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CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONTHEPANZERITHEPANZERII

THELEGIONCONDOR

CONTEMPORARYDOCUMENTSTHEPANZERIII:GERMANY’SMEDIUMTANK

THE DEVELOPMENT HISTORY OF THEPANZERIII

THEPANZERIIIINCOMBAT

THEPANZERIV:THEWORKHORSEOFTHEPANZERWAFFE

THEPANZERIVINCOMBAT

CONTEMPORARYVIEW1

CONTEMPORARYVIEW2

CONTEMPORARYVIEW3

CONTEMPORARYVIEW4

CONTEMPORARYVIEW5

THE DEVELOPMENT HISTORY OF THEPANZERIV

CONTEMPORARYVIEW6

CONTEMPORARYVIEW7

CONTEMPORARYVIEW8

CONTEMPORARYVIEW9

CONTEMPORARYVIEW10

ABOUTCODABOOKS

INTRODUCTIONThisbookformspartoftheseriesentitled‘Hitler’sWarMachine.’Theaimis

to provide the reader with a varied range of materials drawn from originalwritingscovering the strategic,operationaland tacticalaspectsof theweaponsandbattlesofHitler’swar.Theconceptbehindtheseriesistoprovidethewell-read and knowledgeable reader with an interesting compilation of relatedprimarysourcescombinedwiththebestofwhatisinthepublicdomaintobuildapictureofaparticularaspectofthattitanicstruggle.Iampleasedtoreportthattheserieshasbeenwellreceivedanditisapleasure

to be able to bring original primary sources to the attention of an interestedreadership. I particularly enjoy discovering new primary sources, and I ampleasedtobeabletopresentthemunadornedandunvarnishedtoasophisticatedaudience. The primary sources such as DieWehrmacht and Signal, speak forthemselvesandthereadershipIstrivetoserveistheincreasinglywellinformedcommunityof reader/historianswhichneedsnoeditorial leadandcandraw itsownconclusions. Iamwellaware thatourcommunity isconstantlystriving todiscover new nuggets of information, and I trust thatwith this volume I havemanagedtostimulatefreshenthusiasmandthatatleastsomeofthesefactsandarticleswill be new to you andwill provoke readers to research further downthese lines of investigation, and perhaps cause established views to bechallengedoncemore.Iamawareatalltimesincompilingthesematerialsthatourrelentlesspursuitofmoreandbetterhistoricalinformationisatthecoreourcommonpassion.Itrustthatthisselectionwillcontributetothatsearchandwillhelpallofustobettercomprehendandunderstandthebewilderingeventsofthelastcentury.Inordertoproduceaninterestingcompilationgivingaflavourofeventsatthe

tactical and operational level I have returned once more to the wartime USIntelligence series of pamphlets, which contain an intriguing series ofcontemporary articles on weapons and tactics. I find this series of pamphlets

particularly fascinatingas theyarewritten in,whatwas then, thepresent tenseand,assuch,provideuswithasenseofwhatwashappeningatthefaceofbattleaseventsunfolded.The firstvehicle tobeproduced inanynumbers for thePanzerwaffewas,of

course,thetinyPanzerI,whichatthetimewasknownastheMGPanzerwagen.Deliveryof318of thesehadbeenmadebyAugust1935,alongwith15of theZugfuhrerwagen,whichwaslatertobecomethePanzerIII.Oneaspectoftankdesign which the Germans got absolutely right from the very outset was toidentify the importance of radio communications. Although initially only thecommandtankswerefittedwithradiosthatcouldbothtransmitandreceive,theothervehicleswereatLEASTequippedwithreceivingradiosets,andthiswasamajoradvanceuponthethinkingofmanyofthecountrieswhichwouldcometoopposeGermany. Throughout 1934 exercises continuedwith the experimentaltank units and a number of other valuable lessons quickly became apparent,particularlytheneedforcloseco-operationbetweentheairforcesandthetanksontheground.Atthispointthefirstserioustanktacticswhichweretobringsomuch success during the Second World War began to appear. It was soonobvious that the tanks needed to be employed on a relatively narrow front.Adivisionalfrontwasestimatedataboutthreekilometres,agreatchangefromthewidefrontsoftheGreatWar.ItwasstillobvioustotheGermanHighCommandthat the decisions which were beingmade, were based on theory, rather thanpractice. Germany - and indeed every other nation of the time - had littlepracticalexperiencetodrawupon,thereforeanumberofeducatedguessesweremade.

APanzerIinactionduringtheSpanishCivilWar

In January 1936 General Beck reported to the High Command, his findings

beingbasedonastudyofaFrenchorganisation.Hewasalsoverycriticaloftheslow rise inproductioncapacitywhichwashampering thedevelopmentof thetank force. Interestingly, thedebate aboutwhich tasks tankswere suitable for,andwhetherspecialistmachineshadtobedevelopedforeachtask,wasalreadybeginningtotakeshape.Beck’sreportclearlystatedthatthethreemaintasksofthe Panzers were supporting infantry, operating in units with other mobileweaponsand,finally,combatingothertanks.Beckhimselfwasunabletocometoadecisionaboutwhetherasingletankshouldbedevelopedwiththecapabilityto take on each of these purposes or whether a specialist vehicle should bedesignedforeachpurpose.Ultimately the decisionwas that the light tankswould be used in a scouting

role and that an infantry support tankwould be developedwhichwas later tocometofruitionintheformofthePanzerIV;thisdecisioncastthePanzerIIIinthe roleofmainbattle tank.Amazingly thedecisionwas taken that the3.7cmgun which initially equipped the Panzer III would be sufficient for the battleconditions. The various types of German tank design were to cater for most

eventualitiesonthebattlefield.InitiallythePanzerIwasconsideredtobefitfortraining purposes only, however manufacturing proceeded very slowly andeventuallyboththePanzerIandIIwereearmarkedforthereconnaissancerole.The Panzer III was essentially designed for break-through and anti-tankoperations and the Panzer IV was designed to provide close support for theinfantry battling their way forward against dug-in positions. Almost from theoutsetthelimitationsofthedesignforthePanzerIwereobvious.Thearmamentin the form of two machine guns, was inadequate for most purposes on thebattlefield. In addition the very thin armour gave protection only against riflebullets: almost any battlefield weapon could penetrate the armour. Moresignificantwasthefactthatthecrewwascomprisedofonlytwomen.

APanzerIIinflamesfollowingahitnearTobruk1941.

InOctober1935GeneralLiese,headoftheHeere'sWaffenamtissuedareport

which gave the limitations of the tanks. He noted that the MG Panzerwagen(Panzer I), although fitted out only with two 7.9mmmachine guns, could beadaptedtoattackarmouredcarsandotherlighttanksifitwasissuedwithspecialS.M.P.steelcoreammunition.InthecaseoftheMGPanzerII,itwasnotedthatthemuzzle velocity of the 2cmgun could penetrate up to 10mmof armoured

plateatarangeofupto700metres.ItwasthereforedecidedthatthePanzerIIcould engage armoured cars with success, and was also fully functional forcombatagainsttankswithapproximatelythesamearmourasitself.LiesenotedthatthetanksmostlikelytobeencounteredinlargenumbersinawaragainsttheFrenchwere the lightRenaultMl7 andMl8 tanks, ofwhich therewere aboutthreethousandoperationalintheFrenchforcesat thetime.Itwasalsothoughtthat the Panzer II would be the equal of the Renault NC37 and NC31 tanks.Against the heavier French tanks, including theCharB, it was noted that thePanzer II was practically worthless. Despite these reservations large-scaledelivery of the Panzer IIwas already in train andwas expected to commencefrom1stApril1937.ThePanzer I actuallyenteredactive service in1937with theLegionCondor

andprovedtobeanefficientmachinewithinitshighlyproscribedlimits.TherearethosewhostatethatthePanzerIIwasalsodeployedinSpainalthoughIcanfindnoevidencetosupportthisclaim.Perhapsthereissomeoneouttherewhocanresolvethedebate,forthetimebeingIcontinuetoerronthesideofcaution.AsregardsthenewPanzerIII,whichwasdesignedtobethemainbattletank,it

was obvious that, even in 1935, Liese was already beginning to havereservationsabouttheeffectivenessofthe37mmgun.Originallythe37mmL/45hadbeenplannedforthisvehicle,butitwasurgedthattheexperimentaltanksbeupgradedtoincludetheL/65version,whichgaveamuchhighermuzzlevelocityandsomerealprospectofpenetratingthe40mmthickarmoredplateofthenewFrenchmediumtanks.Withthisinminditwasobviousatthisstagethata50mmgunwouldbeabetterpropositionforthePanzerIII;howevertheadditionofthelarger gun would demand a significant increase in the diameter of the turretwhich would in turn mean radical redevelopment of the chassis. Given thepressuresoftimeandtheneedtoequiptheformationsquicklyLiesecametotheconclusionthatthe37mmL/65wasthefavouredroute,althoughitisinterestingthatthelimitationsofitsdesignhadalreadybeennoted.

BrandnewPanzerIIIAusf.Frollofftheproductionlineandoutofthefactory.

ThePzKpfwIII(PanzerkampfwagenIIISd.Kfz.141)wasthereforedesignedto

betheWehrmacht’smaincombatmachineandwasdevelopedbyDaimler-Benzin themid1930sunder thepseudonymZugfuhrerwagen,whichmeansplatooncommanders’ truck. The first prototype of the PzKpfw III was produced byDaimler-BenzinBerlin1936.Following numerous modifications, the Ausf. A (1-Serie) appeared in May

1937andby theendof1937,15wereproduced.Only8of theAusf.Aswerefully armed and the unarmed machines were used for further testing andmodification.Daimler-Benzproduced15Ausf.Bs(2-Serie)in1937,15Ausf.Cs(3a-Serie)

bythebeginningof1938;itcontinuedbyintroducingthenextvarianttheAusf.D (3b-Serie), 55 of which were produced in 1939. Of the entire Ausf. Dsproductionrun,only30werearmed.All early models of the Panzer III, including the Ausf A/B/C/D were pre-

prototypes of thewhole series andwere unsuitable for large scale production.Every new prototype was a marginal improvement on the last. Each modelfeaturedadifferenttypeofsuspension,avariationontheMaybachDSO,suchastheHL108TRengine.Onlyarelativelyfewvehiclessawcombat in theearlystages of the war; the Ausf. D saw service during fighting in Denmark andNorway in May 1940 and in Finland in 1941/42. In February 1940, theremainingPanzerIllsAusfDwerehandedovertoNSKKfortrainingpurposes.

ThePanzerIIIAusfBwasunusualasitincorporatedeightsmallroadwheelsarrangedinpairs.Thedesignwasunsuccessfulandonly15werebuilt.

ThefirstPanzerIIImodeltogointoanythinglikefull-scaleproductionwasthe

Ausf E of which 96 were produced. With a thicker 30mm frontal armor, aMaybachHL120TRengineandnewsuspensionandgearboxraisingitsweightupto19.5tonnes,theAusf.Ewasthebestmachinesofar.By1940,andduringthe‘E’modelproduction,itwasdecidedtofitallmodels

witha50mmgunasstandard.TheL/42gunwasfittedonAusf.E,F,GandH.In an ill considereddealwhichwould comeback tohaunt them, theGermansactuallysoldTwoPzKpfwIIItankstotheSovietUnionintheSummerof1940undertheRibbentrop-Molotovtreaty,.TheyweretestedbytheSovietsalongsidetheearlyT-34/76tanks.TheGermanPzKpfwIIIprovedtobefasterthanSoviet

T-34/76 and BT-7, reaching a maximum speed of 69km/h. However it wasobviousthattheSovietT-34wasfarsuperiorinarmorprotectionandarmamenteveniflackinginestheticsandoverallmechanicalreliability,whencomparedtoGerman PzKpfw III tanks. The PzKpfw IIIwas also found to be far less lessnoisy thanSovietT-34. Itwas discovered that theT-34 could easily be heardfrom a distance of 450m, while PzKpfw III could only be heard when itapproachedtowithin150-200m.From1941,HitlerinsistedthatthemorepowerfulL/60(50mm)gunwasfitted

onAusf J-1. In 1942, 104Ausf J’swere converted toPanzerbefehlswagen III(Command Tanks) and in April 1943, 100 Ausf. M’s were converted byWegmann into the Flammpanzer (Flamethrower Tanks); designed to fight inurban areas such as Stalingrad. Although themodels produced never actuallyreachedStalingrad,theydidseeserviceontheEasternFront.Additionally,manyAusf.MswereconvertedintotheSturmgeschützIIIortheAusf.N.ThePanzer III provided themain battle tank for thePanzerDivisions in the

early years of the war, yet its productionwas slow and stopped altogether inAugust1943,in1943/44,thePanzerIIIprototypeswerefittedwithdozersandwereusedtocleanupthestreetsofwar-torncities.The Panzer IV was originally designed as an infantry support tank with a

uniquetacticalrole.ThePanzerIVwasnotdesignedtotakepartintankvstankcombat.AlthoughthePanzerIVinitiallyhadrelativelythinarmour,itcarriedapowerful75mmgunandcouldmatchanyothertankatthattime.TheprototypeofthePanzerIVwasgiventhecodenameBataillonfuhrerwagen.ThePanzerIVwasorderedbyHitlerfromKrupp,MANandRheinmetallBorsigtoweighinat18tonneswithatopspeedof35km/hr.TheKruppdesign-theVK2001(K)-waseventuallyselected toenter into full-scaleproduction in1935.AlongwiththePanther,itwastobecomethemaincombattankoftheThirdReich.ThePzKpfwIVwasperceivedas the ‘workhorse’ofall thePanzerdivisions

andmorewere produced than any other variant in the 1933-1945 period. TheAusf.Awasbuiltasapre-productionvehicleandonly35wereproduced.ThemodificationsfromthisgaverisetotheAusf.Bwhichemergedin1938withanincreasedfrontalarmourthicknessandasix-speedgearbox,whichenhancedits

cross-countryperformance.ThatsameyearKrupp-GrusonproducedtheAusf.Cand134ofthismodelwereinproductionuntil1939.

PanzerIVtanksoftheSS-Division'Hitlerjugend'onparadeFebruary1944.

TheAusf.D/Esawanupgradingofitsarmourthicknessandimprovedvision

blocksforthedriver.TheAusf.EwasthefirstofthePanzerIVfittedwithturretmounted stowage bins. TheAusf. F(1), produced between 1941-1942was thelast Panzer IV to be based on the short version chassis. 25 of the F Is wereconverted into Ausf F2s (it had the British nickname of “Mark IV Special”because,withitshighvelocity75mmmainarmamentitwasfarsuperiortoanyothertankatthetime).ItwasfollowedbythemodifiedversionoftheAusf.GinMay1942.TheAusf.H, introduced inApril 1943,was exclusively armedwith a newer

versionof the75mmKwK40L/48gunandwas fittedwith steel/wirearmourskirts.Over3,770oftheP/zKpfwIVAusfHweremadeandsawaction.

ThePanzerIVfromthebusinessend.Thepracticeofaddingthenamesofsweet-heartstothevehiclewaswidespreadinthisunit.

As late as 1945 the last model, the Ausf J, was an effective weapon in the

handsofanexperiencedcrew.AselectednumberoftheAusfHandJwerealsoconvertedintocommandtanksorobservationtankstowardstheendofthewarperiod.ThePanzerIVwastheonlyGermantanktostayinproductionthroughoutthe

war.ItwastherealworkhorseoftheGermanarmyandwasdeployedoneveryfront.Duetoitsefficientarmament,robustarmourandoutstandingreliability,itwaspreferredbycrewsoverthePanther,TigerandKingTiger.ThePanzerIVwasthemostwidelyexportedtankinGermanservice,witharound300soldtopartners such as Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria. After the war, theFrenchandSpanishsolddozensofPanzerIVstoSyria,wheretheysawcombatinthe1967Six-DayWar.Thank you for buying this compilation,we hope youwill enjoy discovering

somenewinsightsyouwillgoontotrytheothersintheseries.BobCarruthers

Edinburgh2012

THEPANZERIThePanzerIwasalighttankproducedinGermanyinthe1930s.Thenameis

short for theGerman Panzerkampfwagen I (armored fighting vehiclemark I),abbreviated PzKpfw I. The tank's official German ordnance inventorydesignationwasSdKfz101(specialpurposevehicle101).Designof thePanzerIbegan in1932andmassproduction in1934. Intended

only as a training tank to introduce the concept of armored warfare to theGermanArmy,thePanzerIsawcombatinSpainduringtheSpanishCivilWar,inPoland,France,theSovietUnionandNorthAfricaduringtheSecondWorldWar,andinChinaduringtheSecondSino-JapaneseWar.ExperienceswiththePanzerIduringtheSpanishCivilWarhelpedshapetheGermanarmoredcorps'invasionofPoland in1939andFrance in1940.By1941, thePanzer Ichassisdesignwasusedforproductionoftankdestroyersandassaultguns.Therewereattempts toupgradethePanzerI throughout itsservicehistory, includingthoseforeignnationswhohadbeenequippedwiththePanzerI, toextendthedesignlifespan.ItcontinuedtoserveinthearmedforcesofSpainuntil1954.ThePanzerI'sperformanceincombatwaslimitedbyits thinarmorandlight

armament of two general purpose machine guns. As a design intended fortraining,thePanzerIwasnotascapableasotherlighttanksoftheera,suchastheSovietT-26.Althoughweakincombat,itnonethelessformedalargeportionof Germany's tank strength in numbers and was used in all major campaignsbetweenSeptember1939andDecember1941.Thesmall,vulnerablelighttankwould be surpassed in importance by better-knownGerman tanks such as thePanzer IV,Panther, andTiger.Nevertheless, thePanzer I's contribution to theearlyvictoriesofNaziGermanyduringtheSecondWorldWarwassignificant.

TestingthecapabilitiesofaPanzerI

DevelopmenthistoryThe post-World War I Treaty of Versailles of 1919 prohibited the design,

manufacture and deployment of tanks within the Reichswehr. ParagraphTwenty-fourofthetreatyprovidedfora100,000-markfineandimprisonmentofup to sixmonths for anybodywhomanufactured armoured vehicles, tanks orsimilarmachines,whichmaybeturnedtomilitaryuse.Despite the manpower and technical limitations imposed upon the German

Army by the Treaty of Versailles, several Reichswehr officers established aclandestine General Staff to study the lessons which could be learned fromWorldWarIanddevelopfuturestrategiesandtacticsaccordingly.Althoughatfirsttheconceptofthetankasamobileweaponofwarmetwithapathy,Germanindustry was silently encouraged to look into tank design, while quietcooperationwas undertakenwith theSovietUnion atKAMA.Therewas alsominormilitary cooperationwith Sweden, including the extraction of technicaldata that proved invaluable to early German tank design. As early as 1926variousGermancompanies,includingRheinmetallandDaimler-Benz,produceda single prototype armed with a large 75-millimeter cannon (the Großtraktor,"largetractor",wassocodenamedtoveilthetruepurposeofthevehicle).Onlytwo years later prototypes of the new Leichttraktor ("light tractor"), were

producedbyGermancompanies,armedwith37-millimeterKwKL/45guns.TheGroßtraktor was later put into service for a brief period with the 1 PanzerDivision;theLeichttraktorremainedintestinguntil1935.In the late1920sandearly1930sGerman tank theorywaspioneeredby two

figures:GeneralOswaldLutz andhis chief of staff,LieutenantColonelHeinzGuderian.Guderianbecame themore influentialof the twoandhis ideaswerewidely publicized. Like his contemporary Sir PercyHobart,Guderian initiallyenvisionedanarmoredcorps(panzerkorps)composedofseveraltypesoftanks.This included a slow infantry tank, armed with a small-caliber cannon andseveral machine guns. The infantry tank, according to Guderian, was to beheavily armored to defend against enemy anti-tankguns and artillery.He alsoenvisioned a fast breakthrough tank, similar to theBritish cruiser tank,whichwas to be armored against enemy anti-tank weapons and have a large 75-millimeter(2.95in)maingun.Lastly,Germanywouldneedaheavytank,armedwith a massive 150-millimeter (5.9 in) cannon to defeat enemy fortifications,andevenstrongerarmor.Suchatankwouldrequireaweightof70to100tonnesandwascompletelyimpracticalgiventhemanufacturingcapabilitiesoftheday.SoonafterrisingtopowerinGermany,AdolfHitlerapprovedthecreationof

Germany's first panzer divisions. Simplifying his earlier proposal, Guderiansuggestedthedesignofamaincombatvehiclewhichwouldbedevelopedintothe Panzer III, and a breakthrough tank, the Panzer IV. No existing designappealed toGuderian.As a stopgap, theGermanArmy ordered a preliminaryvehicletotrainGermantankcrews.ThisbecamethePanzerI.The Panzer I's design history can be traced to 1932's Landwirtschaftlicher

Schlepper(LaS)(AgriculturalTractor)armoredfightingvehicle.TheLaSwasintended not just to train Germany's panzer troops, but to prepare Germany'sindustry for the mass production of tanks in the near future: a difficultengineering feat for the time. In July1932,Krupp revealed aprototypeof theLandswerkKruppA,orLKA,withaslopedfrontglacisplateandlargecentralcasemate,adesignheavilyinfluencedbytheBritishCardenLoydtankette.Thetankwasarmedwith twoobsolescent7.92-millimeter (.312 in)MG-13Dreysemachineguns.Machinegunswereknowntobelargelyuselessagainsteventhelightest tank armor of the time, restricting the Panzer I to a training and anti-

infantryrolebydesign.Amass-produced version of the LKAwas designed by a collaborative team

fromDaimler-Benz,Henschel,Krupp,MAN,andRheinmetall, exchanging thecasemateforarotatingturret.Thisversionwasacceptedintoserviceaftertestingin1934.AlthoughthesetankswerereferredtoastheLaSandLKAwellbeyondthe start of production, its official designation, assigned in 1938, wasPanzerkampfwagenIAusführung.A('modelA'or,moreaccurately, 'batchA').The first fifteen tanks, produced between February and March 1934, did notinclude the rotating turret and were used for crew training. Following these,productionwas switched to the combat version of the tank. TheAusf.Awasunder-armored,with steelplateofonly13millimeters (0.51 in) at its thickest.Thetankhadseveraldesignflaws, includingsuspensionproblemswhichmadethe vehicle pitch at high speed, and engine overheating. The driver waspositionedinsidethechassisandusedconventionalsteeringleverstocontrolthetank,while thecommanderwaspositioned in the turretwherehealsoactedasgunner. The two crewmen could communicate by means of a voice tube.Machinegunammunitionwasstowedinfivebins,containingvariousnumbersof 25-round magazines. Author Lucas Molina Franco states that 833PanzerkampfwagenIAusf.Atankswerebuiltintotal,TerryGanderassessesthenumber818unitswhileBryanPerrett estimates thenumbermayhavebeenaslowaslowas300.Manyof theproblems in theAusf.Awerecorrectedwith the introductionof

theAusf.B.Theenginewasreplacedbythewater-cooled,six-cylinderMaybachNL38TR,developing98horsepower(73kW),andthegearboxwaschangedtoamorereliablemodel.Thelargerenginerequiredtheextensionofthevehicle'schassis by 40 cm (16 in), and this allowed the improvement of the tank'ssuspension, adding an additional bogie wheel and raising the tensioner. Thetank'sweightincreasedby0.4tons.ProductionoftheAusf.BbeganinAugust1935andfinishedinearly1937—Francowrites840wereconstructed,butnotesthatonly675ofthesewerecombatmodels,whilePerrettsuggestsatotalnumberof1,500(offsettingthelownumberofAusf.Aheproposes)andGanderatotalof675.

TheNextGenerationTwo more combat versions of the Panzer I were designed and produced

between1939and1942.Bythisstagethedesignconcepthadbeensupersededby medium and heavy tanks and neither variant was produced in sufficientnumberstohavearealimpactontheprogressofthewar.ThesenewtankshadnothingincommonwitheithertheAusf.AorBexceptname.Oneofthese,thePanzer I Ausf. C, was designed jointly between Krauss-Maffei and Daimler-Benzin1939toprovideanamplyarmoredandarmedreconnaissancelighttank.TheAusf.Cboastedacompletelynewchassisandturret,amoderntorsion-barsuspension and five interleaved roadwheels. It also had a maximum armorthicknessof30millimeters(1.18in),overtwicethatofeithertheAusf.AorB,and was armed with a 20-millimeter (0.78 in) EW 141 autocannon. Forty ofthesetankswereproduced,alongwithsixprototypes.Twotanksweredeployedto 1 PanzerDivision in 1943, and the other thirty-eightwere deployed to theLVIIIPanzerReserveCorpsduringtheNormandylandings.

PzKpfwIAusf.FondisplayattheBelgradeMilitaryMuseum

Thesecondvehicle, theAusf.F,wasasdifferent from theAusf.Cas itwasfromtheAusf.AandB.Intendedasaninfantrysupporttank,thePanzerIAusf.F had a maximum armour thickness of 80millimeters (3.15 in) and weighedbetween 18 and 21 tonnes. The Ausf. F was armed with two 7.92-millimeterMG-34s. Thirtywere produced in 1940, and a second order of 100was latercanceled. In order to compensate for the increased weight, a new 150horsepower (110 kW) Maybach HL45 Otto engine was used, allowing amaximumroadspeedof25kilometersperhour(15.5mph).Eightof thethirtytanksproducedweresenttothe1PanzerDivisionin1943andsawcombatattheBattle ofKursk. The restwere given to several army schools for training andevaluationpurposes.

CombathistorySpanishCivilWarOn18 July 1936,war brokeout on the IberianPeninsula asSpain dissolved

into a state of civil war. After the chaos of the initial uprising, two sidescoalesced and began to consolidate their position—the Popular front (theRepublicans)andtheSpanishNationalistfront.Inanearlyexampleofaproxywar,bothsidesquicklyreceivedsupportfromothercountries,mostnotablytheSovietUnionandGermany,whowantedtotesttheirtacticsandequipment.Thefirst shipmentof foreign tanks, fiftySovietT-26's,arrivedon15October.Theshipment was under the surveillance of the German Navy and Germanyimmediatelyrespondedbysendingforty-onePanzerI'stoSpainafewdayslater.ThisfirstshipmentwasfollowedbyfourmoreshipmentsofPanzerIAusf.B's,withatotalof122vehicles.

APanzerIcrewoftheCondorLegion.

ThefirstshipmentofPanzerI'swasbroughtunderthecommandofLieutenant

Colonel Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma in Gruppe Thoma (also referred to asPanzergruppeDrohne).GruppeThomaformedpartofGruppeImker,thegroundformationsof theGermanCondorLegion,who fought on the sideofFranco'sNationalists.BetweenJulyandOctober,arapidNationalistadvancefromSevilleto Toledo placed them in position to take the Spanish capital, Madrid. TheNationalistadvanceandthefallofthetownofIllescastoNationalistarmieson18October1936causedthegovernmentofthePopularFront'sSecondRepublic,including President Manuel Azaña, to flee to Barcelona and Valencia. In anattempttostemtheNationalist tideandgaincrucial timeforMadrid'sdefence,Soviet armor was deployed south of the city under the command of ColonelKrivosheinbeforetheendofOctober.Atthistime,severalT-26tanksunderthecommandofCaptainPaulArmanwerethrownintoaRepublicancounterattackdirected towards the townofTorrejon deVelasco in an attempt to cut off theNationalist advance north. This was the first tank battle in the Spanish CivilWar. Despite initial success, poor communication between the SovietRepublican armor and Spanish Republican infantry caused the isolation ofCaptainArman'sforceandthesubsequentdestructionofanumberoftanks.Thisbattlealsomarkedthefirstuseofthemolotovcocktailagainsttanks.RittervonThoma'sPanzerIsfoughtfortheNationalistsonlydayslateron30October,and

immediately experienced problems.As theNationalist armor advanced, itwasengaged by the Commune de Paris battalion, equipped with Soviet BA-10armored cars. The 45-millimeter (1.7 in) gun in the BA-10 was more thansufficienttoknockoutthepoorlyarmoredPanzerIatrangesofover500meters(550yd).

Although the Panzer I would participate in almost every major Nationalist

offensive of the war, the Nationalist army began to deploy more and morecapturedT-26tankstooffsettheirdisadvantageinprotectionandfirepower.Atone point, von Thoma offered up to 500 pesetas for each T-26 captured.AlthoughthePanzerIwasinitiallyabletoknockouttheT-26atcloserange—150meters(165yd)orless—usinganarmor-piercing7.92millimeterbullet,theRepublican tanks began to engage at ranges where they were immune to themachinegunsofthePanzerI.ThePanzerIwasupgradedinordertoincreaseitslethality.On8August1937,

Major General García Pallasar received a note from Generalísimo FranciscoFrancowhich expressed the need for a Panzer I (or negrillo, as their Spanishcrewscalled them)witha20-millimetergun.Ultimately, thepiecechosenwastheBredaModel1935,duetothesimplicityofthedesignovercompetitorssuchas the German Flak 30. Furthermore, the 20 mm Breda was capable ofperforating40millimetersofarmorat250meters(1.57inat275yd),whichwasmore than sufficient to penetrate the frontal armor of the T-26. AlthoughoriginallyfortyItalianCV.35lighttankswereorderedwiththeBredainplaceoftheir original armament, this order was subsequently canceled after it wasthought adaptation of the same gun to thePanzer Iwould yield better results.Prototypes were ready by September 1937 and an order was placed aftersuccessful results. The mounting of the Breda in the Panzer I required the

original turret to be opened at the top and then extended by a verticalsupplement. Four of these tanks were finished at the Armament Factory ofSeville,butfurtherproductionwascanceledasitwasdecidedsufficientnumbersofRepublicanT-26tankshadbeencapturedtofulfilltheNationalistleadership'srequestformorelethaltanks.TheBredamodificationwasnotparticularlylikedbyGerman crews, as the unprotected gap in the turret, designed to allow thetank'scommandertoaim,wasfoundtobeadangerousweakpoint.Inlate1938,anotherPanzerIwassenttotheArmamentFactoryofSevillein

ordertomounta45mmgun,capturedfromaSoviettank(aT-26orBT-5).Asecondwassentsometimelaterinordertoexchangetheoriginalarmamentfora37-millimeterMaklenanti-tankgun,whichhadbeendeployedtoAsturiasinlate1936ontheSovietshipA.Andreiev.Itremainsunknowntowhatextent thesetrials and adaptations were completed, although it is safe to assume neitheradaptationwassuccessfulbeyondthedrawingboard.

*FormedpartoftheCondorLegion

SecondWorldWarDuringtheinitialcampaignsoftheSecondWorldWar,Germany'slighttanks,

includingthePanzerI,formedthebulkofitsarmoredstrength.InMarch1938,theGermanArmymarchedintoAustria,experiencingamechanicalbreakdownrate of up to thirty percent. However, the experience revealed to Guderianseveral faults within the German Panzerkorps and he subsequently improved

logistical support. In October 1938, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia'sSudetenland, and the remainder of the country inMarch1939.The capture ofCzechoslovakia allowed severalCzech tank designs, such as the Panzer 38(t),andtheirsubsequentvariantsandproduction,tobeincorporatedintotheGermanArmy'sstrength.ItalsopreparedGermanforcesfortheinvasionofPoland.Polandandthecampaigninthewest

PanzerIAusf.AincombatduringtheGermaninvasionofNorway.

On1September1939,Germany invadedPolandusing seventy-twodivisions

(including 16 reserve infantry divisions in OKH reserves), including sevenpanzerdivisions(1.,2.,3.,4.,5.,10.,"Kempf")andfourlightdivisions(1.,2.,3.,4.).Threedayslater,FranceandBritaindeclaredwaronGermany.Thesevenpanzerand four lightdivisionswerearrayed in fivearmies, forming twoarmygroups. The battalion strength of the 1 PanzerDivision included no less thanfourteenPanzerIs,whiletheothersixdivisionsincludedthirty-four.Atotalofabout2,700tankswereavailablefortheinvasionofPoland,butonly310oftheheavierPanzerIIIandIVtankswereavailable.Furthermore,350wereofCzechdesign—therestwereeitherPanzerIsorPanzerIIs.Theinvasionwasswiftandthe last Polish pockets of resistance surrendered on 6 October. The entire

campaignhadlastedfiveweeks(withhelpof theSovietforceswhichattackedon 17 September), and the success of Germany's tanks in the campaign wassummedupinresponsetoHitleron5September:whenaskedifithadbeenthedivebomberswhodestroyedaPolishartilleryregiment,Guderianreplied,"No,ourpanzers!"ThePolessufferedalmost190,000casualties(includingaround66,300killed)

in the campaign, the Germans around 55,000 (including around 35,000wounded.However,some832tanks(including320PzI,259PzII,40PzIII,76PzIV,77Pz35(t),13PzBefIII,7PzBef38(t),34otherPzBefandsomePz38(t))werelostduringthecampaign,approximately341ofwhichwerenevertoreturntoservice.Thisrepresentedabouta thirdofGermany'sarmordeployedfor thePolish campaign.During the campaignno less than ahalf ofGermany's tankswereunavailabledue tomaintenance issuesor enemyaction, andof all tanks,thePanzerIprovedthemostvulnerabletoPolishanti-tankweapons.

APanzerIAusfBonthestreetsofCalais,FranceinMay1940,whileroundingupBritishprisonersofwar

Furthermore,itwasfoundthathandlingofarmoredforcesduringthecampaign

leftmuch tobedesired.During thebeginningofGuderian's attack innorthern

Poland, his corpswas held back to coordinatewith infantry for quite awhile,preventing a faster advance. It was only after Army Group South had itsattention taken fromWarsawat theBattleofBzura thatGuderian's armorwasfully unleashed. There were still lingering tendencies to reserve Germany'sarmor, even if in independent divisions, to cover an infantry advance or theflanksofadvancinginfantryarmies.Althoughtankproductionwasincreasedto125 tanks permonth after thePolishCampaign, losses forced theGermans todrawfurtherstrengthfromCzechtankdesigns,andlighttankscontinuedtoformthemajorityofGermany'sarmoredstrength.Monthslater,PanzerIsparticipatedinOperationWeserübung—theinvasionof

DenmarkandNorway.Despiteitsobsolescence,thePanzerIwasalsousedintheinvasionofFrance

inMay1940.Of2,574tanksavailableforthecampaign,nofewerthan523werePanzerIs.Furthermore,therewereonly627PanzerIIIsandIVs.AtleastafifthofGermany's armorwas composed of Panzer Is,while almost four-fifthswaslight tanksof one typeor another, including955Panzer II, 106CzechPanzer35(t), and228Panzer 38(t).For their defense, theFrenchboastedup to4,000tanks, including 300CharB1, armedwith a 47-millimeter (1.7 in) gun in theturret and a larger 75-millimeter (2.95 in) low-velocity gun in the hull. TheFrench also had around 250 Somua S-35, widely regarded as one of the besttanksoftheperiod,armedwiththesame47millimetermaingunandprotectedbyalmost55millimeters (2.17 in)of armorat its thickestpoint.Nevertheless,theFrenchalsodeployedover3,000lighttanks,includingabout500WorldWarI-vintageFT-17s.ThetwomainadvantagesGermanarmorenjoyedwereradiosallowingthemtocoordinatefasterthantheirBritishorFrenchcounterpartsandsuperiortacticaldoctrine.NorthAfricaandcampaignsintheeast

PanzerbefehlswageninRussia

Italian setbacks inEgypt and their colonyofLibya causedHitler to dispatch

aircrafttoSicily,andablockingforcetoNorthAfrica.ThisblockingforcewasputunderthecommandofLieutenantGeneralErwinRommelandincludedthemotorized5thLightDivisionandthe15thPanzerDivision.ThisforcelandedatTunison12February1941.Uponarrival,Rommelhadaround150tanks,abouthalfPanzer IIIand IV.The restwerePanzer I's and IIs, although thePanzer Iwas soon replaced. On 6 April 1941, Germany attacked both Yugoslavia andGreece, with fourteen divisions invading Greece from neighboring Bulgaria,which by then had joined the Tripartite Pact. The invasion of Yugoslaviaincluded no less than six panzer divisions, which still fielded the Panzer I.Yugoslaviasurrendered17April1941,andGreecefellon30April1941.ThefinalmajorcampaigninwhichthePanzerIformedalargeportionofthe

armoredstrengthwasOperationBarbarossa,22June1941.The3,300Germantanksincludedabout410PanzerI's.Bytheendofthemonth,alargeportionoftheRedArmy found itself trapped in theMinskpocket, andby21SeptemberKievhadfallen, therebyallowingtheGermanstoconcentrateontheirultimateobjective,Moscow.DespitethesuccessofGermany'sarmorintheSovietUnion,betweenJuneandSeptembermostGermanofficerswere shocked to find theirtankswere inferior to newerSovietmodels, theT-34 andKlimentVoroshilov

(KV) series. Army Group North quickly realized that none of the tank gunscurrentlyinusebyGermanarmorcouldpenetratethethickarmoroftheKV-1.TheperformanceoftheRedArmyduringtheBattleofMoscowandthegrowingnumbersofnewSoviettanksmadeitobviousthePanzerIwasnotsuitableforthis front. Some less battle-worthy Panzer I's were taskedwith towing lorriesthroughmudtoalleviatelogisticsproblemsatthefront.

ForeignserviceAfterGermany,SpainfieldedthelargestnumberofPanzerItanks.Atotalof

122wereexportedtoSpainduringtheSpanishCivilWar,and,aslateas1945,Spain'sBruneteArmoredDivisionfielded93.ThePanzer I remained inuse inSpainuntilaidarrivedfromtheUnitedStatesin1954whentheywerereplacedbytherelativelymodernM47Patton.Between1935and1936,anexportversionof the Panzer I Ausf. B, named the L.K.B. (Leichte Kampfwagen B), wasdesigned for export to Bulgaria. Modifications included up-gunning to a 20-millimetergunandfittingaKruppM311V-8gasolineengine.Althoughthreeexampleswerebuilt,nonewereexportedtoBulgaria,althoughasinglePanzerIAusf.A had previously been sold. In 1937, around tenAusf.Aswere sold toChina during a period of Sino-German cooperation, which were used in theBattleofNanjingby the3rdArmoredBattalion.Afinalorderwassupplied toHungary in 1942, totalling eight Ausf. B's and six command versions. Thesewereincorporatedintothe1stArmoredDivisionandsawcombatinlate1942.

VariantsBetween 1934 and the mid 1940s several variants of the Panzer I were

designed, especially during the later years of its combat history.Because theywereobsolescentfromtheir introduction, incapableofdefeatingforeignarmor,andoutclassedbynewerGerman tanks, thePanzer Ichassiswere increasinglyrepurposedas tankdestroyers andothervariants.Oneof themostwellknownvariants was the kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen ("small armored commandvehicle"), built on the Ausf. A and Ausf. B chassis—200 of these were

manufactured.ThePanzerIAusf.BchassiswasalsousedtobuildtheGermanArmy's first tracked tankdestroyer, thePanzerjäger I.This vehiclewas armedwithaCzech47-millimeter(1.85in)anti-tankgun.

THEPANZERIIThe Panzer IIwas the common name for a family ofGerman tanks used in

World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II(abbreviatedPzKpfwII).Althoughthevehiclehadoriginallybeendesignedasastopgapwhilemoreadvanced tanksweredeveloped, itnonethelesswenton toplayanimportantroleintheearlyyearsofWorldWarII,duringthePolishandFrenchcampaigns.Bytheendof1942ithadbeenlargelyremovedfromfrontline service, and production of the tank itself ceased by 1943. Its chassisremainedinuseasthebasisofseveralotherarmoredvehicles.

ThePanzerII

HistoryIn1934,delays in thedesignandproductionof thePanzer IIIandPanzer IV

tankswerebecomingapparent.Designs forastopgap tankweresolicited fromKrupp,MAN,Henschel,andDaimler-Benz.ThefinaldesignwasbasedonthePanzer I, but larger, and with a turret mounting a 20 mm antitank gun.Production began in 1935, but it took another eighteen months for the firstcombat-readytanktobedelivered.

The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions

beginningwiththeinvasionofFrance,untilitwassupplementedbythePanzerIIIandIVin1940/41.Afterwards,itwasusedtogreateffectasareconnaissancetank.ThePanzerIIwasusedintheGermancampaignsinPoland,France,theLow

Countries,Denmark,Norway,NorthAfricaand theEasternFront.Afterbeingremovedfromfront-lineduty,itwasusedfortrainingandonsecondaryfronts.Thechassiswasusedforanumberofself-propelledgunsincludingtheWespeandMarderII.

TheMarderIIIwasahighlyeffectivetankkillercreatedfromthechassisofthePanzerII.

DesignArmorThePanzerIIwasdesignedbeforetheexperienceoftheSpanishCivilWarof

1936-39 showed that shell-proof armorwas required for tanks to survive on amodernbattlefield.Prior to that, armorwasdesigned to stopmachinegun fire

andHighExplosiveshellfragments.

APanzerIIwithaPanzerIfollowing,ontheWesternFront,1940

The Panzer IIA, B, andC had 14mm of slightly sloped homogenous steel

armoronthesides,front,andback,with10mmofarmoronthetopandbottom.Many IICweregiven increasedarmor in the front.Startingwith theDmodel,thefrontarmorwasincreasedto30mm.TheModelFhad35mmfrontarmourand20mmsidearmor.ThisarmorcouldbepenetratedbytowedantitankweaponssuchastheSoviet

45mmandFrenchcanonde25andcanonde47.

ArmamentMost tank versions of the Panzer II were armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 55

calibers long cannon.Some later versionsused the2 cmKwK38L/55whichwassimilar.Thiscannonwasbasedonthe2cmFlaK30anti-aircraftgun,andwascapableoffiringatarateof600roundsperminute(280roundsperminutesustained).ThePanzerIIalsohada7.92mmMaschinengewehr34machinegun

mountedcoaxiallywiththemaingun.The 2 cm cannon proved to be ineffective against many Allied tanks, and

experimentsweremadetowardsreplacingitwitha37mmcannon,butnothingcame of this. Prototypes were built with a 50 mm tank gun, but by then thePanzerIIhadoutlived itsusefulnessasa tankregardlessofarmament.Greatersuccesswashadbyreplacingthestandardarmor-piercingexplosiveammunitionwith tungsten cored solid ammunition, but due to material shortages thisammunitionwasinchronicallyshortsupply.Laterdevelopmentintoaself-propelledguncarriagesawthemountingofa5

cmPaK38antitankgun,but thiswasseenasinsufficientforthetime,andthelarger 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) was installed as an effective stopgap. The mainproduction antitank versionwas fittedwith a 7.5 cm PaK 40whichwas veryeffective. Artillery mounting began with a few 15 cm sIG 33 heavy infantryguns, but most effective was the 10.5 cm leFH 18, for which the Panzer IIchassisbecametheprimarycarriageforthewar.Mostoftheseversionsretainedapintlemounted7.92mmMG34machinegunfordefenseagainstinfantryandairattack.

MobilityAllproductionversionsof thePanzer IIwere fittedwitha140PS,gasoline-

fuelledsix-cylinderMaybachHL62TRMengineandZFtransmissions.ModelsA, B, and C had a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). Models D and E had aChristiesuspensionandabettertransmission,givingatoproadspeedof55km/h(33mph)butthecrosscountryspeedwasmuchlowerthanpreviousmodels,sothe Model F reverted back to the previous leaf spring type suspension. Allversionshadarangeof200km(120mi).

CrewThePanzerIIhadacrewofthreemen.Thedriversatintheforwardhull.The

commandersatinaseatintheturret,andwasresponsibleforaimingandfiringtheguns,whilealoader/radiooperatorstoodonthefloorofthetankundertheturret.

VariantsDevelopmentandlimitedproductionmodelsPanzerIIAusf.a(PzKpfwIIa)Not to be confused with the later Ausf. A (the sole difference being the

capitalizationoftheletterA),theAusf.awasthefirstlimitedproductionversionof the Panzer II to be built, and was subdivided into three sub-variants. TheAusf.a/1wasinitiallybuiltwithacastidlerwheelwithrubbertire,butthiswasreplaced after ten production examples with a welded part. The Ausf. a/2improvedengineaccessissues.TheAusf.a/3includedimprovedsuspensionandenginecooling.Ingeneral,thespecificationsfortheAusf.amodelswassimilar,andatotalof75wereproducedfromMay1936toFebruary1937byDaimler-Benz andMAN. The Ausf. a was considered the 1 Serie under the LaS 100name.[citationneeded]Specifications• Crew:3• Engine:MaybachHL57TRwith6geartransmissionplusreverse• Weight:7.6tonnes• Dimensions:4.38m(l)x2.14m(w)x1.95m(h)• Speed:40km/h• Range:200km

• Communications:FuG5radio• Primary armament: 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 gun with TZF4 gun sight, turretmounted • Secondary armament: MG34 7.92 mm machine gun, coaxiallymounted• Ammunition:18020mmand2,2507.92mmcarried• Turret:360°handtraversewithelevationof+20°anddepressionto-9.5°• Armour: 13 mm front, side, and rear; 8 mm top; 5 mm bottom

APanzerIIrollsintoAustriaduringtheAnschluss.

PanzerIIAusf.b(PzKpfwIIb)Again, not to be confusedwith the laterAusf. B, theAusf. bwas a second

limited production series embodying further developments, primarily a heavyreworkingofsuspensioncomponentsresultinginawidertrackandalongerhull.Length was increased to 4.76 m but width and height were unchanged.Additionally, a Maybach HL62TR engine was used with new drivetraincomponents to match. Deck armor for the superstructure and turret roof wasincreasedto10–12mm.Totalweightincreasedto7.9tonnes.Twenty-fivewerebuiltbyDaimler-BenzandMANinFebruaryandMarch1937.

PanzerIIAusf.c(PzKpfwIIc)As the last of the developmental limited production series of Panzer IIs, the

Ausf.ccameveryclosetomatchingthemassproductionconfiguration,withamajor change to the suspension with the replacement of the six small roadwheels with five larger independently sprung road wheels and an additionalreturnrollerbringingthattotaltofour.Thetrackswerefurthermodifiedandthefenders widened. Total length was increased to 4.81m and width to 2.22m,while heightwas still about 1.99m.At least 25 of thismodelwere producedfromMarchthroughJuly1937.PanzerIIAusf.A(PzKpfwIIA)Thefirsttrueproductionmodel,theAusf.Aincludedanarmorupgradeto14.5

mmonallsides,aswellasa14.5mmfloorplate,andanimprovedtransmission.TheAusf.AenteredproductioninJuly1937.PanzerIIAusf.B(PzKpfwIIB)IntroducingonlyminimalchangestotheAusf.A,theAusf.Bsupersededitin

productionfromDecember1937.PanzerIIAusf.C(PzKpfwIIC)

PzKpfwIIAusf.CattheMuséedesBlindés

Few minor changes were made in the Ausf. C version, which became the

standardproductionmodelfromJune1938throughApril1940.Atotalof1,113examples ofAusf. c,A,B, andC tankswere built fromMarch 1937 throughApril 1940 by Alkett, FAMO, Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, MIAG, andWegmann. These models were almost identical and were used in serviceinterchangeably.ThiswasthemostwidespreadtankversionofthePanzerIIandperformedthemajorityofthetank'sserviceinthePanzerunitsduringthewar.EarlierversionsofAusf.Chaveroundedhullfront,butmanyvehiclesofAusf.Cwere up-armored to fight in France. These have extra armors bolted on theturret front and super structure front. Also up-armored versions have angledfront hull like that of Ausf.F. Some were also retro-fitted with commander'scupolas.PanzerIIAusf.F(PzKpfwIIF)ContinuingtheconventionaldesignoftheAusf.C,theAusf.Fwasdesignedas

a reconnaissance tank and served in the same role as the earliermodels. Thesuperstructurefrontwasmadefromasinglepiecearmorplatewitharedesignedvisor.Alsoadummyvisorwasplacednexttoit toreduceantitankriflebulletshitting the real visor. The hullwas redesignedwith a flat 35mm plate on itsfront,andarmorofthesuperstructureandturretwerebuiltupto30mmonthefrontwith15mmtothesidesandrear.Therewassomeminoralterationofthe

suspensionandanewcommander'scupolaaswell.Weightwasincreasedto9.5tonnes.524werebuilt fromMarch1941 toDecember1942as the finalmajortankversionofthePanzerIIseries.

APanzerIIAusfFliesknockedoutintheWesternDesert.

PanzerIIAusf.D(PzKpfwIID)WithacompletelynewChristiesuspensionwithfourroadwheels,theAusf.D

wasdevelopedasacavalrytankforuseinthepursuitandreconnaissanceroles.Only the turret was the same as the Ausf. C model, with a new hull andsuperstructure design and the use of a Maybach HL62TRM engine driving aseven-gear transmission (plus reverse). The design was shorter (4.65 m) butwider (2.3m)and taller (2.06m) than theAusf.C.Speedwas increased to55km/h. A total of 143 Ausf. D and Ausf. E tanks were built fromMay 1938throughAugust1939byMAN,andtheyservedinPoland.TheywerewithdrawninMarch1940forconversiontoothertypesafterprovingtohavepooroffroadperformance.

PanzerIIAusf.E(PzKpfwIIE)Similar to the Ausf. D, the Ausf. E improved some small items of the

suspension,butwasotherwisesimilarandservedalongsidetheAusf.D.PanzerIIAusf.J(PzKpfwIIJ)Continueddevelopmentofthereconnaissancetankconceptledtothemuchup-

armoredAusf. J,which used the same concept as thePzKpfw IF of the sameperiod,undertheexperimentaldesignationVK1601.Heavierarmorwasadded,bringingprotectionupto80mmonthefrontand50mmtothesidesandrear,with25mmroofandfloorplates,increasingtotalweightto18tonnes.EquippedwiththesameMaybachHL45PasthePzKpfwIF,topspeedwasreducedto31km/h.Primaryarmamentwasthe2cmKwK38L/55gun.22wereproducedbyMAN between April and December 1942, and seven were issued to the 12thPanzerDivisionontheEasternFront.PanzerkampfwagenIIohneAufbauOneuseforobsoletePanzerIItankswhichhadtheirturretsremovedforusein

fortificationswasasutilitycarriers.Anumberofchassisnotusedforconversionto self-propelled guns were instead handed over to the Engineers for use aspersonnelandequipmentcarriers.PanzerIIFlammBasedon the samesuspensionas theAusf.DandAusf.E tankversions, the

Flamm(alsoknownas"Flamingo")usedanewturretmountingasingleMG34machine gun, and two remotely controlled flamethrowers mounted in smallturrets at each front corner of the vehicle. Each flamethrower could cover thefront180°arc,whiletheturrettraversed360°.The flamethrowers were supplied with 320 litres of fuel and four tanks of

compressed nitrogen. The nitrogen tankswere built into armored boxes along

eachsideofthesuperstructure.Armorwas30mmtothefrontand14.5mmtothe sideand rear, although the turretwas increased to20mmat the sides andrear.Totalweightwas12tonnesanddimensionswereincreasedtoalengthof4.9m

andwidthof2.4malthoughitwasabitshorterat1.85mtall.AFuG2radiowascarried.Twosub-variantsexisted:theAusf.AandAusf.Bwhichdifferedonlyinminorsuspensioncomponents.One hundred and fifty-five Flamm vehicles were built from January 1940

throughMarch1942.Theseweremostly on new chassis but 43were on usedAusf.DandAusf.Echassis.TheFlammwasdeployedintheUSSRbutwasnotverysuccessfulduetoitslimitedarmor,andsurvivorsweresoonwithdrawnforconversioninDecember1941.5cmPaK38aufFahrgestellPanzerkampfwagenIIConceived along the same lines as theMarder II, the 5 cm PaK 38was an

expedient solution tomount the 50mmantitankgunon thePanzer II chassis.However, themuchgreatereffectivenessof the75mmantitankgunmade thisoption less desirable and it is not known howmany fieldmodifications weremadetothiseffect.7.62cmPaK36(r)aufFahrgestellPanzerkampfwagenIIAusf.D(Sd.Kfz.

132)Aftera lackof successwithconventionaland flame tankvariantsontheChristie chassis, itwasdecided touse the remaining chassis tomountcaptured Soviet antitank guns. The hull and suspension was unmodifiedfrom the earliermodels, but the superstructurewasbuilt up toprovide alargefightingcompartmentontopofwhichwasmountedaSoviet76.2mmantitankgun,which,whilenotturreted,didhavesignificanttraverse.Onlydevelopedasaninterimsolution,thevehiclewasclearlytootallandpoorlyprotected, but had a powerful weapon and was better than what theGermanshadatthetime.7.5cmPaK40aufFahrgestellPanzerkampfwagenII(MarderII)(Sd.Kfz.

131)Whilethe7.62cmPaK36(r)wasagoodstopgapmeasure,the7.5cmPaK 40 mounted on the tank chassis of the Ausf. F resulted in a betteroverall fightingmachine.Newproductionamountedto576examplesfromJune 1942 to June 1943 as well as the conversion of 75 tanks after newproductionhadstopped.TheworkwasdonebyDaimler-Benz,FAMO,andMAN.Amuchimprovedsuperstructureforthe7.62cmmountingwasbuiltgivingalowerprofile.TheMarderIIbecameakeypieceofequipmentandservedwiththeGermansonallfrontsthroughtheendofthewar.Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Wespe)

After the development of the Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II formountingthesIG33,Alkettdesignedaversionmountinga10.5cmleichteFeldhaubitze18/2fieldhowitzerinabuilt-upsuperstructure.ThePanzerIIprovedan efficient chassis for thisweaponand it became the onlywidelyproducedself-propelled105mmhowitzerforGermany.BetweenFebruary1943andJune1944,676werebuiltbyFAMOanditservedwithGermanforcesonallmajorfronts.Munitions Selbstfahrlafette auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II To

supporttheWespeinoperation,anumberofWespechassiswerecompletedwithout installation of the howitzer, instead functioning as ammunitioncarriers. They carried 90 rounds of 105 mm caliber. 159 were producedalongside theWespe.Thesecouldbeconvertedby installationof the leFH18inthefieldifneeded.PanzerkampfwagenIImitSchwimmkörperOne of Germany's first attempts at developing an amphibious tank, the

SchwimmkörperwasadevicebuiltbyGebrSachsenbergwhichconsistedoftwolargepontoons that attached toeither sideof aPanzer II tank.The tankswerespecially sealed and somemodification to the engine exhaust andcoolingwasneeded.Thepontoonsweredetachable.Themodified tankswere issued to the18thPanzerRegimentwhichwasformedin1940.However,withcancellationofOperation Sealion, the plan to invade England, the tanks were used in theconventionalmannerbytheregimentontheEasternFront.

PanzerIIAusf.L(PzKpfwIIL)"Luchs"

PanzerIIAusf.LintheMuséedesBlindés,Saumur.

Alightreconnaissancetank,theAusf.LwastheonlyPanzerIIdesignwiththe

overlapping/interleaved road wheels and "slack track" configuration to enterseriesproduction,with100beingbuiltfromSeptember1943toJanuary1944inaddition to conversion of the four Ausf. M tanks. Originally given theexperimental designation VK 1303, it was adopted under the alternate namePanzerspähwagenIIandgiven thepopularnameLuchs (Lynx).TheLynxwaslargerthantheAusf.Ginmostdimensions(length4.63m;height2.21m;width2.48m).Itwasequippedwithasixspeedtransmission(plusreverse),andcouldreachaspeedof60km/hwitha rangeof290km.TheFuG12andFuGSpraradioswereinstalled,while330roundsof20mmand2,250roundsof7.92mmammunitionwerecarried.Totalvehicleweightwas11.8tonnes.LIMITEDPRODUCTION,EXPERIMENTSANDPROTOTYPESPanzerIIAusf.G(PzKpfwIIG)

ThefourthandfinalsuspensionconfigurationusedforthePanzerIItankswasthefiveoverlappingroadwheelconfigurationtermedSchachtellaufwerkbytheGermans. This was used as the basis for the redesign of the Panzer II into areconnaissancetankwithhighspeedandgoodoff-roadperformance.TheAusf.GwasthefirstPanzerII tousethisconfiguration,andwasdevelopedwiththeexperimentaldesignationVK901.ThereisnorecordoftheAusf.Gbeingissuedto combat units, and only twelve full vehicles were built fromApril 1941 toFebruary 1942 by MAN. The turrets were subsequently issued for use infortifications.Specifications• Crew:3• Engine:MaybachHL66Pdrivinga five speed transmission (plus reverse) •Weight:10.5tonnes• Dimensions: length 4.24 m; width 2.38 m; height 2.05 m • Performance:speed 50 km/h; range 200 km • Main armament: 7.92x94 mm MG141automaticrifle,turretmountedwithTZF10sight• Secondaryarmament:7.92mmMG34machinegun,coaxiallymounted• Turret:360°handtraverse• Armor:30mmfront,15mmsidesandrearPanzerIIAusf.H(PzKpfwIIH)Given experimental designation VK903, the Ausf. H was intended as the

productionmodeloftheAusf.G,witharmorforthesidesandrearincreasedto20mmandanew four speed transmission (plus reverse) similar to thatof thePzKpfw 38(t) nA. Only prototypes were ever completed by the time ofcancellationinSeptember1942.5cmPaK38aufPanzerkampfwagenIIPlanned as a light tank destroyer, the first two prototypeswere delivered in

1942 but by then their 50 mm gun was not sufficient and the program was

canceledinfavorof75mmweapons.BrückenlegeraufPanzerkampfwagenIIAfterfailedattempts touse thePanzerIasachassisforabridge layer,work

moved to the Panzer II, led byMagirus. It is not known howmany of theseconversionsweremade,but fourwereknown tohavebeen inservicewith the7thPanzerDivisioninMay1940.15cmsIG33aufFahrgestellPanzerkampfwagenII(Sf)OneofthefirstgunmountvariantsofthePanzerIIdesignwastoemplacea15

cmsIG33heavy infantrygunon a turretlessPanzer II chassis.Theprototypeutilized an Ausf. B tank chassis, but it was quickly realized that it was notsufficient for themounting.Anew, longer chassis incorporating an extra roadwheelwasdesignedandbuilt,namedtheFahrgestellPanzerkampfwagenII.Anopen-topped15mmthickarmoredsuperstructure sufficientagainst small armsandshrapnelwasprovidedaroundthegun.Thiswasnothighenoughtogivefullprotectionforthecrewwhilemanningthegun,althoughtheywerestillcovereddirectlytothefrontbythetallgunshield.Only12werebuiltinNovemberandDecember 1941. These served with the 707th and 708th Heavy Infantry GunCompaniesinNorthAfricauntiltheirdestructionin1943.BergepanzerwagenaufPanzerkampfwagenIIAusf.JA single example of an Ausf. J with a jib in place of its turret was found

operating as an armored recovery vehicle. There is no record of an officialprogramforthisvehicle.PanzerSelbstfahrlafette1cDeveloped inprototype formonly, thiswasoneof threeabortiveattempts to

use the Panzer II chassis for mounting a 5 cm PaK 38 gun, this time on thechassisoftheAusf.G.Twoexampleswereproducedwhichhadsimilarweight

tothetankversion,andbothwereputinfront-lineservice,butproductionwasnotundertakenasprioritywasgiventoheavierarmedmodels.PanzerIIAusf.M(PzKpfwIIM)UsingthesamechassisastheAusf.H,theAusf.Mreplacedtheturretwitha

larger,open-toppedturretcontaininga5cmKwK39/1gun.FourwerebuiltbyMANinAugust1942,butdidnotseeservice.VK1602LeopardTheVK1602wasintendedasa5cmKwK39-armedreplacementfortheAusf.

L, with aMaybachHL157P engine driving an eight speed transmission (plusreverse).WhilethehullwasbasedonthatofthePzKpfwIIJ,itwasredesignedafter the PzKpfw V Panther, most noticeably with the introduction of fullyslopedfrontalarmor.Twoversionswereinitiallyplanned,alighter,faster18tonvariantandaslower,26tonvehicle;theformerwasabandonedatanearlystage.Subsequently, work on the first prototype was abandoned when it wasdeterminedthatthevehiclewasunder-armedforitsweight,andversionsofthePzKpfw IV and -V could serve just as well in the reconnaissance role whilebeing more capable of defending themselves. This vehicle never received anofficial Panzerkampfwagen title, but it would have been called the "Leopard"had it entered production. Its turret design was adopted for the SdKfz 234/2Puma.

THELEGIONCONDORThe Condor Legion (German: Legion Condor) was a unit composed of

volunteersfromtheGermanAirForce(Luftwaffe)andfromtheGermanArmy(WehrmachtHeer)whichservedwiththeNationalistsduringtheSpanishCivilWar of July 1936 toMarch 1939. The Condor Legion developedmethods ofterror bombing which were used widely in the Second World War shortlyafterwards.ThebombingofGuernicawas themost infamousoperationcarriedout by the Condor Legion during this period. Hugo Sperrle commanded theaircraftunitsoftheCondorLegionandWilhelmRittervonThomacommandedthegroundunits.

HistoryofmilitaryaidtoSpain

He-111EoftheCondorLegion,1939

FollowingthemilitarycoupinSpainatthestartoftheSpanishCivilWar,the

SpanishSecondRepublicturnedtotheSovietUnionandFranceforsupport,andthenationalistsrequestedthesupportofHitler'sGermanyandfascistItaly.Thefirst request for German aircraft was made on 22 July, with an order for 10transportaircraft.Hitlerdecidedtosupportthenationalistson25or26July,butwas wary of provoking a Europe-wide war. The Reich Air Travel Ministryconcluded thatnationalist forceswouldneedat least20 Ju52s, flownbyLuftHansapilots,tocarrytheArmyofAfricafromSpanishMoroccotoSpain.Thismission became known as OperationMagic Fire (German: Feuerzauber). Thejoint Spanish-German "Spanish-Moroccan Transport Company" (Spanish:CompaníaHispano-Marroquí de Transporte, HISMA) and an entirelyGermancompany, the Raw Materials and Good Purchasing Company (German:Rohstoffe-und-Waren-Einkaufsgesellschaft, ROWAK) were established. Thisinvolvementwaskeptcovert,hiddenfrombothforeignandeconomicministries,andfundedwiththreemillionReichmarks.

Ju52planeundergoingmaintenance

Theorganisationand recruitmentofGermanvolunteerswasalsokept secret.

The first contingent of 86men left on1August, unaware ofwhere theyweregoing.Theywereaccompaniedwithsixbiplanefighters,anti-aircraftgunsandabout 100 tons of other supplies. They were placed at Tablada airfield nearSeville,andaccompaniedbyGermanAirtransportbegantheairliftofFranco's

troops to Spain.Germany's involvement grew in September to encompass theWehrmacht's other branches; Operation Magic Fire was renamed OperationGuido in November. Awide belief was that the soldiers would train Spanishnationalists,andnotengage.TheheadoftheKriegsmarineprovidedsubmarinesfrom 24 October. The German navy also provided various surface ships andcoordinated movement of German supplies to Spain. German U-Boats weredispatchedtoSpanishwatersunderthecodenameUrsula.

DornierDo17E-1oftheCondorLegion

In the two weeks following 27 July, German transport moved nearly 2,500

troopsoftheArmyofAfricatoSpain.By11October,themission'sofficialend,13,500troops,127machinegunsand36fieldgunshadbeencarriedintoSpainfromMorocco.Overthisperiodtherewasamovementfromtrainingandsupplymissions of overt combat. The operation leader, Alexander von Scheele, wasreplaced by Walter Warlimont. In September, 86 tons of bombs, 40 PanzerPzKpfw I tanks and 122 personnel had been landed in Spain; they wereaccompaniedwith108aircraftintheJuly–Octoberperiod,splitbetweenaircraftfortheNationalistfactionitselfandplanesforGermanvolunteersinSpain.German air crews supported the Nationalist advance on Madrid, and the

successfulreliefoftheSiegeoftheAlcázar.Ultimately,thisphaseoftheSiegeof Madrid would be unsuccessful. Soviet air support for the Republican wasgrowing, particularly through the supply of Polikarpov aircraft. WarlimontappealedtoNaziGermanytostepupsupport.FollowingGermanrecognitionof

Franco's government on 30 September, German efforts in Spain werereorganised and expanded.The existing command structurewas replacedwiththeWinterübung Rügen, and themilitary units already in Spain were formedintoanew legion,whichwasbrieflycalled the IronRations (German:EiserneRationen)andtheIronLegion(German:EiserneLegion)beforeGöringrenamedit the Condor Legion (German: Legion Condor). The first German chargé toFranco's government, GeneralWilhelm von Faupel, arrived inNovember, butwastoldnottointerfereinmilitarymatters.Its debut (combat test) was during Spanish Civil War (1936-38). First 32

PzKpfwIalongwithsingleKleinerPanzerBefehlswagenIarrivedinOctoberof1936.Only106tanks,(102AusfA,AusfBand4KleinerPanzerBefehlswagenI) saw service with "Condor Legion" (Major Ritter von Thoma’s PanzerAbteilung 88 also known as Abteilung Drohne) and General Franco’s"Nationalists".Pz.Abt.88withits3companieswasbasedatCubasnearToledo,whereGermaninstructorstrainedfutureSpanishcrews,whiletheunitwasusedfor training duties and combat (e.g. assault onMadrid). Panzerkampfwagen Itanks proved to be outclassed by Soviet T-26 and BT-5 provided to "TheRepublicans".

AbackviewofaPanzerIfromtheCondorLegioninSpain

SomePanzerkampfwagenIcapturedby"TheRepublicans"wererearmedwith

French Hotchkiss 25mm Model 1934 or 1937 anti-tank guns mounted in amodified turret (PzKpfw IAusf.Amit 20mmFlak L/65BredaModel 1935).During Spanish CivilWar, PzKpfw I Ausf Bwas experimentally armedwithItalian20mmBredaModello(model)1935lightanti-aircraftgunmountedinamodifiedturret,inordertoincreaseitscombatpotential.Somesourcesstatethatthreetankswereconvertedthatway.PzKpfwIsequippedtwoNationalist tankbattalions(AgrupaciondeCarros)-

1stand2ndTankBattalion.GermanHighCommandusedtheopportunityoftheSpanishCivilWar to test theirnewweaponsand tacticsofBlitzkrieg. ItsverythinarmorofferedonlyprotectionagainstsmallfirearmsanditstwinMGswerenomatchforanythingotherthaninfantryunitsandprovedcompletlyuselessincombat.ThefollowinginformationisprovidedonGruppeImker-thecodenameofthe

GermanGroundContingentoftheCondorLegion:• 1Pz.Kp(fromthe1BattalionofPanzerRegiment6(Neuruppin))• 2Pz.Kp.(fromtheIIBattalionofPanzerRegiment6(Neuruppin))• TransportKp• TansportKp• Nachrichtenzug(SignalsPlatoon)• Werkstatts-Kp(WorkshopCompany)• 1Pak.Kdo.(AntitankGunCommand)

Upon the completion of training, the Spanish tank companies retained theirGermanPz.Kpfw.1s and accompanied them to the front.TheGerman trainingcompanieswould then receive another supplyof tanks tobeused for thenexttraining session.Army ground personnel in Spain never exceeded 600men atanytime.GruppeImker(GroupBeekeeper)hadastaff,underthecommandofoberstleutenant von Thoma, which coordinated and maintained all directcommunications to Germany. Imker's Panzer units were codenamed Gruppe"Drohne"orGroup"Drone".Eachcompanyhad11Pz-Iswith3companiestoaBattalion(Agrupacion)and

aT-26companyaddedlater(capturedtanks).BelowisacollectionofdocumentstoCplEugeneAlexejenofLegionCondor.

Awarded Spanish cross in silver. He was in the Condor Legion with PanzerRegiment6"Neuruppin"ofthethirdPanzerDivision.InSpaininearlyOctober1936GeneralderPanzertruppeWilhelmJosefRitter

vonThomawassentbytheGermanhighcommandtoSpainasthecommanderofthegroup"Imker"(Beekeeper),thegroundcontingentoftheGermanCondorLegion.Taskedwith trainingFranco'sSpanishNationalist officers andmen intanks, infantry tactics and artillery and signals employment. Cpl EugeneAlexsejenwouldhavebeenpartofthisandwouldhavehelpedinthefrontlineincombat.

The above document roughly translates to: In the name of theGerman people I give Corporal EugeneAlexejenas recognition for fine service as a volunteer in the SpanishWarof Independence theGermanSpanishCrossinSilverwithSwords,Berlinthe6june1939.TheFuhrerandSupremeCommanderoftheWehrmacht.

Above is an "Honor Deed" showing his service with the regiment between 1935 and 1937. Roughlytranslated it reads: Honor Deed of Cpl Eugene Alexejen has from 1 Nov 1935-30 Sept 1937 in ThirdCompany,PanzerRegiment6"Neuruppin"fulfilledhiscompulsoryservicewithhonor."Neuruppin"the30september1937.SignedCaptainandCompanycommander

The above is an award document for the SpanishRedCross ofMilitaryMerit. The text for the Spanishcampaignawardshownabovetranslatesroughlyasfollows:Spanisharmy:onthemeritoriousserviceinoperations during the war—Sergent Eugene Alexejen—S.E. the chief of state and generalissimo of theNationalistArmyhasseenfittogivetheCampaignMedalandfortherecordandtothesatisfactionoftheapplicant, issuedonbehalfof "SE".Burgos to1stDecember1938, III triumphantyear—TheMinisterofNationalDefence

Motivation

In the years following the Spanish Civil War, Hitler gave several possible

motivesforGermaninvolvement.AmongthesewerethedistractionitprovidedfromGerman re-militarisation; the prevention of the spread of communism toWesternEurope; the creationof a state friendly toGermany todisruptBritainandFrance;andthepossibilitiesforeconomicexpansion.Althoughtheoffensiveon Madrid was abandoned in March 1937, a series of attacks on weakerRepublican-controlledareaswassupportedbyGermany;despiteprolongingtheCivil War, it would help to distract the other western powers from Hitler'sambitionsincentralEurope.TheoffensiveonVizcaya,aminingandindustrialcentre,wouldhelpfuelGermanindustry.On27June1937,Hitler(inaspeechatWurzburg)declaredhesupportedFrancotogaincontrolofSpanishore.DiscussionsoverGermanobjectivesforinterventionoccurredinJanuary1937.

Germanywas keen to avoid prompting aEurope-widewar,which at the timethey felt committing further resources toSpainwoulddo.ContradictoryviewswereheldbyGermanofficials:ErnstvonWeizsäckersuggesteditwasmerelyamatter of graceful withdrawal; Hermann Göring stated that Germany wouldnever recognise a "red Spain". A joint Italian–German decision, that the lastshipmentswouldbemadebythestartofFebruary,wasagreed.IthasbeenspeculatedthatHitlerusedtheSpanishCivilWarissuetodistract

Mussolini fromHitler's own designs on and plans for union (Anschluss)withAustria.TheauthoritarianCatholic,anti-NaziVaterländischeFrontgovernmentof autonomous Austria had been in alliance withMussolini, and in 1934 theassassinationofAustria'sauthoritarianpresidentEngelbertDollfusshadalreadysuccessfullyinvokedItalianmilitaryassistanceincaseofaGermaninvasion.AcommuniqueinDecember1936,fromGermanambassadorinRomeUlrich

vonHassellillustratesanotherpoint:

TheroleplayedbytheSpanishconflictasregardsItaly'srelationswithFranceandEnglandcouldbesimilartothatoftheAbyssinianconflict,bringing out clearly the actual, opposing interests of the powers andthus preventing Italy from being drawn into the net of theWesternpowersandusedfortheirmachinations.AllthemoreclearlywillItaly

recognizetheadvisabilityofconfrontingtheWesternpowersshouldertoshoulderwithGermany.

OperationalrecordThe Condor Legion, upon establishment, consisted of the Kampfgruppe 88,

with three squadrons of Ju 52 bombers and the Jagdgruppe 88 with threesquadronsofHeinkelHe51fighters,thereconnaissanceAufklärungsgruppe88(supplemented by the Aufklärungsgruppe See 88), an anti-aircraft group, theFlakbteilung 88, and a signals group, the Nachrichtenabteilung 88. Overallcommandwas given toHugo Sperrle,withAlexanderHolle as chief of staff.Scheele was transferred to become a military attaché in Salamanca. Twoarmoured units under the command ofWilhelm Ritter von Thoma, with fourtankseach,werealsooperational.TheNationalistsweresupportedbyGermanandItalianunitsandmaterialsat

theBattleofMadrid.However, themilitarysituation inMadrid remainedpoorfor the nationalists, and both German and Italian aircraft (under Franco'sdirection)beganbombingraidsonthecityasawhole.TheGermanswerekeento observe the effects of civilian bombings and deliberate burning of the city.Offensives involving German aircraft, as well as the bombings, wereunsuccessful. Increasing Republican air superiority became apparent,particularlythestrengthoftheSovietPolikarpovI-15andI-16aircraft.HistorianHughThomasdescribes theirarmamentsas"primitive".Faupel, inNovember–December, urged the creation of a single German unit of 15,000–30,000,believingitwouldbeenoughtoturnthetideofthewartotheNationalists.Hans-Heinrich Dieckhoff argued this would insufficient, and that larger measurescouldprovokethewrathoftheSpanish.Betweenlate1936andearly1937,newaircraft were sent to the Condor Legion, including Henschel Hs 123 divebombers,andprototypesoftheHeinkelHe112andMesserschmittBf109,withthe last proving the most successful. The Heinkel He 111 was added to thebomberfleet,alongwiththeDornierDo17(EandFtypes).OlderaircraftwerepassedontotheNationalists.Bytheendof1936,7,000GermanswereinSpain.

German forces also operated in the Battle of Jarama, which began with aNationalistoffensiveon6February1937. It includedGerman-suppliedgroundforces,includingtwobatteriesofmachineguns,atankdivision,andtheCondorLegion's anti-aircraft guns. Bombing by both Republican and Nationalistaircraft,includingJu52sfromtheLegion,helpedensureastalemate.Itshowedup the inadequacy of the Legion's aircraft, faced with superior Soviet-madefighters.VonThorma requested Irish nationalist support for a tank advance atonepoint,nevertobereplicated.UseofHe51andJu52s,andtheLegion'santi-aircraftgunsusedingroundroles,onlypartlymitigatedwhatwasasignificantdefeat for theNationalists at the Battle of Guadalajara duringMarch. A jointItalian-GermangeneralhadbeensetupinJanuary1937toadviseFrancoonwarplanning. The defeat of a significant Italian force and the growing SovietsuperiorityintanksandaircraftledtheGermanstosupportaplantoabandontheoffensive on Madrid and instead concentrate a series of attacks on weakerRepublican-controlledareas.Whilstmanycountriesbelievedmotorisedtroopstohavebeenprovenlesseffectivethanfirst thought, itwastheinadequacyoftheItaliansasafightingforcethatdominatedGermanthought.

TheVizcayaCampaignTheisolatedareaofVizcaya,apredominantlyBasquepartofnorthernSpain,

wasthemostimmediatetarget,inwhatwascalledtheWarintheNorth.ItwaslargelyaNationalistand Italianoffensive,butwassupportedbyaconsistentlyre-equippingCondorLegion.Theterrainwasfavourable,withtheplanescomingoverarangeofmountainstothesouth,maskingtheirentrance.SperrleremainedinSalamanca;WolframvonRichthofenreplacedHolleinJanuaryasdeputyandinactualcommand.Since theBasqueair forcewasvery limited,even fighterswere used in ground-attack roles. The Legion's air force initially attacked thetowns ofOchandiano andDurango.Durangohad no anti-aircraft defence, andonlyminorotherdefences.AccordingtotheBasques,250civiliansdiedonthe31March, including the priest, nuns and congregation of a church ceremony.TheGermans,withtheirairraids,werehated.TheBasquegroundforceswereinfullretreattowardsBilbao,throughthetownofGuernica,whichwasattackedon26AprilinoneofthemostcontroversialattacksoftheSpanishCivilWar.

Guernica

RuinsofGuernica(1937)

In Operation Rügen, waves of Ju 52 and He 51 planes bombed and strafed

targets inGuernica.The number of casualties is amatter of controversy,withperhaps200–300peoplekilled; thenumber reporteddeadby theBasqueswas1,654 dead and 889 wounded. Several explanations were put forward by theNationalists,includingblamingtheattackontheRepublicans,thattheattackonthe town had been a prolonged offensive, or that the Rentería bridge, outsideGuernica, was the true target. However, the nature of the operation itself,including the formation and armaments used, makes this seem unlikely.GuernicawasacleartargetoftheCondorLegion,ratherthantheNationalistsasa whole. The offensive on Bilbao, when it eventually came on 11 July, wassupportedbygroundunitsoftheCondorLegion,andextensiveairoperations.ItprovedtheworthoftheCondorLegiontotheNationalistcause.The first English-language media reports of the destruction in Guernica

appeared two days later. George Steer, a reporter for The Times, who was

covering theSpanishCivilWar from inside thecountry,authored the first fullaccount of events. Steer's reporting set the tone for much of the subsequentreportage. Steer pointed out the clear German complicity in the action. Theevidence of three small bomb cases stampedwith theGerman Imperial Eaglemadeclear that theofficialGermanpositionofneutrality in theCivilWarandthesigningofaNon-InterventionPactwasasham.Steer'sreportwassyndicatedto the New York Times and then worldwide, generating widespread shock,outrage,andfear.

FurthercampaignsThe Condor Legion also took part in the Battle of Brunete, designed as a

RepublicanoffensivetotakethepressureoffnorthernSpain,wherefightingwasongoing.TheLegionwassentfromthenorthtoreinforcethebrokenline.Therewere repeated raids on Republican armoured vehicles and later defensivepositionsbybothbombersandfightersbasedatSalamanca.Republicanaircraftwere ineffective,despiteNationalist fears, comparedwithGermanaircraft; theMesserschmittBf109wasshowntobesuperiortotheI-15andI-16modelsusedby Republican forces. The Legion lost 8 aircraft, but claimed 18 victories.GermantacticswerealsoimprovedwiththeexperienceofBrunete,particularlytheenmasseuseoftanksbytheNationalists.TheNationalists returned to focus on the capture of northernSpain.German

testaircraft,withlatestmodels,facedanoutdatedBasqueairforce,althoughitdidhavesomeRussianplanes.Heavyaerialbombardmentfrom200Nationalist,German and Italian planeswas used far behindBasque lines inAugust 1937,leadingtothefallofSantanderaftertheBattleofSantanderon1September.Theformal battle inAsturias endedwith the fall ofGijón on 21October.A largeamount of ammunitions had been used by the Legion, including a millionmachinegunroundsand2,500tonnesofbombs.Germanyimmediatelybegantoship industrial production back to Germany. Sperrle argued repeatedly withFaupel, and against HISMA's monopoly. Faupel was replaced by Franco,throughSperrle.SperrlealsoreturnedtoGermanyandwasreplacedbyHelmuthVolkmann;followingdisagreementswithVolkmann,VonRichthofenwouldbereplacedwithHermannPlocherinearly1938.

Whilst thenextmajor campaign–MadridorBarcelona–wasdiscussed, the

Condor Legion was moved to Soria and began a week of strikes againstRepublican airfields, halted by the Republican advance on Teruel and theensuingBattleofTeruel.Both theLegion's landandair forceswereused,andtheLegionmoved toBronchales.Poorweather resulted in fewflights,and thetown fell to Republican forces on 6 January. Up to 100 sorties a day werelaunchedduringtheNationalist'scounter-offensivethroughtheAlfambravalley.TheJunkersJu87AwasusedforthefirsttimeontheadvanceonTeruel,whichwasretakenon22February.ThecontinuedNationalistoffensiveonAragoninApril–June1937, including theBattleofBelchite, involvedbombing raidsandtheuseoftheLegion'sgroundforces.TheLegionwasswitchedtofocusinthenorth,towardstheSegreriver,beforemovingsouthagainfollowingNationalistsuccesses.TheLegionmoveditsmainheadquarterstoBenicarlo;single-enginedplanesoperatedfromairfieldsnearby,and twin-enginedplanesfromZaragoza.Hitler's words to his colleagues belied a change in attitude about the war inGermany–thataquickvictoryinthewarwasnotdesirable,amerecontinuationofthewarwouldbepreferable.GermanpolicywouldbetopreventaRepublicandefeat. However, casualties were beginning to mount for the Legion and,combinedwitha resurgence inRepublicanairactivity, theNationalistadvancestalled.Thiswas,perhaps,becauseofthereluctanceofcommandersinGermanytosupply reinforcements,with theCzechoslovakiacrisismounting.Argumentsover thebill to theGermans–nowrisingat10millionReichmarksamonth–continued,unresolved.TheLegion'smaterielhadbeenexhausted.On24–25July,Republicanforceslaunchedthelastmajoroffensiveofthewar,

theBattleoftheEbro.ReconnaissanceunitsoftheCondorLegionhadnoticedatroop build-up, and warned Nationalists forces. The warning went unheeded.Although theRepublicgainedground,Republican forces failed togaincontrolofGanesa,with422sortiesbytheLegion(witharound70aircraftoperational)having considerable effect.The rest of the battle sawa series of attacks usingartillery or air strikes, followed by a Nationalist ground advance. However,tensionsinCzechoslovakiaandashortageofpilotsinGermanyledtothereturnof 250 pilots from the Legion, around half of them being bomber crews.Although trained Spaniards made up some of the shortfall, Volkmanncomplained to central command in Berlin, which would lead to his recall inSeptember.During thebattle,whichsaw113daysof fighting,only10aircraft

were lost (somebyaccident)and14werebadlydamaged; theLegionclaimedaround100Republicanaircraft, a thirdof those lost.Only5aircrewhadbeenkilled,and6captured.AidfromGermanytemporarilyhaltedinmid-September.GermanyandNationalistSpainsettledtheissueofGermaninterestsinSpanishmines.The Legion took a short break from active duty to receive new aircraft,

includingBf109Es,He111EsandJs,andHs126As,bringingitsstrengthto96aircraft, around a fifth of the Nationalist's force as a whole. Von Richthofenreturned toSpain inoverall command,withHansSeidemannas chiefof staff.This reinforcementmayhavebeen thesinglemost important interventionbyaforeignsideinthewar,enablingacounterattackaftertheBattleoftheEbro.ItmainlytookpartinoperationsagainsttheremainingRepublicanairforceduringJanuary–February1939,withconsiderablesuccess.Afterittookpartinparadesin Barcelona and elsewhere, and minor duties over Madrid, it was rapidlydissolved. The men returned on 26 May; the best aircraft were returned toGermanyandtherestoftheequipmentboughtbythenewSpanishregime.TheCondor Legion claimed to have destroyed 320Republican planes using

aircraft(eithershotdownorbombedontheground),andshotdownanother52usinganti-aircraftguns.Theyalsoclaimedtohavedestroyed60ships.Theylost72aircraftduetohostileaction,andanother160toaccidents.

MaritimeoperationsTheMaritimeReconnaissanceStaffel88(German:AufklärungsstaffelSee88)

wastheCondorLegion'smaritimeunitunderthecommandofKarlHeinzWolff.Operating independently of the land-based division, it acted against enemyshipping,ports,coastalcommunicationsandoccasionallyinlandtargetssuchasbridges. It used floatplanes, starting with the Heinkel He 60, which beganoperating at Cadiz in October 1936. Missions started as reconnaissance but,following the move from Cadiz to Mellila in Spanish Morocco in December1936, thefocusshiftedtoattacksonshipping.ItwasagainmovedinFebruary1937 to Málaga, newly captured, and then to Majorca when Málaga provedunsuitable.BeginninginJune,operationswereexpandedtoallowattacksonall

Republican ports, so long as no British ships were present. 10 ships wereattacked in the second half of 1937; however, theNorwegian torpedoes beingusedprovedineffective,andstrafingorbombingtargetswasusedinstead.ThearrivalofMartinHarlinghausen(knownas"IronGustav")sawoperations

expand,andoperationstargetedAlicante,Almeria,BarcelonaandCartegena.Asnaval activity declined, inland targets became more numerous, and nightmissionsbegan.Activitiesinsupportofgroundforcesbecamethemainfocusoftheunituntil theendofhostilities.BothWolffandHarlinghausenreceivedtheSpanishCross inGoldwithSwords andDiamonds. In total, elevenmenwerekilledinaction,andfiveothersdiedduetoaccidentorillness.

OtheroperationsOvertly, the Kriegsmarine was part of force enforcing the Non-Intervention

Agreement from interfering in the Civil War. However, this agreement wasclearly broken by Germany. As a result, the German pocket battleshipDeutschland stood guard over Ceuta to prevent interference from RepublicanshipswhileFrancotransportedtroopstotheSpanishmainland.Bymid-October,theGermanNorthSeaGrouparoundSpainconsistedof thepocketbattleshipsDeutschlandandAdmiralScheer,thelightcruiserKölnandfourtorpedoboats.After theGermans claimed that Leipzig had been attacked by an unidentifiedsubmarine,itdidformallywithdrawfrominternationalpatrols.OperationUrsula (named after the daughter of Karl Dönitz) saw a group of

GermanU-boatsactivearoundSpain.Itbeganon20November1936,withthemovementoftheU-33andU-34fromWilhelmshaven.Anyidentificationmarkswereobscured,andthewholemissionwaskeptsecret.Difficultiesinidentifyinglegitimatetargetsandconcernsaboutdiscoverylimitedtheiroperations.DuringtheirreturntoWilhelmshaveninDecember,theRepublicansubmarineC-3wassunk;theGermansclaimedthiswasduetoatorpedofiredfromU-34,althoughtheRepublican'senquiryclaimeditslosswasduetoaninternalexplosion.TheirreturnmarkedtheofficialendofOperationUrsula.However,itdoesseemthatfurther submarineswere sent inmid-1937, but details of the operation are notknown;sixarebelievedtohavebeeninvolved.

AbwehrTheGerman Intelligence service, theAbwehr,working independently of the

Legion Condor was secretly involved in Operation Bodden. This was to laterplayapartinthedetectionoftheOperationTorchinvasionfleet.

MilitaryadvantagesgainedTraining

"CondorLegion"infantrytrainingschoolinÁvila,Spain.

ItisknownthattheleadersoftheArmywerehesitantaboutbecominginvolved

in the conflict, and resisted a call made by the Italian government for a dualtransfer of ground troops to fight inSpain.The involvementof theLuftwaffe,however,wasnotentirelyrestrictedandacommonlyheldviewpointisthatthe

involvementoftheLuftwaffeintheCivilWarconstitutedaprovinggroundfortroops employed later during World War II. This view is supported by thetestimonyofHermannGöring,laterReichsmarschalloftheLuftwaffe,whenontrial at the InternationalMilitaryTribunal inNürnberg.When asked about thedecisiontousetheLuftwaffe,Göringstates:WhentheCivilWarbrokeoutinSpain,FrancosentacallforhelptoGermany

andaskedforsupport,particularlyintheair.OneshouldnotforgetthatFrancowith his troops was stationed in Africa and that he could not get the troopsacross, as the fleet was in the hands of the Communists, or, as they calledthemselvesatthetime,thecompetentRevolutionaryGovernmentinSpain.Thedecisive factor was, first of all, to get his troops over to Spain. The Fuehrerthought the matter over. I urged him to give support [to Franco] under allcircumstances, firstly, in order to prevent the further spread of communism inthattheaterand,secondly,totestmyyoungLuftwaffeatthisopportunityinthisorthattechnicalrespect.Thiswasalsoaviewputforthinwesternmediafollowingthedisengagement

ofGermanforcesfromSpain.Dozens of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and Heinkel He 111 medium

bombers, and from December 1937, at least three Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, firstsawactiveservice in theCondorLegionagainstSoviet-suppliedaircraft. TheStuka's firstmission flown in SpainwasFebruary 1938.Each ofthese aircraft played amajor role during the early years of the SecondWorldWar.TheGermansalsoquicklyrealizedthatthedaysofthebiplanefighterwerefinished.TheHeinkelHe51fighter,aftersufferingmanylossesduringthefirst12months of the conflict,was switched to a ground attack role and later sawserviceasatrainer.

OtherunitsThe Condor Legion also included non-aircraft units. Panzer crews operating

Panzerkampfwagen I light tanks were commanded by Wilhelm Ritter von

Thoma.TheGermansalsotestedtheir88mmheavyanti-aircraftartillerywhichtheyusedtodestroyRepublicantanksandfortificationsusingdirectfire,aswellasenemyaircraftintheirdesignedrole.German involvement in Spain also saw the development of the first air

ambulanceserviceforevacuationofwoundedcombatants.

Technicaladvances

Bf109C-1,Jagdgruppe88,LegionCondor

OneimportantfactorinWorldWarIIwhichisthoughttohavedirectlyresulted

fromtheconflictisthetechnicaldevelopmentoftheMesserschmittBf109.TheV3–V6 typesentered service inSpaindirectly fromoperational trials aroundJanuary1937. In the springof 1938 thesewere joinedby typeCaircraftwithtypeEsbeingfirstfieldedinDecember1938.As a result of combat inSpain improvementswere alsomade to the 88mm

gun.

TacticsAlongside thepotential forgains incombat experience it is also thought that

variousstrategicinitiativeswerefirsttrialedaspartofLuftwaffeinvolvementinthe conflict. Theories on strategic bombing were first developed by theLuftwaffewith the firstexhibitionof"carpetbombing" in theSeptember1937Asturias campaign. As the fighting progressed intoMarch 1938 Italian pilotsunder Fieldmarshal Hugo Sperrle were involved in thirteen raids againstBarcelona involving fire and gas bombs.These particular raids resulted in thedeaths of thousands of civilians.[citation needed] It is worth noting that asubsequent commander of the Legion in Spain, Wolfram Freiherr vonRichthofenwastobecomeheavilyinvolvedintheoperationoftheLuftwaffeaspartofOperationBarbarossa.Tactics of combined or joint operations were a particular focus. Close air

support for Nationalist troops, attack bombing of Republican troopconcentrations, and strafing became features of the war. The Legion workedclosely inmissionswhichmaximized the fighting abilityof theNationalist airforce and troops, the Italian CTV, and pilots from the Aviazione Legionaria(LegionaryAirForce).GermanAiraceAdolfGallandwastoclaimafterWorldWar II that although therewas a focus on taking lessons from the conflict inSpain, he believed the wrong conclusions were drawn by the German HighCommandwithparticularrespecttotheLuftwaffe:

WhatevermayhavebeentheimportanceofthetestsofGermanarmsintheSpanishCivilWarfromtactical,technicalandoperationalpointsofview,theydidnotprovidetheexperiencethatwasneedednorleadtotheformulationofsoundstrategicconcepts.

ReactiontoGermaninvolvementVarioussympatheticwritersparticipatedincondemningthescarcelyconcealed

interference by Germany and Italy. An example was Heinrich Mann, whoappealedfromexileinFrancewiththeslogan"Germansoldiers!AroguesendsyoutoSpain!"inresponsetotheLegion'sinvolvement.OtherstatestacitlyapprovedthefightoftheGermanLegionagainsttheSoviet-

suppliedSpanishRepublicanside.

TreatmentinNaziGermanyAspartofhis longterm"Blumenkrieg"strategyHitlerdrewparallelsbetween

the conflict in Spain and the peaceful methods he used to gain control inGermany. The regime also made use of the conflict as an opportunity forpoliticaleducationandaggrandizement.Highlightingofthemilitaryaspectsandsuccess story forGerman arms is also evidentwith the publication of variouspulpsemi-autobiographicalworksin1939,mostnotably:• WirfunkenfürFranco(literallyWetransmitforFranco)byHellmutFühring,• AlsJagdfliegerinSpanien(AsafighterpilotinSpain)byHannesTrautloft,• DasBuchderSpanienflieger(TheSpanishPilot'sBook)byHauptmannWulfBley.Each book had a high circulation; in the case of Bley the circulation was

estimatedatover1millionbookssold.Althoughaccurateinparttheseworksarenowacceptedby scholarson theperiodandconflict as lacedwithpropagandawhichemphasizesdaringescapadesandfailstoaddresstherealitiesofmilitarycombatingeneral.

CONTEMPORARYDOCUMENTS"ReconnaissanceByLightTankPlatoons"FromIntelligenceBulletinMay19431.INTRODUCTIONInGermantankorganizations,alighttankplatoonconsistingofsevenPz.Kw.

2's is an organic part both of the regimental headquarters company and thebattalionheadquarters company.The regimental light tankplatoon isnormallyusedforreconnaissancepurposes.Germandoctrinecoveringthereconnaissanceduties of patrols drawn from these platoons is summarizedbelow. (It assumesthatsuperiorGermanforcesareconductinganadvance.)

2.THEDOCTRINEa.TeamworkTeamwork, theGermanspointout, is thesecretofsuccessfulreconnaissance.

Theybelieve thathaphazardly formedreconnaissancepatrols,madeupofmenwhohaveneverworkedtogetherbefore,areoflittlevalue.b.ReconnaissanceBeforeH-Hour(1) Orders.—Orders given to light tank patrols which are to perform

reconnaissancebeforeH-hour include: (a) Informationabouthostile forcesandtheterrain.

(b)Germanintentions(especiallythoseofapatrol'sownandflankingunits).

(c)Compositionofthepatrol.

(d)Timeofdeparture.

(e)Lineofadvanceandobjectives.

(f)Methodandprocedureofreporting(radioormotorcycle).

(g)Positionofthepatrolcommander,andofthecommandertowhomhewillreport.

(h)Action tobe takenoncompletionof task,oronmeetingsuperioropposingforces.

It is prohibited to takewritten orders and situationmaps on reconnaissance.

Specialprecautionsare insisteduponwhenmarkingsofanykindaremadeonmapsusedonreconnaissance;thesemarkingsarerequiredtobeofakindwhichwillnotrevealGermandispositionsifthemapsarecaptured.(2)InformationNeededBeforehand.—Foritsdispositionandmethodofwork,

theGermanpatroldependsonknowing: (a)Up towhatpointcontactwith theopposition is unlikely. (Until reaching this point, the patrol saves time byadvancing rapidly and avoiding elaborate protective measures.) (b) At whatpointcontact isprobable. (After this, increasedalertness ismaintained.) (c)Atwhat point contact is certain. (Here the patrol is ready for action.) The patrolcommander is also given necessary particulars regarding air support andinformationastotheattitudeofthecivilpopulation.(3)Method of Advance.—The light tank patrol advances rapidly from one

observationpointtothenext,makinguseatfirstofroadsandpaths,butlater,asit approaches hostile forces, using all available cover. When approachingvillages,woods,ordefiles,thepatrolleavestheroadinsufficienttimetoupset

theopposition'saimedantitank-firecalculations.(4)Command.—TheGermanpatrolcommandermakesarapidestimateofour

position,andtriestoattackandoverrunusifhethinksthatweareweak.Ifsuchamovedoesnotseemadvisable,heattemptstodiscoverthetypeandstrengthoftheoppositionencountered,withoutbecominginvolvedincombat."Keen, capable, and well-trained officers or noncoms must be selected to

commandthe light tankpatrol," theGermansstate."Thesemustbeconstitutedofquick-thinking,resourcefultroopswhohavefunctionedasaunitlongenoughtoknowandhaveconfidenceintheirleader."c.ReconnaissanceafterH-Hour(1)Mission.—The mission of reconnaissance after H-hour is to explore the

hostilepositionindetail,toprotectGermandeployment,andtodiscoverhostilegunpositions,aswellasnaturalandartificialobstaclesinthelineofadvance.(2)HowPerformed.—Themission iscarriedoutby light tankpatrols (which

maybereinforced)operatingaheadorontheflanks,asinreconnaissancebeforeH-hour.Thereconnaissancetanksemployedimmediatelyaheadortoaforwardflank are detailed automatically by the first wave of the attacking force.(Normally, one light tank per platoon of heavier tanks in the first wave, andalways the same light tank. The remaining light tanks work behind the firstwave, performing other duties.) The reconnaissance tanks advance rapidly,makingforsuitablehighground.Theykeep300to500yardsaheadofthefirstwave, and maintain visual contact with it. The reconnaissance tanks observefrom open turrets or, if fired on, through their telescopes,with turrets closed.Theyadvancebybounds,fromcovertocover,keepingtheterrainaheadundercontinuousobservation.Thetanksinthefirstwave,especiallythePz.Kw.4's,coverthereconnaissance

tanksastheyadvance.

Whenthereconnaissancetankscontactourinfantry,theyattempttooverrunusand, if they are successful, they report and continue their mission. Areconnaissance tank discovering hostile antitank weapons and artillery reportsthem,takesupaposition,andwaitsfortherestofitscompany.Whilewaiting,itfiresonhostileantitankweapons.Tanks are avoided, but are observed from concealed positions. The

reconnaissance tanks report suitable terrain for meeting an attack by hostiletanks. As under the circumstances described in the previous paragraph, eachreconnaissancetankwaitsfortherestofitscompany.Opposition which begins to retreat is promptly attacked, the reconnaissance

tanksreportingthedevelopmentandcontinuingthepursuit.Intheeventofanattackbytheopposition,thereconnaissancetankstakeupa

position,meettheattack,report,andwaitfortherestoftheircompaniestocomeup.In all these instances, the reconnaissance tanks avoidobstructing the field of

fireof theheavier tanks following them.Throughout, the light tanks reportbyradio if it is available, by prearranged flag or smoke signals, or by significantfiringormaneuvering.

Pz.Jäg.IIAusD,Efür7.62cmPak36(Sd.Kfz.131):S.P.AntitankGun(Russian)

ThePz.Kpfw.IIchassisembodyingthesuspensiononfourlargebogiewheels

hasbeenusedasaself-propelledmount for theGermanmodifiedRussiangun7.62 cm Pak 36 (r) as well as the Pz. Kpfw. II models utilizing five bogiewheels.Theseequipmentsareusedinanantitankcapacity.The turret and superstructure of the original tank has been removed and

replaced by a high box-like superstructure shield of approximately 15 mmthickness,slopingabout75°tothehorizontal.Centrallylocatedabovethelowershield superstructure is a three-sided shieldofapproximately10mm thicknesswithaslottedfrontplatethroughwhichthelongmuzzleofthegunprojectswelloverthefrontofthechassis.Theoriginalshieldofthegunhasbeenretained.Thegun,1631/2inchesinlengthincludingthemuzzlebrake,isofmonobloc

construction.Thebreechmechanismisofthefalling-wedgetype.Theelevatinggearisoperatedbyahandwheellocatedontheleftsideofthegun;thetraversinggearisontheright.Theestimatedelevationofthepieceis-5°to+22°;traverse65°.Itsmuzzlevelocitiesareasfollows:H.E.shell,1805f/s;A.P.C.shell,2430f/s.FiringA.P.C.shellthisgunwilldefeat3.2inchesofhomogeneousarmorof30°obliquityat1000yards,and4.1inchesatnormal.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:10.5tons

• Length:16ft.(excl.gun)• Width:7ft.,6ins.• Height:6ft.,9ins.• Groundclearance:12ins.• Treadcenters:5ft.,10ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack• Tracklinks:96(est.)• Pitchoftrack:Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 115 miles, Cross-country: 75 miles• Speed:Roads:28m.p.h.,Cross-country:12m.p.h.• Armor:Frontplate:30mm,Sides:15mm,Shield:15mm• Armament:7.62cmPak36(r)• Ammunition:—• Wt.ofProjectiles:A.P.C.:16.7lb.,H.E.:12.6lb.• Engine:Maybach,140B.H.P.• Transmission:5speedsforward,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake

• Crew:4(probably)

Gw.IIfür15cms.I.G.33:S.P.HeavyInfantryHowitzer

Thisvehicleconsistsofthe15cm.heavyinfantryhowitzermountedinthehull

ofamodified,turretlessPz.Kpfw.IIchassis.Thechassisisapproximatelythreefeet longer than that of the standard PzKw II tank and has six bogiewheelsinsteadoftheusualfive.Thesprockets,rearidlers,bogiewheels,returnrollers,steering assembly, gear box and hull nose are those of the Pz. Kpfw. II; theinstrument panel is that of a Pz. Kpfw. III. The front shield is in one pieceextendingstraightacrossthefullwidthofthesuperstructure.Thedriver’svisoris of the double shutter type. The road performance of this equipmentapproximatesthatofthePz.Kpfw.IItank.The gun, a standard infantry support weapon, is mounted low in the hull,

projecting throughavertical slot in the shield.Thegun shield is15mm thickand is of shallow construction. It extends about a third of the distance of thesuperstructuretotherear.Unlikethe“Wasp”therearenoprotectingsideplatesalongtheentirelengthofthesuperstructure.

The gun is 64.57 inches in length, has a muzzle velocity of 790 f.s. and a

maximumeffectiverangeof5140yards.Thecastingcontainingtherecuperatorandbuffer,housedunderneaththebarrel,extendsalmosttotheendofthebarrel.Thebreechmechanismissimilartothe10.5cm.I.F.H.18.Theelevatingqearisoperatedfromtherightandthetraversinggearfromtheleft.Infieldmountingitstraverseis11°,itselevation0°to+73°.Twotypesofammunitionarefired,the15cm.I.Gr.33andthe15cm.I.Gr.

38.TheH.E. capacity is high, 21.8%.Theonlyother shell that theweapon isknown to fire is a smoke shell, the15cm. I.Gr.38Nb.The samepercussionfuze,s.I.Gr.Z.23,whichweighs75lbs.,isusedineachcase.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:(approx.)12tons• Length:(approx.)18ft.• Width:7ft.,4ins.• Height(approx.):5ft.,6ins.• Groundclearance:13ins.• Treadcenters:6ft.,2ins.• Groundcontact:Widthoftrack:111/8ins.,Pitchoftrack:35/8ins.• Tracklinks• Fordingdepth:3ft.

• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 118 miles, Cross-country: 78 miles• Speed:Roads:25m.p.h.,Cross-country:15m.p.h.• Armor:Frontplate:15+20mm,Sides:15mm• Gunshield:15mm• Armament:15cm.s.I.G.33• Ammunition(rds.)• Engine:140B.H.P.Maybach,HL62TRM• Transmission:6forwardspeeds,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:Probably4

Gw.II(Wespe)für10.5cmle.F.H.18/2(Sd.Kfz.124):S.P.LightHowitzer(Wasp)

This equipment, known as the “Wasp,” consists of the 10.5 cm. light field

howitzer mounted on a chassis which, with the exception that there are onlythreereturnrollers,isthatofanormalPz.Kpfw.IItank,ModelsA-C,withfivebogiewheels.ItsroadperformanceapproximatesthatofthePz.Kpfw.IItank.Thegunis the10.5cm.1.F.H.18Mwithmuzzlebrake.It ismountedat the

rearofthechassiswithinanopentopboxtypeshieldwhichis10mmthick,itsmuzzlebrakebeingalmostflushwiththefrontofthechassis.Itsrecuperatorandbuffermechanisms,mountedon thebottomand topof thebarrel, respectively,are clearly visible beyond the shield. Overlapping the gun shield and slopingback to the rear of the superstructure are side plates, also 10 mm thick. Thefightingcompartmentisopenatthetopandrear.Itssilhouetteishigh.Thepiece has a normal-chargemuzzle velocity of 1542 f.s. and amaximum

rangeof11,650yards.Firingthelongrangecharge(Fern-ladung)thegunhasamuzzlevelocityof1772f.s.andamaximumrangeof13,500yards.Allcharges,exceptthelongrange,canbefiredwithoutthemuzzlebrake.Ithasatraverseof32° and an elevation of -5° to +42°. It is reported to fire four types ofammunition,the32.6lb.HE(F.H.Gr.—FeldhaubitzeGranate—fieldhowitzershell), the cast steel HE (F. H. Gr. Stg.—Stahlring—steelring), the 25.9 lb.hollowcharge(10cm.Gr.39rotRohlLadung—redhollowcharge),anda32.5

lb.smokeshell.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:12tons• Length:15ft.,9ins.• Width:7ft.,4ins.• Height:7ft.,101/2ins.• Groundclearance:13ins.• Treadcenters:6ft.,2ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:111/8ins.• Pitchoftrack:35/8ins.• Tracklinks• Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 125 miles, Cross-country: 70 miles• Speed:Roads:24m.p.h.,Cross-country:—• Armor:Frontplate:—,Sides:—• Armament:10.5cm.l.F.H.18(M)

• Ammunition(rds.):—• Engine:MaybachHL62TR,140h.p.• Transmission:6speedsforward,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:—

Pz.Kpfw.IIAus.F(Sd.Kfz.121):LightTanks

Produced in 1941. This is the latest type of Pz. Kpfw. II tank identified in

action. The major modifications appearing in this model are (1) increasedthickness of the basic frontal armor, (2) new design of hull nose, (3) use ofuninterrupted length of plate for front vertical superstructure plate, (4) use ofdummyvisormountedalongsidethedriver’svisor.Thesingleskinnoseof theModelFhull isconstructed,offlatplates35mm

thickwithaBrinellhardnessof426andisnearerverticalthanthesuperimposed

noseplateintheearlierreinforcedmodels.Thismodificationtothenoseofthehullhasshorteneditslengthbyapproximatelyfiveinches.The turret front andmantlet remain unaltered except for the omission of the

additionalplatesandacorrespondingthickeningofthebasicarmorto30mm.ModelF is equippedwith a newdriver’s visor of thedouble shutter type.A

dummyvisor,aone-piecealuminumcasting, ismountedalongsidethedriver’svisorontheright,presumablytodrawfirefromthelatter.Thesuspensionarrangementoffivebogiewheelsandfourreturnrollersisthe

sameasthatutilizedinthepreviousmodelsA,BandC.ThepowerplantconsistsoftheHL62TRMaybach,a6-cylinder,water-cooled

gasolineenginerating140B.H.P.at2600r.p.m.Thetransmissionisofnormalsynchromesh,manualcontroltype,providingsix

forward speeds and one reverse, and the steering system utilizes the epicyclicclutchandbrakeprinciple.Armamentcomprisesone2.0cmKwK30gunwithcoaxial7.92M.G.34 in

turret.ModelsGandJhavebeenmentionedinanofficialGermandocumentbutthere

arenodetailsavailable.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:10.5tons• Length:14ft.,9ins.• Width:7ft.,4ins.

• Height:6ft.,6ins.• Groundclearance:13ins.• Treadcenters:6ft.,2ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:111/8ins.• Pitchoftrack:35/8ins.• Tracklinks:106• Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 125 miles, Cross-country: 85 miles• Speed:Roads:30m.p.h.,Cross-country:15m.p.h.• Armor:Frontplate:35mm,Sides:20mm• Armament:One2.0cmKwK30,One7.92mmM.G.34• Ammunition(rds.):2cmgun180M.G.2550• Engine:140B.H.P.MaybachHL62TRM• Transmission:6forwardspeeds,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:3

Pz.Kpfw.II(F)(Sd.Kfz.122):Flamethrower

Pz.Kpfw.II(F)(Sd.Kfz.122):FlamethrowerTank

The flamethrower tank, Pz. Kpfw. II (F) is a conversion of Pz. Kpfw. II,

ModelsDandE,whichemployedthefourbogiewheelsuspension,andshouldnotbeconfusedwith theModelF,whichutilizes the fivebogiewheel typeofsuspension.TheroadperformanceoftheflamethrowertankapproximatesthatofModelsDandE.Theflamethrowerprojectors,havingarangeofabout35yards,aremountedin

smallturretssetwellforwardoneachtrackguard.Theturretshave180°traversewhile theprojectors themselveshavea limitedelevation.Fuel issuppliedfromtwotanks,providedwitharmoredshields,whicharemountedexternallyonthetrackguards, and by compressed nitrogen from the four nitrogen cylinderslocatedinside,belowtheturret.Thetankshaveacapacityof35gals.each.Twosmall cylinders mounted just behind the projector turrets contain acetylene,whichisusedforfuelignition.Theflamethroweriscontrolledelectricallyfrompanelsintheturret.Sincethisequipmentisessentiallyaclose-combatweapon,thetankisliberally

fitted for smoke production to screen its movements. Not only is the normalsmokegenerator rack fittedat the rear,but there isoneach trackguarda triple

smokegeneratordischarger,aimedtofireforward,andbowdencablecontrolledfromtheturret.Armamentalsoincludesamachinegunonaballmountingintheturret.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:11tons• Length:16ft.• Width:7ft.,6ins.• Height:6ft.,9ins.• Groundclearance:12ins.• Treadcenters:5ft.,10ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:111/8ins.• Pitchoftrack:63/4ins.• Tracklinks:55• Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 125 miles, Cross-country: 85 miles• Speed:Roads:30m.p.h.,Cross-country:12m.p.h.• Armor: Front plate: 30 mm, Sides: 15 mm • Armament: Two independent

flamethrowers,OneM.G.• Ammunition:Flamethrower—70gals.,M.G.1800rds.• Engine:140B.H.P.Maybach,HL62TRM• Transmission:6speedsforward,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:3

Pz.Kpfw.IIAusD,E(Sd.Kfz.121):LightTanks

Produced in 1939.Comparatively few of thesemodelsweremade and these

werelaterconvertedtoflamethrowertanks(Pz.Kpfw.II,Aus.(F)).Model D—Although the hull, turret, and superstructure of this model are

similar to precedingmodels, its suspension arrangement of four large, rubber-tired,Christie-type bogiewheelswhich touch the top and bottom of the track

makeiteasytorecognize.ModelsDandEaretheonlyPz.Kpfw.IItankswiththis typeof suspension.Thebogiewheelsare largeenough toeliminate returnrollers.The frontdrive sprocket, rear idler, and thedry-pin, center-guide trackcomplete the suspension assembly. The track can be fitted with snow spuds.Theseareinsertedintheouterwebmembersandheldbyasplitcotter-pin.ThepowerplantistheMaybachHL62TR,six-cylinder,water-cooledengine

rated at 140 B.H.P. The transmission provides five forward speeds and onereverse.Thesteeringsystemembodiestheepicyclicclutchandbrakeprinciple.ThenormalPz.Kpfw. II armament of one 2 cmKw.K. 30with one coaxial

7.92mmM.G.34ismounted.Armorplatethicknessesrangefrom30mmfrontto15mmsides.ModelE—SameasModelD.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:10tons• Length:16ft.• Width:7ft.,6ins.• Height:6ft.,9ins.• Groundclearance:12ins.• Treadcenters:5ft.,10ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:—

• Pitchoftrack:—• Tracklinks:96(est.)• Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action, Roads: 125 miles, Cross-country: 85 miles• Speed:Roads:30m.p.h.,Cross-country:12m.p.h.• Armor:Frontplate:30mm,Sides:15mm• Armament:1—2.0cmKw.K.30,1—7.92M.G.34• Ammunition:—• Engine:Maybach140B.H.P.• Transmission:Synchromesh,5speedsforward,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:3

Pz.Kpfw.IIAusA,B,C(Sd.Kfz.121):LightTanks

ModelAwasproducedin1937,followedbyBandCin1938.Itisnotknown

whether there are any important differences between these models. All had asuspensionconsistingoffiveequallyspacedrubber-tiredbogiewheelsoneachsidemounted independently on suspension arms pivoted on hull and providedwithquarterellipticleafsprings.Therearefour8½in.diameterreturnrollersoneachside,a2ft.,7in.diametersprocket,anda2ft.,1in.diameteridler.Thefrontalarmorof thisserieswasoriginallyonly15mmthickandthehull

had a rounded nose formed by the bending of a single plate which alsoincorporated theglacisandnoseplate.At some timeafter thebattleofFrance(1940)thearmorofthesemodelswasreinforcedbybolting20mmarmorplatesonthefrontofthetank.Theadditionalarmoronthefrontofthehullconsistedofflatnoseandglacisplateswhichentirelyalteredtheappearanceofthehullandnoseandgavetheeffectofspacedarmorinfrontoftheroundedpartofthebasicplate.Thegunmantletarmorwasthickenedbytheadditionofa15mmplate.The Maybach, HL 62 TR, 6-cylinder gasoline engine, which comprises the

powerplant,hasaratingof140h.p.The armament consists of a 2.0 cm gun which is fired by a trigger on the

elevatinghandwheel,andacoaxial7.92mmM.G.34whichisfiredbyatriggeronthetraversinghandwheel.

Thesemodels areoften converted for use asmounts for heavy antitankgunssuchas the7.5cmPak40and the7.62cmPak36(r),aswellas the10.5cml.F.H.18M,knownastheWasp,andthe15cms.I.G.33;thesuspensionforthelatterhavingasixthbogiewheel.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:10tons• Length:15ft.,23/4ins.• Width(overall):7ft.,4ins.• Height:6ft.,53/4ins.• Groundclearance:13ins.• Treadcenters:6ft.,2ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:111/8ins.• Pitchoftrack:35/8ins.• Tracklinks:105• Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 125 miles, Cross-country: 85 miles• Speed:Roads:30m.p.h.,Cross-country:15m.p.h.

• Armor:Frontplate:15+20mm,Sides:15mm• Armament:One2.0cmKwK30,One7.92mmM.G.34• Ammunition:2.0cmgun180,M.G.1425• Engine:140h.p.MaybachHL62TRM• Transmission: Crash-type gear box, 6 fwd. speeds, 1 reverse • Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:3

Pz.Kpfw.IIAusa1,a2,a3,b,c:LightTanks

TheearlydevelopmentofthePz.Kpfw.IIisindicatedbyfivemodels,a1,a2,

a3,bandc.Theywereconsideredasprototypetanks.Modela1—Hadasuspensionarrangementofsixsmallbogiewheels,eachside

mounted on three hull pivots connected by an outside girder.Therewere fourreturn rollers, sprocket, and a cast rear idler. It weighed about 8.4 tons, was

manned by a crew of three and mounted one 2 cm KwK 30 and a coaxial7.92 mm M.G. 34 in the turret. It was powered by a six-cylinder Maybach(HL 57 TR) gasoline engine andwas fittedwith epicyclic and brake steeringwithout a final reductiongear.The frontal armorwas20mm in thickness, thesides15mm.Modela2—SameasModel a1except forvariation in constructionof engine

compartmentandweldedrearidlerinsteadofcast.Model a3—Same as Model a1 except for minor modifications in the

suspensionarrangementandcoolingsystem.Modelb—IncorporatedanimprovedMaybach(HL62TR)engine,aswellasa

newtrackwithwiderdrivingsprockets,bogiewheelsandreturnrollers.Afinalreductiongearwasalso introduced,whichnecessitated slight alterations in thestructureofthefrontofthehull.Themodelweighed9tons.Model c—Anentirelynew suspension comprising five independently sprung

bogiewheelsoneachsidemadeitsappearanceinthismodel.Itisbelievedthatthe torsion bar system of bogie wheel suspension originated in this tank.Modificationstothedrivingsprocket,rearidler,andreturnrollers,thelatterofwhichnownumberedfour,weremade.Improvedepicyclicandsteeringbrakeswere also introduced, the latter being equipped with automatic take-up tocompensateforwear.Modelcweighed91/2tons.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:81/2to91/2tons• Length:15ft.,2ins.• Width:7ft.,4ins.• Height:6ft.,5ins.

• Groundclearance:13ins.• Treadcenters:6ft.,2ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:111/8ins.• Pitchofrack:35/8ins.• Tracklinks:106• Fordingdepth:3ft.• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 102 miles, Cross-country: 60 miles• Speed:Roads:30m.p.h.,Cross-country:15m.p.h.• Armor:Frontplate:20mm,Sides:15mm• Armament:One2cmKwK30,OneM.G.34• Ammunition(rds.):2cmgun180,M.G.2550• Engine:HL57TRorHLTRM62• Maybach:140B.H.P.• Transmission:6speedsforward,1reverse• Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:3

Pz.Jäg.IIAus.A-Eu.Ffür7.5cmPak40

Pz.Jäg.IIAus.A-Eu.Ffür7.5cmPak40(Sd.Kfz.131):S.P.AntitankGun

Produced in 1942. This antitank equipmentwas encountered in the battle of

Tunisia. It iscomposedof the7.5cmantitankgunmountedonaPz.Kpfw. IIchassis and its road performance will closely follow that of the Pz. Kpfw. IItank.The gun, which retains its original shield, recoil system, traversing and

elevatinggears,ismountedonaplatformhighonthehullandfiresforward.Aprotectiveshield10mmthick,whichslopesawaytotherearofthechassis,hasbeenprovided.Theshieldisnearlyrectangularexceptforaprojectingportioninfrontofthegunmountingitselfandthetopandbackareapparentlyopen.Thetraverseofthegunislimitedduetothegunshieldfoulingtheprotectiveshield.Abarrelsupportfortravellingisfittedinfrontofthehull.The piece, 134 inches in length, is a monobloc type, semi-automatic, with

horizontal sliding breech. It consists of barrel with shoes; breech ring withlocking ring; breech block with firing mechanism; semi-automatic gear andmuzzle brake. The recoil mechanism is comprised of a buffer cylinder, filledwith a mixture of glycerine and distilled water, mounted in the cradle and

securedbyanuttothefrontendplate.Thepistonrod,whichisconnectedtothegunlug,ishollow,andisfittedwithabronzepistonhead.Portsaredrilledintheconical part of the piston.A tapered rod is screwed into the front plug of thecylinderandprojectsintothehollowpistonrod.Duringrecoilthepistonmovestotherearandtheoilisforcedfromthebuffercylinderthroughtheportsinthepiston and hence through the annular space between the tapered rod and abushingfittedinthepiston.Recoilcontroliseffectedbyabrasscontrolplungerscrewedtotheendofthetaperedrod.Therecuperatorishydro-pneumatic.SPECIFICATIONS• Weight:10tons• Length:15ft.,2¾ins.• Width:7ft.,4ins.• Height:6ft.,5¾ins.• Groundclearance:13ins.• Treadcenters:6ft.,2ins.• Groundcontact:7ft.,10ins.• Widthoftrack:111/8ins.• Pitchoftrack:35/8ins.• Tracklinks:105• Fordingdepth:3ft.

• Theoretical radius of action: Roads: 118 miles, Cross-country: 78 miles• Speed:Roads:25m.p.h.,Cross-country:12m.p.h.• Armor:Frontplate:15+20mm,Sides:15mm• Armament:7.5cmPak40A.T. gun.Max. effective range: 3200 yards.M.V. (Wt. 12.6 lb.):H.E. 1800f.s.M.V.(Wt.15lb.):A.P.C.2525f.s.Elevation:-5°to+22°.Traverse:65°::• Penetrationofhomogeneousarmor—A.P.C.B.C.shell500yds.:4.0″at30°,4.8″normal1000yds.:3.6″at30°,4.3″normal1500yds.:3.2″at30°,3.9″normal2000yds.:2.8″at30°,3.4″normal2500yds.:2.5″at30°,3.0″normal• Ammunition:—• Engine:MaybachHL62TRM,140h.p.• Transmission: Crash-type gear box, 6 fwd. speeds, 1 reverse • Steering:Epicyclicclutchbrake• Crew:Probably4

THEPANZERIII:GERMANY’SMEDIUMTANKThePanzerIIIwasthecommonnameofamediumtankthatwasdevelopedin

the1930sbyGermanyandwasusedextensivelyinWorldWarII.TheofficialGerman designation was Panzerkampfwagen III Sd Kfz. 141 (abbreviated toPzKpfwIII)translatingas"armoredfightingvehiclenumberthree".ThePanzerIIIwaspurposedesignedtocreateabreakthroughonthebattlefield

andalsotofightotherarmoredfightingvehicles.TheperformanceofthePanzerIIIwasadequateintheearlyyearsofthewar;howeverastheGermanscametofacefacedtheformidableT-34andKV-1inRussia,itwasimmediatelyobviousthata strongermaingunwithaconsiderablyenhancedantitankcapabilitywasnow needed. The Panzer IV had a bigger turret ring and was capable ofmounting a largermainweapon, the traditional roles were therefore reversed.ThePanzerIVmountedthelongbarreled7.5cmKwK40gunwasdetailedtofightintank-to-tankbattles, thePanzerIIIbecameobsoleteinthisroleandformostpurposeswassupplantedbythePanzerIV.From1942,thelastversionofPanzerIII,Ausf.N,mountedthe7.5cmKwK37L/24shortbarelledhowitzerbetter suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943.However, thePanzerIII'scapablechassisprovidedhullsfortheSturmgeschützIIIuntiltheendofthewar.The constantly changing role of the Mark III required close scrutiny from

Alliedintelligenceservicesinordertokeepthefrontlinetroopsuptospeedonthevariantswhichtheyfacedinthefield.This wartime military intelligence report on the German Panzer III was

originally published in the US intelligence magazine Tactical and TechnicalTrends,No.10,October22nd,1942.

AgoodstudyofthePanzerIIIAusf.E.Notethetwomachinegunsintheturret.

MARKIIITANK-THREEBASICDESIGNSCloseexaminationofaconsiderablenumberofphotographsofMarkIIItanks,

togetherwith those available for examination in theWesternDesert, indicatesthattheMarkIIIfighting-typetankisfoundinthreebasicdesigns.Ofthese,thefirsthasanarmorbasisof30mm(1.18in)allaround.Thefront

sprocket has eight spokes, and the rear idler, though having eight spokes, isalmost solid.This type isknownoriginally tohavebeenproducedmountinga37-mmgunandeitheroneortwomachinegunscoaxiallyintheturret,withonemachine gun firing forward in the hull. Later, however, the 50-mm wassubstitutedfortheoriginalprincipalarmament,andthismountinghasonlyonemachine gun mounted coaxially in the turret, the hull machine gun beingretained.Oftheactualspecimensexamined,allmountedthe50-mmgun(manyare now mounting the long-barrelled type), and in these there has invariablybeen aVariorexgearbox, the steeringbeinghydraulically operated.This basictype,irrespectiveofarmament,hasnotbeenfoundtocarryanyadditionalarmor,improvisedorotherwise.Thesecond typehasanarmorbasisof30mmallaroundwithadditional30-

mmplatesboltedon.Thistypehasasix-spokefrontsprocket,andtherearidler,althoughhavingeightspokes,ismoreopenthanthefirsttype.Anordinarysix-speed gear box and hydraulically operated steering gear are fitted. Neitherphotographs nor specimens of this type have shown any principal armamentother than the 50-mm gun with one coaxial machine gun. Moreover, everyindividualtankofthistypehashadsimilaradditional30-mmplatesonthefrontand rear, this additional armor not having been found on any other type ofMarkIII fighting tank.The inference is, therefore, that thisadditionalarmor isactually part of the design of the tank and probably incorporated duringmanufacture.Therehavebeennoindicationsthatthistypeoriginallymounteda37-mmgun,althoughthisremainsapossibility.Thethirdtypehas50-mmarmoronthefrontandrear,with30-mmarmoron

thesides.Noadditionalarmorhasbeenfoundonanytanksofthistype,andthearmamenthasalwaysbeenfoundtobethe50-mmgunwithacoaxialmachinegun and one machine gun in the hull. The front sprocket and rear idler aresimilartothoseinthesecondtype,andanordinarysix-speedgearboxisfitted,thesteeringbeingoperatedbymechanicallinkage.Thedriver'sandhullgunner'sentrancedoorshavebeenchangedfromtheformerdoubledoorstosingledoorshinged at the forward edge. In placeof the normalmantlet protecting the hullmachinegun,amorehemisphericalmantletisfitted.

APz.Kpfw.IIIAusf.GcapturedbytheBritishinNorthAfrica,1942.

Thefollowingminordifferencesofdesignbetweenthesethreebasictypeshave

also been noted. Originally on the first type the armor protecting the driver'svisor consistedof twoplates, onebeing raised, and theother lowered, to giveprotection. The third type, and probably the second type as well, have had asinglehingedpieceofarmorwhichcanbeloweredtogiveprotection.Thethirdtype has also had a slightly different design of the two shields protecting theexhaustsfromthesteeringtracks.Inthefirstandsecondtypestheairfilterswerelocatedbetweentherearbulkheadof thefightingcompartmentandtheengine,airbeingdrawnfromthefightingcompartment.Thesefilterswerebelievedtobeanoil-soakedgauzetype.Onthethirdtypethisarrangementsupersededbyfouroilbathfilters,installedoverthetopoftheengineblocks.

The suspension on all these types has been the same, the familiar six smallbogiewheelswith three return rollers, a front sprocket, and a rear idler. Twoearlytypes,however,areknowntohavehadrespectivelyfivelargebogiewheelsandeightsmallbogiewheels.Boththesetypesmounteda37-mmgun.Nothinghasbeenheardofeithertypeoveraconsiderableperiod,anditisprobablethattheywereprototypesonlyandnotproducedinsignificantnumbers.It is known thatMark III fighting tanks have been produced in at least five

modelsdesignated'E','F','G,'H',and'J.'Thesemodelshaveconsecutivechassisnumberblocks,anditislogicaltoassumethattheyaresuccessivedevelopments.Thereshouldthereforebealinkwiththedevelopmentshownabove,butsofaritis not possible definitely to saywhat eachmodel designation represents. It is,however, known that the first type described above has included Model 'G'tanks,andthethirdtypehasincludedModel'J'tanks.Allthreetypesareknowntohavebeeninexistenceearlyin1941,thethirdtypeprobablybeingatthattimeaverynewproduction.Itshouldbespeciallynotedthat,indescribingGermanarmorthickness,round

numbersarealmostinvariablygiven.Carefulmeasurement,hasshownthatthesefiguresare frequently incorrect.30-mm, for example, shouldalmost invariablybeupto32-mm.

*ThevulnerabilityofGermanTankswas anobvious area for investigationby

intelligencegathering services.This article, also taken from fromTactical andTechnical Trends, provides an interesting contemporary intelligence report onvulnerabilityofGermantankstoshort-rangeattackswithincendiarygrenades.Itwas originally published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 11,November5th,1942.

VULNERABILITYOFGERMANTANKSWhen enemy armored force vehicles are attacked at close quarters with

incendiarygrenades,theairlouvresareveryvulnerable.Itisthereforeimportantthatdifferentiationbemadebetween"inlet"and"outlet"ducts,sinceobviouslyagrenadethrownagainstanexhaustopeningwillbelesseffectivethanoneaimedataninlet,whichwilldrawtheinflammableliquidintothevehicle.Iftheengineisnotrunning,allopeningsareequallyvulnerable.Ingeneral,itmaybesaidthatinthePzKwIIandIIItanksthebesttargetsare

the flat top-plates of the rear superstructures, since the air intakes are locatedthere. The side louvres in these tanks are invariably protected by a verticalbaffle.OnthePzKwIV,theleftsideportsareintakeandthusmorevulnerablethantheright-handexhaustports.

*The following report on the new armament of the up-gunned German

Pz.Kw.IIIoriginallyappearedinTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.20,on11thMarch1943.ThisishowAlliedtroopswereinformedofthefactthatthePanzerIII was now operating in a more efficient form. American reports from theperiod invariably refer to the German tanks using Arabic rather than Romannumerals.NEWARMAMENTOFGERMANPZ.KW.3AspreviouslyreportedinTacticalandTechnicalTrends(No.4,p.15)recent

modelsof twoGerman tanks, thePz.Kw.3and4,havebeen fittedwithmorepowerfularmament,asshownintheaccompanyingsketches.ThesesketchesarebasedonphotographsofGermantankscapturedbytheBritishinNorthAfrica.

Pz.Kw.3The principal armament of this tank is a long-barrelled 50-mm gun. It is

reportedthatthisgunbearsconsiderablesimilaritytothe5-cmPak38(50-mmantitankgun),exceptthatthereisnomuzzlebrakeandthatthemountingis,ofcourse,different.Theover-all lengthfromthebreechopening to themuzzle is9feet,4inches.Thebarreloverhangsthefrontofthetankbyabout3feet.Theammunition used is that of the 50-mm antitank gun with no adaptation oralteration apart from the fitting of an electric primer, the tank gun beingelectricallyfired.Themuzzlevelocityof this tankgunhasbeenestimatedasalittleover3,000feetpersecond.Ithasbeenreportedthattheperformanceofthetankgunshouldnotbeverydifferentfromthatoftheantitankgun,theestimatedpenetrationfiguresforwhichareasfollows:• 79-mm(3.1in)homogeneousarmorat300ydsat30°• 71-mm(2.8in)homogeneousarmorat600ydsat30°• 63-mm(2.5in)homogeneousarmorat850ydsat30°

*

AdviceonhowtocombatthePanzerIIIwasrequiredandthefollowingarticle,

fromTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.22,April8th,1943,describesareasonGerman tanks vulnerable to attack with incendiary grenades or Molotovcocktails.VULNERABLE SPOTS FOR INCENDIARYGRENADESONGERMANTANKSIn attacking enemy tanks at close quarters with Molotov cocktails or

incendiaries, the air intakes are among the most vulnerable points. It isimportant,therefore,thatthelocationoftheseintakesandoutletsbeknown,astheflameandfumesofagrenade thrownagainstan intakewhile theengine isrunningwillbesuckedinside,butifthegrenadelandsonanoutlet,theywillbeblownclearofthetank.The best targets are the flat top-plates behind the turret. Side intakes are

invariablyprotectedbyaverticalbaffle.Theaccompanyingsketches show the"softspots"onGermantanksPz.Kw.3

*

TheresponsetotheseandotherthreatswastoincreaseprotectiononthePanzer

III. This U.S. intelligence report on the Panzer III and its increasing armorspecification originally appeared in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 25,May20th,1943.

INCREASEDPROTECTIONONPZKW3The history of the changes in the light medium PzKw 3 demonstrates how

fortunatetheGermanswereinhavingabasictankdesignthatcouldbeimprovedas battle experience indicated, for a basic design can be improved and stillremain familiar to the users. Furthermore, the problems of maintenance and

supply of parts are greatly reduced and these problems are a major factor inkeepingtanksreadyforoperationaluse.(1)GeneralTheGermansseemtobemakingagradualincreaseinthicknessofarmor-plate

as the guns used against it increase in hitting power and range. The PzKw 3mediumtankisillustrativeofthistrendintankarmoranddesign,andaffordsaremarkableexampleofwhatcanbedone to improve thearmorprotectionandfightingefficiencyofa tankwithoutchangingitsbasicdesign.Thekeyof thisbasicdesignistheweldedmainstructurewhichallowsheavierplatestobeusedwhendesired.Also,operatingcomponentsofthetankarenothungontheplates,likelytobechangedtothickerones.(2)Pre-WarTheearlymodelPzKw3 (produced in1936-38)hadbasic armorof .59-inch

homogeneous plate. At this time there were only 5 bogie wheels on a sideinstead of the present 6.There is a gap in the formation until 1939,when thetankappearedwith1.18-inchface-hardenedarmorontheturretandfront.Thismodelhad6bogiewheelsontheside.Thesidearmorwhichformsagreatpartofthechassiswasofsofter,machineable-qualityplate,duebothtonecessitiesofmanufacture and to the undesirableweakening effect on hardened plate of thenecessarysuspensionandbracketholes.Themodelalsohadimprovedapertureprotection in the formof an externalmovingmantlet, additional armor aroundthemachine-gunport,andanimproveddouble-flapdriver'svisor.Itappearsthatthesefeatureswereaddedwiththemodificationofbut2platesonthetank.

A Panzer III packed with fifteen or more grenadiers conveys the impression of just how sturdy thesemachineswere.

(3)1941ChangesIn1941,asmorepowerfulgunswerebeingusedagainsttanks,1.20inchesof

additional armor plate was bolted against the plates on the front of thesuperstructureandontheupperandlowernose-plates.The1.18-in.basicplateswere face-hardened to aBrinell hardness of 600 to800 and1.20-in additionalplateswerethesame.Aboutayearlater,inJanuary1942,thetankappearedwitha basic armor of 1.96 inches on the front and back, the side-armor thicknessremaining unchanged at 1.20 inches. This armor was face-hardened andperformedwellagainstmonoblocshot,butoncetheface-hardeningwaspierced,theshellfragmentspenetratedtheremainderwithease.(4)1942Therefore, in June 1942, a .79-inch additional plate was bolted on the gun

mantletandfrontsuperstructureasameanstodefeatashotwithapiercingcap.Betweenthisplateandthebasicarmorwasanairgaporspace,varyingfrom4to 8 inches.Theplate conformed roughly to the shapeof the section covered.

Thespacedarmorseems tohavebeena fieldexpedient, resultingundoubtedlyfromthedemonstratedfactthatthesparesectionoftrackcarriedonthefrontofGerman tanks gave additional protection. This method of adding armor wasofficially recognized, as later models had brackets fitted for installing spacedarmorwhendesirable.

*Four photographs ofGermanPanzer III tanks captured inNorthAfricawere

exhibitedinTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.32,August26th,1943.GERMANPzKw3TheaccompanyingphotographsshowfourviewsoftheGermanmediumtank

PzKw3.Figures2,3and4 is thePzKw3with the long-barreled50-mmgun.Figure 1 is essentially the same tank except that it is equipped with a short-barreled50-mmgun.

***

The intelligence report on the German Panzer III Flammpanzer, entitled

“German Flame Thrower on Pz Kw 3 Chassis" was originally published inTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.45,April1st,1944.Aswehaveseensome100PanzerIIIwereconvertedtoperformthisrole.TheinitialreportcontainedsomeerrorsandalaterreportintheJuly1944issuecorrectedsomeofthedetailsgiveninthisarticle.GERMAN FLAME THROWER ON PZ KW 3CHASSISa.TheTankGerman flame-throwing tanks were noted in Tactical and Technical Trends,

No.19,p.9,andinNo.39,p.9,aPzKw2tankwasdescribed,mountedwithtwosmall flame throwerson the frontendof the trackguards.At that time, itseemedoddthatamorepowerfulprojectorshouldnotbeinstalledintheturret.Suchatankhasnowappeared.Flame-throwerPzKw3tanksweretakenontheItalian front, some in good condition. A front view of this tank is shown infigure1.

Fig.1:Flame-throwertank

(1)ExternalAppearanceTheflame-throwingtankhasaspecialtypeofflamethrowermountedonsome

availablechassis.Reportsindicatethatflame-throwingapparatusisdesignedtobe adaptable to any model of tanks, light as well as heavy. The tank heredescribed is a standard PzKw 3with six bogies and three return rollers. Thechassis,hullandturretareidenticalwiththeordinarytank.Anadditionalarmorplate1.18inchthickhasbeenweldedtothefrontofthechassisandanotheroflike thicknessforms thecurvedshieldprotecting thefrontof the turretand theflamegun.This shield ispierced foronecoaxiallymountedmachinegun, andanother ismounted in theusualposition in the right frontof thehull,oppositethedriver'svisionslit.Smokeprojectorsofthreetubeseacharemountedoneachside of the front edge of the turret. For comparison see figures 2 and 3. Themarkingsare thestandardblack-and-whiteGermancrosseson theright rearofthe chassis, and a little in front of the center roller. Organizational numbersappearon the two sidesof the turret directly above theblack-and-white cross.Two tanks captured in good condition were marked respectively, F. 23 andF.24.

(2)FlameGunAtfirstsight,theflamegunwhichprojects5.28feetbeyondthecurvedshield

oftheturret,hastheidenticalappearanceoftheusual50-mmtankcannon.Eventhe short reinforcing jacket is simulated. However, the barrel has no taperwhatever,andifseenfromthemuzzleend,isthin-walled,likeashotgunbarrel.This"gun"isactuallythecoverfortheflame-projectortube.Themuzzleendofthegunisdetachable,formingaflameshielddesignedtofacilitatetheburningofthe flame-oil by having four openings cut in the sides, .4 inch wide and4.9incheslong,seefigure4.Thetopandsideopeningsareshieldedtopreventthedroppingofunburnedflameoilonthetopofthetank.

Withintheturret,acounter-balanceweightisattachedtothebreechofthegun

foreaseinverticalalignment.Elevationandtraversearecontrolledbythetankcommander through twohandwheels -- therightcontrollingelevation, the leftthe swing of the turret. The maximum elevation of the flame gun is about530 mils (30 degrees); the depression, 180 mils (10 degrees). The indicatedhorizontal traverse is approximately 800 mils (44 degrees) right and left ofcenter.Anindicatorwithadialnumberedclockwisefrom1to12toindicatethepositionoftheturretwithreferencetotheforwardmotionofthetankisplacednearthehandwheels.Comment:TheturretdoesNOThaveanall-roundtraverseandnomachinegun

firesrearward.Thisflame-throwertankthereforeappearstobemorevulnerabletoattacksoftank-destroyersquadsthanthegun-carryingmodel.(3)MechanicalOperationPressurefortheflame-throwerfluidisobtainedbytheoperationofanauxiliary

two-cylindermotor driving a rotary pump located in the left rear of the tank.Flame-oilpressure is indicatedbyapressuregagedirectly in frontof the tankcommander,graduatedfrom0to250units.Theflame-oilreleaseisobtainedby

thedual operationof a right-foot pedal and an electric controlmounted aboveandbehindthepressuregage.Atthemuzzleoftheflamegunaretwopilotjets;twoelectric,ground-return igniters, andoneopening .394 inch indiameter fortheejectionoftheflamefluid.(4)SightingAiming is accomplished by the tank commander sighting through an

improvised rear sight, two mm (.08 inch) square and mounted in the turretdirectly in the rearof theshatter-proof-glassvisionslit,andaligning the targetwithanimprovisedfrontsightingdevicemountedontopoftheexteriorbaseoftheflamegun(seefigure5).Theelevationforestimatedtargetrangeisobtainedbyelevatingtheflamegunsothatthelineofsightpassesovertheselectedoneof three metal horizontal projections, attached to the vertical bar of the frontsight. Elevated to range, the gun is kept trained on the target as the tankapproaches.Asthesightsarealigned,thecommanderpressestheelectriccontroland the right-foot pedal. In short bursts the flaming oil is sprayed upon thetarget, the liquid sticking and burning with intense heat upon the object ittouches.Therangeisnormallyfrom55to65yards;maximum,84.

(5)FuelTanksandFlameOilThe flame-oil fuel tanks consist of two welded metal containers of

approximately40to50gallonseach,mountedbesidethetankcommanderontherightandleftofthechassis,setlowenoughtoallowfreerotationoftheturret,andfittedwithmetergages.Thefuelisathin,black,stickyoilsmellingstronglyofcreosote,whichshowed

uponanalysisthefollowingcompositionbyvolume:• Lightoilsupto170°-39.0percent• Mediumorcarbolicoilsfrom170to230°-17.4percent• Heavyoilsorcreosotefrom230to270°-4.2percent• Mediumoilsor(coaltar?)oils,270°-21.5percent• Residualdifferenceat100-17.9percent(6)Accessories

(a)SmokeProjectorsTwo three-barreled smoke projectors are bolted to the forward sides of the

turret and with the center barrel approximately aligned with it, all having anelevationofabout44degrees.Thetwoouterbarrelsfirelaterallyrightandleftfromthecenterbarrelatapproximately20degrees.Thesearefiredelectricallyfromalid-coveredfiringboxontheinsideoftheturret.Eachbuttonoftheboxset is connected with one barrel of the projector. The projectile used is thestandardsmokepotweighingaboutfiveorsixpounds,whichcanbeprojectedanestimateddistanceoffrom150to200yards.Thepotproducesanopaque,light-graycloudforabouttwominutes.

(b)Radio

Apairofradioheadsetsforintertankorinteriorcommunicationaresuppliedto

the driver and commander for listening, and connected parallelwith the radiooperatorforinner-phonecommunication.

(c)DemolitionChargeForthedestructionofthetankincaseofimminentcapture,ademolitioncharge

is provided.The one examinedweighed about 8.5 pounds, andwas 15 incheslong,3.54 inches indiameter,containingadense,white solid --perhapsnitro-starch. A fuze screwed into a booster, and a soft, gray-iron hanging strap forfasteningthechargetoanobjectwereattached.Thechargefittedsnuglyintoametalcarryingcase.

(d)VeryPistolA Very pistol was carried on the right side of the turret behind the

commander'srightshoulder,withtwoboxesof12coloredflareseach,oneintherearofthecommander'sseat,theotherbesidetheturretmachinegun.Red,blueor violet, green and white cartridges were provided. Their signal meaning ischanged by order of the commanding officer, but it is believed the followingapply:• Red-Enemyattacking• Blueorviolet-Attackbytanks• Green-Help• White-Wearehere• Flaresfiredintotheenemy'slines-Wearewithdrawing

(e)MiscellaneousAccessories

Spare multi-layer vision-slit glasses for the commander and driver, totalling

3.34 inches in thickness, were stored in racks. There were also three fireextinguishers, standard gasmasks for the crew, and a spare smokepot. In onetanka rackofblack egg-grenades3 inches longby2 inches indiameterwerefound. Racks for four fire extinguishers were provided on Pz Kw 3 flame-throwing tanks, two for the tank commander, one for the tank driver and onemountedontheoutsideofthetank.(7)CrewThecrewapparentlyconsistsoffour--commander,driver,radiooperator,and

turretmachinegunner.

AFlammpanzerIIIdemonstratestheeffectivenessofitmainarmament.

b.TacticalUse

(1)TankAttackTwo Pz Kw 4's and a Pz Kw 3 flame thrower attacked a platoon position

unsupportedbyATgunsinthefollowingmanner:thetwoPzKw4'sopenedfireat 400 yards with machine guns from a hull-down position. Still firing, theyadvanced to about 200 yards where they remained, continuously firing theirmachineguns.At the same time, the flame thrower advanced between the two, actually

reachedtheplatooninspiteofmachine-andBren-gunfire,andsprayedthemenatcloserange.Other data indicates that the flame-throwers are usually attached to units of

PzKw4tanksintheratiooftwoorthreeflamethrowersto20or25standardtanks.Their greatest value comes intoplaywhendarkness, smoke, orweatherconditions make possible a close approach. Against woods, trenches,blockhouses or buildings, flame thrower tanks force defenders into the openwheretheycanbeattackedwithsmall-armsfire.Buildingsuptofourstoriesinheightcanbesuccessfullyattacked.ThePzKw3wasextensivelyemployedatthesiegeofStalingrad.(2)TargetAreaThemostvulnerabletargetareasarethevisionslitsofthetankcommanderand

driver,theareaofthecenterrollerontheside,andtherightsideoftherearendofthechassis.ThisisalsothebesttargetforMolotovcocktails.

THEDEVELOPMENTHISTORYOFTHEPANZERIIIOnJanuary11,1934, followingspecifications laiddownbyHeinzGuderian,

the Army Weapons Department drew up plans for a medium tank with amaximum weight of 24,000 kg and a top speed of 35 kilometres per hour(21.75mph).ItwasintendedasthemaintankoftheGermanPanzerdivisions,capableofengaginganddestroyingopposingtankforces.Daimler-Benz,Krupp,MAN,andRheinmetallallproducedprototypes.Testing

of the prototypes took place in 1936 and 1937, leading to the Daimler-Benzdesignbeingchosenforproduction.ThefirstmodelofthePanzerIII,theAusf.A,cameofftheassemblylineinMay1937,andatotaloften,twoofwhichwereunarmed,wereproducedin1937.MassproductionoftheAusf.Fversionbeganin1939.Between 1937 and 1940, attempts were made to standardize parts between

Krupp'sPanzerIVandDaimler-Benz'sPanzerIII.Much of the early development work on the Panzer III was a quest for a

suitable suspension. Several varieties of leafspring suspensions were tried onAusf.A throughAusf.Dbefore the torsion-barsuspensionof theAusf.Ewasstandardized.ThePanzerIII,alongwiththeSovietKVheavytank,wasoneofthefirsttankstousethissuspensiondesign.A distinct feature of Panzer III, influenced by British Vickers tanks, was a

three-man turret. This meant that commander was not distracted with eitherloader'sorgunner'stasksandcouldfullyconcentrateonmaintainingsituationalawareness.Other tanks of the time did not have this capability, providing thePanzerIIIwithapotentialcombatadvantage.ForexampletheFrenchSomuaS-35,hadonlyone-manturretcrew,andtheSovietT-34(originally)hadtwo-men.

ThepracticalimportanceofthisfeatureissignifiedbythefactthatnotonlyallthefurtherGermantankdesignsinheritedit,butalsolaterintothewar,mostoftheAlliedtanks'designseitherquicklyswitchedtothethree-manturret,orwereabandonedasobsolete.

Anearly1941imageoftheNorthAfricacampaign-thecrewarewearingtheoriginaltropicalissuepithhelmets.

ThePanzer III, asopposed toPanzer IV,hadno turret basket,merely a foot

restplatformforthegunner.ThePanzerIIIwas intendedas theprimarybattle tankof theGermanforces.

However,whenitinitiallymettheKVandT-34tanksitprovedtobeinferiorinbotharmorandgunpower.Tomeetthegrowingneedtocounterthesetanks,thePanzerIIIwasup-gunnedwithalonger,morepowerful50-mm(1.97in)cannonandreceivedmorearmoralthoughthisfailedtoeffectivelyaddresstheproblemcausedbytheKVtankdesigns.Asaresult,productionofself-propelledguns,aswellastheup-gunningofthePanzerIVwasinitiated.In1942,thefinalversionofthePanzerIII,theAusf.N,wascreatedwitha75-

mm (2.95 in) KwK 37 L/24 cannon, a low-velocity gun designed for anti-

infantry and close-support work. For defensive purposes, the Ausf. N wasequippedwithroundsofhollowchargeammunitionwhichcouldpenetrate70to100mms(2.76to3.94in)ofarmordependingontheround'svariantbutthesewerestrictlyusedforself-defense.Theemergenceof thePanzer IIIwith75-mmGun signalled the fact that the

PanzerIVhadfinallyusurpedtheroleofmainbattletankrelegatingthePanzerIIItoitsformerroleasaninfantrysupporttank.By1943withGermanyonthedefensivetherewasalwaysthepossibilitythatthePanzerIIIwouldmeetothertankswithbetterarmorandafarbettermainarmament.ThePanzerIIIAusf.Nwasnota successon thebattlefield, technologyhadmovedonandproductionendedearlyin1943.ThefollowingintelligencereportontheGermanPanzerIIIAusf.Narmedwith

the short75-mmgunwaspublished inTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.21,March25,1943.PZ.KW.3WITH75-MMGUNAmong enemy tanks recently examined in theMiddleEastwas a Pz.Kw. 3

mounting a short-barreled 75-mm gun (7.5-cm KwK 38), identical with theshort-barreledgunmountedonthePz.Kw.4.[RecentlyPz.Kw.4'swithalong-barreled75-mmgunhavebeenencounteredbyAllied forces (seeTacticalandTechnical Trends, No. 20, p. 10).] The tank had been demolished, but itappearedthat theonlyalteration,apartfromthesubstitutionof the75-mmgunforthenormal50-mmgun,wasthefittingofthearmoredbarrel-sleeveintothefront plate of the recoil mechanism belonging to the 75-mm. (CompareaccompanyingsketchwithsketchofPz.Kw.3armedwiththelong-barreled50-mmgun,appearinginTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.20,p.11.)

TheGermannomenclatureforthistankisnotknown,butrecentlytheGermans

have referred to an Einheitspanzer. This is said to be a new standard tankcombining the best features of both Pz. Kw. 3 and 4, and to consist of aPz.Kw.3chassiswithashort-barreled75-mmgunmountedintheturret.Ifthisistrue,thetankexaminedmaybeanEinheitspanzer.Another Pz.Kw. 3with the short-barreled 75-mm gun has been captured in

Tunisia.PresumablythisisthesamemodeltankasthatexaminedintheMiddleEast.

***

THEEVOLUTIONONTHEPANZERIIITrials and tests of new prototypes took place from 1936 to 1937 on testing

grounds inKummersdorf andUlm. They resulted in theDaimler-Benz designbeing chosen for full-scale production and in early 1937,Waffenamt orderedDaimler-Benztoproducethefirstseries(0-Series)oftheirdesign.

Krupp’s ZW prototype, designated as MKA, featured leafsprings and bogie

wheel mountings type of a suspension. In turn, many features of this vehiclewere used in the design of Panzerkampfwagen IV, which was designed byKrupp.ThePzKpfwIIIdesignwascomposedoffoursections-hull,turret,andfront

superstructurewith the opening for the turret and rear superstructurewith theenginedeck.Eachsectionwasofaweldedconstructionandallfourwereboltedtogether. The hull was divided into two main compartments divided by abulkhead.Thefrontcompartmenthoused thegearboxandsteeringmechanism,and the rear one both the fighting and engine compartment.Basic hull, turret,superstructure andcrew layout remainedunchanged throughout theproductionlifeofPanzerkampfwagenIIIseries.After modifications, the first Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf A (1-Serie) was

producedinMayof1937byDaimler-Benz,withtotalof10produceduntiltheendof1937(chassisnumbers60101-60110).Somesourcesstatethatasmanyas15weremanufactured.OnlyeightAusfAswerearmed(andequippedunitsof1st,2ndand3rdPanzerDivisionandtookpartintheAnschluss,thetake-overofSudetenland and thePolishCampaign) andother unarmedAusfAswereusedforfurthertesting.In1937,theAusfB(2-Serie)wasproducedbyDaimler-Benzwithtotalof15

produced (chassis numbers 60201-60215). A number of Ausf Bs saw serviceduring the Polish Campaign. In October of 1940, five Ausf B tanks weremodifiedandusedasprototypesofSturmgeschutzIIIseries.InJuneof1937,thenextvariantAusfC(3a-Serie)wasproducedbyDaimler-

Benz and its production ended in January of 1938, again with total of 15produced (chassis numbers 60301-60315). A number of Ausf Cs saw serviceduringthePolishCampaign.In January of 1938, the next variant Ausf D (3b-Serie) was produced by

Daimler-Benz and its production ended in 1939 with total of 55 produced(chassisnumbers60221-60225and60316-60340).Only30AusfDsproducedin

twogroupsof15werearmed,andanother25unarmedAusfDswereusedforfurther testing.AnumberofAusfDs sawserviceduring thePolishCampaignandinNorway.

APanzerIIIadvancesalongarailwaylineduringtheearlystagesofOperationBarbarossa,July1941.

ThewarlymodelsofPanzerIII(AusfA,B,CandD)werepre-prototypesof

theentireseriesproducedexclusivelybyDaimler-Benz.Allwereunsuitableforlarge-scaleproductionbuteachnewmodelwasconsideredanimprovedversionofthepreviousone.Eachmodelfeatureddifferenttypeofsuspensione.g.AusfA-individualcoilsprings,AusfB-twosetsofleafsprings,AusfC-threesetsofleafspringsandAusfD-angledleafsprings.Ausf A, B, C and D were powered by 250hp petrol Maybach HL 108 TR

engineswitha5or6speedZahnradfabrikgearbox.Allearlymodelswerearmedwith 37mmKwK 35/36 L/46.5 gun and three 7.92mmMG 34machine guns(twomountedcoaxiallybeside themainarmament in the turret andone in thehull).Theirarmorprotection ranged from5 to15mm,offeringprotectiononlyagainstanti-tankriflesandmachinegunfire.Thereasonbehindtheinadequatearmor protection was a result of Daimler-Benz keeping the vehicle in itsdesignatedweightrangeof15tons.Someofearlymodelswereup-armoredand

had their maximum armor protection increased to 30mm. Ausf A, B, C hadsimple drum shaped "dustbin" commander’s cupolas, while Ausf D had castcupolassimilartothatofthePzKpfwIVAusfB.AfewoftheearlyPanzerIIIssawactualcombat(withunitsof1st,2ndand3rd

PanzerDivision) during thePolishCampaign, otherswere troop tested (1937-February1940).InFebruaryof1940,existingnumberofearlyPanzerIIIswashandedovertoNSKKfortrainingpurposes.Afterwards,onlyafewAusfDsawservice with PzAbt zbV 40 (along with PzKpfwNbFzVI) during fighting inNorway in April/May of 1940, followed by service with PzAbt zbV 40 inFinland,1941/42.RawMaterialsUsedinProductionofPzKpfwIII:

• Steel:39000.00kg

• Tin:1.40kg

• Copper:60.10kg

• Aluminium:90.40kg

• Lead:71.10kg

• Zinc:49.10kg

• Rubber:125.00kgInDecember of 1938, theAusf E (4-serie) entered production, and 96were

produced by Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN when production ended inOctoberof1939(chassisnumbers60401-60496).ItwasthefirstPzKpfwIIIthatwasproducedinanysignificantnumber.Thebasicdesignremainedunchangedfromitspredecessor,but it featuredanewindependent torsionbarsuspension,

designed by Ferdinand Porsche for the automotive industry in 1930s. It wascomposedofsixroadwheelsandthreereturnrollers.TheAusfEwasarmedwitha37mmKwK35/36L/46.5gunandthree7.92mmMG34machineguns(twointhe turret and one in the hull). Its armor protection ranged from12 to 30mm.Duringproduction,escapehatcheswereinstalledonbothsidesofthehullandavision port was added on the superstructure side for the radio-operator. Thedriver’svisorwasprovidedwithanupperandlowerslidingshutter,whichcouldbe closed together. Also two-piece side hatches were installed in the turret.Unlikeitspredecessors,theAusfEwaspoweredbynew300hppetrolMaybachHL120TRenginewithanewMaybachVariorex10speedgearbox.Itwasalsoheavier than all previousmodels,whichwere in the 16 ton range butAusf Eweighted 19.5 tons. From August 1940 until 1942, all Ausf E tanks wererearmedwith a 50mmKwK38L/42gunmounted in an externalmantlet alsohousing one MG. At the same time, armor protection was increased by theinstallation of 30mm armor plates to the hull, front and rear, as well as thesuperstructure front. During service, the number of Ausf E tanks was alsoreworkedtoAusfFstandard.In September 1939, another new variant, the Ausf F (5-serie) entered

production. Until July 1940, 435 were produced by Daimler-Benz, Henschel,MAN, Alkett and FAMO (chassis numbers 61001-61650). It was a refinedversion of the Ausf E and it did not feature any significant modifications orchanges other than an improved Maybach HL120TRM engine and modifiedupperhullnose(withairintakes).Thefirst335AusfFtankswerearmedwitha37mmKwK35/36L/46.5gunandthree7.92mmMG34machineguns(twointhe turret and one in the hull). The last 100 tankswere factory armedwith a50mmKwK38L/42gunmountedinanexternalmantlethousingoneMG.AusfFvehicleswere fittedwith a hull rearmounted rackof five smokegeneratorsremotely released from the turret. Some vehicles were also mounted with astowageboxat the rearof the turret.FromAugust1940until1942,all37mmAusfF,justasAusfEtanks,wererearmedwith50mmKwK38L/42guns.TheyalsohadtheirarmorprotectionimprovedatthesametimeasAusfEtanks.Only40AusfFtankswith50mmKwK38L/42gunswererushedintoservicebeforethe end of the French Campaign and saw little or no combat. There is stillcontroversy surrounding this as it is reported that the first PzKpfw III armedwith 50mm guns entered production in July of 1940. The first production ofSturmgeschutz III assault guns tank destroyers were based on the

PanzerkampfwagenIIIAusfFchassisandcomponents.In194243,anumberofAusfFtankswererearmedwitha50mmKwK39L/60gun.Rearmedandup-armoredAusf F tanks remained in service as late as June of 1944 (e.g. 116thPanzerDivisioninNormandy).

APanzerIIIAusfLwithschurzeninRussia,1943.

Aninterestingfact is that thestudyreportof thecapturedPzKpfwIIIAusfF

made by the British in 1942, was then sent to United States ArmyOrdnanceDepartment where it was decided to utilize a copy of German torsion barsuspension system in future American tanks (e.g. M18 Gun Motor Carriage,M24Chaffee,M26Pershingetc.).In1940/41,attemptsweremadetostandardizetheproductionofPanzerIIIand

PanzerIV.AfewprototypesbasedonthePanzerIIIAusfG/Hwithnewlargeoverlapping roadwheels and FAMO suspension were produced - PzKpfw IIIAusfG/HmitSchachtellaufwerk.Since1940,prototypeswereusedfor testingand training purposes. Further development was halted and in 1943/44,prototypes were fitted with dozers and were used to clean up the streets ofbombedcities.ThissuspensionwaslateradoptedinTigerandPanther.

From April 1940 to February 1941, 600 new Ausf G (6-serie) tanks wereproduced by Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN, Alkett, Wegmann, MNH andFAMO(chassisnumbers65001-65950).TheAusfGwasaslightimprovementoverpreviousAusfEandAusfFtanks.Some50AusfGtankswerearmedwith37mmKwK35/36L/46.5 gunsmounted in an internalmantlet,while the restwere armedwith a 50mmKwK38L/42 gunmounted in an externalmantlet.Both37mmand50mmtankshadadditional twoMG34machineguns,one intheturretandanotherinthehull.Armorprotectionrangedfrom12mmto30mm,althoughthemajorityoftheprotectionrangedfrom21mmto30mm.Alsoanewpivotingvisorforthedriver(Fahrersehklappe30)wasinstalled.Theturretwasmodifiedandmountedon the roofwitha fanexhaust andone signalportwaseliminated. Mid-production vehicles were mounted with the new type ofcommander’scupolaasusedinthePzKpfwIVAusfE,FandG,whichbecamestandardonalllatermodelsofPzKpfwIII.Lateproductionvehicleshadwider400mmtracksinsteadofstandard360mmtracks.TheAusfGwasthefirsttobemounted with the "Rommelkiste" (Rommelbox) - turret mounted storage bin(Gepack Kasten), which then became the standard on all PzKpfw IIIs. FromAugust1940until1942,all37mmAusfGtanksjustasAusfEandFtankswererearmedwiththe50mmKwK38L/42gun.VehiclessenttoNorthAfricawereequippedwith additional air filters and a different cooling fan reduction ratio.TheyweredesignatedAusfG(Tp),Tpbeingshort forTropischTropTropen -tropical. A small number of Ausf G tanks remained in service as late asSeptember1944.InOctober1940,theAusfH(7-serie)enteredproduction.Itwasproducedby

MAN,Alkett,Henschel,Wegmann,MNHandMIAGuntilAprilof1941with308 produced (chassis numbers 66001-66650). The Ausf H featured a newlydesigned turret to mount a 50mm gun with a single 30mm armor rear plate.Armorprotectionrangedfrom10mmto30mm,buthull,frontandrear,aswellasthesuperstructurefronthad30mmarmorplatesboltedontothemincreasingthe protection.The increase in armor protection in theAusfH neutralized thethreat ofBritish 2pdr, Soviet 45mm andAmerican 37mm anti-tank guns. ThenewsixspeedMaybachSSG77gearboxreplacedthepreviouslyusedVariorex.Inaddition,thesuspensionsystemwasslightlymodifiedandnewsprocketandidlerwheelswereusedintheAusfH.Consequently,becauseoftheweightgainto 21.8 tons, due to the increase in armor protection, torsion bars werestrengthenedd.Originally, theAusfHwas armedwith a 50mmKwK38L/42

gun and twoMG 34 machine guns, but in 1942/43, they were rearmed witha50mmKwK39L/60gun.AusfE,F,GandHweredesignatedasPanzerkampfwagen IIIAusfE,F,G

andH/Sd.Kfz.141.As ofMay 10th 1940, the Panzertruppe had only 381 Panzer III models in

service,but135werelostduringtheBlitzkrieginthewest.In March 1941, the last Sd.Kfz.141 and the first Sd.Kfz.141/1

Panzerkampfwagen III tank - Ausf J (8-serie) entered production. It wasproduced by Daimler-Benz, MAN, Alkett, Henschel, Wegmann, MNH andMIAGuntilJuly1942with2616produced(chassisnumbers68001-69100and72001-74100).TheAusfJhaditsarmorprotectionsignificantlyimprovedanditranged from10mm to 50mm.The increase in armorwas accompanied by theinstallation of the new driver’s visor (Fahrersehklappe 50) and a ballmount(Kugelblende50)fora7.92mmMG34machineguninthehull.Anewtypeoffront access hatch was installed along with new air intakes on the hull front.From April 1942, 20mm spaced armor was added to the gun mantlet and/orsuperstructure front. 1549 vehicles produced from March 1941 to July 1942were armedwith a 50mmKwK 38 L/42 gun and twoMG 34machine guns.ThosevehiclesweredesignatedasPzKpfwIIIAusfJSd.Kfz.141.1067vehiclesproduced fromDecember1941 toJuly1942,werearmedwith50mmKwK39L60andtwoMG34machineguns.ThosevehiclesweredesignatedasPzKpfwIIIAusfJSd.Kfz.1411.Theonlydifferencebetweenthesemodelswasthemainarmamentandammunitionstowagefor84roundsincontrasttotheprevious99rounds.When encountered in North Africa, the British nicknamed the 50mmL/60 Ausf J the "Mark III Special". The 50mm L/60 gun was a significantimprovement over the original 37mm gun, although it was still inadequate todealwithAmericanM4Sherman andSovietT-34/76 tanks. In 1941/42, therewas an unsuccessful attempt by Krupp to mount the Ausf J withPanzerkampfwagen IVAusfG’s turret to create a newPanzerkampfwagen IIIvariantdesignatedAusfK.

APanzerIIIinactionduringtheDemjanskpocketbattle.

FromAugusttoNovember1942,81AusfJtankswereproducedascommand

tanks-PanzerbefehlswagenIIImit5cmKwKL/42/Sd.Kfz.141.FromMarchtoSeptember1943,anadditional104AusfJwereconvertedaswell.Thevehiclewas the basic Ausf J tank but it lacked a hull machine gun and carried lessammunition (75 rounds). It was fitted with additional radio equipment andperiscope.In June 1942, the Ausf L tank entered production. 653 were produced by

Daimler-Benz, MAN, Alkett, Henschel, Wegmann, MNH and MIAG untilDecember1942(chassisnumbers74101-75500).TheAusfLwasarmedwitha50mmKwK39L/60gunandtwo7.92mmMG34machineguns.ExternallyitwasalmostidenticaltothelatemodelAusfJasitwasdevelopedbymodifyingit. The main difference was the new torsion bar gun counter balance, whichreplacedtheoriginalcoilspringgunrecoilmechanism.Armorprotectionofthefront turretwas increased from30mm to 57mmand 20mm spaced armorwasinstalledonthesuperstructurefront,andinmanycasesonthegunmantlet.Thedesignof thevehiclewassimplifiedas thereardeckwasmodified(air-intakesandhatches)andearlyinproductionthehullescapehatches,theloader’svisionport on themantlet and turret side portswere removed. TheAusf Lwas alsomountedwithanewspecialsystemto transferheatedenginecoolantfromone

vehicletoanother.AsingleAusfLwasmountedwithanexperimental75/55mmtapered-boreKwK0725gunandwasdesignatedasPzKpfwIIIAusfLmitWaffe0725.Vehicles send toNorthAfricawere equippedwith additional air filters,modifiedoil filters,adifferentcoolingfanreductionratioandweredesignatedasAusf L(Tp). TheAusf Lwas also first to bemountedwith an anti-aircraftmachine gunmount (Fliegerbeschussgerat 41/42) on the commander’s cupola.ThisbecamestandardonallnewPzKpfwIII tanksandwasmountedonoldermodels during service. Many were mounted with 5mm hull and turret armorskirts(Schurzen).FromOctober1942toFebruary1943,250newAusfM(10-serie)tankswere

produced by Wegmann, MIAG, MAN and MNH (chassis numbers 76101-77800). TheAusfMwas a late productionmodelAusf Lmountedwith newwading equipment allowing wading up to depth of approximately 1.3m, incontrasttotheprevious0.8-0.9m.Thisledtoallairinletsandoutletsaswellasotheropeningsand jointsbeingsealed,whileamodifiedmufflerwithclosure-valvewasinstalledhighonthehullrear.Thenewsystemwasdevelopedandamodified versionwas used in Tauchpanzer III submersiblewading tanks. Thehull rearmounted rackof five smokegeneratorswas replacedby three 90mmNbKdischargersmountedforwardonbothsidesoftheturret.TheAusfMjustastheAusfLwasarmedwitha50mmKwK39L/60gunandtwo7.92mmMG34machineguns.Vehiclesproduced in1943were factorymountedwith5mmhullandturretarmorskirts(Schurzen).LargenumberofAusfMwereconvertedtoeitherSturmgeschützIIIorAusfN.

***

A report onmounting of 50-mm tank gun inGermanPanzer III tanks, from

TacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.33,September9,1943.

MOUNTINGOF50-MMKW.K39TANKGUN

A preliminary examination in the United Kingdom of a captured PzKw 3

Model L (Tp)* has disclosed that the long-barreled 50-mm tank gun, 50-mmKw.K39,isbalancedbymeansofatorsion-barcompensator.Asshowninthesketch, thetorsionbar ismountedontheinsideof theturret

roofparalleltothetrunnionaxisandisanchoredateachend.Anarmisattachedtothecenterofthebarwhichcarriesatitsfreeendapairofrollers.Thebarispre-setsothattherollersexertadownwardforceonaflatplateboltedtotheguncradleafewinchesfromthetrunnionaxis.Itwillbeseenfromthesketchthat,asthisplateisfairlyclosetothetrunnion

axis, themaximum twist of the bar (from full depression to full elevation) isquitesmall.Theshorttankgun,50-mmKw.K,inacapturedPzKw3ModelJpreviously

examined was balanced by a coil spring in compression on the right of themounting.*The abbreviation Tp (Tropmunition) following the model-letter of the tankindicatesthatthistankisadaptedforuseinthetropics.

***

PanzerkampfwagenIIIAusfE/FinRussianvillage.

FromFebruary1943toApril1943,100AusfMtanksproducedbyMIAGin

Braunsweig (chassis numbers 77609-77708) were converted by Wegmann inKassel to Flammpanzer - flame-thrower tanks. These new vehicles weredesignatedasPzKpfwIII(Fl)Sd.Kfz1413.TheywerealsocommonlyknownasFlammpanzerIIIorPanzerflammwagenIII.ItwasanunmodifiedAusfMtankwithanadditional30mmto50mmarmorplatesweldedonforprotectiontothehull front. Thiswas done because Flammpanzer III tanks had to get closer totheirtargetsandweremorevulnerabletoenemyfire.Incontrasttoregulartanks,it was operated by a three men crew composed of commander/flame gunner,radio operator/hull gunner and driver. Themain gun and internal ammunitionstowagewerereplacedwiththeflame-throwerandfueltanks.Thisvehiclewas

armed with a 14mm Flammenwerfer flame-thrower and two 7.92mmMG 34machineguns.The flame-throwerwasmounted inplaceof theoriginal50mmgun and concealed in a thick 1.5m long pipe made to appear as standardarmament.Theflame-throwercouldbelowered8degreesandraised20degrees.Eachvehiclecarriedsome1020litersofinflammableoil(Flammol)intwotanksinsidethevehicle.OilwaspumpedintothepipebyaKoebepumpdrivenbyatwo-strokeDKWengine, andwas ignitedby an electric charge (Smitskerzen).Thesupplyofoilallowedsome125onesecondorsome80to81twotothreeseconds longbursts.Themaximumrangeof theflame-throwerwas60musingignited oil and 50m using cold oil. The range also depended on the weatherconditions.TheFlammpanzer IIIwas designed inmindwith fighting in the urban areas

such as Stalingrad, but it was never to reach its destination. Eventually, theFlammpanzer III equipped the Panzer Regiment’s (Panzer Abteilung) Flame-throwerPlatoons(Panzer-Flamm-Zug),eachwithsevenvehicles.AreportdatedMay 5th 1941 gives the following distribution of the vehicles, along with asinglevehicletoSchuleWunsdorf:

A report from 1943, states that fromMarch to December, Flammpanzer III

tankswereservingwiththefollowingPanzerDivisions:1st,6th,11th,14th,24thandGrossdeutschlandinRussiaandthe16thand26thinItaly.InJuly1943,41flame-thrower tanks were reported in service with the 6th, 10th andGrossdeutschlandPanzerDivisions inpreparationfor theattackonKursk.TheFlammpanzer III’s design proved to be unsuccessful and vehicles returned forrepairwererebuiltintostandardcombattanksorSturmgeschutzIIIassaultguns/tankdestroyers.InNovember1944,only10outoforiginal100wererepairedandissuedtoPanzer-Flamm-Kompanie351,whichsawserviceaslateasAprilof1945withHeeresGruppeSud.Today,aPanzerkampfwagenIII(Fl)(chassisnumber77651)captured in Italycanbeseen inKoblenzMuseum inGermany

afterbeingtransferredtothemuseumfromAberdeenProvingGroundsinU.S.A.InJune1942,thelastPzKpfwIIImodelenteredproduction.AnewmodelAusf

NwasproduceduntilAugust1943byHenschel,Wegmann,MNH,MIAGandMAN(chassisnumbers73851-77800).AusfN tankswereproducedonAusfJ(3),L(447)andM(213)chassiswithtotalof663produced.37additionalAusfN tankswere converted from rebuilt older PzKpfw III tanks. The PzKpfw IIIAusfNwasalsoknownasSturmpanzerIII.TheAusfNwasthesameasAusfJ,LandMwiththemaindifferencebeingitsmainarmament.Itwasarmedwithshort75mmKwK37L/24,originallyused inPzKpfwIVAusfA toF1 tanks,whichthenrearmedwithlonger75mmguns.Additionalarmamentconsistedofthe standard twoMG34machineguns.The internal ammunition stowagewasmodified and 56 (based onAusf L chassis) or 64 (based onAusfM chassis)roundswerecarried.TheAusfNdidnothavespacedarmoraspreviousmodelsbecause of the weight of the new 75mm gun. Late production vehicles werefittedwithmodified type of commander’s cupolawith single hatch instead oftwo-piece one, as well as one-piece side turret hatches. A number of latevehiclesweremountedwiththecommander’scupolausedinPzKpfwIVAusfGtanks. Vehicles produced fromMarch 1943 were factory mounted with 5mmhullandturretarmorskirts(Schurzen).Inaddition,vehiclesproducedfromearly1943werefactoryappliedwithZimmerit-anti-magenticpaste.PzKpfwIIIAusfN tankswere used for close support role. Theywere either assigned to TigerBattalions(sPzAbt/sSSPzAbt)asawaytoprotectthemfromenemyinfantryortoPanzer-GrenadierDivisions.SomesourcesalsostatethatavariantdesignatedAusfOexisted,althoughthereisnoproofofitsexistence.

PanzerkampfwagenIIIAusfL

Theinterestingfactisthatin1938,workbeganonthevehicleswhichwereto

replace newly introduced Panzerkampfwagen III and Panzerkampfwagen IV.Daimler-Benzwas awarded the contract for a new tank,whichwas to replacePanzerkampfwagen III - VK 2001 (III). It was a completely new designwithnewchassisandhulllayout.ItwasalsodesignatedasGBK-KampfwagendesGeneralbevollmaechtigen (BattleTank for theCommission forStandardizationofAutomotiveDesigns).Theworkon this tank stopped inDecemberof 1941andalleffortswerefocusedonthedevelopmentofaheaviertank-thePanther.Someof the laterPanzer III variantswere fittedwith turretmounted storage

bins(GepackKasten).Thecanisterracksmountedontheturretand/orattherearofthehullwereverycommon.DuringtheearlystagesofOperationBarbarossain1941,PanzerIIIswereequippedwithsingle-axletrailerscarryingextrafuelinordertoincreasetheirradiusofoperation.Duringproduction,thePzKpfwIII’sdesign underwentmany changes including variousmodificationsmade on theturret(e.g.cupola,gunmantlet,visionslots,hatches,armorskirts)andhull(e.g.escape hatch, armor skirts) and superstructure (e.g. air intakes, spaced armor,headlightsarrangement)components.Sincemid1943,PanzerIIIsweremountedwithSchurzen-5mmarmorskirts.Duringserviceandrepairs,manyPanzerIIItanks were up-armored, rearmed and re-equipped with new equipment andcomponents creatingcompletelynon-standardvariants.Vehicles send toNorthAfrica were equipped with additional air filters and different cooling fanreductionratio.Theyweredesignatedas(Tp),TpbeingshortforTropischTropTropen-tropical.

PzKpfwIIIAusfN(SturmpanzerIII)Sd.Kfz.141/2

Panzerkampfwagen III saw action in small numbers during the invasion of

Poland in September of 1939. The Panzer III was designed as platooncommander’s vehicle (Zugfuhrerwagen) and was Germany’s first truemain/mediumbattle tank.The designofPanzer III came from lessons learnedfromthecombattestedPanzerIandPanzerII.ThePanzerIIIformedthebulkofthePanzerDivisions’strengthduringearlyyearsofwar.ByOctober1943,onlyfive PanzerDivisions on theEastern Front had one ormore PanzerCompanyequippedwithPanzerIIIs.Bylate1944,only79PanzerIIIswereinservicewithfrontline units on the Eastern Front. A number of PzKpfw IIIs remained inserviceuntiltheendofthewarinplaceslikeNorwayandHolland.The Panzerkampfwagen III’s production was slow and ceased in August of

1943. In the early years, gaps were filled with the Czech PzKpfw 35(t) andPzKpfw 38(t), which possessed a similar combat value. Its designwas also agreathelp in thedevelopmentof itsbiggerbrotherPanzerkampfwagen IVandsharedmanycommonpartswithit.

TypesAusfA-J(early)(1936-1941)ofPanzerIIIwerecalled"Short"andtypesAusf J(late)-N (1941-1943) were called "Long". Overall around 6000Panzerkampfwagen IIIs (long and short) were produced. The majority ofPzKpfw IIIs were produced by Alkett along with Daimler-Benz, FAMO,Henschel&Sohn,MAN,MIAG,WaggonfabrikWegmannandMNH.

Panzer III sawanextensiveserviceonall frontsuntil late1943,when itwas

totally replaced by Panzerkampfwagen IV.As a common practice, the PanzerIII’s chassis/components became a base for a few conversions andprototypes.By1943standards,thePanzerIIIwasobsoleteandlostitscombateffectivenesswhichresultedinmanybeingconvertedtoperformvariousfunctions.FromFebruary 1942 toApril 1944, 262Panzerkampfwagen IIIAusfE/F/Gs

were up-armored and converted into Artillerie Panzerbeobachtungswagen III(Sd.Kfz.143) - observation vehicles which served with Wespe and Hummelbatteriesuntil the endof thewar.Panzerbeobachtungswagen IIIhadadummygunmounted and in the place of original gun,Kugelblende (ballmount) for a7.92mmMG34machinegunwas installed.TheSd.Kfz.143hadacrewof fiveandwasequippedwithpowerfulradioequipment.In 1943, some Ausf L and Ms were converted into turretless

PionierpanzerwagenIII-engineertanksmountedwithadditionalequipment.In

mid 1944, 176 Panzer IIIs (including Ausf E, F and G) were converted intoBergepanzer IIIs - recovery vehicles fittedwith additional equipment.Also in1943/44anumberofearlyPanzer IIIswasconverted intoSchlepper -artillerytractorsandMunitionspanzer-ammunitioncarriers.OneofthemostinterestingprototypesbasedonthePanzerIII’schassiswasthe

MinenraumpanzerIII-amineclearing/minedestroyertankdevelopedbyKrupp.Itprovedtobeunsuccessfulandneverenteredproduction.In October of 1943, a prototype of PzKpfw III Ausf N als Schienen-

Kettenfahrzeugwastested.ThreeAusfNs(mountedwithrailwaysuspensionbySauerWerkeofVienna)wereconvertedtotravelbyrailatmaximumspeedof100km/h.TheyweretobeusedtoprotecttherailnetworkbehindthefrontlinesintheEast.Onlythreeprototypeswereproducedbutfurtherdevelopmentofthisprojectwascancelled.

MinenraumpanzerIII/MinenraumgeratmitPzKpfwAntrieb.

FromJune1938toFebruary1943,anumberofPanzerIIIswereconvertedby

Daimler-BenztoPanzerbefehlswagensIIIAusfD1(30),AusfE(45)andAusfH(175) (Sd.Kfz.266-268) command tanks equipped with extra radios andadditionalequipmentandsawactiveserviceuntiltheendofthewar.Commandtanks were mounted with a dummy gun and were armed only with a single

7.92mm MG machine gun. 185 Panzerbefehlswagen III mit 5cm KwK L/42(based onAusf J) and 50AusfK (based onAusfL)were armedwith 50mmL/42and50mmL/60gunsrespectively.

Turrets removed fromPzKpfw IIIs converted to other vehicleswere used in

fortifications of the Atlantic Wall and Hitler’s Line in Italy. In 1945, it wasdecided to utilize the obsolete PzKpfw III and mount it with Wirbelwind orOstwindturrets,designatedasFlakpanzerIII.90wereorderedbuttheendofthewarterminatedtheproduction.Themostinterestingfieldconversionwascreatedbythefieldworkshopsofthe

AfrikaKorpsinNorthAfrica,whoconvertedadamagedPanzerkampfwagenIIIAusfHto150mms.I.G.33guncarrierbyusingcomponents(suchasgunitself,gunshield,superstructuresideswith toolstowageandammunitionracks)fromSturmpanzerIIBison(lengthenedversion).The Panzerkampfwagen III was also exported to other nations, especially

Germany’sAlliesorpro-Germanstates.ThefirstcountrytoreceivethePzKpfwIIIwasHungary(10),followedbyRomania(11AusfN),Bulgaria(10AusfN)and Slovakia (7 Ausf N). A small number of Ausf L and N tanks was alsoexported to Croatia. A large number (56) was ordered by Turkey but thetransaction was never finalized due to the war situation, although supposedlysome(20-22?)weredelivered.

PzKpfw IIIAusfGand IVAusfF1ofLt.N.Baryshev’s platoon from107th IndependentTankBattalion,VolkhovFront,July6thof1942.

From 1941 to 1943, Russians captured large numbers of PzKpfw III,

Sturmgeschutz III andPzKpfw IV. Somewere pressed into temporary service(e.g.beingusedas"TrojanHorses"oras"bait"),whilesomewereconvertedtoassaultgunsdesignatedSU-76iandSG-122A.An interesting fact is that thePolishTankPlatoonof theCarpathianLancers

receivedcapturedPzKpfwIIIfortrainingpurposes,whileinEgyptinAugustof1942.ThemostsuccessfulconversionbasedonthePanzerkampfwagenIII’schassis

wastheSturmgeschutzIII-assaultgun/tankdestroyerseries-whichremainedinservicewiththeFinnishArmyaslateas1967.After thewar ended, some 32 PzKpfw IIIwere used byNorway alongwith

StugIIIAusfGs.A small number of PzKpfw III tanks was also used by Czechoslovakia,

includingfourrebuildFlammpanzerIIItanks.ThePanzerkampfwagenIIIgainedareputationforbeingahighlyreliableand

effective vehicle, which shaped tank development plans of both German andAlliedtankbuilders.ItwasthebestGermantankinthefirstpartofthewar,butby1943itwaslargelyobsolete.

PanzerkampfwagenIIIAusfH(U)-Tauchfahig(U-Panzer/SubmersibleTank)

ThisU-Panzerbelongedtothe18thPanzerDivision’s18thPanzerRegiment.

Thisphotowas takenduring thecrossingof theRiverBugatPatulinon22ndJune of 1941.During the preparation for the invasion of England -OperationSeelöwe(Sealion)-PanzerIIIsandPanzerIVswereconvertedintosubmersibletanks able to travelon thebottomof abodyofwater at thedepthsof6 to15meters. From June to October of 1940, 160 Panzer III Ausf F/G/H and 8PanzerbefehlswagenIIIAusfEalongwith42PanzerIVAusfDswereconvertedintoU-Panzers/Tauchpanzers.AfterextensivetestsandmodificationsU-Panzerwerereadyforaction.SinceOperationSealionwasneverrealized,TauchpanzerIIIs and IVs were used during Operation Barbarossa (crossing river Bug atPatulin),inservicewith3rd(6thPanzerRegiment)and18thPanzerDivision.Itwas also planned to use U-Panzers in the aborted invasion on the island ofMalta.

Specifications

Conversions• PzKpfwIII(Flamm)Ausf.M(Sd.Kfz.141/3)-flame-throwertank,• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.D1(Sd.Kfz267-268)-commandtank,• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.E(Sd.Kfz.266-268)-commandtank,• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.H(Sd.Kfz.266-268)-commandtank,• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.K-commandtank,• BeobachtungswagenIII-observationvehicle(Sd.Kfz.143),• BergepanzerIII(Sd.Kfz.143)-recoveryvehicle,• SturmgeschützIIIAusfAtoE(Sd.Kfz.141),• SturmgeschützIII(40)AusfF/G(Sd.Kfz.141/2),• Sturmhaubitze42(Sd.Kfz.142/2)105mmL/28(L/30)-assaulthowitzer,• Stug33-150mmhowitzercarrier-infantrysupport,• MunitionspanzerwagenIIIAusfE/F/G-ammocarrier,• MunitionSchlepper-ammocarrierforFerdinand/Elephantunits,

• PionierpanzerwagenIII-engineer’stank,• PanzerIIIAusfNSchienen-Kettenfahrzeug-railtank,• PzKpfwIIIAusfG/HmitSchachtellaufwerk-prototype/dozertank,• PanzerIIIAusf.E(U)(37mmgun)-submersibletank,• PanzerIIIAusf.F(U)(50mmL/42gun)-submersibletank,• PanzerIIIAusfD1(U)-submersiblecommandtank,• PanzerIIIAusfH(U)-submersiblecommandtank,• MinenraumpanzerIII-mineclearingvehicle(prototype),• FlakpanzerIII(planned),• ArtillerieSchlepper-artillerytractor,

***

AnengineeringreportonsamplesofGermannaturalandartificialrubberfrom

a Panzer III, appeared Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 33, September 9,1943.GERMANTANKRUBBERANALYSIS

AnalysisbyBritishengineersofsamplesofnaturalandartificialrubbertaken

from the PzKw 3 tanks discloses some interesting points which are worthrecording.Twoverysimilararticles,i.e.avisionforeheadpadandacupolapadofa1940

modelof this tankprovedtobeverydifferentwhenanalyzed.Theformerwasmadeofnaturalrubberandwassecuredtothemetalbythebrassplatingprocess.The cupola pad, on the other hand,wasmade from synthetic rubber andwasattachedtothemetalbyanadhesivepaint.ThesesamplesconfirmtheprevioussuppositionthattheGermanshavenotyetlearnedhowtomakeanefficientjointbetweensyntheticrubberandmetal.Themostinterestingsample,however,wasasectionofabogiewheeltirefrom

a PzKw 3 tank (probably 1942). This sample proved to bemade of syntheticrubber.ThisissaidtobethefirstevidencereceivedbytheBritishauthoritiesofthismaterialbeingusedbytheGermansforsolidtires.ItseemstoshowthattheGermans have made sufficient technical progress to overcome the heatingdifficulties previously arisingwhen synthetic rubberwas used for this type ofwork. The method of adhesion to the metal band was by means of anintermediatelayerofhard,probablynaturalrubber.

***

ArmourThePanzerIIIAusf.AthroughChad15mm(0.59in)ofhomogeneoussteel

armoronallsideswith10mm(0.39in)onthe topand5mm(0.20in)onthebottom.Thiswasquicklydeterminedtobeinsufficient,andwasupgradedto30mm(1.18 in)on the front, sidesand rear in theAusf.D,E,F, andGmodels,withtheHmodelhavingasecond30mm(1.18in)layerofface-hardenedsteel

appliedtothefrontandrearhull.TheAusf.Jmodelhadasolid50mm(1.97in)plate on the front and rear, while the Ausf. J¹, L, and theMmodels had anadditional layerof20mm(0.79 in)ofarmoron the fronthulland turret.ThisadditionalfrontalarmorgavethePanzerIIIfrontalprotectionfrommostBritishandSovietanti-tankgunsatallbutcloseranges.Thesideswerestillvulnerabletomanyenemyweaponsincludinganti-tankriflesatcloseranges

Panzerbefehlswagen(commandtank)IIIausfEorFinGreece,fittedwitha37mmgunandtwocoaxialmachineguns(1941).

ThePanzerIIIwasintendedtofightothertanks;intheinitialdesignstagea50-

mm(1.97in)cannonwasspecified.However,theinfantryatthetimewerebeingequipped with the 37-mm (1.46 in) PaK 36, and it was thought that in theinterest of standardization the tanks should carry the same armament. As acompromise, the turret ringwasmade largeenough toaccommodatea50-mm(1.97in)cannonshouldafutureupgradeberequired.ThissingledecisionwouldlaterassurethePanzerIIIaprolongedlifeintheGermanArmy.TheAusf.A to earlyAusf. Fwere equippedwith a 3.7 cmKwK36L/46.5

which proved adequate during the campaigns of 1939 and 1940 but the laterAusf.FtoAusf.Jwereupgradedwiththe5cmKwK38L/42andtheAusf.J¹to

Mwiththelonger5cmKwK39L/60cannoninresponsetoincreasinglybetterarmedandarmoredopponents.By1942,thePanzerIVwasbecomingGermany'smainmediumtankbecause

ofitsbetterupgradepotential.ThePanzerIIIremainedinproductionasaclosesupport vehicle. TheAusf.Nmodelmounted a low-velocity 7.5 cmKwK 37L/24cannon-thesameusedbytheearlyPanzerIVAusf.AtoAusf.Fmodels.Thesegunshadoriginallybeenfitted toolderPanzer IVAusfA toF1modelsandhadbeenplaced into storagewhen those tankshadalsobeenuparmed tolongerversionsofthe75mmgun.Allearlymodelsup toand including theAusf.Fhad two7.92-mm(0.31 in)

Maschinengewehr34machinegunsmountedcoaxiallywiththemaingun,andasimilarweaponinahullmount.ModelsfromtheAusf.GandlaterhadasinglecoaxialMG34andthehullMG34.MobilityThePanzerIIIAusf.AthroughCwerepoweredbya250metrichorsepower

(183.87kW),12-cylinderMaybachHL108TRengine,givingatopspeedof32kilometresperhour(19.88mph)andarangeof150kilometres(93.21mi).Alllater models were powered by the 300 metric horsepower (220.65 kW), 12-cylinderMaybach HL 120 TRM engine. Top speed varied, depending on thetransmission andweight, butwas around40kilometres per hour (24.85mph).Therangewasgenerallyaround155kilometres(96.31mi).

THEPANZERIIIINCOMBATThePanzer IIIwasused in thecampaignsagainstPoland,France, theSoviet

Union and in North Africa. A handful were still in use in Normandy, Anzio,FinlandandinOperationMarketGardenin1944.InthePolishandFrenchcampaigns,thePanzerIIIformedasmallpartofthe

Germanarmoredforces.OnlyafewhundredAusf.AthroughFwereavailablein thesecampaigns,mostarmedwith the37-mm(1.46 in)gun.Theywere thebest medium tank available to the Germans and outclassed most of theiropponentssuchasthePolish7TP,FrenchR-35andH-35lighttanks.Around the timeofOperationBarbarossa, thePanzer IIIwasnumerically the

most important German tank. At this time themajority of the available tanks(includingrearmedAusf.EandF,plusnewAusf.GandHmodels)mountedthe50-mm(1.97in)KwK38L/42cannonwhichalsoequippedthemajorityofthetanksinNorthAfrica.Initially,thePanzerIIIswereoutclassedandoutnumberedbySovietT-34andKVtanks.However, themostnumerousSoviet tankswerethe T-26 and BT tanks. This, alongwith superior German tactical skill, crewtraining,andthegoodergonomicsofthePanzerIIIallcontributedtoarough6:1favourablekillratioforGermantanksofalltypesin1941.

ThecrewofaPanzerIIIofthe2ndSSPanzerDivisionDasReichrestafterheavyfightingintheBattleofKursk.

WiththeappearanceoftheT-34andKVtanks,rearmingthePanzerIIIwitha

longer,morepowerful 50-mm (1.97 in) cannonwasprioritised.TheT-34wasgenerally invulnerable in frontal engagements with the Panzer III until the50mmKwK39L/60gunwasintroducedonthePanzerIIIAusf.J¹inthespringof 1942 (the gun was based on infantry's 50 mm Pak 38 L/60). This couldpenetrate theT-34 frontallyat rangesunder500metres (1,600 ft).Against theKVtanksitwasathreatifarmedwithspecialhighvelocitytungstenrounds.Inaddition,tocounterantitankrifles,in1943theAusf.Lversionbegantheuseofspacedarmorskirts(schürzen)aroundtheturretandonthehullsides.However,duetotheintroductionoftheupgunnedanduparmoredPanzerIV,thePanzerIIIwas,aftertheBattleofKursk,relegatedtosecondaryroles,suchastraining,andit was replaced as the main German medium tank by the Panzer IV and thePanther.ThePanzerIIIchassiswasthebasisfortheturretlessSturmgeschützIIIassault

gun, one of themost successful self-propelled guns of thewar, and the singlemost-producedGermanarmoredfightingvehicledesignofWorldWarII.Bytheendofthewar,thePz.IIIhadalmostnofrontlineuseandmanyvehicles

hadbeenreturnedtothefactoriesforconversionintoStuGassaultguns,whichwereinhighdemandduetothedefensivewarfarestyleadoptedbytheGermanArmybythen.

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The following report written by Hauptmann Oehme, the commander of the

8.Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 3, relates his experience in attempting to knockoutT34andKW-Itanks:CombatReportforthePeriodof11through17August1942:At about 1800 hours, I received the order to drive to Jelnja to support the

GruppevonBisehoffshausenwiththePanzersthathadjustbeenrepairedandthefourPz.Kpfw.IV(7.5cmKw.K.40L/43)thathadjustarrived.ThePanzer-Kompanie counterattacked JeInja,whichwas surroundedbyour

PanzersandtakenunderheavyfirebyallofthePanzers.ThefrontelementsoftheRussianspulledbackandmostofthehousesinthevillagewentupinflames.ItwasobservedthattwoT-34sdroveoffinreverseoutofburningsheds.Asdawnbroke,theRussiansrenewedtheattackwithtankandinfantryforces.

The tankswere immediately spottedand twoT-34son the roadwereknockedout at a range of about 300 meters. The rest of the tanks must have quicklyretreated,asdeterminedbythenoisefromtheirengines. During the evening hours of 13th August, the Russians again attacked with

tanksandafewinfantryridingonthem.Inspiteofnightfalling,afurthertwoT34sandaKW-Iwereknockedoutofwhichtwoenemytanksbrightlyburned,

uponwhichtherestofthetanksturnedback.Theattackwasrepulsed.

PanzerIIIadvancingdeeperintoRussia,during1941.

Duringthenight, theopponentwithtankstookuppositionsinthedepression

byShulebinoandatdawnattemptedtobreakthroughthewoodsbyPoint208.At the same time eight to tenKW-I attacked on the road.Of these, twowereknockedoutinourpositionbythePz.Kpfw.IVwithalonggunatarangeof15to20meters.Therestwereconvincedtoturnback.Itshouldbenotedthatitwasnecessary to use about eight Hohlraumgranaten (shaped charge shells) to seteachof theKW-Ion fire.AtPoint208, threeT34smanaged tobreak into thepositionbutdidn'texploittheopportunityanyfurther.ThecompanycommanderoftheinfantryurgentlyrequestedPanzersupportbecausetheseenemytankshadhiddeninthewoods.OnePz.Kpfw.IV(7.5cmKw.K.L/24)andtwoPz.Kpfw.III(5cmKw.K.L/42)weresenttotheareawheretheenemytankshadbrokenin.Intheafternoon,theRussiansagainattackedwithstrongtankforces.Thistime

hisattemptoccurredsouthof theroad.Several tanks landed in theswampandremained stuck there. In the evening, these tanks were knocked out by the5.Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 3,while on the road four additionalKW-Iwereknockedoutbythe8.Kompanie.An8.8cmFlakgunhadalargepartinthislast

defensivebattle.Thisgunwaslocatedinanalleysouthoftheroad,felloutwhendamagedbygunfire,andwaspulledback.Onthisday,severalsmallerRussiantankswereknockedoutthathadattacked

separately. InadditionaPz.Kpfw.IV(7.5cmKw.K.40L/43)wasknockedoutbyaKW-I.Oneofthecrewwaskilled,twoseverelywounded,andonelightlywounded.AnotherPz.Kpfw.IV(7.5cmKw.K.40L/43)foughtstillanotherT34butwas

itself knocked out. The Pz.Kpfw.IV immediately burned out. The commanderandgunnerwerewounded, three of the crewwerekilled immediately.Duringthesedefensiveactionsfrom11to17August1942,the8.Kompanieknockedout45enemytanks,ofwhich11wereT60s,andtherestT34sandKW-Is.

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AMMUNITIONSTORAGETheammunitionwerelaidoutverticallyexceptforthoselocatedundertheseat

ofthegunner.Thebaseoftheroundwaslaidoutinacavityintheflooroftherackandthepointwasmaintainedinplacebyaspringclip.Thisprovisionwaseffectiveingeneralexceptforcertainrounds,difficulttoreach.Therightlowerrackandtwoback-leftrackshadslidingdoors(sensitivetothesandgrains)thentheleftlowerrackwasequippedwithanarticulateddoor.Thetanksarmedwiththe 50mm KwK L/60 50mm laid out their ammunition in a horizontaldisposition,whichwas easier for employment.The rounds used byL/60werelonger,whichlimitedthenumberofroundscarriedinthetankto78rounds.Forthevehiclesarmedwiththegunof50mmKwKL/42theprovisionofthe

ammunitionwas99roundsstoredasfollows:

• 5roundsundertheseatofthegunner• 22roundsinaracklocatedintheback-rightcornerofthecompartment• 12roundsinaracklocatedabovethislast• 36roundsinaracklocatedintheback-leftcornerofthecompartment• 24roundsinaracklocatedabovethislast.

APanzerIIIinactionduringtheDemjanskpocketbattle.

Variants• Panzer IIIAusf.A -Prototype;10produced in1937,only8 armedand sawserviceinPoland.• PanzerIIIAusf.B,C-Prototype;15ofeachproducedin1937,someofeach

sawserviceinPoland.• PanzerIIIAusf.D-Prototype;55producedin1938,only30armedandsawserviceinPolandandNorway.• Panzer III Ausf. E, F - Production models 1939-1940. Armed with 3.7 cmKwK36L/46.5(later5cmKwK38L/42)guns.531produced.• PanzerIIIAusf.G-Morearmorongunmantlet.Armedwith3.7cmKwK36L/46.5(later5cmKwK38L/42)gun.600producedin1940-1941.• Panzer IIIAusf.H -Minormodifications.Bolt-on armor added to front andrearhull(30mm+30mmplates).308producedin1940-1941.• PanzerIIIAusf.I-VariantmentionedinAlliedintelligencereportsbutnotanactualexistingvehicle.• PanzerIIIAusf.J-Thehullwaslengthened.Frontarmorincreasedto50mmplate.482producedin1941.• PanzerIIIAusf.J¹-Equippedwiththelongerandmorepowerful5cmKwK39L/60gun.1,067producedinlate1941tomid1942.• Panzer III Ausf. K - Panzerbefehlswagen command tank variant with amodified turret. Carried actual main armament rather than a dummy gun asfoundonotherPanzerIIIcommandversions.• Panzer IIIAusf.L -Uparmored to50mm+20mmplates.653produced in1942.• Panzer IIIAusf.M -Minormodifications such as deep-wading exhaust andschurzen.250producedin1942-1943.

• Panzer IIIAusf.N-Armedwithashortbarreled7.5cmKwK37L/24gun,due to 7.5 cm gun's ability to fire HEAT rounds. 700 re-equipped J/L/Mmodelsin1942-1943.CONVERSIONS• PzKfwIII(Flamm)Ausf.M(Sd.Kfz141/3)-flame-thrower• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.Dl(Sd.Kfz267-268)-commandtank• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.E(Sd.Kfz267-268)-commandtank• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.H(Sd.Kfz266-268)-commandtank• BefehlswagenIIIAusf.K-commandtank• BeobachtungswagenIII-observationvehicle(Sd.Kfz143)The Tauchpanzer was developed in mid-1940 for the proposed invasion of

England (Sea Lion). The Pz Kpfw III were modified and provided with asubmersionkit.Air-intakeswerefittedwithlockingcovers,andtheexhaustwasfittedwithnon-returnvalves.Thecupola,gunmantletandhullMGweresealedwithwaterproof fabric covers.An inflatable rubber tube surrounded the turretring.Whilesubmerged,thetankdrewairthroughapipefromafloatcarryingasnorkel device and radio antenna which remained on the surface. A gyro-compasswasusedforunderwaternavigation.TheTauchpanzercouldoperateindepthsofupto15metres.AvesselwithahingedrampwasusedtodisembarktheTauchpanzeratasuitabledistancefromtheshore.Withthecancellationof'SeaLion',theTauchpanzerwerenolongerrequiredinquitethesameform.AtMilowitznearPrague,inthespringof1941,mostofthetanksweremodifiedtomakethemsuitableforrivercrossing,withafixedsnorkelpipeattachedthroughthecommander'scupola.

From July 1940, four sections of volunteers from existing Panzer regimentswere trained on the Island of Sylt, and the Tauchpanzerwere to be ready foroperationsatPutlosby10August.Inmid-October,threeofthesesectionswereattachedtothe18thPanzerDivision,andtheremainderwenttothe6thPanzerRegimentofthe3rdPanzerDivision.On22June1941,theTauchpanzerofthe18thPanzerDivisioncrossedtheRiverBugatPatulin.

GrenadiersandPanzerIIIinthesnowduringthewinterof1942.

DuringSeptemberandOctober1940volunteersofthe2ndTankRegimentin

Putloswere formed intoTankBattalionAand trainedforOperationSeaLion,the invasion of Great Britain. Two other special formations, Tank BattalionsBandC,werebeingraisedatthesametimeandthesameplace.Theseunitslaterformedthe18thTankRegimentofthe18thPanzerDivisionandadaptedthePzKpfwIIIandIVforsubmergedwading.Thefollowingmeasuresweretaken.Allopenings,visionslits,flaps,etc,weremadewatertightwithsealingcompoundsand cable tar, the turret entry portswere bolted from the inside and air intakeopeningsfortheenginecompletelyclosed.Arubbercoversheetwasfixedoverthemantlet,thecommander'scupolaandthebowmachinegun.Anignitionwireblewoffthecoveringsheetuponsurfacingandleftthevehiclereadyforaction.Between the hull and the turret there was a rubber sealing ring which, when

inflated,preventedthewaterfromentering.Thefreshairsupplywasmaintainedbyawire-boundrubbertrunkwithadiameteratabout20cm,18metreslong.Tooneendofthistubewasfittedabuoywithattachedantennae.Theexhaustpipeswere fitted with high-pressure non-return relief valves. When travellingsubmergedseawaterwasusedtocooltheengineandseepagewasremovedbyabilgepump.Themaximumdivingdepthwas15metres.Threemetresoftheairtube's 18 metre length was available as a safety measure. These submersibletanksweretobelaunchedfrombargesorlighters.Theyslidintothewaterdownan elongated ramp made of channel plates. Directing was achieved by radioordersfromacommandvesseltothesubmergedvehicle.Underwaternavigationwas carriedoutbymeansof agyro compass and the crewwas equippedwithescape apparatus. The submerged machines were relatively easy to steer asbuoyancy lightened them. After Operation Sea Lion was abandoned thesevehicles were eventually used operationally during the Russian campaign in1941forthecrossingoftheRiverBug.

AdetachmentoffactoryfreshPanzerIIImovingintopositionpriortoKursk,summer1943.

***

A short intelligence report on German tanks modified for submersion, from

TacticalandTechnicalTrends,July29,1943.GERMANSUBMERSIBLETANKSThedelaysanddifficultiesinvolvedinthetransportoftanksacrosstherivers

ofEasternEuropehavenodoubtforcedtheGermanstoconsiderveryseriouslyall possible devices for enabling their standard tanks to cross such waterobstaclesundertheirownpower.Bythesummerof1941,theweightofthePzKw3hadalreadybeenincreased

by the fitting of additional armor, and it must have been clear that futuredevelopments in armor and armament would necessarily involve still furtherincreases in theweight of this tank.While the trend towards increasedweightwasinmanywaysdisadvantageous,itwasdefinitelyhelpfulinovercomingoneof the major difficulties hitherto encountered in adapting standard tanks forsubmersion,namelythedifficultyofobtainingsufficienttrackadhesion.It is therefore not surprising that the Germans, in the early stages of their

campaign in Russia, were actively experimenting with standard PzKw 3'smodified for submersion. These experiments met with a certain degree ofsuccess, and underwater river crossings are reported to have been made withthese modified tanks under service conditions. The measures employed,accordingtoaRussiansource,includedthesealingofalljointsandopeningsinthetankwithindiarubber,andthefittingofaflexibleairpipe, thefreeendofwhichwasattachedtoafloat.Thesupplyofairforthecrewaswellasfortheengine was provided for by this flexible pipe. The maximum depth ofsubmersionwas16feetandthetimetakenbytrainedcrewstopreparethetankswasabout24hours.InApril1943,aPzKw3ModelMexaminedinNorthAfricawasfoundtobe

permanentlymodifiedorimmersion,ifnotsubmersion.Therewasnomentioninthe report on this tank of a flexible pipe with float, but this may have been

destroyed,sincethetank,whenexamined,hadbeencompletelyburntout.Theengineair louvreswereprovidedwithcoverplateshavingrubbersealing

stripsaroundtheiredges.Thesecoverplates,whichwerenormallyheldopenbystrongsprings,couldbelockedintheclosedpositionbeforesubmersion.Aftersubmersion, the springs could be released by controls from inside the tank.Whensubmerged,airforthecarburettorandforthecoolingfanswasapparentlydrawn from the fighting compartment. If, therefore, a flexible pipewere usedwith this tank, no doubt its purpose would be to supply air to the fightingcompartmenttoreplacethatwithdrawnforthecarburettorandcoolingfans.Thetwoexhaustpipesledtoasinglesilencermountedhighonthetailplatewithitsoutletat thetop.Thisoutletwasfittedaspring-loadednon-returnvalve,whichduringnormalrunningcouldbesecuredinafullyopenposition.

***

APanzerIIIwiththe37mmmainarmamentrollspastablazingBritishtankNorthAfrica,1941.

Prototypedevelopmentoflargeinterleavingroadwheels,usingaPzKpfwIIIAusfH(7ZW)asthebasisoftheconversion.The threeprototypeswerebuilt late in1940wasused for trainingpurposesafter testinghadbeencompleted.Furtherdevelopmentwashaltedand in1943/44,prototypeswere fittedwithdozersandwereusedtocleanupthestreetsofbombedcities.ThissuspensionwaslateradoptedintheTigerandPanther.

The Japanese government bought two Panzer III's from their GermanAllies

duringthewar.Thiswasforreverseengineeringpurposes,sinceJapanputmoreemphasisonthedevelopmentofnewmilitaryaircraftandnavaltechnologyandrelatively little on the development of new tanks. The vehicles apparentlyweren'tdelivereduntil1943bywhichtimemuchofthePanzerIII'stechnologyhadarguablyalreadybecomeobsolete.

THEPANZERIV:THEWORKHORSEOFTHEPANZERWAFFEThePanzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV)SdKfz 161, commonly known as

thePanzerIV,wasamediumtankdevelopedinNaziGermanyinthelate1930sand used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventorydesignationwasSd.Kfz.161.

APanzerIVAusf.Aundergoingtestingduring1938.

Designed as an infantry-support tank, the Panzer IV was not originally

intendedtoengageenemyarmorasthisfunctionwasintendedtobeperformedbythe lighterPanzerIII.However,by1941, theflawsofpre-wardoctrinehadbecomeapparentand in the faceof theSovietT-34 tanks, thePanzer IVsoonassumedthetank-fightingroleinsteadoftheobsoletePanzerIIIwhichwastoo

small to copewith a highvelocitymain armament.ThePanzer IV chasiswasrobust and strong enough to accept a number of upgrades in armour andarmament.AsaresultitwasdestinedtobecomemostwidelymanufacturedanddeployedGermantankoftheSecondWorldWar.ThePanzerIVwasusedasthebase for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV tankdestroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, and theBrummbärself-propelledgun,amongstothers.

PanzerIVAusf.H,Russia1944

Robust and reliable, it saw service in all combat theaters involving German

forces, and has the distinction of being the only German tank to remain incontinuous production throughout thewar,with over 8,800 produced between1936and1945.Upgradesanddesignmodifications,oftenmade in response tothe appearance of newAllied tanks, extended its service life. Generally theseinvolvedincreasingthePanzerIV'sarmourprotectionorupgradingitsweapons,although during the lastmonths of thewarwithGermany's pressing need forrapidreplacementoflosses,designchangesalsoincludedretrogrademeasurestosimplifyandspeedmanufacture.

PzKpfwIVAusf.D

THEPANZERIVINCOMBATThe following article is taken from the US wartime publication Intelligence

Report.Itprovidesaclearaccountofthedutiesofthecrewfromawidelyusedpublication.THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#1CREW AND COMMUNICATIONS OF GERMANMARKIVTANKTactical and Technical Trends, No. 12,November19th,1942The duties of the various crewmembers of theMark IV tank are generally

similartothoseperformedbythecrewsofourownmediumM3andM4tanks.AGermantrainingpamphletcapturedinLibyagivesthefollowingdetailsonthecrewdutiesandcommunicationsoftheMarkIV.a.DutiesoftheCrewThecrewconsistsoffivemen:acommander,gunner,loader,driver,andradio

operator.Thelatterisalsothehullmachine-gunner.(1)TankCommander

The tank commander is an officer or seniorNCO and is responsible for the

vehicleand thecrew.He indicates targets to thegunner,gives fireorders,andobservestheeffect.Hekeepsaconstantwatchfortheenemy,observesthezoneforwhichhe is responsible,andwatches foranyorders fromthecommander'svehicle. In action, he gives his orders by intercommunication telephone to thedriverandradiooperator,andbyspeakingtubeandtouchsignalstothegunnerandloader.Hereceivesordersbyradioorflag,andreportstohiscommanderbyradio,signalpistol,orflag.

TheCommanderwasthemostimportantcomponentofthecrew.Hewastheeyesandearsandthedecisionmaker.

(2)GunnerThegunneristheassistanttankcommander.Hefirestheturretgun,theturret

machine gun, or the submachine gun as ordered by the tank commander. Heassiststhetankcommanderinobservation.(3)LoaderThiscrewmemberloadsandmaintainstheturretarmamentundertheordersof

thegunner.Heisalsoresponsibleforcareofammunition,andwhenthecupolaisclosed,givesanynecessaryflagsignals.Hereplacestheradiooperatorifthelatterbecomesacasualty.(4)DriverThedriveroperates thevehicleunder theordersof thetankcommanderor in

accordancewithordersreceivedbyradiofromthecommander'svehicle.Sofaraspossibleheassists inobservation, reporting through the intercommunicationtelephonethepresenceoftheenemyorofanyobstaclesinthepathofthetank.Hewatchesthegasolineconsumptionandisresponsibletothetankcommanderforthecareandmaintenanceofthevehicle.(5)RadioOperatorHeoperates theradiounder theordersof thetankcommander.Inaction,and

whennot actually transmitting, he always keeps the radio set to "receive."Heoperatestheintercommunicationtelephoneandtakesdownanyusefulmessageshemayintercept.Hefiresthemachinegunmountedinthefrontsuperstructure.Iftheloaderbecomesacasualty,theradiooperatortakesoverhisduties.

PanzercrewmemberandPanzerIVAusf.B

b.CommunicationsThefollowingmeansofcommunicationmaybeused:(1)External:radio,flag,handsignals,signalpistol,andflashlight.(2)Internal:intercommunicationtelephone,speakingtube,andtouchsignals.For the radio, the voice range between two moving vehicles is about

33/4milesandCWabout61/4miles.Theflagisusedforshort-rangecommunicationsonly,andthesignalpistolfor

prearrangedsignals,chieflytootherarms.

Theradioset,inconjunctionwiththeintercommunicationtelephone,provides

the tank commander, radio operator, anddriverwith ameans for external andinternal voice communication, the same throat microphones and telephonereceiverheadsetsbeingusedforbothradioandtelephone.WhenthecontrolswitchontheradioissetatEMPFANG(receive)andthaton

the junction box of the intercommunication telephone at BORDUND FUNK(internalandradio),thecommander,radiooperator,anddriverhearallincomingradiosignals.Anyoneofthemcanalsospeaktotheothertwo,afterswitchinghismicrophoneintocircuitbymeansoftheswitchonhischest.Forradiotransmission,theswitchonthesetisadjustedtoTELEPHONIE.The

telephoneswitchmaybeleftatBORDUNDFUNK.Eitherthetankcommanderortheradiooperatorcanthentransmit,andtheyandthedriverwillallhearthemessagestransmitted.Internalcommunicationisalsopossibleatthesametime,butsuchconversationwillalsobetransmittedbytheradio.If the radio set is disconnected or out of order, the telephone switchmaybe

adjustedtoBORD(internal).Thetankcommanderanddrivercanthenspeaktooneanother,andtheradiooperatorcanspeaktothem,butcannothearwhattheysay.Thesameapplieswhenaradioreceiverisavailablebutnotransmitter,withthe difference that incoming radio signals can then be heard by the radiooperator.Thesignalflagsarenormallycarriedinholdersontheleftofthedriver'sseat.

When the cupola is open, flag signals are given by the tank commander, andwhenitisclosed,theloaderraisesthecircularflapintheleftoftheturretroofandsignalswiththeappropriateflagthroughtheportthusopened.The signal pistol is fired either through the signal port in the turret roof,

throughthecupola,orthroughoneofthevisionopeningsintheturretwall.Thesignalpistolmustnotbecockeduntilthebarrelisalreadyprojectingoutsidethetank. It is only used normally when the vehicle is stationary. Its main use isgivingprearrangedsignalstotheinfantryorothertroops.

Whentravelingbynightwithlightsdimmedorswitchedoffaltogether,driving

signalsaregivenwiththeaidofadimmedflashlight.Thesamemethodisalsoemployedwhentanksareinapositionofreadinessandwheninbivouac.Orders are transmitted from the tank commander to the gunner by speaking

tube and by touch signals. The latter are also used for messages from thecommandertotheloader,andbetweenthegunnerandloader.

ABritishCrusaderpassesanabandonedPanzerIVtank,Libyandesert1941

ThepanzerIVwasvulnerabletocloseassaultparticularlyintheairintakesand

theAllieswerequicktorecognisethis-‘When enemy armoured force vehicles are attacked at close quarters with

incendiarygrenades,theairlouvresareveryvulnerable.Itisthereforeimportantthatdifferentiationbemadebetween"inlet"and"outlet"ducts,sinceobviouslyagrenadethrownagainstanexhaustopeningwillbelesseffectivethanoneaimedataninlet,whichwilldrawtheinflammableliquidintothevehicle.Iftheengineisnotrunning,allopeningsareequallyvulnerable.

HorsedrawntransportpassingthewreckofaPanzerIV,Kowno,June1941.

Ingeneral,itmaybesaidthatinthePzKwIIandIIItanksthebesttargetsare

the flat top-plates of the rear superstructures, since the air intakes are locatedthere. The side louvres in these tanks are invariably protected by a verticalbaffle.OnthePzKwIV,theleftsideportsareintakeandthusmorevulnerablethantheright-handexhaustports.’FacedwiththeseandotherthreatsonthebattlefieldtheGermandesignerswere

quick to improve the armour on the Panzer IV, but by 1943 the Allies wereawareofthesedevelopments.THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#2INCREASEDPROTECTIONONPzKw3AND4TacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.25,May20th,1943

The history of the changes in the lightmediumPzKw3 and 4 demonstrateshow fortunate the Germans were in having a basic tank design that could beimprovedasbattleexperienceindicated,forabasicdesigncanbeimprovedandstillremainfamiliartotheusers.Furthermore,theproblemsofmaintenanceandsupply of parts are greatly reduced--and these problems are amajor factor inkeepingtanksreadyforoperationaluse.PzKw4(1)EarlyModelsThePzKw4,aslightlyheavier tankthanthe3,haspassedthroughmuchthe

samelineofdevelopment.LittleisknownaboutthemodelsA,B,andCofthistank, butModel D was in use during the greater part of the period 1940-43.SpecimensofarmourcutfromModelDhavebeenexamined.Ofthese,onlythefrontplateofthehullappearstobeface-hardened;thisplateiscarburized.Alloftheplateswerehigh-quality,chromium-molybdenumsteel,apparentlymadebytheelectric-furnaceprocess.

APanzerIVAusf.CstillinservicewiththeGrossDeutchslandDivisioninNovemeber1943.

Thefirstincreaseinthearmourofthistankwasreportedin1941,whenitwasobserved that additional plates had been bolted over the basic front and sidearmour.Theadditionalplatesonthefrontwere1.18inchesthick,makingatotalof2.36 inches,and thoseon thesideswere .79 inches thick,makinga totalof1.57 inches. In its early stages, this additionwasprobablyonly an improvisedmeasure for increasing the armour protection of existing PzKw 4 models inwhichthethickestarmourwasonly1.18inches.(2)ModelEInModelE,whichhad1.96inchesofsingle-thicknessnoseplate,thefittingof

additional armor on the front of the superstructure and on the sides of thefightingcompartmentwascontinued.Althoughthearrangementoftheadditionalside armor on thismodel appears to have been standardized, that on the frontsuperstructurewasbynomeansuniform.

AnexcellentstudyofagroupofPanzer IVAusf.Egathered togetheronexercise inFranceduring1943.BringingtogetherthisnumberofvehiclesinsuchcloseproximitywouldnothavebeenpermittedinRussia.

ThreePzKw4 tankshave recentlybeenexamined. Ineachcase, extraarmor

had been fitted to the vertical front plate carrying the hull machine gun anddriver's visor. It had alsobeen added to the sidesof the fighting compartment

bothaboveandbelowthetracklevel.Theextraprotectionabovethetracklevelextended from the front vertical plate to the end of the engine-compartmentbulkhead.Itwasthus110incheslongand15inchesdeep.Thepiecesbelowthetracklevelwereshapedinsuchawayastoclearthesuspensionbrackets.Theywere 90 inches long and 30 inches deep. All this extra side protection was.97inchinthickness.The vertical front platewas reinforced in three differentways.On one tank,

two plates were used; one over the plate carrying the hull machine gun, thisadditionalplatebeingcutawaytosuitthegunmounting,andtheotherplateoverthedriver's frontplate,cut to shape toclearhisvisor.On thesecond tank, thearrangementaroundthehullgunwasthesame,buttheextraprotectionaroundthe driver's visor consisted of two rectangular plates, one on each side of thevisor,therebeingnoextraplateimmediatelyabovethevisor.Onthethirdtank,theonlyadditional frontarmorwas theplatearound thehullmachinegun.Noadditionshadbeenmadetothedriver'sfrontplate.Inallcases,theextrafrontalplating was 1.18 inches thick; the nose plate was unreinforced, but it was1.97inchesthick,andtheglacisplatewas.97inchthick.Thefinaldrivecasingsof PzKw 4 tanks of this period were also sometimes reinforced by .79-inchprotectingrings.Theadditionalplatesonthefrontwereface-hardened.

WomenmachiningtankpartsintheKruppfactory.

Itisprobablethatthereinforcedarmoronthefrontsuperstructureofthismodel

willcomparecloselywiththatonthecorrespondingpartsofthePzKw3of1941andthatthe1.96-inchnoseplateswillnotdiffersubstantiallyfromthoseonthemorerecentPzKw3'sofJune1942,knownas"ModelJ."Thereinforced(.79inchplus.79inch)sidearmorhas,however,nocounterpart

in any PzKw 3model. The additional plates are of homogeneous quality andhaveaBrinellhardnessofabout370onthefrontsurface.(3)ModelFTowardstheendof1941theGermansintroducedaPzKw4,ModelF,having

1.96-inchfrontalarmor(gunmantlet, frontsuperstructureandhullnose-plates)and1.18-inchsidearmor.Inthisandmanyotherrespects,theModelFconformsmorecloselythanitspredecessorstothecorrespondingmodelofthePzKw3(inthiscasePzKw3ModelJ).So far, thearmorof thePzKw4ModelFhasnotbeen examined to ascertain its chemical and ballistic properties, but there is astrong probability that these do not differ greatly from those of the PzKw 3,ModelJ.

ThePanzerIVAus.F,seenhereintheArmyGroupNorthsectorduringthesummerof1942,wasthelastoftheshortbarrelledtankstoseeaction.

(4)ModelGThis model which mounts the long 75-mm gun, Kw.K 40, was first

encounteredinJune1942.ItisreportedfromtheMiddleEastthatitsarmouristhesameasthatofModelF;namely1.96inchesonthefront,and30mm(1.18inches)onthesides.In addition to the increase in armor it was necessary to up-gun the tank by

introducing ahighvelocitymain armamentwhichgave thePanzer IV its tankkillingpower.NotsurprisinglytheAlliesweresoonawareofthisdevelopmentandtheintelligencewasquicklyspreadthroughtheregularchannels.

THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#3NOTESONTHEPzKw4TacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.27,June17th,1943

The PzKw4 is theGerman standardmedium tank. Itweighs about 22 tons.

With the exception of the principal armament, themore recentmodels of thistankembodyessentiallythesamefeatures.Thechangeinarmamentconsistsofalong-barreled 75-mm gun, the 7.5-cm KwK. 40, being fitted in place of theshort-barreled75-mmgun(seeTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.20,p.10).

APanzerIVAusf.BrollsintoactionduringthePolishcampaign,September1939.

ThefollowinginformationonthenewPzKw4isbasedonatankcapturedin

NorthAfrica.a.SuspensionandArmorThetankhaseightsmallbogiewheels,mountedandsprunginpairsbyquarter-

ellipticsprings,afrontsprocket,arearidler,andfourreturnrollersoneachside.Thetrackisofsteel,asisusualinGermantanks.Thearmorprobablyisasfollows:front,back,andturret1.95in.;sides1.18in.;

backandtop.39to.79in.[Laterdetailsindicatethatthearmorarrangementoncurrentmodels ofPzKw4 is the same.]Sandbagswere carriedon topof theturret foradditionalprotection fromairattack. (German tanksoftencarrysandbagsandadditionallengthsoftrackasaddedprotection.)b.DimensionsandPerformanceThetankis19ft.6in.long,9ft.4in.wide,and8ft.9in.high,withaground

clearanceof16inches.Itcancrossa9-foottrench,negotiatea2-footstep,climba27-degreegradient,andfordtoadepthof2ft.7in.Thetheoreticalradiusofactionis130milesonroadsand80milescross-country.

c.EngineThetankispoweredwithaNordbauModelV-12,four-stroke,gasolineengine,

developing 320 hp. It has overhead cams, one for each bank of engines, andmagneto ignition. There are two Solex down-draught carburetors, and twinradiators,withafanforeach,mountedontheright-handsideoftheengine.Aninertia starter is fitted. [An inertia starter is a starter equipped with its ownindependent fly-wheel to build up starting inertia.] The fuel capacity is94gallonsfortheengineand20gallonsforthe2-cylinderturret-driveauxiliaryengine.d.Clutch,Brake,andDriveTheclutch is incorporated inagear-boxwhich isof theordinary typewith6

forward speeds and reverse. The brakes, operating on epicyclic gears, are air-cooledandhydraulicallyoperated.Thedriveisthroughtheengine,driveshaft,clutch, gear box, bevel drive, steering system, final reduction drive, andsprockets.e.Instruments

Instrumentsincludearevolutioncounter(tachometer)to3,200rpmwith2,600

to3,200inred,speedometerto50kph(31mph),odometer(mileageindicator),awater temperature gauge, and two oil pressure gauges reading to 85 lbs. persq. in.Thetankisfittedto takeanelectricgyrocompassontheleftsideof thedriver.f.ArmamentThe tank mounts the long-barreled 75-mm gun and two model 34 machine

guns,onefixedcoaxiallyontherightsideofthegun,andtheotheronesetinthehullfiringforward.Whilereportsvary,it isthoughtthatthegunwillpenetrate2inchesofhomogeneousarmoratabout2,500yardsat30degrees.Thebreechis of the vertical sliding type. Firing is electric, with a safety device whichpreventsfiringifthebreechisnotclosed,thegunnotfullyrunout,orthebuffernotfull.Thetraverseisbyhand,orbypowerfroma2-cylinder,9-hpauxiliarygasoline engine directly coupled to a generator, which supplies current to theturret traversingmotor.The turret floor rotates.Eighty-three roundsof75-mmAPorHEandsmokearecarried.Fivesmokecandlesmaybecarriedonarackatthe rear of the tank. These candles are released from inside by a wire cable.Twenty-sevenbeltsof75roundseacharecarriedforthemachineguns.

PanzerVonmanoeuvresinGreeceduring1942.

g.RadioEquipmentIntercommunicationisbyradio-telephone.Theaerialmayberaisedorlowered

frominsidethetank.Thesetissituatedoverthegearboxontheleftsideofthehull gunner.Below the75-mmgun is situated an insulated aerial guardwhichdeflectstheaerialwhentheturretistraversed.h.CrewThe crew numbers five: driver, hull-gunner and radio operator, commander,

gunner,andloader.

AcolumnofPanzerIVsatthehaltduringaroadmarchthroughYugoslavia.

The tactical application of the Panzer IV was also of great interest and the

AlliedintelligenceservicesweredelightedbythecaptureofaGermantrainingmanual.

THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#4COMBAT TACTICS OF GERMANMEDIUM TANKCOMPANIESTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.26,June3rd,1943.

a.GeneralThefollowingcombatinstructionsforPzKw4unitshavebeencondensedfrom

aGermandocument.Theygiveanexcellentideaofrecentenemytanktactics.b. IndividualTactics

ThecrewofaPanzerIVAusf.Donallroundaerialobservation,Russiaspring1942.

(1) In view of the small amount of ammunition carried, the gun is normally

firedatthehaltinordertoavoidwaste.Themachinegunsmountedinturretandhull may be effectively fired up to 800 yards against mass targets, such ascolumns,reserves,limberedguns,etc.(2) As soon as each target has been put out of action, or as soon as the

attackingGermaninfantryaretoonearthetargetfortankstofirewithsafety,thetanks move forward by bounds of at least 200 to 300 yards.When changingposition,driversmusttakecaretokeepcorrectpositioninthetacticalformation.

(3)Singletanksmaybeusedforsupportingactionagainstpreparedpositions.

The tankwill normallymove froma flankunder cover of smoke.Embrasureswill be engaged with AP shell. During action, it will be necessary to blindneighbouringdefencesbysmoke.Tankswillnormallyfireatprepareddefencesfromatmost400yards'range.Assaultdetachmentsworktheirwayforward,andoncelaneshavebeenclearedthroughtheantitankdefences,thetankwillfollowand engage the next target. Close cooperation between tank and assaultdetachment commanders is essential. Light and other signals must beprearranged. Single tanks can also be used in fighting in woods and forprotectionofrestandassemblyareas.c. PlatoonTactics

AgroupofPanzerIVsrollsforwardintoactionduringthewinterof1943.

(1)During the attack,mediumplatoonsmove forward in support of the first

wave;onehalfoftheplatoongivescoveringfirewhiletheotherhalfadvances.Thewholeplatoonseldommovesasabody.(2)Theplatooncommanderdirectsbyradio,andhecancontrolfirebyradioor

byfiringguiding-roundsonparticulartargets.(3)Antitankweaponswill normally be engaged from the halt. If the nearest

antitankweaponcanbedealtwithbythelightplatoon,themediumplatoonwillengagemoredistantantitankweaponsorblindthem.Artillerywillbeattackedinthe same manner as antitank weapons. Enfilading fire is particularlyrecommended.(4) If friendly light tanks encounter enemy tanks in the open, the medium

platoonshouldimmediatelyengagethemwithsmoke-shellinordertoallowthelightstodisengageandtoattacktheenemyfromaflank.(5)Movingtargetsandlightweaponsshouldbeengagedwithmachinegunsor

bycrushing;masstargetswithHE.(6) Against prepared defenses, the procedure is as mentioned in

Paragraphb(3).Whenthewholeplatoonisemployed,theadvancecanbemadebymutualfireandsmokesupport.Whenthepositionistaken,theplatooncoverstheconsolidationbysmokeandfire.Theplatoononlymovesforwardagainaftertheenemyweaponsinthepreparedpositionhavebeenknockedout.(7)Instreetfightingamediumplatoonmaybeemployedinthesecondechelon

togivesupport.Nestsofresistanceinhousesmaybecleanedupwiththehelpofthetanks'guns,andlightlybuilthousescanbecrushed.(8)Ifafront-linetankformationisorderedtoholdanobjectiveuntilthearrival

ofinfantry,protectionwillbegivenbythemediumplatoon,whichwilltakeuppositiononhighgroundwithalargefieldoffire.d.CompanyTactics

AsuperbstudyofthePanzerIVinservicewiththeHitlerJugendDivision.NotetheZimmeritcovering.

(1)Whenmediumplatoonsareattachedtolightcompanies,theyworkonthe

latter'sradiofrequency,andnotonthatoftheirownmediumcompany.(2)Reserve crews follow immediately behind the combat echelon andmove

back to join the unit trains only after the beginning of an engagement. Theycome forward again as soon as thebattle is over.Reliefsmust be so arrangedthat drivers take over refreshed before each action, that is, on leaving theassemblyarea.(3) The repair section, commanded by an NCO, travels with the combat

echelonuntilthebeginningofthebattle.(4) The company commander moves at the head of his company until the

leading platoons have gone into action, when he operates from a temporarycommandpostwithunimpededobservationofthebattlearea.Keepingdirectionandcontactaretheresponsibilityofcompanyheadquarterspersonnelwhilethecommanderisattheheadofhiscompany.(5) In theattack, thenormal formationsareabroadwedge -Breitkeil - [One

platoonechelonedtotheright,onetotheleft,andoneinlinetoformthebaseof

thetriangle,withapexforward],orlinewithextendedinterval(geoffneteLinie).Effectivefireof thewholecompanymaybeobtained if therearelementsgiveoverheadfire,oriftheyfilluporextendthefrontoftheircompanytoformline.(6) For tank-versus-tank actions, the company, where possible, should be

employedasawhole.Whenenemytanksappear,theymustbeengagedatonceandothermissionsdropped.Iftimeallows,thebattalioncommanderwilldetachthemediumplatoonsthathavebeenattachedtolightcompaniesandsendthembacktothemediumcompany.Inallsituations,mediumtanksshouldendeavortohavethesunbehindthem.(7)Duringthepursuit,themediumcompanywillbeemployedwellforwardin

ordertotakefulladvantageofthelongerrangeofitsHEshell.e. Miscellaneous

GrenadierscrammedaboardaPanzerIV,RussiaFebruary1944.

(1) The light tank platoon of battalion headquarters company guides the

mediumcompanyonthemarch,andwhengoingintorestorassemblypositions.Ifthemediumcompanyismovingonitsown,onesectionofalighttankplatoon

maybeattachedtoit.(2) Parts of the antiaircraft platoon of the headquarters company may be

allottedtothemediumcompany.(3)Tank repairmenmovedirectlybehind the combat echelons.The recovery

platoonisresponsiblefortowingawaythosetankswhichcannotbeattendedtobytherepairsection.Therecoveryplatoonisunder theordersof the technicalofficer,who has under his control all equipment and spare-parts trucks of thetankcompanies,whichmayfollowbyseparateroutesasprescribedbyhim.As thewar progressedmore andmore intelligence became available and the

methods available to combat the Panzer IV were constantly revised. Anintelligence report entitled "Vulnerability of German Tank Armor" waspublishedinTacticalandTechnicalTrends.THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#5VULNERABILITYOFGERMANTANKARMORTactical and Technical Trends, No. 8, September24th,1942BritishforcesintheMiddleEasthaverecentlycarriedouttestswithcaptured

German tanks in order to determine the effectiveness of British and U.S.weaponsagainstthem.

The 30-mm front armor of the original German Mark III tank (see thispublication No. 3, page 12) is apparently a plate of machinable-quality silicomanganese.Theadditional30-or32-mmplateswhichhavebeenboltedontothebasic30-mmarmorareoftheface-hardenedtype.Thistotal thicknessof60to62 mm stops the British 2-pounder (40-mm) AP ammunition at all ranges,breaking itupso that itonlydents the innerplate.TheU.S.37-mmprojectile,however,withitsarmor-piercingcap,penetratesat200yardsat70°.Againstthe6-pounder(57-mm)APandthe75-mmSAP,thisreinforcedarmorbreaksuptheprojectiledowntofairlyshortranges,butthearmorplateitselfcracksandsplitsfairlyeasily,andtheboltssecuringitarereadytogivewayafteroneortwohits.If75-mmcappedshotisused,however,suchastheU.S.M61round,thearmorcanbepiercedat1,000yardsat70°.SimilarresultsmaybeexpectedagainstthereinforcedarmoroftheMarkIV.ThenewMarkIIItankhasasinglethicknessof50-mmarmoronthefront,and

this was found to be of the face-hardened type. The 2-pounder AP projectilepenetratesbyshatteringthehardenedface,buttheprojectileitselfbreaksupinthe process and the fragments make a hole of about 45 mm. The 37-mmprojectiledoesnot shatterduringpenetration,which is securedat rangesup to500yards at 70°.The50-mmplate is softer than the reinforced32-mmplatesbeing530Brinellonthefaceand375ontheback.Thisplateisnotparticularlybrittleandthereisverylittleflaking.In testscarriedoutagainst thesidearmorofboth theoldandnewmodelsof

MarkIIItanks,itwasfoundthatthisarmorshowedsignsofdiskingattheback.There is also internal petaling. This, and the condition of the front, which isflakedbackat45° forashortdistance, indicates that theheat treatmentmakestheinnerandouterskinharderthanthecore.

TheMarkIVhasonly22mmofarmoronthesides,butthisisreinforcedbyan

additional thickness of 22 mm covering the whole fighting and drivingcompartments. These additional plates are of the machinable type, and thehardnessofthisplatewasfoundtobe370Brinell.Theboltsholdingthisextraarmorinplaceareweak,anditwasfoundthatthethreadsstrippedeasily.TheabovetableshowstherangesatwhichthedifferenttypesofGermantank

armor are penetrated by standard U.S. and British weapons. The angles ofimpactaredeterminedbythenormalslopeofthearmoronthetank

THEDEVELOPMENTHISTORYOFTHEPANZERIV

TheOriginsofthePanzerIVThePanzerIVwasthebrainchildofGermangeneralandinnovativearmored

warfare theorist General Heinz Guderian. In concept, it was intended to be asupport tank firingmainlyhigh explosive foruse against enemyantitankgunsandfortifications.Ideally, thetankbattalionsofapanzerdivisionwereeachtohavethreemediumcompaniesofPanzerIIIsandoneheavycompanyofPanzerIVs.On11January1934,theGermanarmywrotethespecificationsfora"medium

tractor", and issued them to a number of defense companies. To support thePanzer III,whichwouldbearmedwitha37-millimetre (1.46 in)antitankgun,thenewvehiclewouldhaveashort-barrelled75-millimetre(2.95in)howitzerasitsmain gun, andwas allotted aweight limit of 24 tonnes (26.46 short tons).Development was carried out under the name Begleitwagen ("accompanyingvehicle") or BW, to disguise its actual purpose, given that Germanywas stilltheoreticallyboundbytheTreatyofVersailles.MAN,Krupp,andRheinmetall-Borsig each developed prototypes with Krupp's being selected for furtherdevelopment.The chassis had originally been designed with a six-wheeled interleaved

suspension, but the German Army amended this to a torsion bar system.Permitting greater vertical deflection of the roadwheels, this was intended toimproveperformanceandcrewcomfortbothon-andoff-road.However,duetothe urgent requirement for the new tank, neither proposal was adopted, andKruppinsteadequippeditwithasimpleleafspringdouble-bogiesuspension.

APanzerAusf.ArollsintotheSudetenland1938.

Theprototyperequiredacrewoffivemen;thehullcontainedtheenginebayto

the rear,with the driver and radio operator,who doubled as the hullmachinegunner,seatedatthefront-leftandfront-right,respectively.Intheturret,thetankcommandersatbeneathhisroofhatch,whilethegunnerwassituatedtotheleftof the gun breech and the loader to the right. The turret was offset 66.5mm(2.62 in) to the left of the chassis center line, while the engine was moved152.4mm(6.00in)totheright.Thisallowedthetorqueshafttocleartherotarybase junction, which provided electrical power to turn the turret, whileconnectingto the transmissionboxmountedin thehullbetweenthedriverandradiooperator.Duetotheasymmetriclayout,therightsideofthetankcontainedthebulkof its stowagevolume,whichwas takenupby ready-useammunitionlockers.Accepted into service as the Versuchskraftfahrzeug 622 (Vs.Kfz. 622),

productionbeganin1936atKrupp-GrusonwerkeAG'sfactoryatMagdeburg.

Ausf.AtoAusf.F1

PanzerIVAusf.C

The first mass-produced version of the Panzer IV was the Ausführung A

(abbreviated to Ausf. A, meaning "Variant A"), in 1936. It was powered byMaybach'sHL 108TR, producing 250PS (183.87 kW), and used the SGR75transmission with five forward gears and one reverse, achieving a maximumroad speed of 31 kilometres per hour (19.26 mph). As main armament, thevehicle mounted the Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24 (KwK 37 L/24) 75 mm(2.95in)tankgun,whichwasalow-velocitygundesignedtomainlyfirehigh-explosive shells. Against armored targets, firing the Panzergranate (armor-piercingshell)at430metrespersecond(1,410ft/s)theKwK37couldpenetrate43millimetres (1.69 in), inclinedat30degrees, at rangesofup to700metres(2,300ft).A7.92mm(0.31in)MG34machinegunwasmountedcoaxiallywiththemain gun in the turret,while a secondmachine gunof the same typewasmounted in thefrontplateof thehull.TheAusf.Awasprotectedby14.5mm(0.57in)ofsteelarmoronthefrontplateofthechassis,and20mm(0.79in)ontheturret.Thiswascapableonlyofstoppingartilleryfragments,small-armsfire,andlightantitankprojectiles.

The300horsepowerMaybachHL120TRMengineusedinmostPanzerIVproductionmodels.

Aftermanufacturing35 tanksof theAversion, in1937productionmoved to

theAusf.B.Improvementsincludedthereplacementoftheoriginalenginewiththe more powerful 300 PS (220.65 kW) Maybach HL 120TR, and thetransmissionwiththenewSSG75transmission,withsixforwardgearsandonereversegear.Despiteaweightincreaseto16t(18shorttons),thisimprovedthetank'sspeedto39kilometresperhour(24mph).Theglacisplatewasaugmentedto a maximum thickness of 30 millimetres (1.18 in), and the hull-mountedmachinegunwasreplacedbyacoveredpistolport.Forty-two Panzer IVAusf. Bsweremanufactured before the introduction of

theAusf.C in 1938.This saw the turret armor increased to 30mm (1.18 in),whichbroughtthetank'sweightto18.14t(20.00shorttons).[Afterassembling40Ausf.Cs, startingwithchassisnumber80341 theenginewas replacedwiththeimprovedHL120TRM.Thelastofthe140Ausf.CswasproducedinAugust1939,andproductionchangedtotheAusf.D;thisvariant,ofwhich248vehicleswere produced, reintroduced the hull machine gun and changed the turret'sinternalgunmantlettoanexternalone.Againprotectionwasupgraded,thistimebyincreasingsidearmorto20mm(0.79in).AstheGermaninvasionofPolandinSeptember1939cametoanend,itwasdecidedtoscaleupproductionofthePanzer IV, which was adopted for general use on 27 September 1939 as the

Sonderkraftfahrzeug161(Sd.Kfz.161).InresponsetothedifficultyofpenetratingBritishMatildaInfantrytanksduring

theBattleofFrance,theGermanshadtesteda50mm(1.97in)gun—basedonthe5cmPaK38L/60antitankgun—onaPanzerIVAusf.D.However,withtherapid German victory in France, the original order of 80 tanks was canceledbeforetheyenteredproduction.In September 1940 the Ausf. E was introduced. This had 50 millimetres

(1.97 in) of armor on the bow plate,while a 30-millimetre (1.18 in) appliquésteel plate was added to the glacis as an interim measure. Finally, thecommander'scupolawasmovedforwardintotheturret.OldermodelPanzerIVtankswereretrofittedwiththesefeatureswhenreturnedtothemanufacturerforservicing.TwohundredandeightyAusf.EswereproducedbetweenDecember1939andApril1941.

Theshort-barreledPanzerIVAusf.F1.

InApril1941productionofthePanzerIVAusf.Fstarted.Itfeatured50mm

(1.97 in) single-plate armor on the turret and hull, as opposed to the appliquéarmor added to the Ausf. E, and a further increase in side armor to 30 mm

(1.18 in). The weight of the vehicle was now 22.3 tonnes (24.6 short tons),whichrequiredacorrespondingmodificationoftrackwidthfrom380to400mm(14.96to15.75in) toreducegroundpressure.Thewider tracksalsofacilitatedthe fitting of ice sprags, and the rear idler wheel and front sprocket weremodified.ThedesignationAusf.Fwas changed in themeantime toAusf.F1, after the

distinct newmodel, theAusf. F2, appeared.A total of 464Ausf. F (later F1)tanks were produced from April 1941 to March 1942, of which 25 wereconvertedtotheF2ontheproductionline.

Agood study of themain armament of thePanzer IVAusf .F taken in 1942 in theArmyGroupCentresector.

Ausf.F2toAusf.JOn May 26, 1941, mere weeks before Operation Barbarossa, during a

conference with Hitler, it was decided to improve the Panzer IV's mainarmament.Kruppwasawardedthecontract tointegrateagainthesame50mm(1.97in)Pak38L/60gunintotheturret.ThefirstprototypewastobedeliveredbyNovember15,1941.Withinmonths,theshockofencounteringtheSovietT-

34mediumandKV-1heavytanksnecessitatedanew,muchmorepowerfultankgun.InNovember1941,thedecisiontoup-gunthePanzerIVtothe50-millimetre

(1.97 in) gun was dropped, and instead Krupp was contracted in a jointdevelopment to modify Rheinmetall's pending 75 mm (2.95 in) antitank gundesign, laterknownas7.5cmPaK40L/46.Because therecoil lengthwas toolong for the tank's turret, the recoil mechanism and chamber were shortened.Thisresultedinthe75-millimetre(2.95in)KwK40L/43.Whenfiringanarmor-piercingshot,thegun'smuzzlevelocitywasincreasedfrom430m/s(1,410ft/s)to 990m/s (3,250 ft/s). Initially, the gunwasmountedwith a single-chamber,ball-shapedmuzzlebrake,whichprovidedjustunder50%oftherecoilsystem'sbrakingability.Firing thePanzergranate39, theKwK40L/43couldpenetrate77mm(3.03in)ofsteelarmoratarangeof1,830m(6,000ft).

GrenadierscrowdaboardaPanzerIVAusf.J,Russia1944.

The1942Panzer IVAusf.F2wasanupgradeof theAusf.F, fittedwith the

KwK40L/43antitankguntocounterSovietT-34andKVtanks.TheAusf.Ftanksthatreceivedthenew,longer,KwK40L/43gunwerenamed

Ausf.F2(withthedesignationSd.Kfz.161/1).Thetankincreasedinweight to23.6 tonnes (26.0 short tons). One hundred and seventy-five Ausf. F2s wereproduced from March 1942 to July 1942. Three months after beginningproduction,thePanzerIV.Ausf.F2wasrenamedAusf.G.TherewaslittletonodifferencebetweentheF2andearlyGmodels.THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#6NEWARMAMENTOFGERMANPZ.KW.4Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 20, March11th,1943AspreviouslyreportedinTacticalandTechnicalTrends(No.4,p.15)recent

modelsof twoGerman tanks, thePz.Kw.3and4,havebeen fittedwithmorepowerfularmament,asshownintheaccompanyingsketches.ThesesketchesarebasedonphotographsofGermantankscapturedbytheBritishinNorthAfrica.PZ.Kw.IVTheprincipalarmamentofthistankisalong-barrelled75-mmgun,the7.5-cm

Kraftwagenkanone40(7.5-cmKw.K.40).Itisreportedthatthemuzzlevelocityis2,400 feetpersecond(also reportedat2,620 feetpersecond),and that2.44inchesofarmorplatecanbepenetratedat2,000yardsatanangleofimpactof30degrees.Thelongbarrel,terminatinginamuzzlebrake,extendsbeyondthenose of the tank, and an equilibrator was provided, in the particular tank

examined,tobalancetheconsequentmuzzlepreponderance.Theequilibrator is fixedto thefloorof the turretandextendsvertically toan

attachmentneartherearofthepiece;itis6inchesindiameterand211/2incheslong. The gun is also provided with a traveling lock inside the turret. Thetraveling lock consisted of two steel bars about 1/2 inch by 2 inches and 15inchesinlength.Therewerehardenedsemi-hemisphericalsurfacesabout11/2inches in diameter projecting from each end of the steel bars, and these fittedintocorrespondingindentationsoneithersideoflugsattachedtothegunandtotheturretroof.Thesteelbarswereconnectedbytwobolts;tighteningtheboltsprovidedaverypositivelock.

PanzerIVofthe4thPanzerDivision(Panzerregiment35)

Threetypesofammunitionwerefoundwiththistank:nose-fuzedHE;hollow-

chargeHE; and armor-piercingHE, this being an armor-piercing shell with aballisticnoseandanHEcharge.

TheAusf.GDuringitsproductionrunfromMay1942toJune1943,thePanzerIVAusf.G

wentthroughfurthermodifications,includinganotherarmorupgrade.Giventhatthetankwasreachingitsviablelimit,toavoidacorrespondingweightincrease,the appliqué 20-millimetre (0.79 in) steel plates were removed from its sidearmor,whichinsteadhaditsbasethicknessincreasedto30millimetres(1.18in).The weight saved was transferred to the front, which had a 30-millimetre(1.18in)face-hardenedappliquésteelplatewelded(laterbolted)totheglacis—intotal,frontalarmorwasnow80mm(3.15in)thick.ThisdecisiontoincreasefrontalarmorwasfavorablyreceivedaccordingtotroopreportsonNovember8,1942,despitetechnicalproblemsofthedrivingsystemduetoaddedweight.Atthispoint,itwasdecidedthat50%ofPanzerIVproductionswouldbefittedwith30mmthickadditionalarmorplates.

THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#7ARMORARRANGEMENTONGERMANTANKS

TacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.29,July15th1943

Theaccompanyingsketchesshowthearmorarrangementoncurrentmodelsof

thePzKw2,3,4,and6.Thesesketchesarebelievedtobeaccurateandup-to-date. Armor thicknesses (circled figures) are given in millimeters; theirequivalent in inches may be found in the article beginning on page 30. Aquestionmarkfollowingsomeofthesefiguresindicatesthatdefiniteinformationisnotavailable.Wheretwosmallfiguresappearinparentheses,itindicatesthatthereare2platesat thispoint; inonly2instances,namelyonthePzKw3,arethe2platesseparatedtoformso-calledspacedarmor.

Thearmamentofthesetanksisalsoshown.

Subsequentlyon January5, 1943,Hitler decided tomake allPanzer IVwith

80mmfrontalarmor.Tosimplifyproduction,thevisionportsoneithersideoftheturretandontherightturretfrontwereremoved,whilearackfortwospareroad wheels was installed on the track guard on the left side of the hull.Complementing this, brackets for seven spare track links were added to theglacis plate. For operation in high temperatures, the engine's ventilation wasimprovedbycreating slitsover the enginedeck to the rearof the chassis, andcoldweatherperformancewasboostedbyaddingadevice toheat theengine'scoolant, as well as a starter fluid injector. A new light replaced the originalheadlight,andthesignalportontheturretwasremoved.OnMarch19,1943,the

firstPanzer IVwithSchürzen skirts on its sides and turretwas exhibited.Thedoublehatchforthecommander'scupolawasreplacedbyasingleroundhatchfromverylatemodelAusf.G.andthecupolawasup-armoredaswell.InApril1943, the KwK 40 L/43 was replaced by the longer 75-millimetre (2.95 in)KwK40L/48gun,witharedesignedmulti-bafflemuzzlebrakewithimprovedrecoilefficiency.AU.S.reportontheGermanpracticeofmountingarmorskirts(Schürzen)on

panzers inWWII, fromTactical andTechnicalTrends,No. 40,December 16,1943isreprintedbelow:THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#8ARMORSKIRTINGONGERMANTANKSTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.40,December16th1943

From both Allied and German sources, reports have come in of additional

armoredskirtingappliedtothesidesofGermantanksandself-movinggunstoprotect the tracks, bogies and turret. Photographs show such plating on thePzKw 3 and 4, where the plates are hung from a bar resembling a hand-railrunning above the upper track guard and from rather light brackets extendingoutwardabout18inchesfromtheturret.

PanzerIVAusf.HintheArmyGroupSouthsectorAugust1943.

What appeared to be a 75-mm self-moving gun was partially protected by

similar sideplatesover thebogies.Thisarmor is reported tobe light --4 to6millimeters(.16to.24in)--andissaidtogiveprotectionagainsthollow-chargeshells, 7.92-mm tungsten carbide core AT ammunition, and 20-mm tungstencarbide core ammunition. This armormight cause a high-velocity AP shot orshelltodeflectandstrikethemainarmorsidewaysoratanangle,butcoveringthe bogies or Christie wheels would make the identification of a tank moredifficult,exceptatshortranges.

A furtherU.S.military report on theGerman use of armor-skirting on tanks

waspublishedinTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.42,January13,1944.THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#9ENEMYUSEOFSKIRTINGONTANKS

Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 42, January 13th1944AnexaminationofGermanPzKw3and4tanksinSicily,andanumberofSP

gunshasconfirmedpriorreportsthattheGermansareusingskirtingbotharoundthe turret and along the sides of the hull. A prior reference to enemy use ofarmorskirtingonGermantanksmaybefoundinTacticalandTechnicalTrendsNo.40,p.11.OnonePzKwtank,1/4-inchmildsteelplateswereplacedaroundthesidesand

rearof the turret, andextended from the turret top to thebottom,almost flushwiththetopofthesuperstructure.Thefrontedgesonbothsideshadbeenturnedin,soastolineupwiththefrontoftheturret,thusfillingthespacebetweentheturret and the outer mild steel plate. Doors are provided in the outer plateimmediatelyopposite thedoorsof theturret.Theplate isboltedontobracketsby3/8-inchboltsandstuds.Theplatesstandoutabout18 inches from the topand 12 inches from the bottom of the turret. The depth of the plate isapproximately20inches.Theskirtingof3/16inchmildsteelplatesisinsectionsof3feet9inchesx3

feet3 inches.Itextendsfromthe topof thesuperstructure toabout the topsofthebogies,andforthefulllengthofthehull.Thesectionsareheldinplacebyslots in them which match the supporting clips on a 1/4-inch angle-iron rail,weldedon to the topof the superstructureandextending the full lengthof thehull, and by 5 brackets bolted on to the track mudguards. The angle-iron isspacedabout15 inchesoutwardsawayfromthehull,and thebracketsabout8inchesawayfromthemudguards.Three other PzKw4 tanks, similarly equippedwith skirtingwere also seen,

andaPzKw3tankhadbothsidescompletelycoveredwithsheetsof3/16inchboilerplateextendingthewholelengthofthetank,andreachingfromturret-topleveltothetopsofthebogies.

The7.5-cmStu.K.42SPequipmentonaPzKw3chassishasbeenseenwith

similaradditionalsideplates.Theplates,whichextendverticallyfromthetopoftheequipmenttothetopsofthebogies,andlaterallyfromthefifthbogietotherearofthefront-drivesprocket,areinthreesections,thefrontsectionbeingcuttoconformroughlywiththeshapeoftheequipment.A15-cms.F.H.18onPzKw4tankchassisisalsoreportedtohavebeensimilarlyequipped.Itwouldappear fromavailable information that theuseofspacedskirtingon

Germanarmoredvehiclesandself-propelledguns isbeingadoptedasstandardpractice.Thefact that thesideplatesare insectionsandheld inplacebyclipssuggeststhattheyaredetachable.Thiswould,ofcourse,beagreatconvenienceinloadingfortransportationbyrail.It is believed that the skirting is designed to cause premature explosion of

hollowcharge,HEandAPHEshell,and thusminimize theireffect.Althoughthe plates have been described as mild steel, other sources have erroneouslydescribedthemasarmor.Particular attention is drawn to the difficulty of recognition of tanks and SP

equipmentswiththisextensiveskirting.Almostallofthefeatureswhichareofprimaryimportanceinidentificationareobscured(seelastsentence,TacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.40,p.11).

THEAusF.HThenextversion,theAusf.H,beganproductioninApril1943andreceivedthe

designation Sd.Kfz. 161/2. This variant saw the integrity of the glacis armorimproved by manufacturing it as a single 80-millimetre (3.15 in) plate. Topreventadhesionofmagneticantitankmines,whichtheGermansfearedwouldbe used in large numbers by the Allies, Zimmerit paste was added to all theverticalsurfacesofthetank'sarmor.The vehicle's side and turret were further protected by the addition of 5-

millimetre(0.20in)sideskirtsand8-millimetre(0.31in)turretskirts.DuringtheAusf.H'sproduction run its rubber-tired return rollerswere replacedwithcaststeel; the hull was fitted with triangular supports for the easily-damagedsideskirts. A hole in the roof, designed for the Nahverteidigungswaffe, wasplugged by a circular armored plate due to shortages of this weapon. Thesemodifications meant that the tank's weight jumped to 25 tonnes (27.56 shorttons), reducing itsspeed,asituationnot improvedby thedecision toadopt thePanzerIII'ssix-speedSSG77transmission,whichwasinferiortothatofearlier-modelPanzerIVs.

PanzerIVAuf.JwithmissingsideskirtsRussia1944.

The Ausf. J was the final production model, and was greatly simplified

compared to earlier variants to speed construction. This shows an exportedFinnishmodel.Despite addressing themobility problems introduced by the previousmodel,

the final production version of thePanzer IV—theAusf. J—was considered aretrogradefromtheAusf.H.BornofGermannecessitytoreplaceheavylosses,itwasgreatlysimplifiedtospeedproduction.Theelectricgeneratorthatpoweredthetank'sturrettraversewasremoved,so

the turret had to be rotated manually. The space was later used for theinstallation of an auxiliary 200-litre (44 imp gal) fuel tank; road range wastherebyincreasedto320kilometres(198.84mi),Thepistolandvisionports inthe turret were removed, and the engine's radiator housing was simplified bychanging theslantedsides tostraight sides. Inaddition, thecylindricalmufflerwasreplacedbytwoflame-suppressingmufflers.Bylate1944,ZimmeritwasnolongerbeingappliedtoGermanarmoredvehicles,andthePanzerIV'ssideskirtshadbeenreplacedbywiremesh,whiletofurtherspeedproductionthenumberofreturnrollerswasreducedfromfourtothree.InabidtoaugmentthePanzerIV'sfirepower,anattemptwasmadetomatea

Pantherturret—carryingthelonger75mm(2.95in)L/70tankgun—toaPanzerIVhull.Thiswasunsuccessful,andconfirmedthatthechassishad,bythistime,reachedthelimitsofitsadaptabilityinbothweightandavailablevolume.THECONTEMPORARYVIEW#10GERMANHOLLOW-CHARGE AMMUNITION FOR75-MMTANKGUN

FromTacticalandTechnicalTrends,No.19,February25th,1943Asketchshowingthedetailsof thehollow-chargeroundfor theGerman7.5-

cmKwK(75-mmtankgun)accompaniesthisreport.TheGermannomenclatureforthisammunitionis7.5-cmPz.Gr.Patr.38KwK.Theroundisof thefixedtype.Thecartridgecaseandtheweightandtypeof

propellant are similar to those for the other types of 75-mm antitank gunammunition.Theshellisfittedwithathreadedhemisphericalcapintowhichisscreweda smallnosepercussion fuze.From thenose fuze, a central tube runsdowntoaboosterwhichissituatedinthebaseoftheshell.Thisboosterconsistsof a detonator set in penthritewax, thewhole being contained in a perforatedcontainer. The bursting charge consists of three blocks of Hexagen(TrimethyleneTrinitramine)thefrontoneofwhichisconcave,asshowninthesketch.Theblocksarecontainedinwaxedpaperandarecementedintotheshell.TheoperationoftheAufschlagZunderorpercussionfuze(A.Z.38-typefuze)

is simple. The striker is held off the detonator assembly by six centrifugalsegmentswhicharesurroundedbyanexpandingspringring.Aftertheshellhasleft the gun, centrifugal force causes the clock spring and the safety blocks to

open, thus freeing the striker. Upon impact, the striker is driven onto thedetonator. The detonation passes down the central tube to initiate the booster.Thisinturninitiatestheburstingcharge.

Theshell ispaintedwhiteandhasblackmarkings.Theweightof theshell is

4.5kilograms,andthatoftheburstingcharge450grams.Comments:This isanother instanceof theuseofhollow-chargeammunition

to increase the armor-shattering effect of a gun of comparatively lowmuzzlevelocity. No data is available at this time concerning the performance of thistypeofprojectileagainstarmoratvariousranges.

ThePanzer IVwasoriginally intended tobeusedonlyona limitedscale, so

initiallyKruppwasitssolemanufacturer.PriortothePolishcampaign,only262PanzerIVswereproduced:35Ausf.A;42Ausf.B;140Ausf.C;and45Ausf.D.After the invasionofPoland,andwith thedecision toadopt the tankas themainstay of Germany's armored divisions, production was extended to theNibelungenwerkefactory(managedbySteyr-Daimler-Puch)intheAustriancityofSt.Valentin.Production increased as theAusf.Ewas introduced,with 223tanksdeliveredtotheGermanarmy.By1941,462PanzerIVAusf.Fshadbeenassembled, and the up-gunned Ausf. F2 was entering production. The yearlyproductiontotalhadmorethanquadrupledsincethestartofthewar.AsthelaterPanzerIVmodelsemerged,athirdfactory,Vomag(locatedinthe

cityofPlauen),beganassembly.In1941anaverageof39tankspermonthwerebuilt, and this rose to83 in1942,252 in1943, and300 in1944.However, inDecember1943,Krupp'sfactorywasdivertedtomanufacturetheSturmgeschützIV, and in the spring of 1944 the Vomag factory began production of theJagdpanzer IV, leaving theNibelungenwerkeas theonlyplant still assemblingthePanzerIV.WiththeslowcollapseofGermanindustryunderpressurefromAllied air and ground offensives — in October 1944 the Nibelungenwerkefactorywas severely damaged during a bombing raid— byMarch andApril1945 production had fallen to pre-1942 levels,with only around 55 tanks permonthcomingofftheassemblylines.TheExportofthePzIV

ThePanzerIVwasthemostexportedGermantankoftheSecondWorldWar.

In1942Germanydelivered11 tanks toRomaniaand32 toHungary,manyofwhichwerelostontheEasternFrontbetweenthefinalmonthsof1942andthebeginning of 1943. Romania received approximately 120 Panzer IV tanks ofdifferentmodelsthroughouttheentirewar.ToarmBulgaria,Germanysupplied46or 91Panzer IVs, andoffered Italy 12 tanks to form the nucleus of a newarmored division.Thesewere used to train Italian crewswhile Italian dictatorBenito Mussolini was deposed, but were retaken by Germany during itsoccupation of Italy in mid-1943. The Spanish government petitioned for 100Panzer IVs in March 1943, but only 20 were ever delivered, by December.Finlandbought30,butreceivedonly15PanzerIVsin1944,andthesameyearasecond batch of 62 or 72 were sent to Hungary (although 20 of these weredivertedtoreplaceGermanlosses).Intotalsome297PanzerIVsofallmodelsweredeliveredtoGermany'sallies.CombathistoryThe Panzer IVwas the onlyGerman tank to remain in both production and

combatthroughoutWorldWarII,andmeasuredovertheentirewaritcomprised30%oftheWehrmacht'stotaltankstrength.Althoughinservicebyearly1939,intimefortheoccupationofCzechoslovakia,atthestartofthewarthemajorityofGermanarmorwasmadeupofobsoletePanzerIsandPanzerIIs.ThePanzerIinparticularhadalreadyprovedinferiortoSoviettanks,suchastheT-26,duringtheSpanishCivilWar.WesternFrontandNorthAfrica(1939–1942)WhenGermany invadedPolandon1September1939, itsarmoredcorpswas

composedof1,445Panzer Is,1,223Panzer IIs,98Panzer IIIsand211PanzerIVs; the more modern vehicles amounted to less than 10% of Germany'sarmoredstrength.The1stPanzerDivisionhadaroughlyequalbalanceoftypes,with17PanzerIs,18PanzerIIs,28PanzerIIIs,and14PanzerIVsperbattalion.The remainingpanzerdivisionswereheavywithobsoletemodels,equippedas

theywerewith34PanzerIs,33PanzerIIs,5PanzerIIIs,and6PanzerIVsperbattalion. Although the Polish army possessed less than 200 tanks capable ofpenetratingtheGermanlighttanks,Polishantitankgunsprovedmoreofathreat,reinforcingGermanfaithinthevalueoftheclose-supportPanzerIV.Despite increasingproductionof themediumPanzerIIIsandIVsprior to the

GermaninvasionofFranceon10May1940,themajorityofGermantankswerestill light types.According toHeinzGuderian, theWehrmacht invadedFrancewith523PanzerIs,955PanzerIIs,349PanzerIIIs,278PanzerIVs,106Panzer35(t)s and 228 Panzer 38(t)s. Through the use of tactical radios and superiortactics, theGermanswere able to outmaneuver and defeat French andBritisharmor. However, Panzer IVs armed with the KwK 37 L/24 75-millimetre(2.95in)tankgunfounditdifficulttoengageFrenchtankssuchasSomuaS35and Char B1. The Somua S35 had a maximum armor thickness of 55 mm(2.17 in),while theKwK 37 L/24 could only penetrate 43mm (1.69 in) at arangeof700m(2,296.59 ft).Likewise, theBritishMatildaMkIIwasheavilyarmored,with at least 70mm (2.76 in) of steel on the front and turret, and aminimumof65mmonthesides.AlthoughthePanzerIVwasdeployedtoNorthAfricawiththeGermanAfrika

Korps,untilthelongergunvariantbeganproduction,thetankwasoutperformedbythePanzerIIIwithrespecttoarmorpenetration.BoththePanzerIIIandIVhad difficulty in penetrating the British Matilda II's thick armor, while theMatilda's 40-mmQF 2 pounder gun could knock out either German tank; itsmajor disadvantage was its low speed. By August 1942, Rommel had onlyreceived27PanzerIVAusf.F2s,armedwiththeL/43gun,whichhedeployedto spearhead his armored offensives. The longer gun could penetrate allAmerican and British tanks in theater at ranges of up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).Although more of these tanks arrived in North Africa between August andOctober 1942, their numbers were insignificant compared to the amount ofmatérielshippedtoBritishforces.ThePanzerIValsotookpartintheinvasionofYugoslaviaandtheinvasionof

Greeceinearly1941.

EasternFront(1941–1945)

APzKpfwIVAusf.Hofthe12thPanzerDivisionoperatingontheEasternFrontintheUSSR,1944.

WiththelaunchingofOperationBarbarossaon22June1941,theunanticipated

appearanceoftheKV-1andT-34tankspromptedanupgradeofthePanzerIV's75mm(2.95in)guntoalonger,high-velocity75mm(2.95in)gunsuitableforantitankuse.ThismeantthatitcouldnowpenetratetheT-34atrangesofupto1,200m(3,900ft)atanyangle.The75mm(2.95in)KwK40L/43gunonthePanzerIVcouldpenetrateaT-34atavarietyofimpactanglesbeyond1,000m(3,300 ft) range and up to 1,600m (5,200 ft). Shipment of the firstmodel tomount the new gun, the Ausf. F2, began in spring 1942, and by the summeroffensivetherewerearound135PanzerIVswiththeL/43tankgunavailable.Atthetime,theseweretheonlyGermantanksthatcoulddefeattheSovietT-34orKV-1.TheyplayedacrucialroleintheeventsthatunfoldedbetweenJune1942andMarch1943,andthePanzerIVbecamethemainstayoftheGermanpanzerdivisions.Although inserviceby lateSeptember1942, theTigerIwasnotyetnumerous enough to make an impact and suffered from serious teethingproblems, while the Panther was not delivered to German units in the SovietUnionuntilMay1943.TheextentofGermanrelianceonthePanzerIVduringthisperiodisreflectedbytheirlosses;502weredestroyedontheEasternFrontin1942.

ThePanzerIVcontinuedtoplayanimportantroleduringoperationsin1943,

including at the Battle of Kursk. Newer types such as the Panther were stillexperiencing crippling reliability problems that restricted their combatefficiency,somuchoftheeffortfelltothe841PanzerIVsthattookpartinthebattle.Throughout1943,theGermanarmylost2,352PanzerIVsontheEasternFront; somedivisionswere reduced to 12–18 tanks by the end of the year. In1944,afurther2,643PanzerIVsweredestroyed,andsuchlosseswerebecomingincreasinglydifficulttoreplace.Bythelastyearofthewar,thePanzerIVwasoutclassed by the upgradedT-34-85,which had an 85mm (3.35 in) gun, andother late-modelSoviet tanks suchas the122mm (4.80 in)-armed IS-2heavytank.Nevertheless,due toa shortageof replacementPanther tanks, thePanzerIVcontinued to form thecoreofGermany's armoreddivisions, includingeliteunitssuchastheIISSPanzerCorps,through1944.InJanuary1945,287PanzerIVswerelostontheEasternFront.Itisestimated

thatcombatagainstSovietforcesaccountedfor6,153PanzerIVs,orabout75%ofallPanzerIVlossesduringthewar.WesternFront(1944–1945)

British officers inspect a German Pzkw-IV knocked out in France in June 1944 by the Durham LightInfantry.

PanzerIVscomprisedaroundhalfoftheavailableGermantankstrengthonthe

WesternFrontpriortotheAlliedinvasionofNormandyonJune6,1944.Mostof the 11 panzer divisions that saw action inNormandy initially contained anarmoredregimentofonebattalionofPanzerIVsandanotherofPanthers,foratotalofaround160tanks,althoughWaffen-SSpanzerdivisionsweregenerallylargerandbetter-equippedthantheirHeercounterparts.RegularupgradestothePanzer IV had helped to maintain its reputation as a formidable opponent.DespiteoverwhelmingAlliedairsuperiority,theNormanbocagecountrysideinthe US sector heavily favored defense, and German tanks and antitank gunsinflictedhorrendouscasualtiesonAlliedarmorduringtheNormandycampaign.Ontheoffensive,however,thePanzerIVs,Panthersandotherarmoredvehiclesprovedequallyvulnerable in thebocage, and counter-attacks rapidly stalled inthefaceofinfantry-heldantitankweapons,tankdestroyersandantitankguns,aswell as the ubiquitous fighter bomber aircraft. That the terrain was highlyunsuitablefortankswasillustratedbytheconstantdamagesufferedtotheside-skirts of the Ausf. H's; essential for defence against shaped charge antitankweaponssuchastheBritishPIAT,allGermanarmoredunitswere"exasperated"bythewaytheseweretornoffduringmovementthroughthedenseorchardsand

hedgerows.

Pzkw-IVinBelgradeMilitaryMuseum,Serbia.

TheAllieshadalsobeendeveloping lethality improvementprogramsof their

own; the widely-used American-designed M4 Sherman medium tank, whilemechanicallyreliable,sufferedfromthinarmorandaninadequategun.Againstearlier-model Panzer IVs, it could hold its own, butwith its 75mmM3 gun,struggled against the late-model Panzer IV (and was unable to penetrate thefrontalarmorofPantherandTigertanksatvirtuallyanyrange).Thelate-modelPanzerIV's80mm(3.15in)frontalhullarmorcouldeasilywithstandhitsfromthe75mm(2.95 in)weaponon theShermanatnormalcombatranges, thoughtheturretremainedvulnerable.TheBritishup-gunnedtheShermanwiththeirhighlyeffectiveQF17pounder

antitank gun, resulting in the Firefly; although this was the only Allied tankcapableofdealingwithallcurrentGermantanksatnormalcombatranges,few(about300)wereavailableintimefortheNormandyinvasion.TheotherBritishtankwiththe17pdrguncouldnotparticipateinthelandingsandhadtowaitforportfacilities.ItwasnotuntilJuly1944thatAmericanShermans,fittedwiththe76-mm (3-inch)M1 tankgun, began to achieve a parity in firepowerwith thePanzerIV.However,despitethegeneralsuperiorityofitsarmoredvehicles,byAugust29,

1944, as the last survivingGerman troops of Fifth PanzerArmy and Seventh

Army began retreating towards Germany, the twin cataclysms of the FalaisePocket and the Seine crossing had cost the Wehrmacht dearly. Of the 2,300tanks and assault guns it had committed to Normandy (including around 750PanzerIVs),over2,200hadbeenlost.FieldMarshalWalterModelreportedtoHitlerthathispanzerdivisionshadremaining,onaverage,fiveorsixtankseach.Duringthewinterof1944–45,thePanzerIVwasoneofthemostwidelyused

tanks in the Ardennes offensive, where further heavy losses—as often due tofuelshortagesastoenemyaction—impairedmajorGermanarmoredoperationsin the West thereafter. The Panzer IVs that took part were survivors of thebattlesinFrancebetweenJuneandSeptember1944,witharound260additionalPanzerIVAusf.Jsissuedasreinforcements.Otherusers

ASyrianPanzerIVAusf.G,capturedduringtheSix-DayWar,ondisplayintheYadLa-ShiryonMuseum,Israel.

Inthe1960sSyriareceivedanumberofPanzerIVsfromtheFrench,replacing

the turret'smachinegunwithaSoviet-made12.7-millimetre (0.50 in)machinegun.ThesewereusedtoshellIsraelisettlementsbelowtheGolanHeights,andwerefireduponduringthe1965"WaterWar"byIsraeliCenturiontanks.Syriareceived17morePanzerIVsfromSpain,whichsawcombatduringtheSix-DayWarin1967.

The Finns bought 15 new Panzer IVAusf J in 1944, for 5,000,000 Finnish

markkas each (about twice theproductionprice).The tanks arrived too late toseeactionagainsttheSoviets,butwereinsteadusedagainsttheGermansintheLaplandWar.Afterthewar, theyservedastrainingtanks,andoneportrayedaSovietKV-1tankinthemovieTheUnknownSoldierin1955.After 1945, Bulgaria incorporated its surviving Panzer IVs in defensive

bunkersasgunpointson theborderwithTurkey,alongwithT-34 turrets.Thisdefensivelineknownasthe"KraliMarkoLine",remainedinuseuntilthefallofcommunismin1989.MostofthetanksRomaniahadreceivedwerelostin1944and1945incombat.

These tanks, designated T4 in the army inventory, were used by the 2ndArmouredRegiment.On9May1945only twoPanzer IVwere left.Romaniareceivedanother50PanzerIVtanksfromtheRedArmyaftertheendofthewar.These tanks were of different models and were in very poor shape.Many ofthemweremissingparts and the side skirts.TheT4 tanks remained in serviceuntil1950,whentheArmydecidedtouseonlySovietequipment.By1954,allGermantankswerescrapped.Variants

AJagdpanzerIV/48tankdestroyer,basedonthePanzerIVchassis,mountingthe75mmPaKL/48antitankgun.

In keeping with the wartime German design philosophy of mounting an

existing antitank gun on a convenient chassis to give mobility, several tankdestroyersandinfantrysupportgunswerebuiltaroundthePanzerIVhull.Boththe Jagdpanzer IV, initially armed with the 75-millimetre (2.95 in) L/48 tankgun,andtheKrupp-manufacturedSturmgeschützIV,whichwasthecasemateofthe Sturmgeschütz III mounted on the body of the Panzer IV, proved highlyeffective in defense. Cheaper and faster to construct than tanks, but with thedisadvantageofavery limitedgun traverse,around1,980Jagdpanzer IV'sand1,140SturmgeschützIVswereproduced.TheJagdpanzerIVeventuallyreceivedthesame75millimeterL/70gunthatwasmountedonthePanther.AnothervariantofthePanzerIVwasthePanzerbefehlswagenIV(Pz.Bef.Wg.

IV)commandtank.Thisconversionentailedtheinstallationofadditionalradiosets, mounting racks, transformers, junction boxes, wiring, antennas and anauxiliaryelectricalgenerator.Tomakeroomforthenewequipment,ammunitionstowagewasreducedfrom87 to72rounds.Thevehiclecouldcoordinatewithnearby armor, infantry or even aircraft. Seventeen Panzerbefehlswagen wereconverted from Ausf. J chassis, while another 88 were based on refurbishedchassis.

ASturmpanzerIVBrummbärinfantry-supportgun(CasemateMGvariant(flexiblemount)).

The Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV (Pz.Beob.Wg. IV) was an artillery

observationvehiclebuiltonthePanzerIVchassis.This,too,receivednewradio

equipment and an electrical generator, installed in the left rear corner of thefighting compartment. Panzerbeobachtungswagensworked in cooperationwithWespeandHummelself-propelledartillerybatteries.AlsobasedonthePanzerIVchassiswastheSturmpanzerIVBrummbär150-

millimetre (5.91 in) infantry-support self-propelled gun. These vehicles wereprimarilyissuedtofourSturmpanzerunits(Numbers216,217,218and219)andusedduringthebattleofKurskandinItalyin1943.TwoseparateversionsoftheSturmpanzerIVexisted,onewithoutamachineguninthemantletandonewithamachine gunmounted on themantlet of the casemate. Furthermore, a 105-millimetre (4.13 in) artillery gunwasmounted in an experimental turret on aPanzer IV chassis. This variant was called the Heuschrecke, or Grasshopper.Another 105 mm artillery/antitank prototype was the 10.5 cm K (gp.Sfl.)nicknamedDickerMax.

TheWirbelwindarmoredanti-aircraftvehicle.

Fourdifferentself-propelledanti-aircraftvehicleswerebuiltonthePanzerIV

hull.TheFlakpanzerIVMöbelwagenwasarmedwitha37-millimetre(1.46in)anti-aircraftcannon;240werebuiltbetween1944and1945.Inlate1944anewFlakpanzer, theWirbelwind, was designed, with enough armor to protect thegun'screwandarotatingturret,armedwiththe20mmquadmountFlakvierlinganti-aircraft cannon system; at least 100weremanufactured.Sixty-five similar

vehicleswerebuilt,namedtheOstwind,butwithasingle37-millimetre(1.46in)anti-aircraft cannon instead. This vehicle was designed to replace theWirbelwind.Thefinalmodelwas theFlakpanzerIVKugelblitz,ofwhichonlyfive were built. This vehicle featured a covered turret armed with twin 30-millimetre(1.18in)anti-aircraftcannons.

AlthoughnotadirectmodificationofthePanzerIV,someofitscomponents,

inconjunctionwithpartsfromthePanzerIII,wereutilizedtomakeoneof themostwidely-usedself-propelledartillerychassisofthewar—theGeschützwagenIII/IV.Thischassiswas thebasisof theHummelartillerypiece,ofwhich666were built, and also the 88 millimetres (3.46 in) gun armed Nashorn tankdestroyer,with 473manufactured. To resupply self-propelled howitzers in thefield,150ammunitioncarriersweremanufacturedontheGeschützwagenIII/IVchassis.

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