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Panzer III is a German tank.
Description
The Panzer III was Germany's first medium tank. Although originally intended to combat other vehicles, the tank's anti-tank capability became increasingly inadequate against newer tanks despite upgrades, and it was eventually withdrawn from the front line. The Sturmgeschütz III, which is based on the Panzer III's chassis, soldiered on until the end of the war.
All Panzer III tanks in Battlegroup42 have two positions: the driver has access to the main gun and a coaxial MG 34, and the second crewman controls the machine gun mounted at the front of the hull. The Ausf E is an early war variant armed with the 37mm KwK 36 L/45 gun. Ausf J is armed with the 50mm KwK 38 L/42, and Ausf J1 is a subvariant of J with the longer 50mm KwK 39 L/60 for better anti-tank firepower. Ausf M shares the same armament as Ausf J1, but with additional side skirts for increased protection. And finally Ausf N is a fire support variant armed with the low velocity 75mm KwK 37 L/24 as with the early variants of Panzer IV.
Trivia
The Flammpanzer III is a variant of Panzer III based on Ausf M.
The chassis is also used for the more numerous and successful Sturmgeschütz III, which also has a howitzer subvariant, the Sturmhaubitze 42.
Gallery
