Tanks of the Afrika Korps
15. Panzer-Division of the Afrika Korps
Panzer III Ausf N 124 of the schwere Panzerabteilung 501 DAK, North Africa
Panzer III Ausf N 331 Kursk 1943
Panzer III N Tunisia
Italian Panzer III Ausf N of the 1. Blackshirt Armored Division M
Panzer III Ausf N
British Army captures Panzer III unit Norway June 1945
British Army captures Panzer III unit Oslo June 1945
Panzer III Ausf N 121 Italy
Panzer III Ausf N dug in Italy
Panzer III Ausf N 122 dug in
crew members atop a Panzer III Ausf N Italy
Panzer III Ausf N Italy 1944
Panzer III Ausf N 121 dug in
Panzer III Ausf N with schurzen
Panzer III Ausf N 12
Panzer III Ausf N winter
Panzer III Ausf N with sandbags
Panzer III Ausf N with schurzen 2
Panzer III Ausf N 1 Italy 1944 2
Panzer III ausf N zimmerit
Details of the turret of Panzer III Ausf. N tank, tactical number 122, Italy 1943
Panzer III Ausf N, tank turret number 122 Italy 1943. Tank armed with a short barreled 7,5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun.
Panzer III Ausf N schurzen
Panzer III ausf N
Panzer III Ausf. N – Infantry support variant, armed with a short-barrelled 7,5 cm K.w.K. 37 L/24 gun.
The Ausf N tank was almost identical to the Ausf M, except for its armament. In July 1942, Hitler issued an order to equip the Ausf L with the outdated 75-mm KwK L/24 gun instead of the 50-mm gun it originally had. This decision was made to create a support tank for heavier tanks like the PzKpfw VI Tiger. The 75-mm gun was the same type of ordnance used in the earlier models of the PzKpfw IV and weighed 285 kg (628 lb). It had the capability to fire a 6.75-kg APCBC projectile with a muzzle velocity of 385 m per second, which was powerful enough to penetrate 41 mm (1.61 in) of armor at a 30° angle and a range of 500 m (545 yards).
However, the 75-mm gun had an advantage over the 50-mm gun, which was limited to only HE and armor-piercing ammunition. The 75-mm gun was able to fire a range of projectiles, including armor-piercing, HEAT, HE, smoke, and case. The tank was also equipped with 56 rounds of ammunition for these types of projectiles, as well as 3,450 machine-gun rounds. The Ausf N was also equipped with the same type of ordnance as the Ausf L but with revised ammunition stowage, allowing for 64 rounds of 75-mm ammunition.
Production of the Ausf N began in July 1942 and continued until August 1943, with a total of 660 tanks produced during that period. The 213 vehicles produced in 1943 were modified during production to include the Schürzen (aprons), which consisted of 8-mm skirts over the running gear and 5-mm panels around the turret. This provided additional protection against enemy fire. To further enhance the tank’s protection, Zimmerit paste, a coating weighing 100 kg, was applied to the tank’s exterior. The paste protected the tank from magnetically-attached mines.
Specifications:
version | Panzer III ausf N Sdkfz 141/2, 11/ZW |
crew | 5 |
armor | hull: front: 50 + 20 mm, sides: 30 mm, rear 50 mm, top: 17 mm, bottom: 16 mm turret: front: 57 mm, sides: 30 mm, rear: 30 mm, top: 10 mmm, gun mantlet: 50 mm |
main armament | 7,5 cm KwK L/24 ( 56 – 64 rounds) |
secondary armament | 2 x MG34 (3450 rounds) |
weight (kg) | 23000 |
length (mm) | 5495 (Ausf L) or 5737 (Ausf M chassis) |
width (mm) | 2950, 3266 with Ostketten, 3410 with Schurzen |
height (mm) | 2500 |
wheel base (mm) | 2510 |
track contact (mm) | 2860 |
ground pressure (kg/cm2) | 1,03 |
engine | Maybach HL 120 TRM, 300 hp at 3000 rpm. 12 cylinder, liquid-cooled, gasoline 11867 cm3 |
transmission | ZF SSG 77, 6 forward, 1 reverse |
fuel capacity (l) | 320 |
fuel consumption (l) (road / off road) | 182 |
range (road km/ off-road km) | 155/95 |
max speed (road/ off-road km/h) | 40/15 |
tracks | 400 mm Kgs 61/400/120 |
number of links per trac | 93 |
ground clearance (mm) | 375 |
trench crossing (mm) | 2200 |
vertical obstacle (mm) | 600 |
fording ability (mm) | 800 |
climbing ability (degrees) | 30 |
turning circle (mm) | 5850 |
manufacturer | Daimler – Benz AG, Henschel, Wegmann, MAN, MIAG, MNH |
chassis numbers | 73857-77793 |