Germany
PzKpfw III Flammpanzer III (Flammpanzer III)
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 141/3

Tweet The PzKpfw III Flammpanzer III was designed in 1942, manufactured by Wegmann based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1943 to 1945. General Details Specifications Operational Date(s) 1943 - 1945 Ordnance classification SdKfz 141/3 Quantity Produced 100 Weight 23 tonne Crew 3 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 Flammpanzer III was designed in 1942, manufactured by Wegmann based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw III and was in use from 1943 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 was a Model 40 Flame Projector with a range of 60 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 57mm @ 15° (59mm) Side 30mm @ 25° (33mm) Rear 30mm @ 12° (31mm) Top 10mm @ 87° (10mm) Superstructure Front 70mm @ 9° (71mm) Side 30mm @ 0° (30mm) Rear 50mm @ 17° (52mm) Top 18mm @ 83° (18mm) Hull Front 50mm @ 21° (54mm) Side 30mm @ 0° (30mm) Rear 50mm @ 9° (51mm) Top 16mm @ 90° (16mm) Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°) Effective Armour - Maximum 71 mm - Minimum 16 mm Weapon Details 7.92mm MG 34 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34 (translates as Machine Gun) x 2 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 (AP Standard Small Arms) 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 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) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.2 Penetration(mm@30°) 5 Penetration(mm@0°) 6 Hit Probability(%) 98 Weapon Details Model 40 Flame Projector (Flame Thrower) History The Model 40 was a 14mm flame projector with a 700 litre fuel tank which would provide 60 to 70 one-second bursts of flame at a rate of 10 liters per-second. Its range was 50 metres when pumping unlit fuel or 60 metres when pumping ignited fuel. Projecting unlit fuel was used to saturate a target before igniting it. Calibre 14mm Maximum Range 60 metres

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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