Book Review of
Panzer III German Army Light Tank
North Africa , El Alamein to Tunis, 1942-1943
Author: Dennis Oliver
Pen & Sword Books
ISBN: 978-1-39906-512-2
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2023
MSRP: $29.95
ISBN: 978-1-39906-512-2
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2023
MSRP: $29.95
HISTORY:
The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside and support the similar Panzer IV, which was originally designed for infantry support.
However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, more powerful anti-tank guns were needed, and since the Panzer IV had more development potential with a larger turret ring, it was redesigned to mount the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun. The Panzer III effectively swapped roles with the Panzer IV, as from 1942 the last version of the Panzer III (Panzer III N) mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 that was better suited for infantry support.
Production of the Panzer III ceased in 1943. Nevertheless, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1939–1945
Used by: Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Norway, Turkey
Wars: World War II
Designer: Daimler-Benz
Designed: 1935–1937
Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz
Unit cost: 103,163 ℛℳ (Ausf. M)
Produced: 1939–1943
No. built: 5,774 (excluding StuG III)
Mass: 23.0 tonnes (25.4 short tons)
Length: 5.56 m (18 ft 3 in)
Width: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
Armour: Ausf A-C: 15 mm all around, Ausf D-G: 30 mm all around, Ausf J +: 50 mm all around
Main armament: 1 × 3.7 cm KwK 36 Ausf. A-G, 1 × 5 cm KwK 38 Ausf. F-J, 1 × 5 cm KwK 39 Ausf. J¹-M, 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 37 Ausf. N
Secondary armament: 2–3 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine: 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM of 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight: 12 hp (9.6 kW) / tonne
Suspension: Torsion-bar suspension
Fuel capacity: 300-320 litres
Operational range: Road: 165 km (103 mi), Cross-country: 85 km (53 mi)
Maximum speed: Road: 40 km/h (25 mph)
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is located in the UK.
This book is of soft-cover of 65 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 3/2” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo at the top of a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N built by modeler Kentaro Takabayashi using the Tamiya 1/25th scale kit.
Below it there are three black and white wartime photos of Pz.Kpfw. III’s.
Reading left to right the first one is an Ausf. N, of Stab.schwere Panzer Abteilung 301 operating in Tunisia in late 1942 and early 1943.
In the middle is an Ausf. M, of an unidentified unit disabled and abandoned outside Tunis in May 1943.
On the right is an Ausf. L, from Panzer Regiment 7 of 10th Panzer Division, photographed in early 1943.
At the bottom of the page there appears a color profile of a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J, of 7th Kompanie, Panzer Regiment 5, which took part in the fighting near El Alamein in late 1942.
The colours used on these tanks are discussed in detail in the Camouflage & Markings and Technical Details and Modifications sections in the book.
On the back cover, from top to bottom. A Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. H of 2nd Kompanie, Panzer Regiment, 1942. Just prior to the El Alamein battles.
Next: Dragon Models’ 1/35th scale Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L completed with the extensive photo-etched brass and resin detail set from Voyager Model.
Over a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N, of 8th Kompanie, Panzer Regiment 7, formerly 2nd Kompanie, Schwere Panzerabteilung 501. Photographed at Beja, west of Tunis, in May 1943.
At the bottom is a side profile illustration of a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. J, that appears again in the profiles section of the book. More about it later.
There are 80 color photos in the book (including ones on the covers).
There are 38 black and white war-time photos.
There is a map of Tunisia, 2 data lists, 5 black and white side profiles of Ausf. H, J, L, M and N type Pz.Kpfw. IIIs.
Five pages show the makeup of units using black silhouettes of the tanks.
The color profile section shows 20 side-views and two 2-views.
The modeler’s section shows modeler Kentaro Takabayashi Tamiya 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. Ausf. N ins 13 color walk-around type photos of it made up. Shown also is a photo of a German iron-cross and the cover of a Signal magazine.
Modeler Luca Pineider Dragon 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. F in 25 color walk-around photos of it made up. Shown also is a photo of a Panzer crew-mans badge and collar insignia and the cover art of the Dragon kit.
Modeler Daiji Marumoto’s Tamiya 1/35th scale Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N in 11 color photos of it made up and a photo of the cover of a Signal magazine.
Modeler Nathan Fariss Dragon 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. III ausf. N in 10 color walk-around photos of it made up and a picture of a metal death’s-head metal and the cover art of the Dragon model.
Next is a section showing available Kits.
Three cover arts of Dragon kits are shown, along with a color photo of one being built.
Three photos of the Italeri Ausf. N kit.
Three color photos of Rye Field accessories.
Three color photos of Panzer Art accessories.
A color photo of Academy’s Ausf. J.
A color photo of Voyager’s 1/72nd scale kit.
A color photo of E.T. Model’s kit.
Three color photos of Aber accessories.
Three color photos of R.B. Model accessories.
The last page of the book shows 12 black and white cover arts of Pen & Sword books and a listing of the names of 31 other ones.
This book will interest modelers and military historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review copy. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword Books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside and support the similar Panzer IV, which was originally designed for infantry support.
However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, more powerful anti-tank guns were needed, and since the Panzer IV had more development potential with a larger turret ring, it was redesigned to mount the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun. The Panzer III effectively swapped roles with the Panzer IV, as from 1942 the last version of the Panzer III (Panzer III N) mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 that was better suited for infantry support.
Production of the Panzer III ceased in 1943. Nevertheless, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1939–1945
Used by: Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Norway, Turkey
Wars: World War II
Designer: Daimler-Benz
Designed: 1935–1937
Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz
Unit cost: 103,163 ℛℳ (Ausf. M)
Produced: 1939–1943
No. built: 5,774 (excluding StuG III)
Mass: 23.0 tonnes (25.4 short tons)
Length: 5.56 m (18 ft 3 in)
Width: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
Armour: Ausf A-C: 15 mm all around, Ausf D-G: 30 mm all around, Ausf J +: 50 mm all around
Main armament: 1 × 3.7 cm KwK 36 Ausf. A-G, 1 × 5 cm KwK 38 Ausf. F-J, 1 × 5 cm KwK 39 Ausf. J¹-M, 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 37 Ausf. N
Secondary armament: 2–3 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine: 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM of 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight: 12 hp (9.6 kW) / tonne
Suspension: Torsion-bar suspension
Fuel capacity: 300-320 litres
Operational range: Road: 165 km (103 mi), Cross-country: 85 km (53 mi)
Maximum speed: Road: 40 km/h (25 mph)
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is located in the UK.
This book is of soft-cover of 65 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 3/2” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo at the top of a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N built by modeler Kentaro Takabayashi using the Tamiya 1/25th scale kit.
Below it there are three black and white wartime photos of Pz.Kpfw. III’s.
Reading left to right the first one is an Ausf. N, of Stab.schwere Panzer Abteilung 301 operating in Tunisia in late 1942 and early 1943.
In the middle is an Ausf. M, of an unidentified unit disabled and abandoned outside Tunis in May 1943.
On the right is an Ausf. L, from Panzer Regiment 7 of 10th Panzer Division, photographed in early 1943.
At the bottom of the page there appears a color profile of a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J, of 7th Kompanie, Panzer Regiment 5, which took part in the fighting near El Alamein in late 1942.
The colours used on these tanks are discussed in detail in the Camouflage & Markings and Technical Details and Modifications sections in the book.
On the back cover, from top to bottom. A Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. H of 2nd Kompanie, Panzer Regiment, 1942. Just prior to the El Alamein battles.
Next: Dragon Models’ 1/35th scale Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L completed with the extensive photo-etched brass and resin detail set from Voyager Model.
Over a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N, of 8th Kompanie, Panzer Regiment 7, formerly 2nd Kompanie, Schwere Panzerabteilung 501. Photographed at Beja, west of Tunis, in May 1943.
At the bottom is a side profile illustration of a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. J, that appears again in the profiles section of the book. More about it later.
There are 80 color photos in the book (including ones on the covers).
There are 38 black and white war-time photos.
There is a map of Tunisia, 2 data lists, 5 black and white side profiles of Ausf. H, J, L, M and N type Pz.Kpfw. IIIs.
Five pages show the makeup of units using black silhouettes of the tanks.
The color profile section shows 20 side-views and two 2-views.
The modeler’s section shows modeler Kentaro Takabayashi Tamiya 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. Ausf. N ins 13 color walk-around type photos of it made up. Shown also is a photo of a German iron-cross and the cover of a Signal magazine.
Modeler Luca Pineider Dragon 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. F in 25 color walk-around photos of it made up. Shown also is a photo of a Panzer crew-mans badge and collar insignia and the cover art of the Dragon kit.
Modeler Daiji Marumoto’s Tamiya 1/35th scale Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N in 11 color photos of it made up and a photo of the cover of a Signal magazine.
Modeler Nathan Fariss Dragon 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. III ausf. N in 10 color walk-around photos of it made up and a picture of a metal death’s-head metal and the cover art of the Dragon model.
Next is a section showing available Kits.
Three cover arts of Dragon kits are shown, along with a color photo of one being built.
Three photos of the Italeri Ausf. N kit.
Three color photos of Rye Field accessories.
Three color photos of Panzer Art accessories.
A color photo of Academy’s Ausf. J.
A color photo of Voyager’s 1/72nd scale kit.
A color photo of E.T. Model’s kit.
Three color photos of Aber accessories.
Three color photos of R.B. Model accessories.
The last page of the book shows 12 black and white cover arts of Pen & Sword books and a listing of the names of 31 other ones.
This book will interest modelers and military historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review copy. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword Books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.