It still had the same drum shape and eight small vision slits. B received a new commander’s cupola that was bolted to the rear of the top of the turret.
GIRL UND PANZER STUG DRIVER
The anti-aircraft machine gun mount is visible, just behind the left driver vision port (which is open in this picture.) Source: Turret The radio antenna and its wooden housing were moved further to the back, on the right side of the superstructure. The vehicle had to be stationary, which somewhat limited its usefulness. Its main purpose was to serve as a machine gun mount (the machine gun had to be dismounted from the vehicle) for the crew to engage enemy aircraft. On the left superstructure side, a triangular-shaped pivoting arm was added. B version, which had four smaller air intakes in the engine compartment. The two vehicles at the bottom of the picture are Panzer III Ausf.
It was enlarged and the two larger air intakes were replaced with four smaller ones placed on top of the engine compartment instead of the rear. The major one was the complete redesign of the rear engine compartment. There were several changes incorporated into the new Ausf. The two round-shaped access hatches are visible here. These were used for the crew to have better access to the transmission during repairs. B’s hull was the use of two inspection round access hatch doors placed in front of the transmission. The only visible change introduced on the Ausf. B had the same arrangement as its previous version, with the rear engine compartment, the central crew compartment, and the forward-mounted transmission and enclosed driving compartment.
A’s shortcomings, mainly regarding its suspension. B was, in essence, an attempt to improve a number of the previous Ausf. The last two vehicles were completed and delivered by the start of December 1937. Once all parts were completed, these were to be transported to Daimler-Benz for final assembly.īy early November 1937, 8 vehicles were completed and were mostly issued to training tank schools. Additionally, Stahlwerke Harkort-Eichen was to produce armor components for the needed turrets. These included Krupp-Grusonwerk, producing 5 new turrets, Rheinmetall, building 5 of the 3.7 cm guns and Krupp (Essen) building another 10 turrets and 5 guns. As the German industry was still not sufficiently developed for tank production, a number of subcontractors were also included in the Panzer III project.
GIRL UND PANZER STUG SERIAL NUMBERS
These had serial numbers ranging from 60201 to 60215. B chassis and superstructures (not all would be completed as tanks) by the end of 1937.
ProductionĪccording to this contract, Daimler-Benz was to produce 15 Panzer III Ausf. B (and later C and D versions) was mainly focused on solving the issues regarding the Ausf. The Z.W.3 experimental vehicle would serve as the base for the development of the Panzer III Ausf. These were Versuchs-Fahrgestell (experimental chassis) Z.W.3 ( Zugführerwagen platoon commander’s vehicle) and the Z.W.4. A test chassis in August 1935, Waffen Prüfwesen 6 (Wa Prw 6 – the automotive design office of the German Army) issued a new contract by which two additional experimental chassis were to be built. As Daimler-Benz was finishing the first few Ausf. A, the Germans established a good design base that still offered a lot of space for improvements. Source:įollowing the introduction of the Panzer III Ausf. B, intended to improve the suspension and other minor elements of the vehicle. Thus, the Germans introduced a new version, the Ausf. While the Germans were generally satisfied with the overall concept and design, there was still a lot of room for improvements and modifications. A into service provided the Germans with a base for the development of a good medium tank.
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