Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.D1: command vehicle built to 30 specimens between June 1938 and March 1939 on the basis of chassis of Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.D. The shielding was thicker than the model of origin and especially the turret was welded on the hull and the gun replaced by a factitious weapon. Antenna-frame was perfectly visible on the rear deck. This antenna will be replaced in 1943 by "standard" vertical antennas. The specimens equipped with the radios FuG 2 and 6 will be indicated Sd.Kfz.266 while those equipped with the radios FuG 6 and 8, Sd.Kfz.267 and those of the radios FuG 6 and 7, Sd.Kfz.268.

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.D1 which one sees perfectly the antenna-frame on the back of the vehicle.

src: site "Germany's Vehicle History"

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.D

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.E: command vehicle. The turret was welded on the hull and accomodated additional ports of vision and shooting to the light weapon. Various stations radios were installed there: FuG 6, FuG 7 and FuG 8 or FuG 13 and this tank of command received same designations as the D1 model. It was seen for the first time in service in France in 1940. Lutwaffe used some like "air-control vehicle".

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.E

src: "Panzer Colours 2"

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.E

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.H: command vehicle. Armour-plates of 30mm were bolted on font part of the tank. These vehicles had in the beginning of a false gun of 37mm then of a false gun 50mm to thereafter see more gun of the whole towards the end. On these last models, the gun was replaced by a MG34. A circular trap door was added on the turret as well as an additional optical element.

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.H

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.J (50mm KwK L/42): command vehicle. A total of 81 was produced between August and November 1942 followed conversion of 104 specimens between March and September 1943 in the workshops of the Daimler-Benz firm. The machine-gun of hull was removed and load of ammunition of 50mm reduced at 50 and that of cartridges of 7.62mm at 1500.

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.K (50mm KwK L/60): command vehicle based on Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.L. A total of 50 specimens was produced between December 1942 and February 1943. A machine-gun of small lower gauge was installed on the hull and of the ports of vision and shooting to the light weapon were added on the superstructure. The coaxial MG34 was removed. These tanks were equipped either with the 50mm KwK L/42, or of the 50mm KwK L/60 on a modified turret of Panzer IV. This turret had a small shield shifted on the left to leave the place to a port of vision. The sides of the turret accomodated triple smoke-producing mortars. The machine also accomodated a station radio operator additional FuG 8 which one saw antenna-star on the back plate. Certain specimens were equipped as of summer 1943 with skirts armoured with 5mm (Schürzen).

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.K

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.M

src: "Panzer Colours 2"

Artillery-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III (Sd.Kfz.143): artillery observation vehicle. A total of 262 machines of this type were built between February 1943 and April 1944 on the basis of first model of Panzers III. These machines were used by the batteries of motorized howitzers of Panzerdivisions. The first models accepted additional armour-plates of 30mm. The machine-gun of hull was replaced by a port of shooting to the light weapon and the gun by a false gun placed at the place of the coaxial machine-gun whereas the latter was moved to the original position of the gun. These tanks was equipped with a retractable periscope TBF-2 protected by an armoured lid. A antenna-star for station FuG 8 was present on the back plate and a station FuG 4 was also installed. Certain specimens in 1943 were armed with true guns of 50mm KwK 39 L/60.

Artillery observation vehicle with false gun, Panzerbeobachtungswagen III.
src: site "Germany's Vehicle History"	src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Flammpanzer III Ausf.M (F1) (Sd.Kfz.141/3): flame thrower vehicle. A total of 100 Panzers III Ausf.M was converted into flame thrower tank by Wegmann between February and April 1943. The gun of these vehicles was replaced by a 140mm oil projector long of 1.5m. To feed it two tanks of 1000l and an auxiliary engine was installed in the hull. This projector had an autonomy of 125 jets (of 1 second) of a maximum range of 60m (practical range of 40m). As secondary armament Flammpanzer III had of a MG34 of hull and a coaxial MG34. Additional armour-plates of 30mm were installed on front parts of the tank. The crew was made up only of three man: the pilot, the radio-machine gunner in the hull and the commander in the turret.

Flame thrower tank, Flammpanzer III Ausf.M in action.

src: site "3D Panzerwaffe"

Flammpanzer III Ausf.M

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Bergepanzer III: recovery vehicle. A total of 150 specimens were converted on the basis of Panzers III returned to the factory for repair, between March and December 1944. These machines were equipped with a wooden superstructure in the place of the turret and with a crane able to support a ton of load.

Bergepanzer III

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Tauchpanzer III: amphibious and sinkable vehicle . A total of 168 Panzers III Ausf.G/G/H and Pz.BefWg III Ausf.E were converted between June and October 1940 into sinkable tanks for the operation Seelöwe (Sea lion - invasion of Great Britain) by 18th Pz.Division. The air intake was sealed by the rubber seals and the exhausts were equipped with non-return valves. Inflatable rubber seals were laid out around the circular of the turret. The MG34 of hull as well as the cupola of commander had protective rubber covers. At the interior a pump was charged to evacuate the water which had succeeded to penetrate in the hull. The air necessary to the engine was obtained via a long flexible pipe (18m) joining surface and attached to a buoy (equipped on the last models with an antenna). The tank had an autonomy of 20 minutes under a depth of 15m. On the ground the tank got rid of its joints thanks to explosive mini-loads. Under water the tank was guided by radio since a surface ship.

A tauchpanzer-befehlswagen III 's crossing a river.

src: site "Germany's Vehicle History"

Tauchpanzer III tested for the operation Seelöwe (Sea lion), the invasion of British Isles.

src: site "Germany's Vehicle History"

Munitionspanzer auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw III: transport of ammunition. In 1943, some Panzers III of the type E, F and G were converted into transport of ammunition without turret. These machines were charged to supply the Tiger tanks.

Ammo Supply Vehicle, Munitionspanzer III.

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Pionierpanzerwagen auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw III: this conversion was carried out starting from Panzers III Ausf.L/M whose turret had been removed and replace by a wooden cargo space. These vehicles transported each side elements of Pionierbruecken (bridge).

Pionierpanzer III.

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.N als Schienen-Ketten Fahrzeug SK1 (75mm KwK L/24): 2-3 prototype of this conversion were produced in 1942 and at the beginning of 1943. It was about a tank able to move on railroads by the adoption of road wheels of railway vehicle. These vehicles were to in theory protect the railway convoys on the Eastern front.

Minenraumpanzer III: it is about a tank anti-mines developed by Krupp. It was considered to be ineffective and the project was not developed.

Minenraumpanzer III

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.H mit 150mm sIG 33: assault gun (Sturmpanzer) converted on the ground into North Africa on the basis of Panzers III Ausf.H damaged. These tanks used simply the gun, the shield, the arrangements of tools and ammunition of Sturmpanzer II in an open superstructure.

Flakpanzer III: tank of DCA. In 1945, one thought of using the chassis of Panzers III become obsolete to provide a tank of DCA equipped with the turrets Wirbelwind (4x20mm Flak) or Ostwind (1x37mm Flak). An order of 90 specimens will be well carried out but the end of the war y put a term.

Munitionsschlepper III: transport of ammunition for the units of Ferdinand/Elefant.

Artillerieschlepper auf Pz.Kpfw III: artillery tractor.

Panzerschlepper III.

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"

Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.G/H mit Schachtellaufwerk: prototype of tank-bulldozer equipped with a new suspension with overlapping road wheels (FAMO).

Still let us note that 110 turrets of Panzers III will be used on the fortifications of the "Atlantic Wall" in France and "Hitler Line" in Italy.

Instandsetzungspanzer III.

src: site "Lexikon der Wehrmacht"