"Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N Mitt Schürzen Review" Topic

"The Panzer III Ausf N was an attempt to increase the potency of the tank by arming it with the 75mm KwK L/24 gun. This weapon fired an effective high-explosive round and an excellent shaped-charge that had better penetration than the long-barrelled KwK39 L/60 which it replaced.

The Ausf.N mounted a short-barrel 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24 (7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24) tank gun, previously used on the Panzer IV. It was a low-velocity tank gun that was designed to fire mainly high explosive shells. If it had to engage armoured vehicles in combat it could fire the Panzergranate armour-piercing AP shell, but it was only effective at short ranges. Later on in the war, crews had the option to load the new 7.5 cm HL-granaten 39 hollow-charge high-explosive anti-tank HEAT projectiles which had a greater effect against tank armour…"

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Anyone know how effective this model was and how widespread its use?

I wonder how many times I have seen this AFV in photos and assumed I was looking at an early MkIV?

The top photo is worth a closer look, to work out the context! Gives one a good feeling. The Germans in it seem somewhat slimmer than their captors however!

Some 700 were built. 663 newly built and 37 converted from earlier rebuilt IIIs. The original contract was for 450 but based on feedback 250 more ordered so must have been effective enough. Each Tiger Tank company was to have 10 of the M's assigned to them which alone would make their use fairly widely spread. Of note some 150 of them were used during the Kursk offensive.

(smile)

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