Germany's 6/ZW; Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G; PzKpfw III Ausf G medium tank

Photos

Either a PzKpfw III Ausf F or PzKpfw III Ausf G with the Afrika Korps in 1941.

Imperial War Museum

PzKpfw III Ausf G:

Design

In January 1939 and order for 1,250 was placed, however this was changed to 800 in May 1939 when the PzKpfw 38(t) production became available.

Hull

The driver had a new single piece shutter that helped to better protect him.⁵

Turret

There was a new commander's cupola added to the turret roof.⁵ There were five vision slits that used a split cover that spread apart when opened.⁵

The second coaxial machine gun was removed from this model forward.¹

Main Armament

Originally armed with 37 mm (50 were built, but most were later unarmored to the 50 mm) but changed to 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 in July 1940. 

Production

The PzKpfw III series production figures.

• Chassis Numbers: 65001 - 66000⁵

Variants

• Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G:
• Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf G (Tp): Tp (tropical) version was  fitted with special equipment for using in Africa.⁵ Some of that equipment was Fiefel filters fitted externally on the engine compartment.

Usage

Early models were issued as replacements to the Panzer regiments from April 1940⁷ to June 1940. All of these were the 37 mm KwK models. 54 PzKpfw III Ausf Gs were still in service in September 1944.

Specifications