Panzer III
The Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank was designed in accordance with 1934 specifications for a medium tank with a speed of up to 22 m.p.h., that was capable of destroying enemy tanks. The resulting tank was armed with a 37mm gun and featured innovations such as a three-seat turret, an intercom system, and radio equipment as standard issues at a time when tanks in other armies relied on flag signals. During the 1940 blitzkrieg, Panzer IIIs were few in number, but proved themselves Germany’s most formidable tanks. When Germany invaded the USSR in 1941, Panzer IIIs were the Wehrmacht’s most numerically important tank.
The Panzers III and IV were intended to complement each other, with the Panzer III fighting other tanks, while the Panzer IV reduced infantry strongpoints and destroyed antitank guns. Panzer IIIs their antitank task well during the war’s early years, going toe-to-toe against all armored opposition they encountered as the German juggernaut rolled through Europe and through the early stages of the invasion of the USSR.
Panzer IIIs had a range of about 100 miles on roads, and 59 miles cross country. They entered the war in 1939 armed with a 37mm gun, upgraded to 50mm as the quality of opposition improved. That was supplemented by two coaxial machine guns in early models, later reduced to one, plus another hull-mounted machine gun. However, the quality of armored opposition spiked once the Germans encountered Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. Panzer IIIs armed with 50mm guns were simply outmatched, and it became clear that more powerful guns would be needed to overcome such formidable opponents. That was when a major limitation of the Panzer III emerged: it could not accommodate those bigger gun anywhere as easily as could the Panzer IV.
Thus, by 1942 Panzer IVs had supplanted Panzer IIIs as Germany’s main battle tank, and the latter was relegated to supporting roles and eased out of service, while the Panzer III chassis was adapted for the Stug III assault gun and tank destroyer. However, some Panzer IIIs still saw action as late as 1944 in the Normandy campaign, in Operation Market Garden, and in secondary theaters such as Finland and Norway.