Panzer III mod. J 

Type: Medium tank
The armor of the model J is increased to 50 mm. It will be further reinforced in some places by bolting supplemental 20 mm tick armor plates. Whereas two thirds of the production retained the original 50 mm L/42 gun, the units built after December 1941 received the model L/60, longer and more efficient against Russian tanks.
It is the version of the Panzer III with the highest production numbers. That model tried in vain to counter the growing threat of the T-34.
Identification: New vision slit for the pilot in the fore superstructure. The hull MG received the same mounting Kugelblende than the Panzer IV.
Based on: Panzer III

General
Weight (combat ready): 21.5 tons
Ground Pressure: 0.94 kg per cm²
Length: 5.56 meters
Height: 2.5 meters
Width: 2.95 meters
Crew: 5 men

Armour & Weapons
50mm Kwk 38 L/42
2 x MG 34
Maximum Armour: 50 mm
Minimum Armour: 10 mm
Propulsion
Engine: Maybach HL120 TRM
Speed (*): 40 kph
Power: 300 HP
Fuel tank: 320 liters
Range (*): 176 km
Range off Road: 85 km
Mileage (*): 182 liters per 100 km

Production
Production: 2 616 units
From: March of 1941
To: July of 1942
(*) on road
Off the total production, 1549 were early production with a 5 cm L/42 gun and 1067 with a longer 50 mm L/60
Ressource(s) on the net (for the model): [OnWar] (for the general type): [militarycz][AchtungPanzer]



Panzer III model J in Libya. It is still armed with a shorter 50 mm gun (Photo Bundesarchiv)


Made by LemaireSoft © September 20, 2001