Germany's Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III, SdKfz 143
Photos
Design
262 were converted from February 1943 to April 1944. Was an artillery observation vehicle converted from older model IIIs. It was used by forward artillery observers for the self-propelled howitzer batteries of Panzer divisions. Early models received additional 30 mm armored plates. The ball MG in the hull was replaced by a pistol port. A dummy gun barrel was placed where the coaxial MG was located and a MG was placed where the gun used to be. A retractable TBF-2 observation periscope was installed and could be closed by an armored cover. A 2 m "star" antenna for a FuG 8 was installed over the engine compartment. In 1943 some had the 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 gun installed.
Prototype
Production
Variants
Specifications
| Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III (SdKfz 143) | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 51 |
| Radio | FuG41, FuG81 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19.5-23 tons1 |
| Length w/gun | 5.52 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 2.5 m1 |
| Width | 2.92 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 7.92 mm MG341 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1,500 Patr SmK1 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 30+30@9°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30+30@21°1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 30@0°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 30@30°1 & 30+30@10°1 |
| Hull Top | 17@77-90°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 16@90°1 |
| Turret Front | 30@15°1 Mantlet: 50@0-45°1 |
| Turret Sides | 3-@25°1 |
| Turret Rear | 30@12°1 |
| Turret Top | 10@83-90°1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TR1 OR Maybach HL 120 TRM1 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 10 forward, 1 reverse.1 OR 6 forward, 1 reverse.1 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | Hand.1 |
| Speed - Road | 40 kph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 165 km1 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
