Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G

The Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G was very similar to the previous Ausf F. The first fifty or so were armed with the same 3.7cm gun as most Ausf Fs, and the only significant difference was an increase in the thickness of the rear armour from 21mm to 30mm. These early Ausf Gs were used to replace losses suffered by the Panzer units fighting in the west in May-June 1940.

The remaining 550 Ausf Gs were armed with the 5cm KwK L/42 gun, which was phased in during July 1940. When this gun was carried, the turret carried a single 7.92mm machine gun and was equipped with an exhaust fan on the roof to extract the fumes from the bigger gun. The remaining 3.7cm armed tanks were phased out or upgraded by the end of 1941.

In mid-production the Ausf G was given an improved commanders cupola, and late in the production run new 40cm wide tracks were installed. This model also featured a pivoting visor for the driver’s viewports.

The Ausf G was used in France, the Balkans, North Africa and Russia. The version sent to North Africa was equipped with larger radiators and an extra felt air filter.

Names
Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G
Sd Kfz 141
6 Serie Zugführerwagen/ 6 Serie ZW

Stats
Number produced: 600
Produced: April 1940-February 1941
Hull Length: 5.41m/ 17ft 9in
Hull Width: 2.95m/ 9ft 8in
Height: 2.44m/ 8ft
Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator)
Weight: 20.3 tons
Engine: Maybach HL120TRM
Max Speed: 40km/hr/ 24mph
Max Range: 165km/ 102 miles
Armament: One 5cm KwK L/42, plus one 7.92mm MG 34 in turret and one in front of superstructure

Panzerkampfwagen III Medium Tank 1936-44, Bryan Perrett. A good introduction for anyone interesting in the Panzer III, this book covers the development of the tank, the structure of the German panzer forces, and its military career, which saw the Panzer III go from being the Third Reich's main battle tank to being under-gunned and under-armoured [see more]

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (23 April 2008), Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_panzer_III_ausf_G.html

Armour	Front	Side	Rear	Top/ Bottom
Turret	30mm/ 1.2in	30mm/ 1.2in	30mm/ 1.2in	12mm/ 0.5in
Superstructure	30mm/ 1.2in	30mm/ 1.2in	30mm/ 1.2in	17mm/ 0.66in
Hull	30mm/ 1.2in	30mm/ 1.2in	30mm/ 1.2in	16mm/ 0.62in
Gun mantlet	37mm/ 1.45in

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G

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