Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J — Fgst.Nr. 68026
Version (Ausf.): Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J
Production date: 1941.05
Producer: Daimler-Benz AG, Stuttgart-Untertürkheim
Main armament: 5 cm Kw.K. L/42
Data source: Panzer Tracts 03-3-26
Turret Serial Number: 68099
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S05Maybach Motorenbau Friedrichshafen A/B, Type H.L. 120 TRM. 1940, V-12 cylinder, Motor No. 35584
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S05Manual six speed and reverse gear box. Date of manufacture stamped on gearbox casing as 1940.
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S05Radiators: Near-side marked - 17316. Comho. 42856. L'fd Nr.90. Off-side marked - 3300.R.32.
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S055. Panzer-Division
Nr takt.: 215
Tank of the 5th Panzer Division bearing a St. Andrew's cross painted on the armour, lost and captured by the Red Army on the Eastern Front around May 1942 (estimated), and subsequently handed over to the Allies for evaluation. [VEHICLE LOST]
School of Tank Technology
School of Tank Technology (Egham), Nr takt.: 215
Research test vehicle at the School of Technology in the UK (Egham/Farnborough) following evaluations in September 1942. The tank, captured on the Eastern Front and handed over to the British, arrived in a very good technical condition (requiring minimal work to become a fully operational runner, despite H.E. shell damage near the hull plate and radiator). Despite such excellent preservation and unique research value, this specific vehicle unfortunately did not survive to the present day.
No conversions or special modifications registered for this vehicle.
General Condition: Good. Very little work required to make vehicle a runner. Near-side track slightly damaged. One bogie wheel missing from each side. The vehicle appears to have received a direct hit (H.E.?) on the rear of off-side hull plate, fracturing the weld and slightly damaging the off-side radiator.
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S05Suspension & Track Modifications: Draping of a length of track in front of the nose plate to give added protection appears to be a permanent feature. One or two mild steel bars, welded at each end, are fixed across the middle of the nose plate to hold track shoes in position.
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S05Armour & Production Notes: The use in the turret of heavy plates bent to shape, presumably by hot forming, offers advantages from a production point of view without resorting to castings. A heavy bar is welded to glacis plate to deflect projectiles from driver's visor.
Źródło: Preliminary_Report_No_5_Pz_Kw_III_1942.S05No associated archival photos for this chassis number.