Panzer III Ausf A trials
In 1935, development orders were given to create a fully-tracked vehicle weighing 15 tons. Initially called the 3.7cm Gun-tank (Vs Kfz 619), the PzKpfw III commenced production in a development series in 1937. By the beginning of May 1937, five of the 1st 1 Serie Zugführerwagen, Ausf A, were manufactured. The Ausf A featured a 3.7cm gun installed in the turret, accompanied by two coaxial machine guns. The superstructure’s front housed a third machine-gun operated by the radio operator. The Pz Kpfw III’s crew consisted of five members: commander, gunner, loader, driver, and radio operator. A V-12 gasoline engine provided power, transferred via a five-speed gearbox, and controlled using an epicyclic clutch and brake steering system. The suspension consisted of five road wheels cushioned by coil springs and two return rollers. The armor, 15 mm in thickness, was designed to withstand only rifle or small-caliber machine-gun armor-piercing rounds.
The first Ausf A was supplied to Panzer regiments in the spring of 1937. They were all removed from combat units in February 1940 due to their inadequate suspension and armor, which could only withstand armor-piercing rounds from rifles or small-caliber machine guns.