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Germany
PzKpfw III Ausf L (Panzer III)
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 141/1

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The PzKpfw III Ausf L was designed in 1941, manufactured by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Wegmann, Alkett, MIAG based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1942 to 1945.

Flag of World War 2 Germany
Photo of PzKpfw III Ausf L (Panzer III)
PzKpfw III Ausf L(Panzer III) scale illustration

General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)1942 - 1945
Ordnance classificationSdKfz 141/1
Quantity Produced653
Weight22.7 tonne
Crew5
M.G's small2
M.G's large(>10mm)n/a
Length5.64 mtr
Width2.95 mtr
Height2.50 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed25 mph
Max Cross Country Speed13 mph
Range Road97 miles
Range Cross Country38 miles
Fuel TypePetrol
Fuel Capacityunknown
Horse Power300 hp
Power/Weight13 hp/tonne
General Information
The PzKpfw III Ausf L was designed in 1941, manufactured by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Wegmann, Alkett, MIAG based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1942 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 39 L/60 which could penetrate 88 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
Front57mm@15°(59mm)
Side30mm@25°(33mm)
Rear30mm@12°(31mm)
Top10mm@87°(10mm)
Superstructure
Front70mm@9°(71mm)
Side30mm@0°(30mm)
Rear50mm@17°(52mm)
Top18mm@83°(18mm)
Hull
Front50mm@21°(54mm)
Side30mm@0°(30mm)
Rear50mm@9°(51mm)
Top16mm@90°(16mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 71 mm - Minimum 16 mm



Weapon Details
Flag
 7.92mm MG 34
7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
(translates as Machine Gun) x 2		 Blank
photo of 7.92mm MG 34 from Bundesarchiv(https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de)
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.
ManufacturerMauser-Werke
Manufactured1936 - 1943
Calibre7.92mm
LengthL/79
Rate of Fire800 rpm
Number of Rounds 4500
 
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
S.m.K.H tungsten cored
(AP Standard Small Arms) 		7.92mm 0.013Kg 910M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 13mm@100m/30°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 0.33 1.04
Penetration(mm@30°) 15 11 6
Penetration(mm@0°) 18 13 7
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)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.2
Penetration(mm@30°) 5
Penetration(mm@0°) 6
Hit Probability(%) 98


Weapon Details
Flag
 5.0cm KwK 39 L/60
5.0cm Kampfwagenkanone 39 L/60
(translates as Tank Gun) 		Blank
History
Used on the later models of the Panzer III and the SdKfz 234 Puma
Calibre50mm
LengthL/60
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
5.0cm PzGr. 39 L/60
(AP Armor Piercing) 		50mm 2.06Kg 840M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 102mm @ 100mtr/0°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.12 0.25 0.52 1.13 1.88 2.8 3.97 5.5
Penetration(mm@30°) 84 76 68 57 47 38 30 23
Penetration(mm@0°) 97 88 79 66 55 44 35 27
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 96 74 39 22 6


 
5.0cm PzGr. 40 L/60
(AP40 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored) 		50mm 0.98Kg 1198M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 149mm @ 100mtr/0°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.09 0.18 0.38 0.86 1.5 2.4 3.76 6.02
Penetration(mm@30°) 109 98 85 69 54 41 29 19
Penetration(mm@0°) 126 114 99 80 63 48 34 23
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 98 88 54 22 3



5cm Sprgr Patr
(HE High Explosive) 		50mm 1.78Kg 550M/Sec 0.165Kg explosive
Maximum Range not shown as gun elevation is limited
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.19 0.38 0.79 1.73 2.87 4.28 6.06 8.39
Direct Fire
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.19 0.38 0.79 1.73 2.87 4.28 6.06 8.39
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 77 34 15 3 2
Blast/Fragmentation Effects
Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill2 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill4 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill11 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr0 mm
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.

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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