20230422 (87)_Panzer_III
The best medium tank available to the Germans in France in 1940 then lacked a gun effective against heavy British and French armour. However the campaign was resolved by manoeuvre and communications within the force, with the Panzer III among other German vehicles providing a fast and reliable platform. It struggled until up-gunned against British heavy armour in the Desert but again tactical employment made up for this performance shortfall to a large extent. Despite addition of a 50mm anti-tank gun later in service it was inferior to the T-34 on the Eastern Front and the Sherman in the West and apart from repurposing to turretless Sturmgeschutz III was withdrawn from service in the second half of WWII. This runner gives modern observers a good appraisal of the Panzer III, in this case at The Tank Museum's Spring Tiger Day 2023.
20230422 (87)_Panzer_III
The best medium tank available to the Germans in France in 1940 then lacked a gun effective against heavy British and French armour. However the campaign was resolved by manoeuvre and communications within the force, with the Panzer III among other German vehicles providing a fast and reliable platform. It struggled until up-gunned against British heavy armour in the Desert but again tactical employment made up for this performance shortfall to a large extent. Despite addition of a 50mm anti-tank gun later in service it was inferior to the T-34 on the Eastern Front and the Sherman in the West and apart from repurposing to turretless Sturmgeschutz III was withdrawn from service in the second half of WWII. This runner gives modern observers a good appraisal of the Panzer III, in this case at The Tank Museum's Spring Tiger Day 2023.