Pz.Kpfw. III

Basic version:
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. A (1./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. B (2./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. C (3a./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. D (3b./Z.W.)


Z.W.38
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. E (4./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. F (5./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. G (6./Z.W.)


Z.W.39
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. H (7./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. J (8./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. K (8./Z.W.) - a project to modify the design of the Pz.Kpfw.III and rearm it with a turret from a Pz.Kpfw.IV tank (with 7.5cm Kw.K.40 gun)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. L (8./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. M (8./Z.W.)
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. N (8./Z.W.)



Self-propelled guns:
StuG III Ausf. A - cannon 75mm StuK. 37 L/24
StuG III Ausf. B
StuG III Ausf. C
StuG III Ausf. D
StuG III Ausf. E
StuG III Ausf. F - 75mm StuK 40 L/43 or L/48 gun
StuG III Ausf. F8
StuG III Ausf. G
StuH 42 Ausf. G
Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33 - cannon 15 cm sIG 33 L/12



Command tanks:
Panzerbefehlspanzer III Ausf. D1
Panzerbefehlspanzer III Ausf. E
Panzerbefehlspanzer III Ausf. H
Panzerbefehlspanzer III Ausf. J
Panzerbefehlspanzer III Ausf. K
Pz.Kpfw. III (Funk) Ausf. J - command guidance tanks for remotely guided demolition vehicles
Pz.Kpfw. III (Funk) Ausf. L - command guidance tanks for remotely guided demolition vehicles
Pz.Kpfw. III (Funk) Ausf. N - command guidance tanks for remotely guided demolition vehicles



Other modifications,small series types, curiosities, prototypes:
Z.W. 40
Z.W. 41
Flammpanzer III Ausf. M (Flamm) - flamethrower tank
Pz.Kpfw. III (T) - submersible tank
Unterwasser-Tauchfahrzeug (UT) - submersible floating tank
Panzerbeobachtungswagen III - artillery observation tank
Bergepanzer III - recovery tank
15 cm s.I.G. 33 auf Panzer III - field conversion to self-propelled gun
Flammenwerfer StuG III - flamethrower version of the StuG III
Minenräumpanzer III - special demining tank
4./ZW (PzKpfw. III Ausf. E) Fahrgestell für 3./BW (PzKpfw. IV Ausf. C) - project/plan for the rationalization of medium tank production from 1937
Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N mit schiennen kettenfahrzeug - a tank with an attachment allowing movement on rails
Flakpanzer III- a conversion project of the decommissioned Pz.Kpfw. III into anti-aircraft tanks by placing modified turrets from Wirbelwind and Ostwind
2 cm FlaK 38 auf Bergepanzer III (field modification)
Munitionspanzerwagen III - ammunition tanks
Brückenmaterialträger III - engineer modification PzKpfw.III
Instandsetzung/Schlepper Pz.Kpfw. III - an artillery tractor-running tank stripped of turret used for towing artillery weapons
SU-76i (SU-762) - Soviet conversion to a tank fighter on captured Pz.Kpfw.III chassis
SG-122(A) - 122 mm howitzer on a podv. Pz.Kpfw. III - Soviet modification on captured chassis PzKpfw. III (self-propelled howitzer)
Fahrschulepanzer III - school vehicle
PzKpfw. III Ausf. L mit Waffe 0725 - with experimental Kw.K. 0725 gun (75/55mm-conical barrel) - such a vehicle appears in earlier published surveys. This is probably a mistake.


Pz.Kpfw. III
Pz.Kpfw. III - in the service of foreign armies wartime and post-war users


Edit: Braňo

History of the Pz.Kpfw. III (Zugführerwagen)
The first mention of the German Army's interest in developing a new tank can be found in the Krupp technical business report for 1932/33 dated 29.12.1933. The report stated that the German Army's standard tank was the Kleintraktor (Pz.Kpfw.I), but the army command required the development of a heavier tank armed with a 2 cm gun and a tank of 10 tons weight category with a 3.7 cm gun. In the wake of this, secret negotiations between the military section responsible for the development of new armoured vehicles WaPrüf 6 and the companies Krupp and Daimler-Benz on the design of the new tank type got underway. Specific ideas were discussed at a meeting of the main ministry and several military branches responsible for introducing new weapons to the German army (In 6, WaPrüf 6). Official permission for the development of a new 10 tonne tank with 37 mm cannon armament was granted by In 6 and WaPrüf 6 on 27.1.1934.
Four companies (Krupp, Daimler-Benz, Rheinmetall and M.A.N.) were to take part in the competition for the new tank, called the Zugführerwagen Z.W. (platoon commander's vehicle).


The following technical specifications were given:
- maximum speed 40 km/h
- use of the Maybach HL 100 engine with 300 hp
- use of a 6-speed gearbox Zahnradfahrzeug Friedrichshafen SSG 75
- use of a Wilson Cletrac steering system
- use of Kgs 65/326/100 tracks


After reviewing the proposals, WaPrüf 6 ordered the following components:
2 chassis from Daimler-Benz (the final winner of the program)
1 chassis from M.A.N.
1 tower at Rheinmetall
2 towers from Krupp


The towers at Krupp in Essen were completed in 8/1934. The WaPrüf 6 viewed the prototypes of the towers at Meppen on 8/20/1934, but had several reservations which the Krupp firm had to rectify. The turrets were modified and gunnery tests were carried out. The modified turret 2 was sent to the M.A.N. plant in M.A.N. Nuremberg, turret 1 remained in Essen and after its acceptance WaPrüf 6 served as a model for future serial production. The first series of turrets was to be produced in 1935.On 22.2.1935 a requirement arose to modify the gun shield, which was to be promtne modified by 15.4.1935.


The first chassis (Z.W.1 ([url=https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/6396/Pz-Kpfw-III-Ausf-A]Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.A)) was completed by the winning company Daimler-Benz in 8/1935. The company received an order for two more prototypes. These were to be produced in two different designs.
The Versuchs-Fahrgestell Z.W.3 was to be built in the form of a future production machine 2./Z.W. (Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.B)
The Versuchs-Fahrgestell Z.W.4 was to be built in the form of a future production machine 3./Z.W. (Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.C/Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.D)


The official designation was gradually changed:
Gefechtskampfwagen 3,7 cm (Vskfz.619) - 6/1934
3,7 cm Gesütz-Kampfwagen - 12.10.1934
3,7 cm Gesütz-Panzerwagen (Vskfz.619) - 28.5.1935
3,7 cm Gesütz Pz.Kpf.Wg. - 29.11.1935
3,7 cm Pz.Kpf.Wg. - 15.1.1936


The final designation was approved by In 6 in a decree dated 3.4.1936 and it read Panzerkampfwagen III (3,7 cm). In 1935, a 25 pcs zero test series was ordered (of which 10 pcs of platforms with coil springs, the rest of the machines with leaf springs). The entire series was to be delivered at the end of 7/1937. This was followed by an order for a second test batch of 40 units, which were to be delivered by 1/4/1938. The zero series were actually versions of the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.A - D. The first large series were to be produced from the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.E (Z.W.38) version onwards. The equipping of units with these machines was not expected to take place until 1939.

Thomas L. Jentz, Hillary Louis Doyle - Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. A, B, C und D, Development and production from 1934 to 1938 plus Leichttraktor and Krupp´s M.K.A., Panzertracts No-3-1, ISBN 0-9771643-4-9
Thomas L. Jentz, Hillary Louis Doyle - Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. E, F, G und H, Development and production from 1938 to 1941, Panzertracts No-3-2, ISBN 0-9771643-9-x