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Germany
PzKpfw III Ausf J (Panzer III)
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 141
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| The PzKpfw III Ausf J was designed in 1940, manufactured by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Wegmann, Alkett, MIAG based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1941 to 1945. |
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| | Specifications | | Operational Date(s) | 1941 - 1945 | | Ordnance classification | SdKfz 141 | | Quantity Produced | 2566 | | Weight | 21.5 tonne | | Crew | 5 | | M.G's small | 2 | | M.G's large(>10mm) | n/a | | Length | 5.52 mtr | | Width | 2.95 mtr | | Height | 2.50 mtr | | Engine Details/Performance | | Max Road Speed | 25 mph | | Max Cross Country Speed | 13 mph | | Range Road | 97 miles | | Range Cross Country | 38 miles | | Fuel Type | Petrol | | Fuel Capacity | unknown | | Horse Power | 300 hp | | Power/Weight | 13 hp/tonne | | | General Information | The PzKpfw III Ausf J was designed in 1940, manufactured by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Wegmann, Alkett, MIAG based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1941 to 1945.
The vehicle was powered by Maybach 'HL120 TRM' petrol powerplant producing 300 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 25 mph with a range of about 97 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 13 mph and a range of about 38 miles.
It was armed with 2 light machine guns which were 7.92mm MG 34s. Its main armament consisted of a 5.0cm KwK 38 L/42 which could penetrate 69 mm of flat plate at 100 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. | |
| | Turret | | Front | | 30mm | @ | 15° | (31mm) | | Side | | 30mm | @ | 25° | (33mm) | | Rear | | 30mm | @ | 12° | (31mm) | | Top | | 10mm | @ | 87° | (10mm) |
| | Superstructure | | Front | | 50mm | @ | 9° | (51mm) | | Side | | 30mm | @ | 0° | (30mm) | | Rear | | 50mm | @ | 15° | (52mm) | | Top | | 17mm | @ | 83° | (17mm) |
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| Hull | | Front | | 50mm | @ | 21° | (54mm) | | Side | | 30mm | @ | 0° | (30mm) | | Rear | | 50mm | @ | 10° | (51mm) | | Top | | 16mm | @ | 90° | (16mm) |
| | Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°) | | Effective Armour - Maximum 54 mm - Minimum 16 mm |
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| Weapon Details |
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7.92mm MG 34
7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
(translates as Machine Gun) x 2 |
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| | History | |
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| | 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 |
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| | Manufactured | 1936 - 1943 |
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| | Calibre | 7.92mm |
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| | Length | L/79 |
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| | Rate of Fire | 800 rpm |
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| | Number of Rounds | 4500
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| Ammunition Details |
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| Name/Id |
Calibre Weight MVelocity |
Explosive Content |
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S.m.K.H tungsten cored
(AP Standard Small Arms)
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7.92mm 0.013Kg 910M/Sec | |
| Quoted Penetration 13mm@100m/30° |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.13 |
0.33 |
1.04 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
15 |
11 |
6 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
18 |
13 |
7 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
98 |
98 |
98 |
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S.m.K
(BALL Standard Small Arms)
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7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec | |
| Quoted Penetration 8mm@100m/30° |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.2 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
5 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
6 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
98 |
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| Weapon Details |
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5.0cm KwK 38 L/42
5.0cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/42
(translates as Tank Gun) |
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| Ammunition Details |
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| Name/Id |
Calibre Weight MVelocity |
Explosive Content |
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5.0cm PzGr. 39 l/42
(AP Armor Piercing)
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50mm 2.06Kg 600M/Sec | |
| Quoted Penetration 69mm @ 100mtr/0° |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.17 |
0.35 |
0.72 |
1.59 |
2.63 |
3.92 |
5.56 |
7.7 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
59 |
54 |
48 |
40 |
33 |
27 |
21 |
16 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
69 |
63 |
56 |
47 |
39 |
32 |
25 |
19 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
98 |
98 |
98 |
85 |
41 |
22 |
3 |
2 |
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PzGr.40 APCR l/42
(AP40 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored)
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50mm 0.93Kg 1050M/Sec | |
| Quoted Penetration 115mm @ 100mtr/0° |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.43 |
0.98 |
1.72 |
2.75 |
4.29 |
6.87 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
90 |
81 |
71 |
57 |
45 |
33 |
24 |
16 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
104 |
94 |
82 |
66 |
52 |
39 |
28 |
19 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
98 |
98 |
98 |
98 |
77 |
39 |
15 |
3 |
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5.0cm K.GrPz
(APHE Armor Piercing High Explosive)
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50mm 2.06Kg 500M/Sec | |
| Quoted Penetration 55mm @ 100mtr/0° |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.2 |
0.42 |
0.87 |
1.91 |
3.16 |
4.71 |
6.67 |
9.24 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
49 |
45 |
40 |
33 |
27 |
22 |
18 |
13 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
57 |
52 |
47 |
39 |
32 |
26 |
21 |
16 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
98 |
98 |
98 |
69 |
25 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
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5cm Sprgr Patr
(HE High Explosive)
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50mm 1.78Kg 550M/Sec | 0.165Kg explosive |
| Maximum Range not shown as gun elevation is limited |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.19 |
0.38 |
0.79 |
1.73 |
2.87 |
4.28 |
6.06 |
8.39 |
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| Direct Fire |
| Range(Mtr) | 100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 2400 |
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| Flight Time(Secs) |
0.19 |
0.38 |
0.79 |
1.73 |
2.87 |
4.28 |
6.06 |
8.39 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
98 |
98 |
98 |
77 |
34 |
15 |
3 |
2 |
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| Blast/Fragmentation Effects |
| Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill | 2 mtr |
Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill | 4 mtr |
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| Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill | 11 mtr |
Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr | 0 mm |
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| An explosion within 2 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 99% casualties - lethal. |
| An explosion within 4 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's. |
| An explosion within 11 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. |
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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.
 
© WWIITanks 1980-2024
If you have any information, or comments on our site,
please E-Mail Simon at
wwiitanks@villagenet.co.uk
Page Last Updated: 2023-04-13 14:58:56
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;)
![photo of 7.92mm MG 34 from Bundesarchiv(https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de)](javascript:launch("https://bild.bundesarchiv.de/device_barch/dev1/2019/10-16/22/6d/file77kccr7omh51h75l1k0m.jpg"))
![History This gun armed the Panzer III F - J the later models were upgraded to use the 5cm KwK L/60 a more powerful gun Calibre50mm LengthL/42](javascript:launch("https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dev03/barchpic/2008/05-07/05/dd/22/athene-5jqk9fnosqw12wdcn9r_layout.jpg")){kind=link}