Pzkpfw III (Germany) v Churchill (UK)
Pzkpfw III (Germany)
Max Speed: Ausf A - C 20 mph (32km/h), Ausf E - N 25mph (40km/h) (ROAD). All models 11mph (18km/h) (CROSS COUNTRY)
Range: Ausf A - C 94 miles (150km), Ausf D 103 miles (165km), Ausf E - N 109 miles (150km)
Vertical Obstacle: 2’ (0.6m)
Trench: Ausf A - G 7’6’’ (2.3m)
Length: Ausf A & B 18’6’’ (5.7m), Ausg D - G 17’8’’ (5.4m), Ausf H 18’1’’ (5.52m), Ausf J - N 21’1’’ (6.4m)
Width: Ausf A - C 9’2’’ (2.8m), Ausf D - G 9’6’’ (2.9m), Ausf H - N 9’8’’ (2.95m)
Height: Ausf A 7’7’’ (2.35m), Ausf B & C 8’4’’ (2.55m), Ausf D - G 8’ (2.4m), Ausf H - N 9’8’’ (2.95m)
Weight: Ausf A - C 33,069lb (15,000kg), Ausf D & E 42,769lb (19,400kg), Ausf F & G 44,753lb (20,300kg), Ausf H 47,619lb (21,600kg), Ausf J - N 49,163lb (22,300kg)
Ground Pressure: Ausf A - C 15.3lb/sq in (0.973kg/sq cm), Ausf D 13.2lb/sq in (0.93kg/sq cm), Ausf E & H - N 13.5lb/sq in, Ausf F & G 14.1lb/sq in (0.99kg/sq cm)
Armour: Ausf A - C 0.57’’ - 3.54’’ (14.5 - 90mm), Ausf D - G 1.18’’ - 3.54’’ (30 - 90mm), Ausf H - N 1.18’’ - 3.15’’ (30 - 80mm) but often with spaced armour retro fitted
Armament: Ausf A - D 1x 37mm kwK L/45 gun, 2x 7.92mm MG34s coaxial with main gun, 1x MG34 in hull. Ausf E - H 1x 50mm KwK L/42 gun, 1x MG34 coaxial with main gun, 1x MG34 in hull, Ausf J & L 1x 50mm KwK L/60 gun, 1x MG34 coaxial with main gun, 1x MG34 in hull, Ausf M & N 1x 75mm KwK L/24 gun, 1x MG34 coaxial with main gun, 1x MG 34 in hull
Service History: In service with the German Army from 1939 to 1945. Also used by Spain and Turkey
One of two medium tanks introduced into the German Army, the P-III was to be the ‘anti-tank’ vehicle supported by the HE firing P-IV. Originally to be armed with a high velocity 50mm gun, it was decided to fit a 37mm weapon to standardise the supply chain with the infantry, who were equipped with 37mm weapons. A large turret ring was retained though, which allowed the P-III to be upgunned easily.
The P-III was well laid out, with plenty of room for the crew and a large ‘dustbin’ cupola giving the commander an excellant view. Maintenance was difficult however, mostly due to an over complicated gearbox and the 37mm was not good enough against the heavy British and French tanks such as the Matilda and the Char B1-bis, while the thin armour could not stop British 2-pounder or French 47mm shot. The P-III was upgunned with a low velocity 50mm weapon, which outranged the 2-pounder and fired a useful HE shell.
The P-III was steadily improved with a high velocity 50mm weapon installed after the low velocity gun was found to be useless against the T-34 and KV-1s in the USSR, and armour protection was also steadily increased. Eventually though, the P-III was outclassed as a battle tank, and a low velocity 75mm gun was fitted to allow it to give HE support to the new generation of battle tanks being introduced. These versions carried on fighting until the end of the war
Churchill (UK)
Max Speed: 15.5mph (24.8km/h) (ROAD SPEED), 8mph (12.8km/h) (CROSS COUNTRY)
Range: 90 miles (144km)
Vertical Obstacle: 2’6’’ (0.812m)
Trench: 10’ (3.048m)
Length: 24’5’’ (7.44m)
Width: 10’8’’ (3.25m)
Height: 8’2’’ (2.49m)
Weight: 87,360lb (39,574kg)
Ground Pressure: ???
Armour: Churchill I - VI 0.63’’ - 4’’ (16 - 102mm), Churchill VII & VIII 1’’ - 6’’ (25 - 152mm)
Armament: Churchill I 1x 2pounder gun, 1x 7.92mm BESA MG and 1x 3’’ howitzer in hull, Churchill II 1x 2pounder and 2x BESA, Churchill III & IV 1 6pounder gun and 2x BESA, Churchill IV NA 1x 75mm gun, 1x 0.3in Browning MG and 1x BESA, Churchill V & VIII 1x 95mm howitzer and 2x BESA, Churchill VI & VII 1x75mm gun and 2x BESA, Churchill I CS 2x 3’’ howitzers and 1x BESA
Service History: In service with the British Army from 1941 to 1952. Also used by Eire, India and Jordan.
The Churchill was the replacement for the Matilda II. It was originally designed to look like a World War 1 tank, with two side sponsons carrying 2pounder guns. Vauxhall Motors though and took the original design and added a turret. The first prototype was running within 7 months and the first production models came off the line within 11 months. There were some problems with such a rushed design though and the first models were unreliable and overcomplicated. These problems were eventually ironed out, but the Churchill had gained a reputation for fragility that it never really lost.
The armour was undoubtedly the best feature of the vehicle and was very heavy for the time. The Churchill VII was also the first British tank to have a commander’s cupola, a great improvement on previous vehicles. The Churchill also had extremely good ammunition stowage, with room for 150 rounds of 2pounder and 58 rounds of 3’’ ammunition in the Churchill I. It was also the first tank to use the Merritt Brown regenerative steering system which made the vehicle much easier to drive (it is also the system used by every modern tank).
In combat, the Churchill was used in Tunisia and Italy, as well as in North West Europe and on the Dieppe raids. The thick armour proved very useful, but it suffered from being out gunned by most German tanks. There were also a number of special use vehicles based on the Churchill chassis, including bridge layers, mineclearing, flame throwing, armoured recovery and Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) which stayed in service with the British Army until the early 1960s.
As ever people - please give a reason for your choice - make an effort!
