World War Photos

Panzer III ausf L code 235 of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich

In March of 1942, a study was conducted to assess whether the turret of the PzKpfw IV could be fitted onto the superstructure of the Pz Kpfw III. After analysis, it was determined that the resulting weight would be excessive, and significant modifications would be required. As a result, the idea was abandoned, and production of the PzKpfw III with the 5cm KwK39 L/60 continued. In early June of the same year, an order was issued to mount 450 7.5cm KwK L/24 in the PzKpfw III, resulting in a reduction of the original order for 1,100 Ausf L. 447 Ausf L were then used to mount the shorter 7.5cm gun, and became known as Ausf N. Additionally, one Ausf L was fitted with an experimental tapered-bore KwK0725.
Improvements were made to the Ausf L, including increasing the turret front armor from 30mm to 57mm, replacing the main gun’s coil spring with a torsion-bar counter-balance, and modifying the air-intake louvers and hatches on the rear deck. All Ausf L had 20mm spaced armor on the front of the superstructure, and most had 20mm spaced armor on the gun mantlet. At the beginning of the production run, the hull escape hatches on the hull side, the loader’s vision port on the gun mantlet, and the turret side ports were removed. Additionally, a system designed to transfer heated engine coolant from one vehicle to another was introduced with the Ausf L.
At the start of the summer offensive in late June 1942, approximately 600 PzKpfw III vehicles were mounting the 5cm KwK L/60 and were deployed with units at the front in Russia. Ausf L vehicles were issued to newly-formed Panzer regiments such as the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Totenkopf SS Panzergrenadier Divisions, and the Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland, in addition to replacing losses.