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The Panzer III Ausf. L mit Waffe 0725 is exactly what the name implies, an Pz III Ausf. L like allready in game, but instead of the good old 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 it is equipped with the 7,5/5,5 cm Waffe 0725 L/57
What is the 7,5/5,5 cm Waffe 0725 L/57?
It is the early name and development for an Tank and Anti tank weapon (later mainly used as 7,5/5,5 cm Pak 41 L/57) with the Gerlich principle. The gun has a tapered bore, where at the beginning the round is 7,5 cm and the last part of the barrle taperes down to 5,5 cm and by that highly increasing the velocity.
Overall the plan was to equip it to the Vk 30.01 and Vk 36.01 series, which didnt fit without redesing.
(Which was made and plans in 1944 were made to equip 10 turrets, but they were bombed befor it was finished and was to use remaining Pak 41 ammo).
While it didnt work out with the Vk series which wasnt put into main production in the end, 1 Pz III Ausf. L was however converted to use the Waffe 0725.
But duo the tungsten shortage and better alternatives such as the KwK 40 in the Pz IV, as well as the ending lifetime of the Pz III it was instead chosen to keep the 5 cm KwK 39 L/60, later 7,5 cm KwK 37 L/24 and give the Pz IV the KwK 40.
The gun has overall 4 rounds:
Spoiler
Apcr: Pzgr. 41 H.K. and Pzgr. 41 St. | Apbc: Pzgr. 41 W | He: Sprgr. 41
Pzgr.41 H.K.
Weight: 2,6 Kg
Mv: 1260 M/s
Core diameter: 28mm
Core weight: 1,00 Kg
Calculated Pen at 10m 237mm
Pzgr. 41 St.
Weight: 3,00 Kg
Mv: 1170 M/s
Core diameter: 28mm
Core weight: 1 kg
A different design using more steel resulting in a heavyer shell for longer range with 213mm penetration
Pzgr. 41 W (Apbc) Instead of piercing the armor, it pushes trough and is more effective against harder armor.
Weight: 2,5 Kg
Mv: 1230 M/s
Pen at 10m: 176mm (Shure its flathead but so are the Soviet Aphebc which also dont get a flat pen reduction as well as material quality isnt represented, penetration is achived by pushing through instead of piercing)
Sprgr. 41 (He)
Weight: 2,62 Kg
Mv: 900 M/s
Exp.Mass: 186g of Fp.02 and Np. 10 so TNT Aquivalent of 238,08g
Pictures:
Spoiler
The other than the gun all other characteristics are identical to the normal Pz III Ausf. L
Armour:
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 50 + 20 mm (12°) Front plate | |||
| 25 mm (85°), 50 mm (52°) Front glacis | ||||
| 50 mm (25°) Lower glacis | 30 mm | 50 mm | 15 mm | |
| Turret | 57 mm + 20 mm Turret front | |||
| 50 + 20 mm Gun mantlet | 30 mm | 30 mm | 10 mm | |
| Cupola | 50 mm | 10 mm |
Mobility
Speedforward / back
AB 60 / 12 km/h
RB and SB 54 / 10 km/h
Number of gears 6 forward
1 back
Weight 22.5 t
Engine power
AB 572 hp
RB and SB 300 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB 25.4 hp/t
RB and SB 13.3 hp/t
Source:
The Panzer III Germanys Medium tank Bob Carruthers
The Panzer III Hitlers Beast of Burden Anthony Trucker-Jones
Die deutschen Panzerkampfwagen III und IV mit ihren Abarten Walter J. Spielberger
Panzerbeschusstafel der 7,5/5,5 cm Pak 41 L/57