Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf. J

[Ghostmaxi 873]

I would like to Suggest the Panzerbefehlswagen III with the 5 cm KwK L/42.

What is it? Its essencially a Pz III J with the Ausf. L hardened 20mm Vorpanzer but instead of the L/60 it has the L/42 gun as well as  FuG5 and FuG7 or FuG5 and FuG8 Radios with the destingtiv long antenna on the back. The other visiual (but in game uninportatant) difference is the deletion of the hull MG and the removeal of a Ammo rack for sayed Radio equipment resulting in an Max Ammo load of "Just" 75 rounds of Pzgr 39 and Sprgr 38 and Pzgr 40.

 

History:

Allready in the Poland campain the troops have been asking the high command for more command vehicles with a more effective armarment, that they could also effectivly attack with the rest of the troops they command, more than just some Pistols, Mps and Mgs. After 3 years this was finally made true when Daimler Benz was given the Order to convert Pz III Js to Pz.Bef.Wg. III by the addition of Long range radio equipment. In January 1943 the WaA ordered that no dedicated Command vehicles where to be build anymore and all future Commandvehicles were to be made of converted Pzkpfw. From March to September 1943 additional 104 Pz IIIs with 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 were upgraded to Pz.Bef.Wg III by adding radio equipment and removing ammo racks and in some cases (if they didnt have them befor) added the 20mm Hardened Vorpanzer (Spaced Armor).

 

Where would its place be in game?

It would certainly be a Premium, event or similar vehicle to the Pz.Bef.Wg IV Ausf. J in game and perhaps gain the scouting ability in the future (as well as the IV J) to scout enemys.

It would have an quite unique look while providing sufficient armor with an good gun, certainly it cant be put too high of an Br where the gun will certainly struggle and the armor nothing worth anymore.

Why i would like to see it, is because it looks nice with the short gun and the extra armor as well as beeing a command vehicle of which not many are currently in game.

 

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	50 + 20 mm (12°) Front plate 25 mm (85°), 50 mm (52°) Front glacis 53 mm (25°) Lower glacis	30 mm	50 mm	15 mm
Turret	50 mm mm Turret front 50 + 20 mm Gun mantlet	30 mm	30 mm	10 mm
Cupola	30 + 50 mm	10 mm

 

 

5 cm KwK 38 L/42

5 cm Pzgr 39

80mm Penetration at 10m

685m/s

17g filler with 28,9g aquivalent

5 cm Sprgr 38

450m/s

170g Fp.02 and Np 10 (Fp 02 is TnT and Np 10 is Nitropenta 10 parts) so 90/10 with an Tnt aquivalent of 181,9

1,82kg

5 cm Pzgr 40

0,925kg

1060m/s

116mm at 10m

the Mg 34 did have S.m.K and S.m.K H ammo

 

Speed      forward / back

AB           60 / 12 km/h

RB          54 / 10 km/h

Number of gears 6 forward 1 back

Weight 21.5 t

Engine power

AB 572 hp

RB 300 hp

 

In the front right

With the track add on would be quite nice

Encyclopedia of German tanks of World War Two Peter Chamberlain

Merkblatt für das Zusammenwirken zwischen Infanterie und Panzern 30.04.1943

Panzer III Germanys Medium Tank Bob Carruthers

The Panzer III Hitlers beast of Burden Anthony tucker Jones

Edited February 24, 2022 by Ghostmaxi

[ItssLuBu 1,803]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,857]

Neat find, +1 from me.  Reminds me of the Panzer IIIK command tank.

[Ghostmaxi 873]

1 hour ago, Milocat said:

Neat find, +1 from me.  Reminds me of the Panzer IIIK command tank.

Because this is the Premodel of the K

[Milocat 4,857]

4 minutes ago, Ghostmaxi said:

Because this is the Premodel of the K

 

Ah, that makes sense!  Very cool.