Panzer III Ausf G Question

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

OK …does anyone here have the book “The Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of WWII” by Doyle/Jentz?. I’m doing research on Panzer III Ausf G’s for the upcoming North Afrika GB.

On page #63 in the PZ III section, the picture of the PZ III G on the bottom of the page shows the front track support roller spacing further separated than the middle and rear rollers than the pics of the Ausf G vehicles in the museum in Fort Knox Patton museum in the pic above that on the same page.

The Dragon Instructions show it as the Fort Knox vehilcles have it. However the one on the same page in North Afrika shows the further separation. Can anyone explain this and it would seem to me that the further separation would be acceptable for an earlier Ausf G?.

I’m not building yet just trying to do all my research prior to getting started in Dec.

Thanks guys for any and all responses.

2

According to page 34 of Spielberger’s Panzer III and it’s Variants, the re-spacing of the front return roller doesn’t occur until the Ausf H, along with the new drive sprocket and idler wheel. I need to check some other books to make sure they are in agreement.

Looking at Osprey’s Panzerkampfwagen III Medium Tank, it states that supplies of older drive sprockets and idlers were still used on the Ausf H, but with added spacers to accept the new, wider track. So early Ausf H were probably hard to tell from late Ausf G, except for the spacing of the front return roller.

3

Thank you kindly Kykeon![tup]