Tankopedia
WW2MediumMedium TankGermany

Panzerbefehlswagen III (Command Tank)

In service 1938 - 1945

Also known asPanzerbefehlswagen III, Sd.Kfz. 266-268

The Panzer III turned into a command tank: extra radios, a map table, and on early versions a wooden dummy gun.

Built byDaimler-Benz and Alkett

Photograph pending. No clearly licensed photograph of this vehicle was found.

Development history

German armoured doctrine depended on radio, and the command version of the Panzer III carried long-range sets, a frame aerial and a staff work space in place of most of its ammunition. Early Ausf. D and E command tanks had a fixed superstructure and a dummy gun, which made them conspicuous and defenceless; later versions kept a working turret and armament. Around 435 were built and they directed the panzer divisions from Poland to the end of the war, making them one of the most influential command vehicles in history.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf. D1

    1938

    Fixed superstructure with a dummy gun and long-range radio sets.

  2. Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf. E

    1939

    Frame aerial command version used in Poland and France.

  3. Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf. K

    1943

    Later version retaining a working turret and 5 cm gun with full command equipment.

Notable actions

  • Invasion of Poland
  • Battle of France
  • Operation Barbarossa
  • North African Campaign