The Pz.Kpfw III filled the role of anti-tank for the Germans in the first phase of World War II based on the experience from World War I.
In 1934 the first drawings of the Panzer III were undertaken, the first version of this tank, named Ausf. A, used a 37 mm Pak 36 cannon and three 7,92 mm MG34, the thin armor of 14.5 mm thick could protect against small arms only. With a final weight of 15 tons the Panzer III Ausf. A were powered by a 250 hp Maybach HL 108 TR V-12 petrol engine that could reach a top speed of 35 kmh.
Many other variants were made (Ausf. B, Ausf. C, Ausf. E, Ausf. D) but the most important is the Ausf. E with a additional 30 mm steel plate in the hull, providing more protection for the crew of 5 men (driver, aux. driver, gunner, loader and commander), a more powerful engine was adopted, the 265 hp Maybach HL 120 V-12 which slightly raised the top speed to 40 kmh, the main gun could now be changed to the 50 mm KwK 38 for better anti-armor role. The wight also raised to 19.5 tons.
Late production models (Ausf. H, Ausf. J) used a thicker armor of 50 mm, a longer 50 mm KwK L60 cannon, these improvements changed the final weight to 21.6 tons.
With more than 5700 units build, the Panzer III played a vital role in the first phase of the war, being used until the fall of Berlin, with a extensive combat history.
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