Germany
PzKpfw III Ausf A (Panzer III)

Tweet The PzKpfw III Ausf A was a Medium Tank designed in 1936, manufactured by Daimler-Benz, it was based on the fully tracked PzKpfw III chassis and was in use from 1937 to 1940. It was commonly called a Panzer III. General Details (Medium Tank) 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 a Medium Tank designed in 1936, manufactured by Daimler-Benz, it was based on the fully tracked PzKpfw III chassis and was in use from 1937 to 1940. It was commonly called a Panzer III. 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 44 mm of flat plate at 200 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 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 Armor Piercing) 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 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored) 37mm 0.35Kg 1020M/Sec Quoted Penetration 64mm @ 100mtr/0° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.1 0.21 0.46 1.12 2.12 3.86 7.61 Penetration(mm@30°) 58 51 44 33 24 15 8 Penetration(mm@0°) 67 60 51 39 28 18 10 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 96 60 22 2 3.7cm Sprgr Patr (HE High Explosive) 37mm 0.61Kg 700M/Sec 0.025Kg explosive Maximum Range not shown as gun elevation is limited Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.15 0.3 0.64 1.46 2.54 4.03 6.22 9.76 Direct Fire Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.15 0.3 0.64 1.46 2.54 4.03 6.22 9.76 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 88 44 15 3 1 Blast/Fragmentation Effects 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. Weapon Details 7.92mm MG 34 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34 (translates as Machine Gun) x 3 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.H tungsten Cored MG (AP40 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored) 8mm 0.013Kg 875M/Sec Quoted Penetration 19mm @ 100mtr/0° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.14 0.33 1.04 Penetration(mm@30°) 17 13 7 Penetration(mm@0°) 20 16 9 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 S.m.K (BALL Standard Small Arms) 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

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.

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Page Last Updated: 2025-01-01