Germany PzKpfw III Ausf A (Panzer III) Ordnance classification - SdKfz 141
The PzKpfw III Ausf A was designed in 1936, manufactured by Daimler-Benz based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1937 to 1940.
General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)
1937 - 1940
Ordnance classification
SdKfz 141
Quantity Produced
10
Weight
15.4 tonne
Crew
5
M.G's small
3
M.G's large(>10mm)
n/a
Length
5.69 mtr
Width
2.81 mtr
Height
2.34 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed
22 mph
Max Cross Country Speed
12 mph
Range Road
103 miles
Range Cross Country
41 miles
Fuel Type
Petrol
Fuel Capacity
unknown
Horse Power
230 hp
Power/Weight
14 hp/tonne
General Information
The PzKpfw III Ausf A was designed in 1936, manufactured by Daimler-Benz based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1937 to 1940.
The vehicle was powered by Maybach 'HL108 TR' petrol powerplant producing 230 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 22 mph with a range of about 103 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 12 mph and a range of about 41 miles.
It was armed with 3 light machine guns which were 7.92mm MG 34s. Its main armament consisted of a 3.7cm KwK 35/36 L/45 which could penetrate 38 mm of flat plate at 400 metres
The initial specification for the PzKpfw III was created by Heinz Guderian in January 1934. This was to be a first tank to have a 3-man turret which meant that the commander did not have to double up as a loader or a gunner and could concentrate on commanding the tank.
Armour Details
Turret
Front
15mm
@
15°
(16mm)
Side
15mm
@
25°
(17mm)
Rear
15mm
@
12°
(15mm)
Top
10mm
@
87°
(10mm)
Superstructure
Front
15mm
@
10°
(15mm)
Side
15mm
@
0°
(15mm)
Rear
15mm
@
0°
(15mm)
Top
10mm
@
80°
(10mm)
Hull
Front
15mm
@
20°
(16mm)
Side
15mm
@
0°
(15mm)
Rear
15mm
@
0°
(15mm)
Top
5mm
@
90°
(5mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 17 mm - Minimum 5 mm
Weapon Details
7.92mm MG 34 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
(translates as Machine Gun)
History
Derived from the Solothern Maschinengewehr Modell 30, it became the main machine gun for the German army. It could be fitted with a bipod for infantry use, an Anti Aircraft mount, or a heavy tripod to turn the gun into a heavy machine gun.
Manufacturer
Mauser-Werke
Manufactured
1936 - 1943
Calibre
7.92mm
Length
L/79
Rate of Fire
800 rpm
Number of Rounds
4500
Ammunition Details
Name/Id
Calibre Weight MVelocity
Explosive Content
S.m.K(AP)
7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 8mm@100m/30°
Range(Mtr)
100
200
400
800
1200
1600
2000
2400
Flight Time(Secs)
0.2
Penetration(mm@30°)
5
Penetration(mm@0°)
6
Hit Probability(%)
98
S.m.K.H tungsten cored(AP)
7.92mm 0.013Kg 910M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 13mm@100m/30°
Range(Mtr)
100
200
400
800
1200
1600
2000
2400
Flight Time(Secs)
0.13
Penetration(mm@30°)
3
Penetration(mm@0°)
4
Hit Probability(%)
98
Weapon Details
3.7cm KwK 35/36 L/45 3.7cm Kampfwagenkanone 35/36 L/45
(translates as Tank Gun)
Manufactured
1935 - 1940
Calibre
37mm
Length
L/45
Ammunition Details
Name/Id
Calibre Weight MVelocity
Explosive Content
3.7cm PaK Pzgr(AP)
37mm 0.68Kg 762M/Sec
Range(Mtr)
100
200
400
800
1200
1600
2000
2400
Flight Time(Secs)
0.13
0.28
0.59
1.34
2.33
3.7
5.71
8.97
Penetration(mm@30°)
41
38
32
25
20
15
11
6
Penetration(mm@0°)
48
44
38
30
24
18
13
8
Hit Probability(%)
98
98
98
90
54
22
3
1
3.7cm Pzgr 40(AP40)
37mm 0.35Kg 1030M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 68mm @ 100mtr/30° ( ≈ 78mm/0°)
Range(Mtr)
100
200
400
800
1200
1600
2000
2400
Flight Time(Secs)
0.1
0.21
0.46
1.14
2.25
4.34
9.72
Penetration(mm@30°)
68
60
51
38
26
16
7
Penetration(mm@0°)
79
70
59
44
31
19
9
Hit Probability(%)
98
98
98
96
57
15
1
3.7cm Sprgr Patr(HE)
37mm 0.61Kg 700M/Sec
0.025Kg explosive
Range(Mtr)
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Flight Time(Secs)
1.96
Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill
0 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill
0 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill
1 mtr
Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr
0 mm
An explosion within 0 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's.
An explosion within 1 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 33% casualties.
The blast effect of this shell exploding within 1 mtr of an armoured vehicle will not cause any significant armour damage.
Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.
The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive
and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The
information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre,
the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation
originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.
