ARMAMENT
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- 1x 75mm Pak L/48
-Ammunition capasity: 54 rounds
-Mass: 1,235 kg
-Barrel length: 360 cm (48 calibres)
-Shell: Fixed QF 75 × 495mm
-Caliber: 75 mm
-Elevation: -8° to +15°
-Traverse: 24°
-Rate of fire: 10–15 round per minute
-Muzzle velocity: 930 m/s
-Maximum firing range: 6,600 m
TECHNICAL DATA
Eigne: Maybach HL 120 TRM V12 300 Hp
Top-speed: 40 Km/h
Length: 5.5m
Height: 2.16m
Width: 2.9m
Weight: 22 ton
Crew: 4 consisting of Gunner, Driver, Commander, Loader
Operational range: 155 km
Cross-country range: 75 km
Suspension: Torsion bar
KEY DIFFERENCES (From the other Norwegian KW-II)
-Additional track armor on the isde, one or two links in front of the stowage box
-No MG34 machinegun
-Yellow Norwegian lisenceplate 21B99-5
-Norwegian olive drab ish colour
HISTORY
The photo above were taken by reserve-vehicle driver Arne O.Vinje in the Battle-Tank Squad at Bardufoss air station in 1951.
The Pz.III & Stug.III came to Norway a little after the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, the Germans did not expect there to bee a need for heavier tanks, as Norway did not have any other than a couple armored trucks. Because of this the smaller and less powerful Pz.III and Stug.III were brought to Norway. During the occupation, the tanks Germany used here were sent to Germany and upgraded a number of times, and in a wide variety of variants and mixes, and when the war came to an end, the Germans surrendered all their vehicles to Norwegian and British/American forces that had fought in Norway. The British wanted to sabotage most of these vehicles, and among trying to blow up the barrels of the various tanks, they had driven over and destroyed a whole bunch of surrendered motorcycles. Most of these tanks were later on put in service in the Norwegian Army, and because of the British sabotage, the Norwegians worked on restoring these vehicles until 1948, before they were ready to be used. And because of the vehicles being damaged and parts having to be taken from here and there, those vehicles that already had been upgraded/mixed by the German army during the occupation, were even further mixed by the Norwegians during the restoration, with this vehicle potentially being one example.
The majority of these tanks were put in service in so called “Airport Troops” to guard the various airports in the area, this specific tank were used at Bardufoss Airport. The fate of the vehicle is unkown, but it was used here until the 1950/60’s. The panzer 3’s in this platoon were dug down in fortifications, this stug was most likely sold to finland or scrapped.
PICTRUES
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SOURCES
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/243840341664/search/?q=KW III
Stridsvogn & Stormkanon KW-III (Panzer III & StuG III in Norwegian Service) - Tank Encyclopedia
- Yes
- No