Panzer III Ausf. F (Updated version of DAK)

The Pz. III Ausf. F from 6 Kompany of 5 Pz. Regiment, 5th Leichter Division.

Majority of tanks from 5 and 6 Kompany were Pz. III and only four of them were Type F. Their tactical NO. were 513, 525, 615 and 625, respectively; all these four Pz . III Ausf. F were upgraded before shipping to North Africa.

The Pz. III Ausf. F with tactical NO. 615.

We can clearly see that the 37mm L/46.5 gun has been upgraded and replaced by a 50mm L/42 barrel.

In addition, we could still find an insignia of 3rd Pz. Div. was painted beside the left vision port on upper structure.

The Pz. III Ausf. F with tactical NO. 625. We could easily figure out the driver’s vision port of type F is quite different from version G or H.

The Pz. III ‘625’ was also the last armored vehicle from second platoon of 6 Kompany.

Taking an vacation on the sand beach.

Another Pz. III Ausf. F from 5 kompany, his tactical NO. was 513.

As we can realize there was no additional armor has been mounted on the front hull (both the late G and H version have the additional armor), moreover, the early version commander’s cupola and driver’s vision port were still applied on this vehicle.

The Tripoli parade of DAK in March 1941.

Here we could see many Pz. IIIs from 5 and 6 Kp. of 5 Rgt., most of them were type G.

Another photo showed the Tripoli parade.

We could see the Pz. III F with tactical NO. 615 and 513 were surrounded by Pz. III Ausf. G’s.

Two Pz. III Ausf. G’s were in front and one Pz. III Ausf. F. was behind.

The Pz. III 512, 535 and 513 were in the line. Note that 512 and 535 were Type G, while 513 was a version F Pz. III.

The ‘112’ Pz. III from first Kp. of 5 Rgt. was also type F.

The old version commander cupola for ‘112’ Pz. III.

From the rear side, we can directly see the cover of engine starter port for Pz. III Ausf. F, that is another difference we could apply in identifying the type F and G Pz. III.

It seemed ‘611’ Pz. III was in front of the ‘112’ during the Tripoli parade and vehicle ‘611’ was a type G Pz. III.

A group of Pz. III’s and armored vehicles were on their way to frontline.

Note the last Pz. III in photo was classified as type F if we focused on the engine starter cover on rear plate.

The 15 Pz. Div. launched to North Africa in late April 1941 and we usually believed that all Pz. III from this division were either late G version, or version H.

However, this interesting photo reveals a strong evidence that at least a few of Pz. III Ausf. F has been equipped by 15 Pz. Div.. I cannot find the tactical NO. of this Pz. III in above photo, but the triangle insignia on left side of vision port indicates this Pz. III F was from 15 Pz. Div..

The Type F Pz. III from 15 Pz. Div., although the tactical NO. was not visible on turret, we could still easily figure out this Pz. III was Type F, because of its driver’s vision port was an early version that has been applied for Pz. III Ausf. E & F.

The destroyed Pz. III F from 15 Pz. Div., a single digit tactical NO. could be seen on turret and we were sure this Pz. III was a member from 2nd Kp.

Project start here ～～～

The lower hull was completed.

Unlike the models of Tamiya or Academy, the Dragon was pretty complicated and I need to glue so many parts on the lower hull.

One of advantages for Dragon is it presents all the details incredibly. But drawback is time consuming, I spent nearly 5 hours to finish the lower hull.

The turret was almost finished except the rear storage bin. Note the cupola is very different from the one on my Pz. III Ausf. H.

The 50mm L/42 barrel was from Academy 13531.

The turret’s interior.

Different wheels, fenders and some upper structures.

Finished attaching the lower hull and upper structure together.

The metal racks for spare road wheels were installed on rare of vehicle.

The jerrycan case is PE part from Academy 13535 (Pz. II F).

The body of Pz. III F was mostly completed.

The turret was finished except the dust cover of barrel

The primer (XF-9) was painted.

Chipping color (XF-63) was done.

Top coat (XF-92) was applied.

The decal was applied.

It was a little bit pity that I did not have the decal of tactical NO. 513. According to the reference photo, the Pz. III with tactical NO. 512 from 5 Pz. Rgt. should be type G. Based on my own researches on Internet, I believed the armored vehicle with NO. 112, 513, 525, 615 and 625 were Pz. III Ausf. F, while the rest of Pz. III were version G.