Panzerkampfwagen III Umbau Conversions (Panzer Tracts No.03-05)

56 Pages·2011·36.278 MB·English

by  Thomas L. Jentz

$19.95
PANZER TRACTS No.3-5
Panzerkampfwagen III U mbau
Conversions to Z.W.40, Pz.Kpfw.III (T), Pz.Kpfw.III
(Funk), Pz.Kpfw.III (Fl), Pz.Beob.Wg.III, SK 1,
Brueckenmaterialtraeger, and Munitionspanzer
Created by Thomas L. Jentz
and Hilary Louis Doyle
Featuring new 1/35th scale drawings of the
Z.W.40, Pz.Kpfw.III (T) Ausf.G and H, Pz.Kpfw.III (Funk),
Pz.Kpfw.III (Fl), and Pz.Beob.Wg.III
Front Cover Photos: Pz.Kpfw.III (3.7 em) (T) Ausf.G Fgst.Nr.65118 completed by Henschel in April
1940, was modified by the end of August 1940, and issued to the 2.Kp./Pz.Abt.D -later renamed ll.Kp./
Pz.Rgt.18. (HB)
The scale prints of the converted Pz.Kpfw.lll were drawn at full scale using a CAD program and printed
at 1/35 scale.
Thanks are especially due to Marcus Jaugits (11), Henry Blanck (2), Karlheinz Muench (2), Werner
Regenberg (2), Wolfgang Schneider (2), Oyvind Leonsen (1), Lee Archer (1), and George Fancsovits
(1) for providing copies of rare and unique photos. Photos were also obtained from the Bundesarchiv
Bildarchiv (6), Bundesarchiv-Militaerarchiv (3), National Archives (10), Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen
Proving Ground (5), Steyr-Daimler-Puch (2), Maybach Archives (2), Bavarian State Library, Munich (2),
and Archives of Modern Conflict (1).
Published by
Panzer Tracts
P.O.Box 312
Boyds, MD 20841
© Copyright Thomas L. Jentz 2011
www.panzertracts.com
All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reprinted or reproduced
in any fashion or by any means without the
express written permission of the publisher.
Introduction
Now for the first time Panzer Tracts has created tunate stroke of luck when we discovered that the details
a reliable reference work documenting the history of the of Krupp's pre-war activities survived because they were
Panzerkampfwagen III Umbau. Information presented gathered as evidence of war crimes for the Nuernberg tri
in this Panzer Tracts allows the reader to correctly interpret als. This action preserved Krupp's annual reports with
photographic content from any and all other sources. You details on their achievements in weapons design and pro
can successfully identify the type of conversion in a pho duction each year. In addition, production reports from
tograph by using the key characteristics correctly identified Daimler-Benz survived in their archives. Waffenamt
in this Panzer Tracts. In addition, details of what the far reports on production and operational records on unit
side, top, and rear looked like on any given Panzer can be strengths were also obtained from the U.S. National
determined when you only have a single photograph of the Archives and Bundesarchiv Militaerarchiv.
Panzer that you are interested in. The accurate as-built scale drawings in this Panzer
Separate contracts were awarded to the as- Tracts were created by taking hundreds of hours to pre
sembly firms for producing Versuchs-Fahrzeuge (trial cisely measure every external part and then spending over
vehicles), Serie-Fertigung (mass production), grosse two thousand hours to meticulously draw the external fea
Instandsetzung (major overhaul - rebuild), and Umbau tures at full scale of the basic Pz.Kpfw.III upon which the
(conversion). The Fgst.Nr. identification, assigned when a conversions were based. There is no loss in detail with the
chassis was originally built for a trial vehicle or as part of reduction in scale from being drawn at I: I to being printed
a mass production series, remained as the identification for at I :35, because the software now being used to create the
the Panzer when it was rebuilt or converted. printing plates draws the lines, circles, arcs, hexes, and
Each assembly firm had its own system for iden ovals one at a time-just like we did in creating these ac
tifying their Versuchs-Fahrgestell. Daimler-Benz which curate as-built drawings.
was responsible for completing the Versuchs-Fahrgestell As is our high standard, Panzer Tracts are based
for the Pz.Kpfw.III, code named Zugfuehrerwagen (ab solely on surviving specimens, wartime photographs, and
breviated Z.W.), started out with a single digit numbering the content of primary source documents written by those
system ofZ.W.l, Z.W.3, and Z.W.4. Then Daimler-Benz who participated in the design, production, and employ
changed to a five digit number for the three Versuchs ment of the Panzers. The time is long overdue for those re
Fahrgestell for the Z.W.38 with Fgst.Nr.30005 to 30007. al experts who designed, produced, and used the Panzer
Daimler-Benz kept this number sequence for their VK kampfwagen III Umbau to have their say.
2001 (D) with their diesel engine installed in Fgst.Nr. Examining photographs in detail, we found:
30009. When a trial vehicle was confiscated from a o Two different designs for sealing the base of the Pz.
mass production series, it kept the series Fgst.Nr. Such Kpfw.III (T) turret; one with straps and an adjustable tri
is the case with the Z.W.40 with the single trial vehicle angular support on both turret sides, and the other being a
identified by Fgst.Nr.65482, having been taken from the tube located on the right turret rear (apparently associated
6./Z.W.Serie completed by Alkett, and the small produc with inflating the rubber innertube seal). Both means were
tion series of20 Z.W.40 with Fgst.Nr.65531 to 65550 still in use on Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G and H modified for
having been completed using the last 20 chassis from the Tauch in the Spring of 1941, but apparently not on the
6./Z.W.Serie completed by Alkett. Unfortunately origi same Panzer.
nal documents have not survived to explain why these o A special water-proof headlight mounted on the glacis of
20 Z.W.40 all had 7./Z.W. turrets, but were not fitted or Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.F and G (with both 3.7 em and 5 em
prepared to fit 30 mm thick face-hardened plates bolted Kw.K.) modified for Tauch in July/August 1940. In addi
onto the front and rear, the same as other late production tion, the water-proof headlight, commonly known as the
Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G. Bosch headlight, was already mounted on the track guards
Since most of the original documents and draw ofPz.Kpfw.III (T) Ausf.G and H in the Spring of 1941,
ings created by the design firms (Daimler-Benz and but on a different base than was commonly used for this
Krupp) did not survive and only a few production series water-proof Bosch headlight starting in the Fall of 1942.
modifications were announced in the A.H.M. or H.T.V.Bl., o Two different armor radio bins mounted on the turret
Fgst.Nr. (chassis numbers) are the surviving key to solv rear ofPz.Kpfw.III (Funk) Ausf.J.
ing the chronological modification puzzle. By themselves o Two different armor sleeves for the flamethrower tubes
Fgst.Nr. can be used to correctly identify the Ausf., but on Pz.Kpfw.III (FI). Originally, the armor sleeve for the 5
additional information is needed to determine the sequence em Kw.K. L/60 was retained with a tube welded onto the
in which the Panzers were actually produced. end. During the production run, this was changed to a
Relatively few pre-war records on the develop larger diameter armor cylinder welded to the gun mantle
ment of the German Panzers have survived. It was a for- with a cap bolted to the front of the armor cylinder.
3-5-1
Versuchs-Panzerkampfwagen Z. W.40
Z.W.38, VK 20.01 D
The first mention of a Z. W.40 is in a request to engines were completed by Daimler-Benz for testing auto
Krupp, Essen from Daimler-Benz dated 16 December motive components, including Z.W.38 Fgst.Nr. 30005
1937. In order to complete the preliminary design work on with a May bach Variorex-Getriebe (1 0 speed semi-auto
a Z.W.40 Fahrgestell, Daimler-Benz requested that matic transmission) and Z.W.38 Fgst.Nr.30007 with a
Krupp, Essen provide the clearances needed for parts of Zahnradfabrik elektro-magnetischem Getriebe (electro
the turret that extended down into the hull. It was common magnetic transmission). The VK 20.01 was not limited by
practice at this time for Wa Pruef 6 to select a different de previous designs concepts - it was to have a completely
sign firm for the turret than the design firm selected for the changed internal space and installation characteristics.
hull. The 1. deutchen Panzerkampfwagen mit Dieselmotor
In a list of their design projects Daimler-Benz in was the VK 2001 D, Fgst.Nr. 30009 weighing 22.3 metric
cluded a Z.W.40 (1Jun38) with a 12 cylinder Maybach tons with the Daimler-Benz-Dieselmotor MB 809 rated at
HL 190 engine rated at 400 metric horsepower at 2400 315 metric horsepower. VK 20.01 D Fgst.Nr.30009 with
rpm and a Z.W.40 (14Dec38) with a 6 cylinder Maybach a Zahnradfabrik Druchluftgetriebe (compressed air
HL 116 engine rated at 300 metric horsepower at 3300 transmission) was being tested at St.Johann in January
rpm. 1942. By January 1945, it had been driven 6163 kilome
The Z.W.40 was not the same project as the VK ters, mostly by Daimler-Benz.
20.01. The Z. W.40 maintained the same Panzerwan As discussed on 15 September 1939 in a meeting
neform (armor hull shape) as the normal production series on the preliminary designs for their VK 20.01 (IV), Krupp
Z.W.38 (Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.E, F, and G). Utilizing the was to try installation of the Z.W.40 6-Rollen-Drestab
same basic hull shape, modifications were made to the sus Laufwerk (six roadwheel torsion bar suspension). In re
pension and internal changes to the drive train. Three Ver sponse to Krupp's request for measurements and weights
suchs-Panzer Z.W.38 Fahrgestell with Maybach HL 120 for the Z.W.40, Daimler-Benz reported on 22 September
Above: The first diesel engine installed in a German Panzer was in this VK 2001 D, Fgst.Nr. 30009
weighing 22.3 metric tons with the Daimler-Benz-Dieselmotor MB 809. (BAMA)
3-5-2
This Page: Daimler-Benz Werk 40 in Berlin completed three Z.W.38 Versuchs-Fahrgestell to test
automotive components like the Maybach 10-speed Variorex Getriebe in Z.W.38 Fgst.Nr.30005. (BAMA)
3-5-3
1939 that the roadwheel diameter was 535 mm, tire width Schiessplatz reported on the test ofPz.Kpf.Wg. Z.W.40
100 mm, and total weight 20 metric tons. At this time the (Fgst.Nr.65531) with Kaltluftdusche und Autbau-Iso
Z.W.40 was to have the same diameter roadwheels used on lierung (cold air shower and insulated superstructure).
the Z.W.38 and Z.W.39 (Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.E to H). This Kampfwagen had been driven 322 kilometers
By 1940, Famo in Breslau had been requested by before being sent to Greece where it was driven 258 kilo
Wa Pruef 6 to design a Schachtellaufwerk (overlapping meters before the Lenkgetriebe (steering unit) failed.
roadwheel suspension) with larger diameter roadwhee1s. There was a loud grinding noise from the left steering unit.
In an overview list of suspensions dated 1 August 1940, Disassembly revealed that the roller bearing basket for the
the Z.W.40 Laufwerk vom Famo is given as a 6-Rollen four planetary gears had been crushed. The cause lay in
laufwerk with 850 mm diameter roadwheels and 80 mm the higher road speed of the Z. W.40 mit Schachtellauf
wide tires. werk in comparison to the Z. W.38.
A single Versuchs-Z.W.40 was ordered by Wa The temperatures in the Kampfwagen with and
Pruef 6 and converted from a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G (Fgst. without Kaltluftdusche (cold air shower) and asbestos in
Nr.65462) with a Famo Z.W.40 Laufwerk but still re sulation of the Aujbau and Turm will be reported sepa
tained a normal Ausf.G turret. This Versuchs-Z.W.40 was rately by Verskraft.
tested in Kummersdorf, St.Johann, and by Maybach in Automotive problems driving off-road with the
Friedrichshafen. A short production series of 20 Pz.Kpfw. built-on Kaltluftdusche already occurred when attempting
III Ausf.G (Fgst.Nr.65531 to 65550), was converted to to cross a narrow trench. The height clearance of the
Z.W.40 using the last 20 from Alkett's Pz.Kpfw.III Kampfwagen was diminished so that the vehicle had no
Ausf.G contract for 150 6./Z. W. These 20 were unique in trench crossing capability without tearing off the entire
having Ausf.H turrets. Famo reported production of 9 sets Kaltluftdusche.
of Z.W.40 Laufwerk at a cost of21 ,055 RM each in fiscal The ability of Panzers to cross 65 em deep packed
year 1940 (I Oct40-30Sep41 ). snow was tested at St. Johann on 12 January 1942, includ
On 3 l October 1941, the Kraftfahrversuchsstelle ing Z.W.40 Fgst.Nr.65540 with a ground clearance of 48
des Heereswaffenamtes Pruefwesen, Kummersdorf- em at the front and 46 em at the rear.
Above: A short production series of 20 Z.W.40 were completed on converted Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G
from Alkett with Fgst.Nr.Serie 65531 to 65550, all with 7./Z.W. turrets. (AHM)
3-5-4
This Page: This Versuchs-Z.W.40 was a converted Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G Fgst.Nr.65462
(with a 6.Z.W. turret) shown here being tested by Maybach in Friedrichshafen. (M)
3-5-5
Above: Z.W.40 Fgst.Nr.65541 had an escape hatch on the hull side that slid open forward. (KHM)
Below: This Z.W.40 still has the original escape hatch on the hull side that was hinged at the front. (MJ)
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Z.W.40
Panzerkampfwagen Ill (5 em) Ausf.G
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This Page:
Z. W.40 Fgst.N r.65540 was
tested by Wa Pruef 6 at
St. Johann in Austria in
January 1942.
(APG)
3-5-8