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 In July 1942, Hitler issued an order to equip the Ausf L with the outdated 75-mm KwK L/24 gun instead of the 50-mm gun it originally had.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.

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