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Interleaved wheels were the most common German tracked combat vehicle suspension. If that doesn't constitute popularity then what does?
Interleaved wheels were the most common German tracked combat vehicle suspension. If that doesn't constitute popularity then what does?
Perhaps not but the Panzer III had superior suspension. So IMO it's a better starting point for a German medium tank.
Sure. But it was more expensive to produce, more difficult to repair and it added to the height of the vehicle. The only advantage it has, is a smoother ride and a more stable gun platform. But not in such a sense that the Pz IV was missing out.Perhaps not but the Panzer III had superior suspension. So IMO it's a better starting point for a German medium tank.
Yeah, final year of the war. Not 1942...I don't think so.
Panzer IVJ produced during final year of war had the electric turret motor deleted due to copper shortage. You don't switch to a hand cranked turret unless you have no choice.
1. That may be true for the PzKpfw III, but the StuG III was also produced by MIAG and Alkett. Were they also without production line? Production costs in RM seems to indicate the PzKpfw III was a bit cheaper than the IV, that indicates that production costs were lower.The whole problem are two things for the Panzer III.
1. Not any single Panzer III was ever produced on an assembly line. The production of the Panzer III was extensive and Daimler Benz was not able to arrange a good inexpensive assembly line production.
His counterpart Panzer IV was produced from 1940 from assembly lines and Krupp was able to develop the production much more efficient.
2. The original turret of the Panzer III and especially the turret circle has not enough space for a long 7,5cm (L43 or L48 ) cannon or a bigger turret.
Source Walter Spielberger.
Nibelungenwerk
A bit of tank trivia.
Kharkov tank plant was largest in the world when constructed during 1931. Evacuation of plant to Urals was ordered too late and Germany captured it largely intact during October 1941. During 1942 German Army established a large tank rebuild facility with about 2,000 local (i.e. Ukrainian) employees supervised by Krupp engineers.
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