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{{short description|German medium tank of the 1930s and World War II}}
{{use British English |date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = ''Panzerkampfwagen'' III<br />Sd.Kfz. 141
| image              = [[File:PzKpfwIIIF.Saumur.000a1y8q.jpg|300px|PzkpfWg III Ausf. F]]
| caption            = Panzer III Ausf. F at [[Musée des Blindés]], France
| origin             = [[Nazi Germany]] <!-- [[WP:INFOBOXFLAG]] -->
| type               = [[Medium tank]]
| is_vehicle         = yes
| is_UK              = yes <!-- meaning UK spelling in infobox -->
| service            = 1939&ndash;1945
| used_by            = [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]<br />[[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Hungary]]<br />[[Kingdom of Romania|Romania]]<br />[[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovak Republic]]<br />[[Independent State of Croatia|Croatia]]<br />[[Norway]]<br />[[Turkey]]
| wars               = [[World War II]]
| designer           = [[Daimler-Benz]]
| design_date        = 1935&ndash;1937
| manufacturer       = Daimler-Benz
| unit_cost          = {{Reichsmark|103,163|link=yes}} (Ausf. M)
| production_date    = 1939&ndash;1943
| number             = 5,774 (excluding [[StuG III]])
| variants           = 
| weight             = {{convert|23.0|t|ST}}
| length             = {{convert|5.56|m|ftin|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}
| width              = {{convert|2.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height             = {{convert|2.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| crew               = 5 ([[Tank commander|commander]], gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
| armour             = ''Ausf A - C:'' 15 mm all around<br />''Ausf D - G:'' 30 mm all around<br />''Ausf J+'': 50 mm all around
| primary_armament   = 1 × [[3.7 cm KwK 36]] ''Ausf. A - G''<br /> 1 × [[5 cm KwK 38]] ''Ausf. F - J''<br /> 1 × [[5 cm KwK 39]] ''Ausf. J¹- M'' <br /> 1 × [[7.5 cm KwK 37]] ''Ausf. N''
| secondary_armament = 2–3 × [[7.92×57mm Mauser|7.92&nbsp;mm]] [[MG 34]] machine gun
| engine             = 12-cylinder [[Maybach HL120 TRM]] petrol engine
| engine_power       = 300 PS (295 hp, 220 kW)
| pw_ratio           = 12 hp (9.6 kW) / tonne
| suspension         = [[Torsion-bar suspension]]
| fuel_capacity      = {{convert|300|-|320|L|abbr=on}}
| vehicle_range      = Road: <br />{{convert|165|km|mi|abbr=on}} <br /> Cross-country: <br /> {{convert|85|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>Jentz, T. (1996). ''Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933–1942''. Schiffer. page 279.</ref>
| speed              = Road: {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<br />Off-road: {{convert|20|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
}}

The '''''Panzerkampfwagen III (Pz.Kpfw. III)''''', commonly known as the '''Panzer III''', was a [[medium tank]] developed in the 1930s by [[Nazi Germany|Germany]], and was used extensively in [[World War II]]. The official German ordnance designation was '''[[List of Sd.Kfz. designations|Sd.Kfz.]] 141'''. It was intended to fight other [[armoured fighting vehicles]] and serve alongside and support the similar [[Panzer IV]], which was originally designed for infantry support.

Initially, the Panzer III had the same 3.7&nbsp;cm gun as the infantry used in an anti-tank role, but later models were given the [[5 cm KwK 38]] gun. This was the largest gun that could be fitted within the physical limitations of the turret ring, but it turned out to be ineffective against Soviet [[T-34]] and [[Kliment Voroshilov tank|KV-1]] tanks. The Panzer IV, which had a larger turret ring, was redesigned to mount the long-barrelled [[7.5 cm KwK 40]] gun and became the main German tank instead. Produced from 1942 onwards, the last version of the Panzer III (Panzer III N) mounted the short barrelled [[7.5 cm KwK 37|7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24]] which was used on the first Panzer IVs, meaning the Panzer III and the Panzer IV had effectively swapped roles.

Production of the Panzer III ceased in 1943, but the [[StuG III]] [[assault gun]], which was based on the Panzer III chassis, remained in production until the end of the war. About 18,000 vehicles based on the Panzer III chassis were produced between all variants --- by far the most of [[Military production during World War II|any German AFV design in World War II]], and accounting for over a quarter of all tanks and assault guns produced by Nazi Germany.

==Development history==

===Background===
At the time, German (non-light) tanks were expected to carry out one of two primary tasks when assisting infantry in breakthroughs, exploiting gaps in the enemy lines where opposition had been removed, moving through and attacking the enemy's unprotected [[lines of communication]] and the [[Rear (military)|rear areas]]. The first task was direct combat against other tanks and other armoured vehicles, requiring the tank to fire armour piercing (AP) shells.<ref name="P4" />

On January 11, 1934, following specifications laid down by [[Heinz Guderian]], the Army Weapons Department drew up plans for a medium tank with a maximum weight of {{convert|24000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and a top speed of {{convert|35|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 11.</ref> It was intended as the main tank of the German [[Panzer division]]s, capable of engaging and destroying opposing tank forces, and was to be paired with the [[Panzer IV]], which was to fulfill the second use: dealing with [[anti-tank gun]]s and infantry strong points, such as machine-gun nests, firing high-explosive shells at such soft targets. Such supportive tanks designed to operate with friendly infantry against the enemy generally were heavier and carried more armour.
 	
The direct infantry-support role was to be provided by the turret-less ''[[Sturmgeschütz]]'' assault gun, which mounted a short-barrelled gun on a Panzer III chassis.<ref name=TJ67/>

===Development===
[[Daimler-Benz]], [[Krupp]], [[MAN SE|MAN]], and [[Rheinmetall]] all produced prototypes. Testing of these took place in 1936 and 1937, leading to the Daimler-Benz design being chosen for production. The first model of the Panzer III, the ''Ausführung A.'' (Ausf. A), came off the assembly line in May 1937; ten, two of which were unarmed, were produced in that year.<ref name="Tucker12" /> Mass production of the Ausf. F version began in 1939. Between 1937 and 1940, attempts were made to standardize parts between [[Krupp]]'s Panzer IV and Daimler-Benz's Panzer III.

Much of the early development work on the Panzer III was a quest for a suitable suspension. Several varieties of [[leaf-spring suspension]]s were tried on Ausf. A through Ausf. D, usually using eight relatively small-diameter road wheels before the [[torsion-bar suspension]] of the Ausf. E was standardized, using the six road wheel design that became standard. The Panzer III, along with the Soviet [[Kliment Voroshilov tank|KV heavy tank]], was one of the early tanks to use this suspension design first seen on the [[Stridsvagn L-60]] a few years earlier.<ref>[http://www.ointres.se/strv_m_38-39.htm Strv_m_38-39]</ref>

A distinct feature of the Panzer III, influenced by the British [[Vickers Medium Mark I]] tank (1924), was the three-man turret. This meant that the [[Tank commander|commander]] was not distracted with another role in the tank (e.g. as gunner or loader) and could fully concentrate on maintaining awareness of the situation and directing the tank. Most tanks of the time did not have this capability,<ref>{{cite web |title=AFV Development During World War II |url=http://www.onwar.com/articles/9810.htm |author=Ralph Zuljan |quote=Originally published in "World War II" at Suite101.com on October 1, 1998. |edition=revised |date=July 1, 2003 |access-date=January 16, 2011  |website=onwar.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126010231/http://onwar.com/articles/9810.htm |archive-date=November 26, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> providing the Panzer III with a combat advantage versus such tanks. For example, the French [[Somua S-35]]'s turret was manned only by the commander, and the Soviet [[T-34]] originally had a two-man turret crew. Unlike the Panzer IV, the Panzer III had no turret basket, merely a foot rest platform for the gunner.{{efn|Whether a basket was added in Ausf. H is disputed:<ref>{{cite web|title=German Panzerkampwagen III, Ausf.J, Part 1|url=http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors/pz3/pz3a.html|access-date=16 January 2011 |website=kithobbyist.com |author=Mike Kendall|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001204220400/http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors/pz3/pz3a.html|archive-date=4 December 2000}}</ref>}}

The Panzer III was intended as the primary battle tank of the German forces. However, when it initially met the [[KV-1]] heavy tanks and T-34 medium tanks it proved to be inferior in both armour and gun power. To meet the growing need to counter these tanks, the Panzer III was up-gunned to the [[5 cm KwK 39]], a longer, more powerful {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on}} gun, and received more armour but still was at disadvantage compared with the Soviet tank designs. As a result, production of [[panzerjaeger|self-propelled anti-tank guns]] (''Panzerjäger''), as well as the up-gunning of the Panzer IV was initiated.

In 1942, the final version of the Panzer III, the Ausf. N, was created with a {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on}} KwK 37 L/24 cannon, the same short-barreled low-velocity gun used for [[Panzer IV#Ausf. A to Ausf. F1|the initial models]] of the Panzer IV and designed for anti-infantry and close-support work. For defensive purposes, the Ausf. N was equipped with rounds of [[High-explosive anti-tank warhead|HEAT]] ammunition that could penetrate {{convert|70|to|100|mm|in|2}} of armour depending on the round's variant, but these were strictly used for self-defence.<ref name="Caruther93" />

===Armour===
The Panzer III Ausf. A through C had {{convert|15|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} of [[rolled homogeneous armour]] on all sides with {{convert|10|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} on the top and {{convert|5|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} on the bottom. This was quickly determined to be insufficient, and was upgraded to {{convert|30|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} on the front, sides and rear in the Ausf. D, E, F, and G models, with the H model having a second {{convert|30|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} layer of face-hardened steel applied to the front and rear hull. The Ausf. J model had a solid {{convert|50|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} plate on the front and rear, while the Ausf. J¹, L, and M models had an additional layer of offset {{convert|20|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} homogeneous steel plate on the front hull and turret, with the M model having an additional {{convert|5|mm|2|abbr=on}} ''Schürzen'' [[spaced armour]] on the hull sides, and {{convert|8|mm|2|abbr=on}} on the turret sides and rear.<ref>Caruthers (2013), pp. 58–59</ref> This additional frontal armor gave the Panzer III frontal protection from many light and medium Allied and Soviet anti-tank guns at all but close ranges. However, the sides were still vulnerable to many enemy weapons, including [[anti-tank rifle]]s at close ranges.

===Armament===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1994-009-17, Griechenland, gefangener Neuseeländer.jpg|thumb|General [[Hermann Balck]] (standing left in the cupola) in a ''Panzerbefehlswagen'' III Ausf. H command tank in Greece in 1941. This vehicle is fitted with a dummy 37mm main gun and a dummy MG 34 co-axial machine gun but has an actual ball-mounted MG 34 machine gun on the right side of the turret's mantlet.]]

The Panzer III was intended to fight other tanks; in the initial design stage a {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on}} gun was specified. However, the infantry at the time were being equipped with the {{convert|37|mm|in|2|adj=on}} [[PaK 36]], and it was thought that, in the interest of standardization, the tanks should carry the same armament. As a compromise, the turret ring was made large enough to accommodate a {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on}} gun should a future upgrade be required. This single decision later assured the Panzer III a prolonged life in the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]].<ref name=P4>Perrett (1999), p. 4.</ref>

[[File:Panzer III Ausf. F 5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 39 L60 right.jpg|thumb|right|Breech of the [[5 cm KwK 38|5 cm KwK 38 L/42]] of an Ausf. F]]
The Ausf. A to early Ausf. G were equipped with a [[3.7 cm KwK 36|3.7 cm KwK 36 L/45]], which proved adequate during the campaigns of 1939 and 1940.<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 6.</ref> In response to increasingly better armed and armored opponents, the later Ausf. F to Ausf. J were upgraded with the [[5 cm KwK 38|5 cm KwK 38 L/42]],<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 7.</ref> and the Ausf. J¹ to M with the longer [[5 cm KwK 39|5 cm KwK 39 L/60]] gun.<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 8.</ref>

By 1942, the Panzer IV was becoming Germany's main medium tank because of its better upgrade potential. The Panzer III remained in production as a close support vehicle. The Ausf. N model mounted a low-velocity [[7.5 cm KwK 37|7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24]] gun - these guns had originally been fitted to older Panzer IV Ausf A to F1 models and had been placed in storage when those tanks had also been up armed to longer versions of the 75&nbsp;mm gun.<ref name="Caruther93" />

All early models up to and including the Ausf. G had two [[7,92 x 57 mm|{{convert|7.92|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}}]] [[MG 34]] [[machine gun]]s mounted coaxially with the 37&nbsp;mm main gun and a similar weapon in a hull mount.<ref name="Caruther93" /> Models from the Ausf. F and later, upgraded or built with a 5 or 7.5&nbsp;cm main gun, had a single coaxial MG&nbsp;34 and the hull MG34.<ref name=Caruthers92/>

A single experimental Ausf. L was fitted with a 75/55mm [[squeeze bore|tapered bore]] Waffe 0725 cannon. The vehicle was designated ''Panzer'' III ''Ausf L mit Waffe'' 0725.<ref>Bob Carruthers, ''Panzer III - Germany's Medium Tank'', Archive Media Publishing Ltd,{{ISBN|1781581053}}, pg. 62</ref>

===Mobility===
[[File:Przegląd techniczny niemieckiego czołgu na froncie wschodnim (2-1211).jpg|thumb|left|Service inspection of a Panzer III Ausf. H in the field; the vehicle is lifted with the standard tank jack carried on-board and the tracks are being removed.]]
[[File:Panzer III LW.svg|thumb|right|Difference of suspension in all variants]]
The Panzer III Ausf. A to D were powered by a {{convert|250|PS|kW|0|abbr=on|lk=on}}, 12-cylinder [[List of WWII Maybach engines|Maybach HL108 TR]] engine, giving a top speed of {{convert|35|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Tucker12/> All later models were powered by the {{convert|300|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}}, 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM engine. Regulated top speed varied, depending on the transmission and weight, but was around {{convert|40|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=TJ15/>

The fuel capacity was {{convert|300|L|usgal|0|abbr=on}} in Ausf A-D, {{convert|310|L|usgal|0|abbr=on}} in Ausf. E-G and {{convert|320|L|usgal|0|abbr=on}} in all later models. Road range on the main tank was {{convert|165|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in Ausf. A-J; the heavier later models had a reduced range of {{convert|155|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. Cross-country range was {{convert|95|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in all versions.<ref>{{cite book | last =  Jentz| first = Thomas L. | title =  Panzer Tracs No.3-1, Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. A-D | publisher = Panzer Tracts | date = 2006 | location = Boyds, MD | isbn = 0-9771643-4-9 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book | last =  Jentz| first = Thomas L. | title =  Panzer Tracs No.3-2, Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. E-H | publisher = Panzer Tracts | date = 2007 | location = Boyds, MD |  isbn = 978-0-9771643-9-4 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book | last =  Jentz| first = Thomas L. | title =  Panzer Tracs No.3-3, Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. J-N | publisher = Panzer Tracts | date = 2009 | location = Boyds, MD | isbn = 978-0-9815382-4-2 }}</ref>

{{clear}}

== Combat history ==
The Panzer III was used in the German campaigns [[Invasion of Poland|in Poland]], [[Battle of France|in France]], [[Eastern Front (World War II)|in the Soviet Union]], and [[North African Campaign|in North Africa]]. Many were still in combat service [[Western Front (World War II)|against Western Allied forces]] in 1944-1945: [[Battle of Anzio|at Anzio in Italy]],{{efn|Used by [[Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring]] {{citation needed|date=July 2023}} }} [[Operation Overlord|in Normandy]],{{efn|Served with Panzer Ersatz und Ausbildungs Abteilung 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.normandy-1944.com/PzAbt100.html |title=''Panzer Abteilung 100'' |access-date=2011-08-15 |archive-date=2012-06-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623094929/http://www.normandy-1944.com/PzAbt100.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[9th Panzer Division]]{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} }}  in [[Operation Market Garden]] in the Netherlands and in [[East Prussia]] against the [[Red Army]].{{efn|Some tanks used for training by the Hermann Göring Training and Replacement Regiment were pressed into service to oppose the British advance in Operation Market Garden.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} }}  A sizeable number of Panzer IIIs also remained as armoured reserves in [[German occupation of Norway|German-occupied Norway]]<ref>[http://www.armchairgeneral.com/panzer-tanks-found-in-norway.htm Panzer tanks found in Norway] ''Armchair General''</ref> and some saw action, alongside Panzer IVs, in the [[Lapland War]] against Finland in the fall of 1944.<ref>Kari Kuusala. ''Panzers in Finland''. 6 Ausf. N were deployed with Panzer Abteilung 211.</ref>

[[File:Czołg niemiecki na froncie wschodnim (2-1189).jpg|thumb|A Panzerkampfwagen III Model G in Russia. A knocked out Soviet [[T-28 (medium tank)|T-28]] lies in the background around August 1941. This photo was presumably taken during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa.]]

In both the Polish and French campaigns, the Panzer III formed a small part of the German armoured forces. Only a few hundred Panzer III Ausf. As to Fs were available in these two campaigns, with most being armed with the {{convert|37|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} main gun. They were the best medium tank available to the German military at the period of time.

Aside from use in Europe, the Panzer III also saw service in [[North African campaign|North Africa]] with [[Erwin Rommel]]'s renowned [[Afrika Korps]] from early 1941. Most of the Panzer IIIs with the Afrika Korps were equipped with the (short-barrelled) KwK 38 L/42 50mm tank gun, with a small number possessing the older 37mm main gun of earlier variants. The Panzer IIIs of Rommel's troops were capable of fighting against British [[Crusader tank|Crusader]] cruiser and US-supplied [[M3 Stuart]] light tanks with positive outcomes, although they did less effectively against heavily armoured [[Matilda II]] [[infantry tank]]s and the American [[M3 Lee|M3 Lee/Grant]] medium tanks (fielded by the British starting from early 1942). In particular, the 75mm hull-mounted gun of the Lee/Grant tank could easily destroy a Panzer III far beyond the latter's own effective firing range, as did the similarly equipped [[M4 Sherman]], which first saw combat with British forces in North Africa in October 1942. {{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Around the time of the beginning of [[Operation Barbarossa]] in the summer of 1941, the Panzer III was, numerically, the most important German tank on the frontline. At this time period, the majority of the available tanks (including re-armed Ausf. Es and Fs, plus new Ausf. G and H models) for the invading German military had the {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} KwK 38 L/42 50mm cannon.<ref name="Zaloga 1984 223">{{harvnb|Zaloga|Grandsen|1984|p=223}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=September 2023}} Initially, the most numerous Soviet tanks the Germans encountered at the start of the invasion were older [[T-26]] light infantry and [[BT tank|BT]] class of cruiser tanks. This fact, together with superior German tactical and strategic skills in armoured clashes,<ref name="Zaloga 1984 223"/> sufficient quality crew training, and the generally-good ergonomics of the Panzer III, all contributed to a favourable kill-loss ratio of approximately 6:1 for German tanks of all types in 1941.{{Citation needed|date=September 2007}}  However, the Panzer IIIs were significantly outclassed by the more advanced Soviet T-34 medium and KV series of heavy tanks, the former of which was gradually encountered in greater numbers by the German forces as the invasion progressed.

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Zschaeckel-208-25, Schlacht um Kursk, Panzer III.jpg|thumb|right|The crew of a Panzer III of the [[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich|2nd&nbsp;SS Panzer Division ''Das&nbsp;Reich'']] rests during a lull in the [[Battle of Kursk]] on the Eastern Front.]]

With the appearance of the T-34 and KV-1/-2 tanks, rearming the Panzer III with a longer-barrelled and more powerful {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on}} gun was prioritised. The T-34 was generally invulnerable in frontal combat engagements with the Panzer III until the 50&nbsp;mm KwK 39 L/60 tank gun was introduced on the Panzer III Ausf. J beginning in the spring of 1942 (this tank gun was based on the infantry's [[5 cm Pak 38|5 cm Pak 38 L/60]] towed anti-tank gun). This could penetrate the T-34's heavy sloped armour frontally at ranges under {{convert|500|m|ft}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Zaloga|1994|p=36}}</ref> Against the KV class of heavy breakthrough tanks, the Panzer III was a significant threat if it was armed with special high-velocity [[tungsten]]-tipped armour-piercing (AP) rounds. In addition, to counter enemy anti-tank rifles, starting from 1943, the Ausf. L version began the use of [[spaced armour]] sideskirts and screens (known as ''Schürzen'' in German) around the turret and on the vulnerable hull-sides. However, due to the introduction of the upgunned and better armoured Panzer IV, the Panzer III was, after the German defeat at the [[Battle of Kursk]] in the summer of 1943, relegated to secondary/minor combat roles, such as tank-training, and it was finally replaced as the main German medium tank by the Panzer IV and the Panzer V [[Panther tank|Panther]].

The Panzer III's strong, reliable and durable chassis was the basis for the turretless [[Sturmgeschütz III]] assault gun/tank destroyer, one of the most successful self-propelled guns of the war, as well as being the single most-produced German armoured fighting vehicle design of World War II.<ref name=TJ67/>

By the end of the war in 1945, the Panzer III saw almost no frontline use, and many of them had been returned to the few remaining armaments/tank factories for conversion into ammunition carriers or recovery vehicles. A few other variants of the Panzer III were also experimented on and produced by German industries towards the last phases of the war, but few were mass-produced or even saw action against the encroaching enemy forces of the Americans, British and Soviets.

== Foreign users ==
In 1943, [[Turkey]] received 22 Panzer III Ausf. Ms, with Hitler hoping the country, militarily strengthened by Nazi Germany, could possibly threaten the Soviet Union from its southern border (in any case, neutral Turkey did not participate in any form of aggression towards the USSR or the Western Allies, and eventually declared war on Nazi Germany nearing the end of WWII instead, perhaps from Allied pressure).<ref name="B&B41">{{cite magazine|language=fr|title=Le Blindorama : La Turquie, 1935 - 1945|magazine=Batailles & Blindés|issue=41|date=February 2011|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|first=Yann|last=Mahé|pages=4–7}}</ref> The [[Croatian Home Guard (World War II)|Army]] of the [[Independent State of Croatia]] received 4 Ausf. N variants in the spring of 1944 and the [[Ustashe Militia]] received 20 other Ausf. Ns in the autumn of 1944.<ref name="B&B42">{{cite magazine|language=fr|title=Le Blindorama : La Croatie, 1941 - 1945|magazine=Batailles & Blindés|issue=42|date=April 2011|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|first=Yann|last=Mahé|pages=4–7}}</ref> [[Romania]] received a number of Panzer III Ausf. Ns for its 1st Armored Division in 1943. They were called T-3 in the Romanian army. At least 2 of them were still operational in 1945.

Norway used leftover stocks of ex-German Panzer IIIs (along with similar Sturmgeschütz III assault guns/tank destroyers) abandoned by departing Nazi occupation forces at the end of WWII up until the 1950s. In the Soviet Union, the Panzer III was one of the more common captured Nazi tanks they operated, as with the Panzer IV. At least 200, together with some StuG IIIs, fell into Soviet hands following the German defeat at the [[Battle of Stalingrad]]. The Soviets decided to upgun these captured German vehicles and two resulting designs were produced: the SG-122 self-propelled howitzer and the SU-76i assault gun. The former was not well-designed and was only built in very small numbers, with most not seeing combat action at all, while the latter was regarded as a better option of a Panzer III-based assault vehicle with a larger 76 mm main gun. Aside from these locally designed variants of the Panzer III, the Soviets primarily tended to use them as their basic tank version, mainly used as second-line tanks, for reconnaissance and as mobile command posts.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

The Japanese government bought two Panzer IIIs from their German allies during the war (one 50&nbsp;mm and one 75&nbsp;mm). Purportedly this was for [[reverse engineering]] purposes, since [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] put more emphasis on the development of new military aircraft and naval technology and had been dependent on European influence in designing new tanks. By the time the vehicles were delivered, the Panzer III's technology was obsolete.<ref>Zaloga (2007), p.17</ref>

==Variants and production==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|- 
|+Panzerkampfwagen III production - medium tanks<ref>Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary Louis Doyle: ''Panzer Tracts No.23 - Panzer Production from 1933 to 1945''</ref>
|- 
|- style="vertical-align:top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:left;" | Ausführung
!  A
!  B
!  C
!  D
!  E
!  F
!  G
!  H
!  J
!  L
!  M
!  N
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Year
| 1937
| 1937
| 1937/38
| 1938,1940
| 1939
| 1939-41
| 1940/41
| 1940/41
| 1941/42
| 1941/42
| 1942/43
| 1942/43
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Produced
| 10
| 10
| 15
| 25 + 5
| 96
| 450
| 594
| 286
| 1521
| 1470
| 517
| 614
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center
! ||colspan="5" | Command tanks || Flame tank
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center"
! style="width:10%; text-align:left;" | ''Ausführung''
!  D
!  E
!  H
!  J
!  K
!  ''Flamm''
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Year
| 1938/39
| 1939/40
| 1940/41
| 1941/42
| 1942/43
| 1943
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Produced
| 30
| 45
| 175
| 81
| 50
| 100
|}

*'''Panzer III Ausf. A''' - Prototype 15&nbsp;ton vehicle; only 8 armed and saw service in Poland. Armed with [[3.7 cm KwK 36|3.7&nbsp;cm KwK 36 L/46.5]] main gun and two coaxial 7.92&nbsp;mm [[MG 34|MG34 machine gun]]s, and had a 250&nbsp;PS HL&nbsp;108 engine. Entered service in 1937 and taken out of service in 1940. It had a FuG 5 radio and a 360° hand-cranked turret.<ref name=Tucker12>eTucker-Jones (2017), p. 12.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. B''' - Prototype 15&nbsp;ton vehicle; some saw service in Poland. Entered service in 1937 and put out of service in 1940. They were reused as a training vehicle after 1940. They had slightly thicker armour, and an eight-wheel suspension rather than the five-wheel suspension with coil springs.<ref>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 13.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. C''' - Prototype 16-ton vehicle; some saw service in Poland, but were put out of service soon after. Slightly different suspension, which used leaf springs, than previous models.<ref name=TJ14>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 14.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. D''' - Prototype; some saw service in Poland and Norway, but withdrawn from service soon after. Turret upgraded to 30&nbsp;mm front, side and back. Hull armour remained the same. Hull rear was redesigned, and five vision slits added to the hull. Suspension slightly changed.<ref name="TJ14" />
*'''Panzer III Ausf. E''' - Fifth version of the Panzer III with {{convert|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} armour all-round, other than the rear of the vehicle, which increased the weight to {{convert|20|t|ST|abbr=on}}. Suspension redesigned, switching from leaf-springs to torsion-bars, now using six larger roadwheels per side. Had a 300&nbsp;PS HL&nbsp;120 engine.<ref name=TJ15>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 15.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. F''' - improved Ausf. E, first mass-production version, late production armed with [[5 cm KwK 38|5&nbsp;cm KwK 38 L/42]] main gun.<ref name=Caruthers92>Caruthers (2013), p. 92.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. G''' - Ausf F. with extra armour on the gun mantlet, late production armed with 5&nbsp;cm KwK 38 L/42 main gun.<ref name=Caruthers92/>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. H''' - 5&nbsp;cm KwK 38 L/42 as standard gun. Bolt-on armour added to front and rear hull (30&nbsp;mm base + 30&nbsp;mm plates).<ref name=Caruther93/>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. I''' - A variant that was mentioned by Allied intelligence, but never existed. Possibly confused with the Ausf. J.<ref name="Caruther93">Caruther (2017), p. 93.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. J''' - The most common variant of the Panzer III, which served in North Africa and the Eastern Front. Hull and turret front armour increased to solid 50&nbsp;mm plate. Spaced armour was placed around the gun mantlet. Some were produced with [[5 cm KwK 39|5 cm KwK 39 L/60]] gun and later redesignated Ausf. L.<ref>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 33.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. K''' - ''Panzerbefehlswagen'' command tank variant based on the Ausf. M with a modified turret. Carried actual main armament rather than a dummy gun as found on other Panzer III command versions.<ref>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 35.</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. L''' - Redesignated Ausf. J equipped with long 5&nbsp;cm gun, 20&nbsp;mm stand-off armour plates on hull and turret front.<ref name="Caruther93" /> It was also equipped with a new system for transferring heated engine coolant to another vehicle.<ref>Bob Carruthers, ''Panzer III - Germany's Medium Tank'', Archive Media Publishing Ltd, {{ISBN|1781581053}}, pg. 62</ref>
*'''Panzer III Ausf. M''' - Minor modifications of the ausf. L such as deep-wading exhaust and ''Schürzen'' side-armour panels.<ref name="Caruther93" />
*'''Panzer III Ausf. N''' - Infantry support tank, armed with a short-barrelled [[7.5 cm KwK 37|7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24]] gun. 700 were produced or re-equipped from 1942 and 1943.<ref name="Caruther93" />

<gallery mode=packed>
Image:Panzer III Ausf A in Berlin c1938.jpg|Panzer III Ausf. A on parade (1938)
Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-318-0083-30, Polen, Panzer III mit Panzersoldaten.jpg|Ausf. D, Poland (1939)
File:Panzer III Ausf. F U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection.jpg|Ausf. F, [[U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection]]
Image:The British Army in North Africa 1941 E2687.jpg|Ausf.G, captured by the British in North Africa (1941).
Image:PzKpfwIIIF.Saumur.000a1y8q.jpg|Ausf. H in the Musée des Blindés, Saumur.
Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-748-0089-10, Russland, Soldat auf Panzer III J.jpg|Ausf. J, USSR (1942).
File:Panzer III tankfest 2023B.JPG|Ausf. L, The Tank Museum (2023)
Image:SdKz141-1-1.jpg|Ausf. M, Deutsches Panzermuseum (2005)
Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-219-0595-23, Russland-Mitte-Süd, Panzer III.jpg|Ausf. M with side skirts in southern USSR (1943)
</gallery>

==Designs based on chassis==
* '''Panzerbeobachtungswagen III''' - Forward [[artillery observer]] tank. 262 converted from older Panzer III Ausf. E to H variants.<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 12.</ref>
* '''Bergepanzer III''' - In 1944, 176 Panzer IIIs were converted to [[armoured recovery vehicle]]s (ARVs). Mostly issued to formations with [[Tiger I]] heavy tanks.<ref name="P13" />
* '''Flammpanzer III Ausf. M / Panzer III (Fl)''' - [[Flamethrower tank]]. 100 built on new Ausf. M chassis.<ref>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 66.</ref>
* '''Panzerbefehlswagen III''' - Command tank with long-range radios. Ausf. D, E and H: variants with dummy main guns;<ref name=TJ67/> Ausf. J and K: types armed with actual 5&nbsp;cm gun.<ref>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 68.</ref>
* '''[[Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B]]'''' - An infantry close-support heavy [[assault gun]]. Armed with a [[15 cm sIG 33]] infantry gun, total of 24 built. 12 used and lost [[Battle of Stalingrad|in Stalingrad]].<ref name=P13>Perrett (1999), p. 13.</ref>
* '''[[Sturmgeschütz III]]''' - Assault gun/tank destroyer armed with a {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} gun. Was the most produced German armored fighting vehicle during World War II.<ref>Green, Anderson, & Schultz (2017), p. 48.</ref>
* '''Sturmhaubitze 42 -''' Was an assault howitzer with thicker frontal armor and [[Spaced armour|Schürzen]] that was armed with a modified variant of the [[10.5 cm leFH 18]] howitzer, that was electrically fired and fitted with a [[muzzle brake]].  Alkett produced 1,299 StuH 42 from March 1943 to 1945.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Spielberger|first=Walter J.|title=Panzer III & its variants|date=1993|publisher=Schiffer Military/Aviation History|isbn=0-88740-448-0|location=Atglen, PA|pages=103–105|oclc=29322323}}</ref>
* The [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE SPAN, THIS IS FOR A REDIRECT --><span id="SU-76i">'''SU-76i'''</span> assault gun was based on the chassis of captured German Panzer IIIs and StuG IIIs after the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] in 1943. About 201 of these vehicles, many taken from Stalingrad itself, were converted at Factory No. 37 in Sverdlovsk that same year for [[Red Army]] service by removing the turret and constructing a fixed casemate in its place, installing a {{convert|76.2|mm|in|2|adj=on}} S-1 tank gun (a cheaper version of the F-34 on the T-34 tank) in a limited-traverse gun mount. The armour was {{convert|35|mm|in|2}} thick on the casemate front, {{convert|50|mm|in|2}} in the hull front, and {{convert|30|mm|in|2}} on the hull sides. It was issued to tank and self-propelled gun units starting in the fall of 1943,<ref>{{harvnb|Zaloga|Grandsen|1984|p=180}}</ref> and finally withdrawn to training and testing uses in early 1944. Two SU-76is survive: one on a monument in the Ukrainian town of [[Sarny]] and a second on display in a military museum on [[Poklonnaya Hill]] in Moscow. It should not be confused with the similarly-named Soviet [[SU-76]] assault gun series.
* '''Tauchpanzer III''' - (Dive-tank III) Some tanks were converted to [[amphibious vehicle|amphibious tanks]] for [[Operation Sea Lion]]. Unusually, they were designed to be able to stay underwater rather than to float like most other similar kinds of tanks. The idea was that they would be launched near to the invasion shoreline and then drive to dry land on the sea-bottom. The tank was totally waterproofed, the exhaust was fitted with a one-way valve and air intake for the engine and the crew compartment was through a hose.<ref name=TJ67>Tucker-Jones (2017), p. 67.</ref>
* '''Munitionspanzer III''' - Some Panzer IIIs were converted into munitions carriers/tractors from obsolete Mk III hulls, simply by removing the turret. Several examples have been photoed supplying Tiger tank units.
* '''Flakpanzer III''' - Made using [[Ostwind]] turrets and a single [[3.7 cm Flak 43]]. 18 production vehicles plus 2 prototypes built by Deutsche-Röhrenwerke as requested by Inspectorate 4 - Artillery Division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/3-7-cm-flak-43-in-keksdose-turm-auf-pz-kpfw-iii-fahrgestell/|title = 3.7 cm Flak 43 in Keksdose-Turm auf Pz.KPFW.III Fahrgestell|date = 22 February 2021}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101II-MW-5674-45, Übungen mit Panzer III für Unternehmen Seelöwe.jpg|A Tauchpanzer III undergoing testing at sea. The [[crane ship]] {{SMS|Viper|1876|2}}, which was to support Tauchpanzer operations, is in the distance.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-185-0137-14A, Jugoslawien, Panzer III in Fahrt.jpg|An early-variant ''Panzerbefehlswagen'' somewhere in the Balkans in 1941.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-732-0114-16, Russland - Mitte, Flammenwerfer-Panzer.jpg|A Flammpanzer III, possibly during testing.
File:Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33B ‘G-2’ - Patriot Museum, Kubinka (38346467286).jpg|StuIG 33B at the [[Kubinka Tank Museum|Kubinka]] tank museum.
File:Sturmhaubitze-42.jpg|Sturmhaubitze 42 in the [[Technik Museum Sinsheim|Auto und Technik Museum Sinsheim]].
File:SU76i Moscow, Poklonnaya Hill 3.JPG|An SU-76i displayed at the [[Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Moscow|Museum of the Great Patriotic War]] on [[Poklonnaya Hill]] Victory Park in Moscow, Russia.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Panzer III/IV]]
* [[Sturmgeschütz III]]

;Tanks of comparable role, performance and era
*[[Valentine tank]] : British equivalent
*[[M3 Lee]] : American equivalent
*[[T-34]] : Soviet equivalent medium tank

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite web|title=Germany's Panzerkampfwagen III, SdKfz 141|work=World War II Vehicles|url=http://www.wwiivehicles.com/germany/tanks-medium/pzkpfw-iii.asp|access-date=June 10, 2004}}
* {{cite web|title=PzKpfw III|work=Achtung Panzer!|url=http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz8.htm|access-date=June 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050510010655/http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz8.htm|archive-date=May 10, 2005|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|title=Pz. Kpfw.III|work=Panzerworld|url=http://www.panzerworld.net/pzkpfwiii.html|access-date=April 19, 2005}}
* {{cite book|last=Caruthers|first=Bob|date=2013|title=The Panzer III|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=9781781592069}}
*{{cite book |last1=Doyle |first1=Hilary Louis |last2=Jentz |first2=Thomas L. |title=Flakpanzer IV and Other Flakpanzer Projects |date=2023 |publisher=Panzerwrecks |location=Old Heathfield, UK |isbn=978-1-915969-18-7|series=Panzer Tracts|volume=12-1 |name-list-style=amp|edition=revised}}
* Gander, Terry J. ''Tanks in Detail; PzKpfw III Ausf A to N'' {{ISBN|0-7110-3015-4}}.
* {{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Michael |last2=Anderson |first2=Thomas |last3=Schultz |first3=Frank |title=German Tanks of World War II |publisher=Zenith Imprints |location=London, UK |isbn=9781610607209}}
* {{cite book |last=Perrett |first=Bryan |date=1999 |title=Panzerkampfwagen III: Medium Tank 1936–44 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=1-85532-845-3}}
*{{Cite book |title=Panzer III: Hitler's Beast of Burden |last=Tucker-Jones |first=Anthony |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2017 |isbn=9781473891081}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Zaloga
 | first = Steven J.
 | title = Japanese Tanks 1939–45
 | publisher = Osprey
 | location=Oxford
 | year = 2007
 | pages = 48
 | isbn = 978-1-84603-091-8}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Zaloga
 | first = Steven J.
 | title = T-34/76 Medium Tank 1941–1945
 | publisher = Osprey
 | year = 1994
 | location = Oxford
 | pages = 48
 | isbn = 1-85532-382-6
 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Zaloga|first1=Steven J. |first2=James |last2=Grandsen |year=1984|title=Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two|location=London|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|isbn=0-85368-606-8}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=y}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130729183925/http://afvdb.50megs.com/germany/pz3.html AFV Database]<!--site seems to have been reorganized, such that it only covers American vehicles-->
* [http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzer_III.pdf Surviving Panzer III tanks] - A PDF file presenting the Panzer III tanks (PzKpfw. III, Flammpanzer III, StuIG33B, SU-76i, Panzerbeobachtungswagen III tanks) still existing in the world
* [http://www.tankmuseum.ru/german-tank-panzer-iii/ Panzer III in Kubinka tank museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172358/http://www.tankmuseum.ru/german-tank-panzer-iii/ |date=2017-12-28 }}

{{WWII tanks|state=collapsed}}
{{WWIIGermanAFVs}}
{{WWIIRomanianAFVs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panzer Iii}}
[[Category:Medium tanks of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II tanks of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II medium tanks]]
[[Category:History of the tank]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1930s]]