I'm tired of writing the same things.Urmel wrote:This is probably one of the more useful links for the Panzer III.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/panzer3.htm
Based on this I would surmise that most if not all Panzer III in Russia were either H or J variants. Production numbers in 1940 were low (and already included the H), and out of 381 present on 1 May 1940 155 were lost. 80 - 100 pre-H variants or so were sent to North Africa.
My conclusion would be that the Germans had a very clear technical advantage over the Russian tanks, especially at what were typical combat ranges (about 800m).
From http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Germ ... 1854095188 the Pz III J and Pz IV F1 were first sent with the reinforcements in September -October.
At the start of Barbarossa the only Panzers having frontal hull protection that negates the Soviet 45mm gun would be Pz III H (308 built from October ’40 to April ’41) and Pz IV E (223 built from September ’40 to April ‘41 )
Keep in mind that all the figures I gave were for hull/superstructure not turret. All Pz III had 30mm turret front and side, Pz IV B,C version had 30 front/15 sides, D and E version 30 front/20 sides , F1 has 50 front/30 sides. Pz 35 has 25 front /16 sides, Pz 38 has 25 front /15 sides or in the E-F versions 50 front /30 sides.
As i said earlier German and Soviet tanks can destroy each other at ranges up to 500m. From 500m onwards German tanks have the advantage due to the weak armor of the T-26 and BT. Meanwhile the Germans have nothing to deal with the 1.500 T-34 and KV.