Panzer III mod. F Panzer III mod. F Type: Medium tank
Slightly modified version of the model F, with a new engine. Three quater of the units received a 3.7 cm gun, but the last 100 units had a 5 cm L/42 gun at the factory. The others were later rearmed with the new gun. Later in the war, the surviving Panzer III mod. F were rearmed a second time with a longer 5 cm L/60 gun. Its armor was reinforced in the course of its operational life.
The Panzer III mod. F saw action for the first time during the Campaign in France (only four had the new 5 cm guns). Althought outdated by 1942, some Panzer III mod. F went on fighting on the frontline until June 1944.
Identification: Externally similar to the model E. There is an additional air intake above the turret before the cupola of the tank commader. The vision slit of the pilot is lower in the front of the superstructure than on the model E.
Based on: Panzer III
Ground Pressure: 0.95 kg per cm² Length: 5.38 meters Height: 2.44 meters Width: 2.91 meters Crew: 5 men 2 x MG 34 Maximum Armour: 30 mm Minimum Armour: 12 mm | Speed (*): 40 kph Power: 300 HP Fuel tank: 320 liters Range (*): 171 km Range off Road: 95 km Mileage (*): 187 liters per 100 km From: September of 1939 To: July of 1940 |
 Panzer III model F crossing Sofia on the eve of the attack against Greece and Yugoslavia. This unit had already been rearmed with a 5 cm gun on an external gun shield. Note the shpae of the vision slit of the driver. (Photo ABC) |