up a lot of space and do not prevent clothes from getting into the turret shoulder strap (loader's seat).
During live firing, the loader's seat makes it difficult to remove cartridges, hampers movement and touches the side stowage of ammunition. This situation is aggravated by significant overcrowding of the crew in the control department...
A common disadvantage of the L-11 artillery systems installed in tanks is:

a) Failure of the trigger mechanism...
b) The loader is not protected from impacts by the bolt handle when the semi-automatic gun is activated.
c) Unreliability in the operation of the foot trigger, which allows, in case of untimely and incomplete removal of the toe from the trigger pedal, jamming of the trigger slider and insufficient release of the artillery system...
…Conclusion.
The installation of weapons, optics and ammunition stowage in the T-34 tank do not meet the requirements for modern combat vehicles.
The main disadvantages are:
a) The tightness of the fighting compartment;
b) Tank blindness;
c) Unsuccessfully authorized stowage of ammunition.
To ensure the normal location of weapons, shooting and observation devices and the crew, it is necessary:
Expand dimensions towers.
For the 76 mm gun:
Replace the trigger guard with a more advanced design that ensures trouble-free operation.
Enclose the bolt handle with a shield or make it foldable.
Remove the foot trigger, replacing it with triggers on the handles of the aiming mechanisms.
For the DT machine gun:
Provide the possibility of separate firing from a machine gun connected to a cannon.
Increase visibility and shooting accuracy of a radio operator’s machine gun by installing an optical sight...
On aiming mechanisms and sights.
The turning mechanism (manual) is not suitable. Replace with a new design that provides low effort and ease of operation...
The trigger mechanism for the electric drive of the turret rotation should be positioned so that it provides rotation while simultaneously monitoring the terrain.
Replace the TOD-6 telescopic sight with a TMF type sight with a scale of aiming angles in the field of view of the device.
According to viewing devices.
Replace the driver's viewing device, as clearly unsuitable, with a more advanced design.
Install a device in the turret roof that provides all-round visibility from the tank.
On stowing ammunition.
Stowing ammunition for a 76-mm cannon in cassettes is unsuitable. The cartridge stack should be positioned so that there is simultaneous access to a number of cartridges...

Armored body.
Conclusions.
The tank hull and turret in this design are unsatisfactory. It is necessary to increase the size of the turret by increasing the shoulder strap and changing the angle of inclination of the armor plates.
The useful volume of the hull can be increased by changing the chassis suspension and eliminating the side wells.
Means of communication.
Conclusions.

The installation of the radio was performed unsatisfactorily for the following reasons:
The antenna, when lowered, is not protected from damage in any way... The design and location of the antenna lifting mechanism handle does not ensure reliable lifting of the antenna.
The receiver's umformer is mounted under the radio operator's feet, the current-carrying terminal is damaged and the umformer becomes dirty.
The receiver is mounted too low and far from the radio operator, making it difficult to configure.
The radio power sockets (new type) are inconvenient to use - they have many protrusions that cling to clothes and injure your hands...
The installation as a whole does not ensure stable operation of the radio over extremely long distances.
Performance indicators and reliability of tank components.
Tank dynamics.
In difficult road conditions, when switching from 2nd to 3rd gear, the tank loses inertia so much during the shift that this leads to a stop or prolonged slipping of the main clutch. This circumstance makes it difficult to use 3rd gear in road conditions that fully allow its use.
In rainy autumn, spring and snowy winter this drawback of the tank leads to a sharp decrease in driving speeds on country roads and off-road...
Conclusions.
Due to the fact that the 3rd gear, which is most necessary in military operation conditions, cannot be fully used, the dynamics of the tank as a whole should be considered unsatisfactory.
Technical speeds are low, which is due to the unreliability of the main clutch and chassis.
Patency.
Conclusion.
The cross-country ability of the T-34 tank in autumn conditions is unsatisfactory for the following reasons:
The surface of the track that engages with the ground is not sufficiently developed, which results in the tracks slipping on inclines even with slight wet cover. The effectiveness of the included spurs is negligible.
Fixation of the caterpillar in the support wheels is unreliable...
A small number of support wheels negatively affects the maneuverability in wetlands, despite the low overall specific pressure.
Reliability of operation of tank units.
Engine, fuel, lubrication, cooling systems and control devices.
Conclusions.
Engine reliability within the warranty period (100 hours) is satisfactory. The engine warranty period, especially for this heavily armored vehicle, is short. It is necessary to bring it to at least 250 hours.
Constant oil leaks and failure of control devices characterize the operation of the lubrication system and connections of control devices as unsatisfactory.
Main clutch.
The operation of the main clutch and fan assembly is generally unsatisfactory.

Gearbox.
During the run, cases of “loss of neutral” (the rocker lever is in the neutral position and the speed is on) and difficult gear shifting were repeatedly noted on all cars...
Incorrect choice of gearbox ratios causes unsatisfactory tank dynamics and reduces its tactical value.
Difficult gear shifting and “loss of neutral” make it difficult to control the tank and lead to forced stops.
The gearbox and its drive require fundamental changes.
Chassis.
The short service life and low adhesion qualities of the tracks, the deterioration of the placement of tank units in suspension wells, the high consumption of rubber on support wheels and ridge engagement characterize the structural and strength qualities of the chassis as unsatisfactory.
Electrical equipment.
The ST-200 starter and RS-371 relay, due to existing installation and manufacturing defects, are not suitable for installation on T-34 tanks.
Stowage of spare parts, tools, personal belongings, food supplies and special equipment.
The stowage of spare parts, tools, personal belongings, food supplies, engineering and chemical equipment on the T-34 tank has not been worked out."

As can be seen from the extensive quote above, the then “users” of the future “legendary thirty-fours” did not share the optimism of their descendants regarding “stronger than all of them combined.” Particularly in this sense, paragraph “c” is “pleasant” - about the impossibility of using the tank in isolation from repair bases.
Considering the situation with spare parts and the level of development of new tanks personnel, this actually meant that an entire tank factory had to follow the tanks going on the offensive.

T-34 TRIED TO RECLASSIFY
In a report prepared in 1940, “The state of tank weapons and the need to create new classes of tanks,” the author, an engineer at the Leningrad Experimental Engineering Plant No. 185 Koloev, indicated that,

“...considering, based on practical data; that guns with an initial [projectile] speed of about 900 m/sec penetrate armor [thick] 1.6 of their caliber,” the 45-mm armor of the T-34 tank will reliably protect it from shells of anti-tank guns and anti-tank rifles with a caliber of up to 25 mm.
At the same time, “events in Finland showed that armor 45 mm thick at close ranges can be penetrated by a 37 mm anti-tank gun, not to mention 45 mm and 47 mm anti-tank guns, which can easily penetrate such armor at all main distances »

On this basis, Koloev proposed classifying the T-34 tank as a lightly armored tank, protected only from fragments and fire small arms, heavy machine guns and anti-tank rifles with a caliber of no more than 20–25 mm, and assume that

“The T-34 tank with an armor thickness of 45 mm at close ranges cannot conduct a successful fight with 47 mm anti-tank artillery, therefore it does not correspond to the purpose assigned to it, caused by an insufficiently clear understanding of the state of modern anti-tank artillery and an insufficiently substantiated approach to solving this issue"

The casket, alas, opens in a primitively simple way: tanks are invulnerable the latest types for enemy anti-tank weapons, it turns out, alas, to be just a widespread myth.
The question of the degree to which the armor of our tanks matches the enemy’s anti-tank weapons was raised even before the war.

CONCLUSION
At one point, the amount of negativity about the T-34 became so great that NGOs and manufacturers received a demand to remove the T-34 from production.
It’s not a joke to remove it because by the end of 1940 the T-34 disappointed almost everyone, including the country’s top leadership.
The T-34 lost trials to the German T-3 tank; it was considered simply a defective model with many shortcomings that could no longer be corrected.

The last word was with the country's top leadership; there were strong fluctuations on this issue, but still prudence prevailed.
No one could have imagined that the disappointing T-34 would become best tank war, a symbol of victory. .