Panzerbefehlswagen III with Schurzen
In October 1941, an order was placed for 200 Panzerbefehlswagen 4 Serie (command tanks) which had the main feature of retaining a proper main armament, the 5cm KwK L/60. However, this order was delayed due to the production of 30 additional Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf H and the conversion of 80 PzBefWg mit 5cm KwK from the PzKpfw III Ausf J production. Eventually, the 4 Serie PzBefWg mit 5cm KwK L/60 Schmal (small gun mantlet) was supposed to be produced alongside the PzKpfw III Ausf M from October 1942, but the order was reduced to 50 because the production of PzKpfw III was being terminated, and it had been decided to convert Panzer III to Befehlswagen from early 1943.
The Ausf K had the same hull and superstructure as the Ausf M, except for additional vision and pistol ports on the superstructure sides. The turret was modified, with a shortened gun mantlet, the deletion of the coaxial machine-gun, and the addition of a visor to the turret front, similar in design to the driver’s visor. The large-frame antenna on previous command tank models was replaced by a star antenna.
The Ausf K tanks were produced to replace heavy losses suffered during the winter of 1942/43. These tanks were used as command vehicles until mid-1944 in armored detachments which were otherwise fully equipped with the PzKpfw IV.