World War Photos

Panzer III Ausf J tanks Orel Ostfront

The Ausf J was the first model in the series to feature a basic 50mm armour protection. An order for 900 was initially placed but later increased to 2,700 and assigned a new chassis number series. The increase in armour thickness necessitated newly-designed fittings such as an improved driver visor, a new ball-shaped hull machine-gun mount, and single-piece access hatches on the glacis. The upper hull front mounted newly-designed air-intakes for brake and final-drive cooling. The smoke-cradle rack was re-positioned and mounted inside the redesigned upper tail plate to provide additional armour protection. Beginning April 1942, the gun mantlet and/or superstructure front were given 20mm spaced armour.
The Ausf J was used to equip the 2nd and 5th Panzer Divisions, as well as an independent Panzer regiment, which were sent as reinforcements to Russia in September 1941. The remaining units were used to replace the loss of around 1,400 PzKpfw III during the first year of fighting in Russia and North Africa. By the start of the summer campaign on the Eastern front in June 1942, around 500 PzKpfw III (5cm KwK L/42) were deployed with the Panzer divisions at the front. A year later, at the beginning of the offensive at Kursk, there were still 141 units with Army Groups Centre and South.