"Review: Panzer III's with the Pz.III Ausf.M" Topic

"In 1943 Daimler Benz adapted their Panzer III L's with more features, the Ausf.M model turned out to be the second last variant, with minor modifications of the Ausf. L such as deep-wading exhaust, for river crossing capabilities on the Ausf.M (250 built until early 1943), and since the beginning, fitted with Schürzen (armoured skirts).

The Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf M was the second of two interim versions of the Panzer III produced while attempts to fit a larger gun to the tank were underway. It was virtually identical to the Ausf L, with the same 5cm KwK39 L/60 gun and extra 20mm spaced armour on the superstructure front and mantlet, but with the addition of fording equipment, which allowed it to wade through four or five feet of water.

This was achieved by providing watertight covers for every opening below the turret, including the normal air inlets for the engine. While the tank was crossing water air for the engine was provided via the turret…."

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Amicalement
Armand

interim versions of the Panzer III produced while attempts to fit a larger gun to the tank were underway.

What larger gun(s) did they try to fit on the Pz III?

Short 75 on the N model. They also attempted to fit a long 75 on the III but that didnt work out. Full look at all models:
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My favourite German tank, along with the Tiger 1.

Happy you like it boys!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

The Pz III started out with a 37, then a short 50mm, then long 50mm and finally the short 75 from the early Pz IV.

AIUI, turret ring diameter of the Mk III was inadequate to accommodate the long 75mm.

B

The Pz III started out with a 37, then a short 50mm, then long 50mm and finally the short 75 from the early Pz IV.

I knew all that; I was asking about what larger gun was tried unsuccessfully.

They also attempted to fit a long 75 on the III but that didn't work out.

Thank you. That makes sense.

turret ring diameter of the Mk III was inadequate to accommodate the long 75mm.

Why couldn't they build sponsons out over the tracks to give the hull a larger top (as on the Pz IV) and thus accommodate a larger turret ring? Or was it easier and/or cheaper to just build Pz IVs?

Increasing the size of the turret ring means increasing the width of the hull, surely, not just the turret.

There was an interesting experimental model with the 75/55 Pak41 on it. It would have been interesting to see how these squeeze bore guns would have developed if Germany had sufficient tungsten for the ammunition.

They fitted a bigger gun on the pz3.
Rather than try to find a way to make some sort of extended turret work they stuck with the successful design they already had.
Without any turret.
The stug3.

Mounting a long barrel 75 on the Pz III chassis, i.e. STuG III, was a good idea. As we know the long 50mm and short 75mm had limited use as the war progressed.