Panzerkampfwagen III
Panzer III Ausf. H (auf Ausf. H Fahrgestell). Musée des Blindés, France (2006)
Type	Medium tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1939–1945
Used by	Nazi Germany Kingdom of Romania Slovak Republic Kingdom of Hungary Independent State of Croatia Turkey Norway
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Daimler-Benz
Designed	1935–1937
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz
Produced	1939–1943
Number built	5,774 (excluding StuG III)
Specifications
Weight	23.0 tonnes (25.4 short tons)
Length	5.56 m (20 ft)
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	5–70 mm (0.20–2.76 in)
Main armament	1 × 3.7 cm KwK 36 Ausf. A-F 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 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight	12 hp/t
Suspension	Torsion-bar suspension
Operational range	155 km (96 mi)
Speed	Road: 40 km/h (25 mph) Off-road: 20 km/h (12 mph)

Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III Sd Kfz. 141 (abbreviated PzKpfw III) translating as "armoured fighting vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside the infantry support Panzer IV; however, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, stronger anti-tank guns were needed. Since the Panzer IV had a bigger turret ring, the roles were reversed. The Panzer IV mounted the long barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun and engaged in tank-to-tank battles. The Panzer III became obsolete in this role and for most purposes was supplanted by the Panzer IV. From 1942, the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, better suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943. However, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war.