The last time in significant numbers- Pz.lll were used during Operation Citadel. In the tank and motorization of this operation, there were 109 tanks with short-barreled 50-mm guns, 528 with long-barreled and 172 with 75-mm guns.- In addition to these tanks, there were 56 more vehicles in the 503rd and 505th heavy tanks.- battalions, the 656th tank destroyer regiment and other units. According to German Dan- nym, during July and August 1943, would- lo lost 385 Pz.lll. In total, during the year, losses amounted to 2719 units, of which 178 were returned to service after repairs.

By the end of 1943, due to the cessation of production, the number of Pz.lll in the units of the first line was sharply reduced. A significant number of tanks of this type were transferred to various training and reserve units. They served on secondary- during hostilities, for example, in Ita- Lia and in the Balkans.

By March 1945 in the combat units of the Wehrmacht- that left only 164 Pz.lll, another 328 named- elk in the reserve army, and 105 used- lis as training.

A small number of Pz.lll times- personal modifications were supplied with- allies of Germany. In September 1942, Hungary received 10 tanks of the M modification. More 10-12 cars were handed over to the Hungarian- frames in 1944. At the end of 1942, 11 Ausf.N vehicles were delivered to Romania. In 1943, 10 of these tanks were ordered by Bulgaria, but in the end the Germans replaced the "troikas" with Pz.38(t). Slovakia received 7 Ausf.N in 1943. Several vehicles of modifications N and L were in service with the Croatian troops. Turkey planned to acquire 56

machines of options L and M, but these plans are real- failed to lick. Thus, in ar- missions of Germany's allied states post- drank no more than 50 Pz.lll.

A variety of self-propelled artillery mounts were built on the basis of the Pz.lll, including the famous StuG III assault guns, five types of command tanks, flamethrower tanks, advanced artillery vehicles- Tillerian observers, recovery vehicles. were released not- large batches of vehicles for the transport of- supplies and ammunition and sapper tanks.

It is made according to the following layout scheme: the power plant is located at the rear, the fighting compartment and the control compartment are in the middle part of the hull, and the power transmission and drive wheels are at the front. The relatively low body 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+20mm. The multifaceted turret was located in the center of the hull. The gun without a muzzle brake was mounted in the turret using a wide cylindrical mask.

The following modifications of the tank were produced:

• A-E - a tank with a 37-mm gun;
• F-N - a tank with a 50 mm gun;
• 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 armament of tank divisions. Due to the weakness of armament and armor since 1943, they were used only as special vehicles. In total, the German industry produced 5,700 Pz-III tanks of various modifications.

By 1936, the PzKpfw I light tank was in service with the German tank forces, 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 lot was service 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 light tanks PzKpfw I to medium PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV, which were destined to become the main German tanks, which largely predetermined the successes and failures of the III Reich.

Tanks were designed to withstand a direct hit from an armor-piercing projectile.
The frontal armor of the tank could withstand a high-explosive projectile. To fight 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, which was 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, two types of tanks with fundamentally different weapons should have been adopted by tank units. One tank to fight enemy tanks, the other to fight infantry.

The tank with anti-tank weapons was the PzKpfw III, armed first with a 37 mm and later with a 50 mm cannon. The PzKpfw IV was chosen to fight the infantry, armed with a short-barreled 75-mm cannon.

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

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 shoulder strap, and the aft part of the superstructure with the overhead armor plate. The main elements were interconnected by welding, and the details of each element were connected by rivets and bolts. Inside the body of the machine was divided by a bulkhead.

In the front compartment there was a gearbox with a steering mechanism, in the rear compartment there was a combat and engine compartment. The shape of the hull, turret and superstructure, as well as the layout 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 was produced in May of 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 rest of the tanks were used for testing.

Comparative performance characteristics of tanks

In the same 1937, the PzKpfw III Ausf.V 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 machines 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 participated in the September battles in Poland.

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

The first four modifications of the PzKpfw III (Ausf.A, B, C and D) were actually prototypes manufactured by Daimler-Benz. They were not intended for large-scale production, and each subsequent modification was a modified version of the previous one. All tanks of these four modifications were powered by 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 thickness of the armor was only 5 mm-15 mm. 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 commander of the vehicle, while the Ausf.D received a cast turret similar to the one on the PzKpfw IV Ausf.B.

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

Tactical and technical characteristics

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

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

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

The history of the creation of the tank

By the mid 30s. Wehrmacht command came to the final conclusion that the Third Reich needed two main types of tanks - light and medium. At the same time, the base of the armored forces was to be made up of light, maneuverable tanks armed with a 20-mm gun. Heavier and slower vehicles, protected by thicker armor, were assigned the role of the main force in close combat. It was assumed that light tanks would fight enemy military equipment and be used for reconnaissance purposes, while medium vehicles would focus on the task of destroying enemy anti-tank weapons in depth. However, the very first experience of hostilities made significant adjustments to these calculations. Firstly, the German light tanks that existed at that time did not justify the hopes placed on them. Weak armor and poor armament made these vehicles absolutely unsuitable for the role of the Wehrmacht's strike force. Secondly, none of the German tanks that existed at that time could claim to be a full-fledged medium tank.

The question of the immediate creation of a fundamentally new combat vehicle, which would combine the maneuverability of a light tank with enhanced armor protection and the combat power of a medium one, was on the agenda. The new tank needed a gun capable of hitting most enemy combat vehicles and anti-tank guns. According to the plan of Heinz Guderian, the chief of staff of the inspection of the armored forces, a 50-mm long-barreled gun could become such a weapon, but the Armaments Directorate of the Ground Forces, referring to the accepted standards for infantry anti-tank guns, insisted on maintaining the 37-mm caliber. All Guderian's attempts to convince the command that the defeat of the thick armor of enemy vehicles required much more powerful weapons were in vain - the "father of German tanks" had to give in. The only thing he managed to insist on was to increase the radius of the turret. Thus, the basis for the future equipping of the tank with more powerful weapons was preserved.

It was also decided that the new medium tank (which from 1936 became known as the Zugfuhrerswagen - the platoon commander's fighting vehicle) (later this vehicle received a new name - the PzKpfw III medium tank) in all main parameters should resemble the heavier tank of the battalion commander ( Bataillonfuhrerswagen). This meant that the tank was originally designed for a five-man crew (commander, turret gunner, loader, driver, and radio operator serving the course machine gun). The commander was placed between the shooter and the loader in the tower, his place was slightly raised and equipped with battlefield observation devices. Communication with the rest of the crew was carried out using a special microphone connected to the tank radio.

In 1935, after the development of the basic project, the military-industrial concerns Friedrich Krupp AG, * Rheinmetall-Borsig, MAN, Daimler-Benz received an order for the production of a prototype of the future medium tank. A year later, according to the test results, a special commission selected the project of Daimler-Beitz AG / In 1936, the first modification of the new tank appeared - SdKfz 141 (PzKpfw III Ausf A) or 1 / ZW (Zugfuhrerswagen - platoon commander's vehicle). In the period between 1936 - 1937. Daimler-Benz AG produces 10 experimental tanks of this modification. "According to domestic sources. In 1936-1937, Daimler-Benz produced 15 PzKpfw 111 AusF A tanks of the so-called zero series. See Panzer III. History of creation and use. M. Eastern Front. 1995.

The armament of the new combat vehicle consisted of the same 37-mm KwK L / 46.5 cannon and three machine guns - with two twin MG-34s located in the turret, and the third in the hull. If the design of the hull and turret as a whole remained unchanged, then the design of the chassis had a number of significant differences from previous models. The undercarriage (on one side) consisted of five double road wheels of large diameter, cast drive wheels were in the front of the hull, and guide wheels (sloths) with a caterpillar tension mechanism were in the rear. From above, the caterpillar lay on two supporting rollers. The Maybach HL 108 TR engine allowed the 15.4-ton tank to reach speeds of up to 32 km/h. The thickness of bulletproof armor did not exceed 15 mm. In 1936, these tanks were transferred to military trials in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tank divisions, as a result of which they were rejected.

The second experimental batch consisted of 15 units and was produced by Daimler-Benz A G in 1937.

These tanks received the designation 2/ZW, or PzKpfw III B. They had a completely new suspension, this time consisting of 8 twin small road wheels (on board), grouped two by two into carts, sprung by two semi-elliptical springs. At the same time, the number of support rollers increased to three. The new undercarriage allowed the tank to develop a high speed - up to 35 km / h. Like the Ausf A tanks, these experimental "troikas" were tested in Poland, and in 1940 they ended their service in the army forever. PzKpfw III Ausf B were withdrawn from the line regiments and transferred to training tank units of the Wehrmacht.

On the next 15 experimental tanks 3 / ZW, or PzKpfw III C, the running gear remained the same, but the suspension was significantly improved. Now eight road wheels were interlocked in pairs into four bogies, each of which was suspended on three semi-elliptical leaf springs. The first and last bogies had short parallel springs, while the second and third had one common long spring. In addition, the design of the exhaust system, the device of planetary rotation mechanisms was changed. Despite all the improvements, this tank also suffered the fate of its predecessors - all 15 Ausf C triples were withdrawn from tank units on the eve of the war with France.

The fourth experimental batch of Ausf D (3b / ZW) tanks consisted of 30 units ("According to domestic sources, Daimler-Benz produced 50 PzKpfw III Ausf D medium tanks in 1038. See The Forgotten Troika". M., 1994, PzKpfw III Ausf D differed from model C in that the small springs of the first and last bogies were installed with a certain slope, which made it possible to slightly increase their efficiency when driving along the armor of the hull and turret was also strengthened to 30 mm.In 1938, these tanks entered service with parts of the armored forces, managed to fight in Poland, after which they were transferred to tank schools as training vehicles. However, several combat "triples" Ausf D stayed in the army a little longer and took part in the occupation of Denmark and Norway as part of the 40th tank battalion.

The PzKpfw III E became the first model of the "troika" launched into mass production. 96 combat vehicles of this modification received reinforced frontal armor (up to 30 mm), a more powerful engine (Maybach HI-120 TR) and an improved chassis design.
parts with six rubber-coated road wheels with torsion bar suspension and a new Variorex gearbox SRG 328-145. In addition, the design of the ball mount of the MG-34 - Kugelblande 30 course machine gun has changed, and the entrance hatches located on the sides of the tower have become double-leaf. Thanks to these changes, the combat weight of the new medium tank reached 19.5 tons.
In September 1939, after military trials, the PzKpfw III tank of this modification was finally approved and recommended for mass production. At the same time, inspectors from the Army Ordnance Department had to make sure that Guderian's doubts about the 37-mm gun were fully justified - this gun turned out to be too weak to deal with heavy enemy tanks. I had to urgently switch to equipping the “triples” with 50-mm guns, sacrificing a third machine gun. Since the creation of a large-caliber tank gun took some time, the first PzKpfw III Ausf F tanks continued to be equipped with 37 mm guns, and only the last quarter of the 435 combat vehicles were armed with 50 mm 5 cm KwK 38 L / 42 guns. In addition, the manufacturers managed to convert some ready-made Ausf E and F triples to the new 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 tank gun.

At the same time, seven large tank-building enterprises - MAN, Daimler-Benz. Alkett, Henschel, Wegmann, MNH, MIAG received a government order for the production of 600 advanced Ausf G tanks. On these tanks, the thickness of the rear armor for the first time reached 30 mm, and later copies were equipped with an additional commander's turret, the same type as the turret of the PzKpfw IV medium tank.
In October 1940, mass production of Ausf IL triples was launched. These tanks had an improved turret design with enhanced armor protection, which greatly increased the weight of the tank, which, in turn, required radical changes in the transmission. The frontal armor of the hull and turret box of the tank was additionally reinforced with an armor plate 30 mm thick, which made the turret virtually invulnerable to enemy guns. An additional shell box was often attached to the rear wall of the tower, which was jokingly called the “Rommel chest” by the troops. Due to the increase in the combat weight of the tank to 21.6 tons, it was necessary to use wider tracks (400 mm, despite the fact that the width of the tracks on the PzKpfw III Ausf E-G was 360 mm), and in order to reduce their sagging, the front support roller was shifted and slightly forward . Among other changes, one can note an additional corner profile installed at the base of the tower and protecting it from enemy projectiles.

The next serial version of the "troika" was the tank PzKpfw III Ausf J (SdKfz 141/1). Much more of these vehicles were produced than all the previous ones - 266 units for the period from March 1941 to July 1942. Initially, tanks of this modification were armed
KwK 38 L / 42 gun, but, starting from December 1941, according to Hitler’s personal order, they began to install a new 50-mm KwK 39 gun with a barrel length of 60 calibers. About 1,000 of these improved tanks were produced. The new "triples" had more powerful 50-mm armor, improved observation systems for the driver (the Fahrerschklappc 50 viewing device and the KFF 2 binocular periscope) and a new type of installation of the MG-34 turret machine gun. The combat weight of the new tank was 21.5 tons.
From the second half of 1942, the production of PzKpfw III Ausf L tanks begins. In the period from June to December of this year, 650 such combat vehicles were created. Compared to the previous versions, the new tanks had enhanced forehead and hull armor, which were protected by additional 20 mm armor plates. In addition, the armor of the mantlet of the 50 mm KwK 39 tank gun was increased. All these changes significantly affected the mass of the tank, weighing it down by another 200 kg. Medium tanks PzKpfw III Ausf L were used to equip the tank regiments of the mobile divisions of the SS "Adolf Hitler", "Reich", "Dead Head", as well as the elite division "Grossdeutschland".

The last version of the "troika" with a 50-mm KwK 39 cannon was the Ausf M. The tanks of this model had minor differences from the previous model and were produced from October 1942 to February 1943. The initial order for this tank was 1000 units, but since At this point, the undeniable advantages of the new Soviet medium tanks over all German PzKpfw IIIs became obvious, and the order was reduced to 250 units. 100 new "triples" produced by MIAG had to be hastily transferred under a special order to the Wegmann plant for conversion into flamethrowing tanks and assault guns.
Tanks of the latest production model received the designation assault tank PzKpfw-III Ausf N (SdKfz 141/2). The production of these combat vehicles began in June 1942, but by that time it became clear that even an improved version of the old "troika" could not compete with the new Soviet tanks. The Wehrmacht needed no longer a partial modernization of old machines, but the creation of a fundamentally new version. By this moment, a new heavy tank PzKpfw IV appears, which becomes the main offensive weapon of the armored forces. Under these conditions, the PzKpfw III Ausf N tanks are assigned a supporting role, so their armament was the 75-mm KwK 37 L / 24 short-barreled gun used on the PzKpfw IV Ausf A-F1 tanks. A total of 663 PzKpfw III Ausf N tanks were produced with a combat weight of 23 tons.

For a good example of the suspension of the PzKpfw III tank and their differences.

Description of the design of the tank PzKpfw III

“PzKpfw III is a cruiser-type tank. The combat weight is about 22 tons, the armament at the moment consists of a long-barreled 50 mm cannon (50 mm KwK L / 60) and an MG-34 machine gun coaxial with it, located in the turret, and another MG-34, installed in the right frontal tank parts. In addition, the tank has machine guns (submachine guns), hand grenades, a signal pistol, and each crew member is armed with a personal pistol.

The front of the tank

The interior of the tank is divided into three compartments. The front one is intended for the driver, it is located on the left side of the body, exactly opposite the control levers and foot pedals. The gearbox is located directly under the dashboard, the brake is to the left of the driver. Steering and brakes hydraulic or mechanical.

The driver has at his disposal a viewing slot made of triplex glass block, protected by an armored cover. With a closed viewing slot, the driver can use two observation devices installed in specially drilled holes in the frontal armor. If the driver uses a regular viewing slot, these two devices are closed from the inside with a special cover.

Behind the left shoulder of the driver is another viewing slot, covered with armored glass that can be easily removed if necessary.

In addition to the driver, on the right side of the control compartment there is a place for a gunner-radio operator. At his disposal was a course machine gun MG, mounted in a ball bearing.

The observation slot and the telescopic sight are installed in such a way that as soon as the shooter turns his head to point the machine gun, his gaze automatically concentrates on the center of the target.

The radio station is usually placed to the left of the radio operator, above the gearbox, but in some cases it is installed directly in front of the shooter, in a niche under the frontal slope of the hull.

Fighting compartment of the tank

The fighting compartment, limited by the turret body, is located in the center of the vehicle. There is no floor, the commander's and gunner's chairs are suspended from the inner wall of the tower. The seat for the loader is not provided, so he stands to the right of the turret gun and, like the rest of the crew members of the compartment, rotates with the turret as it rotates.

The shooter takes a place to the left of the 50-mm gun. Near it is a lever for manually turning the tower.

On the left side of the tower there is a special observation slot for the commander. The commander's seat is in the center of the turret, behind the gun. The commander's cupola has six viewing slots with bulletproof bulletproof glass and armored covers. The hatch of the turret is double-leaf.

Near the loader, an auxiliary flywheel for manually turning the turret is provided, which allows, if necessary, to quickly rotate. Power steering is not provided.

The engine compartment of the tank PzKpfw III

The engine compartment is located in the center of the stern and is separated by a partition from the fighting compartment. The engine is located in the center of the compartment, the fuel tank and battery are located to the left and right of it.

Behind the engine are two radiators. The cardan shaft to the drive wheels is passed over the bottom of the tank, right under the "floor" of the fighting compartment. There are evacuation hatches on each side of the hull.

The commander and gunner in the fighting compartment are provided with special means for orienting and aiming guns, and the driver for this purpose is served by his own gyrocompass.

Radio equipment of the tank PzKpfw III

It is worth noting that German tanks, unlike the famous T-34s, were overwhelmingly equipped with radio stations, which gave a huge advantage for conducting combat operations as part of armored units. The standard radio equipment of medium tanks PzKpfw III was the FuG 5 transceiver, which consisted of two receivers and one transmitter. The radio station was located in the tower, in the fighting compartment of the tank. Both receivers were mounted to the left of the gunner - radio operator, above the gearbox.

The receiver was directly in front of the radio operator. All external contacts were grounded.

The radio station was powered by tank batteries. Of the five crew members, only the loader and the gunner remained without communication, although, starting with Ausf L triplets, tanks began to be equipped with a special intercom, with which the commander could give orders to the shooter. The other three crew members were supplied with a microphone and headphones, and the radio operator's headphones were somewhat different from the rest.

The commander did not have independent access to the radio and could not turn the radio on or off or tune in to the desired wave. All these operations were under the exclusive control of the radio operator. Communication between the commander and the radio operator was carried out by means of two signal lights - one was installed in the tower, and the second was next to the radio operator.

The bulbs were lit using two multi-colored (red and green) buttons. Subsequently, this complex system was replaced by a simpler and more efficient one.

Tank modernization

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf A

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf B

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf C

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf D

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf E

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf F

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf J

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf J1

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf L

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf H

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf M

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf N

Command tanks PzKpfw III

Command tanks (Pcmzer-befeblswageti) based on the PzKpfw III - a total of approximately 220 command tanks were produced based on the Ausf D, E, and H triples. These tanks had a fixed turret, a gun dummy to mislead the enemy, and a large a frame-type radio station mounted in the stern.

The tanks, called Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf D1 (Зс / ZW), were produced in 3 versions - SdKfz 266, SdKfz 267 and SdKfz 268, which differed from each other in radio equipment.

However, these tanks did not take root among the troops, since the lack of a tank gun made the officers practically unarmed in front of the enemy.

They had to rely only on service weapons, which made command tanks a very ineffective tool. With these requirements in mind, two more command tanks with reinforced armor and a rotating turret were created.

The first batch of such Panzerbefehlswagen III tanks, armed with a 50-mm KwK L / 42 cannon, consisted of 81 vehicles, then another 104 tanks were produced.

They were followed by another 50 command vehicles armed with a 50mm KwK 39 L/60 cannon (these tanks are known as Pz Bfwg III Ausf K. with 5cm Kwk 39 L/60).

The large loop antenna was replaced with a simpler one, making the tank less visible and therefore less vulnerable on the battlefield.

Retired colonel German Rott at one time commanded the 5th tank regiment and was well acquainted with the commander's tank based on the "troika". Here is what he wrote about this car:

“The first commander’s “troikas” appeared at the headquarters of our regiment not earlier than the spring of 1941. These tanks, equipped with wooden mock-up guns and powerful antennas, were designed for five crew members - a commander, a communications officer, two radio operators and a driver. Outside, tin containers were installed on the armor for our personal belongings. Unfortunately, on the very first day of the invasion of the territory of the Soviet Union, our command tank was disabled by a direct hit in the engine compartment.

He caught fire. We managed to get out of the burning car and moved into a light reconnaissance tank, but the rumor about our death spread throughout the regiment. There is a sign that a soldier who is mistakenly declared dead will live to the very end of the war ... Apparently, this is the way it is. At least all five of us survived."

Combat use of tanks PzKpfw III

In the period 1935 to 1945, 15,350 chassis were produced for the PzKpfw III tank (originally called ZW - platoon commander's vehicle).

The first * triplets *. 98 vehicles thrown into Poland became those who took part in the hostilities. Of course, at that time they were only a small part of the huge force thrown to conquer the eastern neighbor of the Third Reich. According to domestic sources, in May 1940, the German army had 381 PzKpfw III Ausf A-E tanks on the Western Front. However, already during the hostilities in France and the Netherlands, the total number of PzKpfw III in active units increased to 349 units "and continued to grow steadily. Since by this time the "ones" and "twos" had long exhausted their resources, and the few medium tanks PzKpfw IV up to for the time being they were used only as infantry escort vehicles, the "troikas" had to take the place of the main striking force of the German 6-tank troops, the main fighting vehicle of the Wehrmacht. However, the design flaws of the new tank did not allow it to successfully meet such high expectations. In order to become a truly main A Wehrmacht fighting unit, the PzKpfw III required much thicker armor and more powerful weapons.

And yet PzKpfw III still managed to fight in North Africa and Eastern Europe. As expected, by this time he had lost his dominant position in the troops, giving way to the main offensive force, first to the medium PzKpfw IV, and then to the Panthers PzKpfw V. By the time the Panthers appeared, the Troikas finally switched to the role of auxiliary support and escort tanks . Brian Perret, the author of a monograph on the PzKpfw III tanks, wrote about it this way: “In the finest hour of the blitzkrieg, the PzKpfw III tanks were the main force and bulwark of the Wehrmacht’s power, and their role can only be compared with the Napoleonic grenadiers. The Troikas were not just witnesses, but the true creators of military history - they made it on the bridgehead from the English Channel to the Volga, from the Arctic coast to the deserts of North Africa. It was the PzKpfw III that nearly made Adolf Hitler's worst dreams come true."

Leaving the arctic snows alone, let's turn to the desert sands. There is a lot of evidence of the superiority of the firepower of the "triples" over the tanks of Germany's opponents. As you know, initially the Allies had no doubt that their rapid-fire 2-pounder gun and the American 37-mm anti-tank gun were far superior to the 50-mm guns of the Nazi "troikas".

Training manuals for Soviet soldiers on the destruction of T-III tanks

Even Liddell Hart himself, the author of an excellent monograph on the Second World War, at one time was convinced of the superiority of British armored vehicles. His conclusions, based on very convincing figures, were included in a fundamental British study on the fighting in North Africa in 1941-1943. It is characteristic, however, that in the corrected and supplemented edition of the same work, all the figures and conclusions of Sir Basil regarding the German "triples" were radically revised.

The new edition unequivocally proves the superiority of the PzKpfw III tanks, armed with long-barreled 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 tank guns. British generals, as well as later British military historians, were misled by the thesis about the fundamental superiority of their tank guns over any armor of German tanks. However, the authors of this thesis did not take into account the fact that since the end of 1941 the Germans have significantly strengthened the armor of their "triples". The frontal armor of the PzKpfw III, reinforced with additional armor plates, could easily withstand the fire of both British and American anti-tank guns (of course, with the exception of a direct hit at close range). The British designers and military experts, until the very last moment, were convinced that the guns of their tanks were capable of turning any German vehicle into ruins, but this was not so.

Let us now turn to the testimonies of eyewitnesses. This time I want to give the floor to Major (later Colonel) of the American Army George B. Jarrett, who arrived in the Middle East in February 1942 and had a unique opportunity to get to know all the Allied and German tanks that existed at that time. According to Jarot , both British and American anti-tank guns were absolutely helpless against the armor of the German “triples” and “fours”, while both of these tanks, armed with 50- and 75-mm KwK guns, easily disabled all Allied combat vehicles, with the exception of except perhaps the British infantry tank Matilda Jarrett claims that even at the maximum distance of 2000-3000 yards (1830-2743 m), German tank shells hit the tracks and undercarriage of the suspension of the anti-fascist coalition tanks.

Of course, there were exceptions. One can imagine with what impatience the Americans, who landed in northern Tunisia at the end of 1942, were waiting for the first meeting with German troops. On November 26, 1942, several companies of the 1st Armored Division, which had light tanks of the MZ Stuart at their disposal, surrounded six German PzKpfw IVs and three PzKpfw IIIs. “Having squeezed the enemy into a ring, the Stuarts, armed with 37-mm cannons, opened aimed fire on the sides and rear of the German tanks and disabled all the “fours” and one “troika” * ". However, the honesty of the official historian makes the author after the description brilliant victory to make the following addition: "However, we owed this victory solely to quantitative superiority and not to superiority in technology. "In addition, in this battle, the Allies lost 50% of their tanks. It was the number that ultimately determined the victory of the Allies in Northern Africa It is worth noting that the Allies often ambushed or hunted German vehicles.

The scale of Allied armor deployed to the African front grew steadily. A huge number of new American medium tanks MZ "Grant" and M4 "Sherman" put the Germans in a stalemate, despite the fact that somewhere in the middle of 1942 Rommel began to receive help from Germany. To Africa, in addition to the "tropical" PzKpfw III models. PzKprw III Ausf J were deployed, with enhanced armor protection and a long-barreled gun, and in mid-June several PzKpfw IVs with a new 75-mm KwK40 long-barreled gun were sent there. whose projectiles had a high muzzle velocity. "This gun was an ominous harbinger of the imminent appearance of the merciless Panther."

From the many memoirs of the crew members of the legendary "troika", I have chosen for this book the story of Eustace-Wilhelm Ockelhauser, cited in his book of military memoirs "Zogett in das Feld". I want to introduce you to an episode related to the combat path of the "troikas" in the Soviet Union.

“A new commander arrived in our company - a reservist, a teacher of the profession. The poor fellow was unlucky with growth - the dimensions of our tank were clearly small for him. First of all, the new commander ordered us to find and recapture a staff car with three officers, which went on reconnaissance and stumbled upon a Russian ambush. Judging by the radio signal we received, the car was somewhere outside the city. It was decided to send two tanks, but since the long lieutenant did not yet have his own car, he took command of tank No. 921. It just so happened that it turned out to be my tank.

I sent the loader away and took his place between the cannon and the shell box. Finally set off. Not even a quarter of an hour had passed since the moment we left our company, through a narrow observation slot I saw the disguised location of the Russian infantry. The Russians were only a few meters away from us in a small clearing. The lieutenant, apparently, did not notice the dark silhouettes of the foot soldiers and continued to serenely survey the surroundings, leaning out to the waist from his hatch. I hit him under the knees with all my strength and dragged him inside. "What's the matter, nerd?! Damn you!" he yelled, looking at me furiously. There was no time for an explanation. The next second, burning oil poured into the tower, and the poor lieutenant screamed wildly in pain. I knew well what it was. The Russians threw a "Molotov cocktail" into the open hatch ", and the burning mixture, flowing from the lieutenant's back and neck, poured into the tank.

My first move was to immediately jump out of the burning tower, but I knew perfectly well that the Ivans were just waiting to finish off the pass on the ground. Damn it! Frantically looking around, I suddenly saw a fire extinguisher attached to its bracket. I pulled it off the wall. Thank God! The fire extinguisher was full, although I can't remember the last time I saw such a miracle in a tank. I tore off the seal and directed the foaming jet into the flame.
At this time, Run, our gunner, with all his strength, held the legs of the idiot lieutenant, who howled in pain and tried to jump out of the tank. Finally, he lost consciousness and slid down helplessly. I thoroughly treated it with foam, extinguishing the remnants of the fire. Pushing the lieutenant's unconscious body with difficulty, I climbed into the commander's seat and immediately heard the roar of flames from above. Two grenades exploded at the stern, bullets pounded on the sides like a hail. Our tank was moving at top speed. I was completely unoriented and could not give any instructions to the driver, because something was lying on the tank's hull, blocking the viewing slots. The manhole covers were open. Damn that lieutenant! I always kept them closed. A cloudless summer sky floated overhead.

Rune handed me an object. I took a closer look and recognized the half-burned headphones of the lieutenant. Fortunately for us, the radio worked, and I heard the excited voice of Sergeant Major Reitz, the commander of the tank following us, in my headphones. "Stop!! he yelled. - 921, stop! Stop! Where are you going, damn you? Are you blind? It's full of Russians! We are in ambush. Turn around, but be careful. We have two Russians lying in front of the tower, and another one is sitting on the tower. Close the hatch immediately before he throws a grenade inside! Don't worry, I'll try to sleep them. Slowly turn around and let's go."

The situation was critical. The Russians sitting on the armor tightly blocked both viewing slots - both mine and the driver's. Our blinded tank was moving straight into the Russian position. Headphones worked, but I didn't have a microphone. Pushing the lieutenant, who was moaning in unconsciousness, I began to make my way into the compartment to the driver. Rune didn't waste time either - I saw how he shot one machine-gun belt after another. When I got to Logo, our driver, I tapped him on the left shoulder. He instantly realized what was happening and began to turn left. The roar of the engine drowned out any words, it was necessary to "talk" with the help of gestures. Suddenly, the view in front of the driver became free. I realized that the Russian blocking it had to hide behind the turret to escape the machine-gun fire that Reitz was spraying on our tank. The sergeant-major’s voice in the headphones dispelled the last doubts: “Great, guys! Take it cooler - take it easy, don’t rush. Now straight ahead. Don’t fly, otherwise you’ll run into. ".

Do it yourself ... At first I thought about the fans, but the danger that their fragments could get into the ventilation holes in the engine compartment made this option unacceptable. Finally came up with. He carefully removed the bulletproof glass from the viewing slot and fired a pistol at the dark mass blocking the opening. Two, three, four shots. Shot the whole clip. The dark mass stirred and froze. But I didn't have time to take a breath, as someone's body blocked the open hatch. It became completely dark in the tank. Right in front of my face, I saw first a sleeve, then a dirty palm, and then a brown shoulder and part of a head. What to do? The store is empty. I rushed down and yelled at the top of my lungs, "Run." The gunner did not hear, carried away by shooting. His eyes were glued to the optical sight. In desperation, I threw away my gun and grabbed my flare gun. Aimed up and fired. The rocket hissed out of the barrel. That was all... *I couldn't kill him, I thought. - He just got mad. Now he will take out his “Molotov cocktail” and throw it here ... Or he will use a couple of hand grenades. Preparing for the worst, I huddled in the farthest corner of the loader's seat. I was shaking. The hatch was still dark, and death did not come. I don't remember how much time has passed. During his
jump, I lost my headphones and now I'm left without a connection. All that was heard was how the machine gun was pounding on our armor.
Suddenly someone pulled me by the leg. I turned around and saw the pale face of the radio operator right in front of me. He handed me a loaded gun. Thank God! I put my hand through the hatch again and squeezed the trigger. Now the damned Russian must free our hatch! Shot... Another one. Two more. No changes. The same darkness. And then the tank suddenly stopped. What else happened?! I got up and looked up. Warm blood dripped onto my face. The Russian was dead.
It didn't take me much effort to move it off the hatch. What a joy to see the sky above again!
The fire outside has subsided. I quickly stuck my head out of the turret and stared straight into the two black machine-gun barrels of the Reitz tank. It turns out that the tower of a hundred tanks was only three meters from ours! A dead Russian was lying on the stern, I myself threw the second from the tower. Damn it - next to him were two bottles of Molotov cocktails and a bunch of hand grenades! The third Russian disappeared without a trace. Reitz stepped back carefully and picked up his headphones, which meant that he wanted to contact us immediately. I climbed into the commander's seat, but awkwardly stepped on the chest of the lying lieutenant. Rhun was still on his machine gun, turning the turret around every now and then. I noticed that he managed to shoot another machine-gun belt into the forest. I shouted to the radio operator to look for my headphones, but he, of course, did not hear. I had to knock him on the back with an empty pistol. It worked - the radio operator finally turned around and guiltily handed me headphones and even a microphone. Finally, I can talk to Reitz!

The sergeant-major said that his tank was completely intact and ready to continue fulfilling the order. Unfortunately, I could not boast of the same and said that we must immediately return to the company's position, since the lieutenant needed urgent medical attention. Reitz agreed and we turned around in the opposite direction. Since I decided to bandage the lieutenant, I ordered my driver to simply follow the Reitz tank.

There was a terrible stench in the tower - it smelled of gunpowder, foam and burnt meat. When a quarter of an hour later we arrived at our own, I jumped out of the tank on the move and rushed into the bushes. I just turned inside out. There I lay, choking on vomiting, when our doctor, Rubenser, found me. Without saying a word, he left somewhere, then returned with a large pot in which we cooked food and heated water for washing. The doctor washed me with cold water like a baby and bandaged my burnt hand. When he finished bandaging my burns, I forced a smile, but the doctor said: "The commander is waiting for you. Go, report on the results."

Karl was sitting between the tracks of the tank. There was a stretcher next to him. In a long body wrapped in white bandages, I recognized our lieutenant. I saluted and reported what had happened.

Why didn't you follow the order? I think you were sent to look for a staff car with officers? It's easier to turn back. If you ever want to be in command of a tank again, you will have to learn to follow orders no matter what the circumstances. It's time to get used to the fact that the execution of orders is always accompanied by difficulties. War cannot be like a ballroom dancing class.
- I obey, mister lieutenant!
- Are you seriously injured?
- No, sir lieutenant!
“In that case, you and Reitz will immediately go on a mission. Now you know where to look for a car. Try to follow orders this time.
- I obey, mister lieutenant! I saluted and turned around. Tears filled my eyes. God, why am I being sent back to hell again?!
Two tanks were already waiting for us. Reitz waved at me in greeting. I silently grabbed the muzzle of the gun and climbed into the hatch. The motor blew. I discreetly wiped my face with a bandaged hand and took a few deep breaths. It seems to have let go.^ Now I could get in touch with Reitz without shame.

What's with the radio? - the first thing he asked. Why is there a squelching noise in my headphones? I had no choice but to remain silent.

We returned to the same place. I gave the order to fire both machine guns. Pouring fire on the forest, we cautiously approached the place where our staff car was parked. There were no Russians around. Something gray was lying in front of the car ... nearby, in the grass, I saw a dead non-commissioned officer. We drove closer. Reitz climbed out of the tank, carefully approached the body, and turned him over on his back to remove the medallion. Then he looked at me and shrugged his shoulders in bewilderment. The officers disappeared without a trace. I carefully examined the dense greenery of the bushes through binoculars. Then I turned my gaze to the village and tried to put myself in the place of the officers. Where would I take cover if I were surrounded? Having chosen a suitable place with my eyes, I slowly sent my tank there. The way it is! All three lay in a shallow ditch. Dead. Colonel, major and boy lieutenant. We put the corpses on the hull and drove to the location of the unit.

I went to report, the rest took care of the dead. The commander was still there, near the tank. The stretcher with the lanky lieutenant disappeared - the poor fellow was transported to the central evacuation point. Carl listened to me in silence, without interrupting. When I finished, silence reigned ... I still remember his words:
- If you had carried out the order and had not returned halfway, these four would be alive now.
I had nothing to answer. The commander was right.

_______________________________________________________________
Data source: Magazine "Armored Collection" M. Bratinsky (1998. - No. 3)

The Panzerkampfwagen III is a German medium tank of the Second World War, mass-produced from 1938 to 1943. The abbreviated names of this tank were PzKpfw III, Panzer III, Pz III. In the departmental rubricator of military equipment of Nazi Germany, this tank had the designation Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - Special Purpose Vehicle 141). In Soviet historical documents and popular literature, the PzKpfw III was referred to as "Type 3", T-III or T-3.

Trophy tank Pz.Kpfw. III from the Soviet 107th separate tank battalion. Volkhov Front, April 1942.

These combat vehicles were used by the Wehrmacht from the first day of World War II. The latest records of the combat use of the PzKpfw III in the regular composition of the Wehrmacht units date back to the middle of 1944, single tanks fought until the surrender of Germany. From mid-1941 to early 1943, the PzKpfw III was the basis of the armored forces of the Wehrmacht (Panzerwaffe) and, despite the relative weakness compared to contemporary tanks of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, made a significant contribution to the successes of the Wehrmacht of that period. Tanks of this type were supplied to the armies of Germany's Axis allies. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were used by the Red Army and the Allies with good results. On the basis of the PzKpfw III in Germany and the USSR, self-propelled artillery installations (ACS) for various purposes were created.

German soldiers around a medium tank Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J stuck in the mud with tail number 201 from the 17th Panzer Division (17.Pz.Div.) of the Wehrmacht. Eastern front. A flag is fixed on the roof of the tower for identification by its aviation.

History of creation and production

Zugfuhrerwagen

Although Germany, which was defeated in the First World War, under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty was forbidden to have armored troops, work on the creation of armored vehicles had been carried out in it since 1925. The first tank eventually launched was the light tank PzKpfw I, then known under the code designation "small tractor", (German: Kleintraktor), which had been under development since 1930. At the same time, the shortcomings of the PzKpfw I, which had a crew of two, machine gun armament and bulletproof armor, were obvious even at the design stage, so the need to develop heavier tanks was soon formulated by the Reichswehr Armaments Office. According to Krupp documents for 1933, the Ordnance Department planned the creation of two tanks - slightly larger than the PzKpfw I and armed with a 20-mm cannon, the future PzKpfw II, the development of which was entrusted to the Daimler-Benz company and armed with a 37-mm cannon and having a weight of about 10 tons of a tank, the contract for the development of which was planned to be received by Krupp. The final decision to start the development of these two machines was made after the January 11, 1934 meeting of the leadership of the Armaments Directorate to determine priority programs in the face of lack of funding. Formal permission to start work on the tank (German: Gefechtskampfwagen) was issued to the Office of the Inspection of the Armored Forces on January 27 of the same year.

German tank Pz.Kpfw. III from the 24th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht (24. Panzer-Division), shot down near Stalingrad

In February 1934, the Ordnance Department organized a competition for the development of a new tank, which received the code designation "platoon commander's tank" (German: Zugführerwagen) or Z.W. After researching the possibilities of various companies, four companies were invited to participate in the competition: Daimler-Benz, Krupp, M.A.N. and Rheinmetall. Technical requirements for the tank included:

- weight about 10 tons;
- armament from a 37-mm cannon in a rotating turret;
— maximum speed not less than 40 km/h;
- the use of an HL 100 engine with a power of 300 liters. With. manufactured by Maybach, SSG 75 transmission from Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, Wilson-Cletrac type turning mechanism and Kgs.65/326/100 tracks.

After studying the preliminary designs submitted by Daimler-Benz, M.A.N. and "Rheinmetall", the Office of Arms in the summer of 1934 issued orders for the production of prototypes:

- "Daimler-Benz" - two prototype chassis;
— M.A.N. - one chassis prototype;
- "Krupp" - two prototypes of the tower;
- "Rheinmetall" - one prototype of the tower.

Based on the results of testing prototypes, the Daimler-Benz chassis was chosen, the first copy of which was assembled in August 1935. In addition to the first chassis, designated Z.W.1 and Z.W.2, Daimler-Benz received a contract to build two more improved prototypes, the Z.W.3 and Z.W.4. Two prototype Krupp turrets were completed as early as August 1934, but they were finally selected only after comparative tests with Rheinmetall turrets on chassis prototypes.

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. A, B, C and D

An order for the production of a "zero series" of 25 tanks intended for military trials was issued by the Ordnance Department in December 1935, while the release of the first tanks was scheduled for October 1936 in order to transfer all 25 vehicles to the troops by April 1, 1937 of the year. By that time, the designation of the tank had changed several times, until the order of April 3, 1936 was established in the final version - Panzerkampfwagen III.

The contract for the production of the first pre-production batch (1.Serie / Z.W.) of 10 vehicles was issued to Daimler-Benz, while Krupp was supposed to supply turrets for tanks. In addition to them, a number of other companies were involved in the production, producing individual units and components of the tank. So, armored hulls and armored turrets were manufactured by Deutsche Edelstalwerke, a number of other companies supplied optical instruments and components of the power plant and chassis. The ten machines of this series, which later received the designation Ausführung A (Ausf. A - “model A”), were the development of the design of the prototype Z.W.1. A characteristic feature of this modification was the undercarriage, with five large-diameter road wheels with individual suspension on vertical springs and two support rollers on each side. Mass Ausf. A was 15 tons, while the maximum speed was below the requirements of the customer and amounted to only 35 km / h. Daimler-Benz planned to complete the assembly of two chassis by November 1936, but in reality the start of production of the Ausf. A dragged on until 1937. The exact dates of production of vehicles of this modification are unknown, but their approximate period is known - between May 1, 1937, when, according to reports, not a single tank was accepted yet, and October 1 of the same year, when 12 PzKpfw IIIs were already in service.

German tank landing on the T-III tank, 1941.

The second order, issued by Daimler-Benz and Krupp, provided for the production of a second pre-production batch (2.Serie / Z.W.) of 15 cars, which was the development of the Z.W.3 prototype and received the designation Ausf. B. From Ausf. And they were distinguished primarily by the chassis, which had 8 small-diameter road wheels on each side, interlocked in pairs into bogies, suspended on two groups of leaf springs and equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. In addition, a number of minor changes were made to the design of the tank. Five chassis Ausf. B were redirected for the production of the zero series Sturmgeschütz III self-propelled guns, so that as tanks, according to the German documentation, only 10 of them were completed, although many sources nevertheless speak of 15 produced tanks of this modification. After testing, all 5 machines of the zero series Sturmgeschütz III were used for training purposes until 1941. The production of tanks of this modification began after the completion of work on vehicles from the Ausf. A, and the last Ausf. B were delivered to the troops by the end of November - beginning of December 1937.

An order for a third pre-production batch of PzKpfw III (3.Serie/Z.W.) of 40 tanks was also issued by Daimler-Benz and Krupp, and a number of both old and new subcontractors were involved in the production for individual units and components of the tank. 3.Serie/Z.W. included two batches - 3a.Serie/Z.W. of 15 cars and 3b.Serie/Z.W. of the 25 vehicles designated, respectively, Ausf. C and Ausf. D. Structurally Ausf. C differed from the Ausf. First of all, a modified suspension, 8 rollers of which from each side were now arranged into three carts - two outer rollers and an average of four rollers, still suspended on leaf springs, and the outer carts were also on shock absorbers. In addition, the units of the power plant were improved, primarily the turning mechanism and final drives. Ausf production. C was conducted from mid-1937 to January 1938.

German tank PzKpfw III Ausf. H

The last pre-production modification of the PzKpfw III was the Ausf. D. Tanks of this modification were distinguished by a modified rear part of the hull and a commander's cupola of a new design, as well as changes in the power plant and suspension elements. Many features of the Ausf. D, for example, the design of the stern, subsequently switched to serial machines. Regarding the reservation of tanks of this modification, the opinions of historians differ. The traditional version is about 30-mm vertical armor Ausf. D, as on the tanks of the first serial modifications, according to various sources, all, or all except for the first 5 vehicles, Ausf. D. However, this version is disputed by historian T. Yenz, who points out that these data, like many others, come from British intelligence reports written during the Second World War and shortly after it, and are only erroneous assumptions. Yenz himself, based on German documents of that period, claims that the armor of all Ausf. D remained unchanged compared to previous modifications, and only the new commander's cupola had 30 mm armor. Ausf production. D began in January 1938, just after the completion of the Ausf. C. According to German documents, a report for 1 July 1938 listed 56 Ausf. A - Ausf. D, but, according to historians, the last Ausf. D were issued as early as June or July 1938. The initial order for Ausf. D amounted to 25 vehicles, however, due to the fact that 5 chassis Ausf. B were allocated earlier for the construction of self-propelled guns, the upper parts of the hull and turret already made for them remained unclaimed, and the Arms Department ordered Daimler-Benz to manufacture 5 additional chassis in 3b.Serie / Z.W. (No. 60221-60225). However, by that time, the production of subsequent PzKpfw III series was already a priority, so the assembly of these five vehicles, referred to in some documents as 3c.Serie / Z.W., took place only in October 1940. It was these 5 tanks, which entered the 40th Special Purpose Tank Battalion in Norway, that took part in the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in northern Finland. In total, thus, 30 tanks of the Ausf modification were manufactured. D, although some sources give figures of 29 or even 50 cars.

German tank Pz.Kpfw. III, knocked out and overturned on the Eastern Front.

Production

Modifications

At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 Panzerkampfwagen III tanks of versions F, G and H were converted for movement under water and were to be used when landing on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15 m; 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 on June 22, 1941 crossed the Western Bug along the bottom.
Most of the 600 tanks of the F and G versions built before the end of 41 were armed with a new 50 mm cannon and, accordingly, could withstand the T-34 armor (sides) at distances of less than 500 meters. And partially KV (bottom of the forehead of the body).

Tauchpanzer III

Design

The PzKpfw III had a layout with the engine compartment in the rear, the transmission compartment in the front, and the control and fighting compartment in the middle of the tank. The crew of the PzKpfw III consisted of five people: a driver and gunner-radio operator, who were in the control department, and a commander, gunner and loader, located in a three-man turret.

Armament

The armor-piercing effect of armor-piercing shells was far from always effective since the projectile was badly damaged, sub-caliber ones generally have an unpredictable armor effect. This further reduces the effectiveness of the fire. Given the caliber, these factors were of sufficient importance (the caliber of the level of a hand-held offensive (light) grenade). On the other hand, in a closed space and a dense layout, any action causes damage. By the end of the war, with an increase in calibers, the effect of shells on armor reached a destructive effect (IS-2, after a series of hits without penetration, lost the strength of the hull and began to fall apart, under the influence of its larger-caliber shells, the German armor that had become fragile was destroyed even from the first hit in large volumes (turret shift with a shoulder strap of 20 cm or more)).

Means of observation and communication

All PzKpfw III tanks were equipped with a FuG 5 radio located above the gearbox, to the left of the gunner-radio operator. Range - 6.4 km by telephone and 9.4 km by telegraph. Internal communication between the crew members was carried out with the help of TPU and a light signal device.

Red Army soldiers inspect German tanks Pz. Kfpw. III, shot down near Mogilev. The vehicles were hit by units of the 388th Infantry Regiment.

Engine and transmission

All modifications were equipped with Maybach twelve-cylinder gasoline carburetor engines. Modifications Ausf.A-Ausf.D - HL108TR engine with a volume of 10.8 liters, a power of 250 hp. Modifications Ausf.E-Ausf.N - HL120TR engine with a volume of 11.9 liters, a power of 300-320 hp. Structurally, the second motor was a development of the first; motors differed in cylinder diameter and compression ratio.

Gearboxes: modifications Ausf.A-Ausf.D - six-speed (+5; -1); modifications Ausf.E-Ausf.G - fourteen-speed (+10; -4); modifications Ausf.H-Ausf.N - seven-speed (+6; -1). The fourteen-speed Ausf.E-Ausf.G modifications were a rare type of the so-called shaftless preselective gearbox of the Maybach Variorex model.

The turning mechanism is single-speed planetary. It consisted of two identical differential gearboxes, one for its side, which performed a dual function - the function of the turning mechanism itself and the function of one of the main gear reduction stages. Each differential gearbox had its own swing brake. The turning mechanism is controlled by two levers, each of which is connected both with its turning brake and with the stopping brake of its side. Group drive of stopping brakes - pedal.

The main gear had three reduction stages. The first stage consisted of a bevel gear reducer for transmitting torque from the gearbox to the common drive shaft of the turning mechanism. The second is from a pair of differential gears of the turning mechanism. The third is from a pair of onboard cylindrical gearboxes. The total gear ratio for different modifications is 7-9, depending on the motor and gearbox type.

Chassis of various modifications of the tank

Chassis

The undercarriage of the tank was distinguished by considerable diversity. Nevertheless, there were common features - the location of the drive wheels in front, and sloths in the back, which is traditional for German tank building, and the presence of supporting rollers. The track rollers were rubber-coated. Modifications (German "Ausfuehrung" or "Ausf.") differed in the number of rollers, their size, shock-absorbing structure. It should be noted that in the course of evolution three fundamentally different depreciation options were used.

ausf. A: the only modification with a spring suspension (one spring for each roller), two carrier rollers (three on all others), five larger diameter rollers.

ausf. B, C, D: eight downsized road wheels, leaf spring suspension. At Ausf. B two semi-elliptical springs rested on the ends of the rollers, interlocked in pairs, Ausf. C, D already had three springs, and the latter had the springs at an angle.

ausf. E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N: torsion bar suspension, six medium-sized road wheels. Modifications differed from each other, mainly in the size of the rollers and rubber bandage, the design and pattern of the drive wheel and sloth.

Flammpanzer III (Sd.Kfz. 141/3), Eastern Front 1943/1944.

Vehicles based on the Panzerkampfwagen III

On the basis of the linear PzKpfw III, specialized tanks and armored vehicles were built:

in Germany:

- Panzerbefehlswagen III - command tank;
- Flammpanzer III - flamethrower tank;
- Tauchpanzer III - underwater tank;
- Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III - artillery observation armored car (advanced artillery observers vehicle);
- Sturmgeschütz III - self-propelled guns;
- Sturmhaubitze 42 - self-propelled guns;
— Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33 Ausf.B;

in the USSR (based on captured tanks):

- SU-76i - self-propelled guns;
- SU-85i - self-propelled guns;
- SG-122 - self-propelled guns.

StuG III Ausf. G Finnish Panzer Division

Combat use

Invasion of the USSR

By the time of the invasion of the USSR, the PzKpfw III was the main weapon of the Wehrmacht tank units. On June 22, 1941, in the divisions sent to the USSR, there were about 1000 vehicles of this type, which ranged from 25 to 34% of the total number of tanks sent to the USSR.

As part of the tank battalion, PzKpfw III were part of light tank companies (three platoons of five tanks of this type, plus two such tanks in the control platoon. There are two such companies in the tank battalion.). Thus, a typical Wehrmacht tank division during the invasion of the USSR with one two-battalion tank regiment had 71 combat PzKpfw III units plus 6 special commander units for command and control. In fact, the division into light and medium tank companies in 1941 was of a formal nature. From the end of 1940, the tank divisions were reorganized (instead of a two-regiment tank brigade, they had one regiment of two or three battalions) and the Pz III became the main vehicle of a light tank company (17 Pz III and 5 Pz II in each), and the average - Pz IV (12 Pz IV and 7 Pz II). Thus, each tank battalion had 34 Pz III tanks. Another 3 Pz III tanks were in the regiment command platoon. So a typical tank division (not equipped with Czech tanks) had from 71 to 105 Pz III tanks, depending on the number of tank battalions in the tank regiment.