The Panzerkampfwagen III was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside the infantry-supporting Panzer IV. In 1941 it became the most numerous German tank as production of the Panzer II decreased. To increase the effectiveness of the Panzer III against other tanks the 3.7 cm gun was replaced with two diferent 5 cm guns. However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34 and KV-1, stronger anti-tank guns were needed. Since the Panzer IV had a bigger turret ring it could be fitted with a long 75 mm gun, so the role of the two tanks were reversed. The Panzer IV mounted the long barreled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun and engaged in tank-to-tank battles. The Panzer III became obsolete in this role and for most purposes was supplanted by the Panzer IV. From 1942, the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, better suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943. However, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III until the end of the war.
Ausf. E | Ausf. G | Ausf. J "early" | Ausf. J "late" (Ausf. J¹) | Ausf. L | Ausf. M | Ausf. N | Flammpanzer III |
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Ausf. E[]
Panzer III Ausf. E | |
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General Historical Information | |
Category | Medium Tank |
Debut in FHSW | v0.6 |
Speed | 70km/h |
Main armament | 37 mm KwK36 92 shells |
Coaxial weapon | 2x 7.92 mm MG 34 17 x 300 rounds |
General Ingame Information | |
Seat 2 | 7.92 mm MG 34 8 x 250 rounds |
Historical Picture | |
The earliest variant of the Panzer III in FHSW. It is much faster than any other variant and is most suited for flanking rather than fighting other tanks head on since the cannon isn't that powerful against the front armour of vehicles but the twin machineguns make it very effective against infantry, essentially doubling the rate of fire. The speed also helps to avoid enemy tanks and to take favorable engagements. The suspension of the E, F and G variants were slightly different most noticeably in the drive wheels but in FHSW all variants have suspension design first used on the H, then J and all following variants.
The Ausf. E and Ausf. F models in Forgotten Hope 2 were made partly by using the turret made by FHSWman in this particular model. FH2 blog update revealing the Ausf. E & F.
Ausf. G[]
Panzer III Ausf. G | |
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General Historical Information | |
Category | Medium Tank |
Debut in FHSW | v0.6 |
Main armament | 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 |
Coaxial weapon | 7.92 mm MG 34 17 x 150 rounds |
General Ingame Information | |
Seat 2 | 7.92 mm MG 34 8 x 250 rounds |
Historical Picture | |
The G variant is essentially a more armoured and up gunned variant of the E variant. The gun mantlet is redesigned with more armour and a single coaxial mg instead coupled with the 5 cm gun. Unlike the E variant it isnt as fast and neither are the following variants of the Panzer 3. It is quite similar to the early Ausf. J but the most distinct feature to tell them apart is that the G model lacks the box on the back of turret
Ausf. J "early"[]
Panzer III Ausf. J "early" | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | Germany |
Category | Medium tank |
Speed | 40 km/h |
Armour | 210px |
Main armament | 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 92 shells |
Coaxial weapon | 7.92 mm MG 34 17 x 150 rounds |
General Ingame Information | |
Used by | Germany |
Crew in‑game | 2 |
Seat 2 | 7.92 mm MG 34 8 x 250 rounds |
Historical Picture | |
The Ausf. J is a variant of the Panzer III in the mod, but is just know as the Pzkpfw Ausf J while there is another Ausf J version (see Ausf. J¹). This model had a solid 50-millimetre (1.97 in) plate on the front and rear. The Ausf. A to early Ausf. F were equipped with a 3.7 cm KwK 36 L/46.5 which proved adequate during the campaigns of 1939 and 1940 but the later Ausf. F to Ausf. J were upgraded with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42.
Ausf. J¹[]
Panzer III Ausf. J | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | Germany |
Category | Medium tank |
Speed | 40 km/h |
Main armament | 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 92 shells |
Coaxial weapon | 7.92 mm MG 34 17 x 150 rounds |
General Ingame Information | |
Used by | Germany Italy |
Crew in‑game | 2 |
Seat 2 | 7.92 mm MG 34 8 x 250 rounds |
Historical Picture | |
Know as the Pzkpfw III Ausf J in the mod, this is the late Ausf. J. While the Ausf. J model has a 5 cm KwK 38 L/42, the later Ausf. J variants were upgraded with the longer 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 cannon in response to the increasing number of better armed and armoured opponents. Essentially the same as the 5 cm Pak 38.
Ausf. L[]
Panzer III Ausf. L | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | Germany |
Category | Medium tank |
Speed | 40 km/h |
Main armament | 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 92 shells |
General Ingame Information | |
Used by | Germany |
Seat 2 | 7.92 mm MG 34 8 x 250 rounds |
Historical Picture | |
While the Ausf. J models got an armor of 50 mm, the Ausf. L model had an additional layer of 20 mm of armor on the front hull and turret. This additional frontal armor gave the Panzer III frontal protection from most British and Soviet anti-tank guns at all but close ranges. The sides were still vulnerable to many enemy weapons including anti-tank rifles at close ranges.
Ausf. M[]
Panzer III Ausf. M | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | Germany |
Designer | Daimler-Benz |
Manufacturer | Daimler-Benz |
Produced In | 1942 - 1943 |
Category | Medium tank |
Debut in FHSW | Debut in Fh Mod |
Speed | 40 km/h |
Armour | 5–70 mm |
Main armament | 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 (92 rounds) |
Coaxial weapon | 7.92 mm MG 34 (80 rounds) |
General Ingame Information | |
Used by | Germany |
Crew in‑game | 3 |
Ammunition | APHE & APCR (Random) |
Seat 2 | Smoke Grenade Projectors (6 grenades) |
Seat 3 | 7.92 mm MG 34 (250 rounds) |
Seat 4 | Passenger Seat |
Seat 5 | Passenger Seat |
Historical Picture | |
The Ausf M was the Ausf KL but with minor modifications such as deep-wading exhaust and Schürzen. 100 Ausf.M's were coverted by Wegmann in Kassel into Medium Flametrower tanks.
Ausf. N[]
Panzer III Ausf. N | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | Germany |
Category | Medium tank |
Speed | 40 km/h |
Main armament | 7.5 cm KwK L/24 64 shells |
Coaxial weapon | 7.92 mm MG 34 |
General Ingame Information | |
Used by | Germany Italy |
Ammunition | ↑ HE ↓ HEAT |
Seat 2 | 6x Smoke charges |
Seat 3 | 7.92 mm MG 34 8 x 250 rounds |
Historical Picture | |
The last version was the Ausf N. This was the Ausf M but armed with a short barreled 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun, due to 7.5 cm gun's ability to fire HE and HEAT rounds. To act more as a infantry support vehicle like the early models of Panzerkampfwagen IV while other tanks were more effective in combating enemy tanks. Turrets were used in producing the "Artilleriewagen" of the Schwerer Schienenpanzerspähzug armoured train.
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