Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: Panzer III Part 2

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In this video, Nicholas Moran will look inside the Panzerkampfwagen III (Pz.Kpfw III). This is one of the vehicles that set the standard for tank-building. If the Renault FT showed what a tank layout should be, the Pz.Kpfw III ended the discussion about the number of crew members and their duties. Nicholas Moran will talk about how they shared their duties, evaluate the comfort of their positions, and try to solve the mystery behind a timer. Enjoy!
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[@ianbirge8269]

That poop chute is probably the single greatest feature on a tank ever.

[@phil20_20]

I think that's why the support troops are always laughing in the movies. 😆

[@Legitpenguins99]

@Dmitry Godlevsky seriously? Thats the most unnecessary, non Russian tank feature ive ever heard of

[@dimag509]

@@Legitpenguins99 yes

[@petrolak]

@@Legitpenguins99 Well, there are people boasting about kitchens and toilets on Su-34, but the toilet is a pissbottle under the seat and the kitchen is a thermos flask with coffee behind the pilot. So I imagine T-14s "bathroom" is just the good old poophatch.

[@antonkhalamayzer1379]

@I don't know wait like the airplane

[@manassurya2019]

Panzer III is a perfect example of how a tank can be more effective than its simple firepower, mobility and armour statistics. In theory this was supposed to be inferior to the Char B1 and T 34-76, but it turned out to allow its crew to take better advantage of the tank and use it to its full potential.

[@MrMarinus18]

Yeah, I think the French Somoa is a good comparison and while the Somoa looks much better on paper the Panzer III can get to it's maximum potential much more easily.

[@lairdcummings9092]

Crew efficiency matters.

[@imagifyer]

The mysterious doohickey is a gyro compass, basically because tanks are big metal boxes a magnetic compass won't work, instead you set this thing to a known heading (ie north) and the gyroscope will spin and stay on that heading no matter which way the vehicle turns, so you can always know which way north is

[@jarmokankaanpaa6528]

Improbable, first because a gyro compass needs current input to keep the rotor turning (and the doohickey is a bit small for a period gyrocompass), second because the scale is only up to 12 whereas a compass would have a degree (360) or mil (6000 or 6400) scale, and third because you CAN have a magnetic compass on a metal tank -- you just need to calibrate it. How do you think they can have magnetic compasses on iron ships if metal were a problem? Presuming this is supposed to be an Afrika Korps tank, they could also have used a sun compass like the LRDG. And finally, the guy actually doing the navigation would be the TC (or more likely a navigator in the command tank); the driver would be occupied negotiating the terrain.

[@imagifyer]

@@jarmokankaanpaa6528 probability has nothing to do with it, I was stating a fact not making a guess. It's a gyro compass, called a 'kurskreisel' , my source is page 43 of the Haynes Tiger tank workshop manual.

[@jarmokankaanpaa6528]

You are correct, @@imagifyer.

[@MrMarinus18]

I guess the magnetic center of the tank was in a very inconvenient location.

[@Mattle_lutra]

@@imagifyer I speculate that the "1 to 12" scale might be clock degrees as to more easily follow tank commanders directions if given in clock degrees. Would the lower yellow part (harder to see in the video) possibly be a 360 degree scale?

[@bradleyshorey1604]

Nicholas mentions at 13:21 a "little device" to the left front of the driver's position. The manual labels it as a "Kurskreisel" which I believe translates as gyro compass.

[@Wotplaya4]

Panzer 4 next? It's got hatch for the driver and radio operator :P

[@ThePerfectRed]

And it's the first tank with a real turret basket

[@beersmurff]

@@ThePerfectRed You're a turret basket!

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

@@ThePerfectRed I think T-28 gets that honor, actually. Would need to check.

[@derkaiser9881]

@@TheChieftainsHatch Oooh. That's actually pretty surprising, especially considering it's a Russian tank...and their reputation..

[@ThePerfectRed]

That would be cool, but I think it was only the 1940 design of the "conical" turret that had this. A video about the T-28 would be great!

[@bigblue6917]

Nice to see the Panzer 3 in detail. It tends to get overlooked for the later tank but good for its day.

[@WarReport.]

Beast in the desert

[@erikhalvorseth3950]

Its a beautiful tank and I believe especially in desert conditions it served DAK well due to its reliability where it apparently outperformed P-IV. Its the punch of the gun that gets you into trouble ofc. Mathildas etc would be a tough nut

[@Stuka87]

Was so happy to see this pop up. The Panzer III (and the Stug) were incredibly reliable, well thought out tanks. If not as powerful as later tanks. Hoping that WG also had you go through the Panzer IV, and Maybe Tiger 131.

[@ivanvukadin3194]

They allready did Tiger 131. Look it up at the Chieftains channel

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Ivan Vukadin The Challenger did the Tiger, not the Cheiftain that I know of

[@Stuka87]

@@ivanvukadin3194 The Chieftan has not done Tiger 131. (Many others have, but I would like his input)

[@Angry-Lynx]

I don't like the fact that they were mostly paper tanks, generally everything designated as AP will destroy them.

[@Stuka87]

@@Angry-Lynx At the start of the war they were definitely not paper tanks. And they were up-armored as the war went on. Yes they were very outclassed by late model tanks, but they could still stand up to a lot of mid to lower caliber guns that were still in use.

[@timonsolus]

I suppose the driver and radio operator didn’t have their own hatches because the tank was too small to accommodate them. It’s easy to forget that the Panzer III was designed as a 15 ton tank. Allied near equivalents in terms of weight were the British Cruiser III and IV, and the US M3 / M5 Light, which all had a crew of 4 men, and the Russian BT-7 and British Valentine III, which both had only 3 men. So the Germans did a brilliant job of crew ergonomics on the Panzer III considering the small size of the tank.

[@MrMarinus18]

Well more that the Germans figured the inconvenience was worth it for the increased protection. Hatches are weak points in the armor. The Driver and radio operator would have hatches in the front which is the most likely part to be hit.

[@chrisgibson5267]

The early marks had escape hatches for the driver and radio man on the side: deleted after this model I think. Our man here makes mention of them in the video. These are in the hulk sides and hinge forward. There's a number of photos of knocked out tanks with the open and at least one with a crew member apparently dead gal in and half out the tank.

[@thebog11]

@@chrisgibson5267 That's absurd, women didn't serve in the Wehrmacht

[@MrMarinus18]

It is also the reason they went for the more vertical armor. It allowed them to make a smaller tank which still fitting in 5 people.

[@MrMarinus18]

Also the intended weight of the Panzer III was 18 tons which was the maximum weight of army bridges at the time. The British clung on to that a little more which is why the Valentine is so cramped cause they wanted it to stay under 18 tons.

[@johnnyzippo7109]

The restoration of this Panzer III is phenomenal , what is also phenomenal is the overall fit and finish of WW2 Gurman panzers. Those welds , nothing but sliding dimes , incredible.

[@begines7787]

I WAS WAITING SO HARD FOR THE SECOND PART TO COME!

[@derkaiser9881]

YESS

[@Yes-br1qj]

Same here

[@Hyperion__GD]

*insert It's Been So Long meme here*

[@b1laxson]

Thats what she said.

[@JaM-R2TR4]

how its done? waiting hard... :D

[@neilwilson5785]

Excellent video. When you see how well layed out that turret is, you can see the real reason why this tank 'over-performed' in North Africa and Russia for so long.

[@Pulsatyr]

Please keep doing early war subjects like the panzer II or Czech designs. A day without Moran is a day without sunshine. You are such a great presenter that I would watch you evaluating make-up airbrushes or non stick cookware.

[@myplane150]

"Shorter people back then"... (3:55). Considering you are 6'5", everyone was shorter back then and most still are today. ☺

[@gafeleon9032]

He knows, he's saying it for context probably

[@terrystoner4504]

I'm shorter than him right now but only by 3" so yeah. I've always heard that submarine crews could only be a certain height so maybe the Germans did something similar with tank crews.

[@littlejimmy8744]

@@terrystoner4504 same height as you so would i be able to be a gunner in a german tank ?

[@CB65810]

My uncle was 6’4” and a Sherman driver/ assistant driver/ bow gunner / in 712th tank battalion

[@littlejimmy8744]

@@CB65810 shermans are taller than Germans tanks but if he fit i could fit but i would prefer loader or a gunner.

[@HappiKarafuru]

British - Tea making machine inside their tank German - Toilet inside their tank

[@n95265]

I have been waiting for this tank for years, so many go to panther and such but I love the III. Thank you for doing the early war machines.

[@TheLPN05Fan]

Man, I waited for this like ages! There's a reason why this is my favourite WW2 Tank!

[@joehammond1247]

Thanks Chieftain, I have been eagerly awaiting part 2!!!!!!!!!!!

[@billhuber2964]

My compliments and congratulations Nicolas. You done your homework well. This will help me on scale model projects in the future.

[@shorttimer874]

Thank you post production for lowering the music volume!

[@alexthibodeau979]

The Panzer 1 video's music was so dominating and it was really nice that I could actually listen to the Cheiftain properly in this one.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

Thank you for finally coming out with part 2.

[@kellyknott4201]

Great job on an under appreciated vehicle and considering its free I can wait until you’re ready to produce the video. My vote too for the Pz IV or StuG III with coverage of the engine bay as well. Keep up the good work.

[@christiandtorres9843]

Finally!! I can see inside my favourite tank of all times!!

[@Luredreier]

Thank you, the Panzer 3 L is one of my favorite tanks of all times. =)

[@elijah24567]

Such a beautiful tank. This and Pz 4 is probably the reason why i don't progress in my Tech tree.

[@glennmorrissey5309]

Great tour of the Panzer III, thank you!

[@MrBandholm]

Also the Panzer III is great looking with the long 5cm gun. In the end perhaps the panzer IV was better (due to the ability of upgrading it), but the Panzer III looks like a very capable tank. And something of a terror in the Desert.

[@bigblue6917]

But then got its second wind as the Stug III

[@MrBandholm]

@@bigblue6917 The Stug III is arguably the most important AFV of the German army from 1942 and onwards... But it was there already in 1940. But you are quit correct!

[@RussianThunderrr]

I agree on all accounts... Pz-III is a good looking and comfortable tank, Pz-IV is not, but Pz-IV was a MBT "work horse" thorough the WWII.

[@ernestpaul2484]

I didn't realize Mr. Moran was so tall. If he can fit into most of these WW2 era tanks and their crew positions fairly easily, then the crews of that time period, which were smaller and shorter in stature, would have no problem at all. It is the small details that make up this series of armored education. I almost considered being a tanker, then thought about how big a target I would be. So jumping out of airplanes and humping a ruck around didn't seem like too bad a deal. I would love to go to Bovington for a visit before I expire. Hell, all of the museums in Europe also.

[@FalconWing1813]

Very Cool, Makes me have a lot of respect for all those that have served and fought in this things.

[@jroch41]

Very informative review of Panzer III

[@mattmopar440]

9:15 the M3 Lee is making a flanking move you better move quick :)

[@panzerkampfwagenmark6tiger198]

mattmopar440 not if i have anything to say about that

[@gafeleon9032]

@@panzerkampfwagenmark6tiger198's transmission proceeds to brake

[@panzerkampfwagenmark6tiger198]

Gafe León NEIN NOT AGAIN

[@ZoSoPage1977]

That's a Grant

[@aperson1363]

@@ZoSoPage1977 the Lee is American, Grant is British

[@antonfarquar8799]

excellent report

[@carlwesternut2434]

Hey, mr chieftain, it would be interesting to see a video on a type 63 apc, or a panzer 4 brumbarr. Your knowledge and research is second to none. Great video.

[@McRocket]

For once (especially from about 1942 onwards), it looks like the Germans designed a great tank on the 'bang for the buck' scale. I gained a lot of respect for this tank thanks to this review. Thank you.

[@chumleywarner586]

Awesome - My patience has been Rewarded! Like your style on par with Master Fletcher!!! Cheers Vi

[@jim200cmvfd2]

OMG, I think this is the first German tank that you gave a positive view of. Now you gotta do the Panzer 4 to compare to. Nice Job, now that you finally did part 2 of the Panzer 3 I'll buy that book, not gonna read it until the Panzer 4. Thanks

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Fallschirmjäger Guy Films That’s not the Chieftain, that’s his UK counterpart called the Challenger who just sits in the commanders seat and does nothing.

[@nateweter4012]

Great vid. Just a heads up, the MG34 on the cupola IS for shooting at aircraft, although in 8mm it’s quite inadequate for the role. The mount is called the “Fliegerbeschussgerät”(roughly translates to plane shooting device). There’s a switch arm/lever, which when turned, allows the arms of the mount to rotate upwards which raises the MG substantially enough to where the operator can get behind the gun for elevated shots. It allows for about 60 degrees elevation not much more. The idea worked well enough in the mid to late 30’s where biplanes, soft bodied and slower planes were used but was less effective against modern WW2 aircraft. It’s function on the mount became a way for tank commanders to paint a target with tracers for gunner and other tanks and for both a moral boost and potential deterrent during Jabo attacks.

[@fhlostonparaphrase]

Finally, was beginning to wonder if there ever was to be a part 2. Now...the music. In the last video I couldn't see/hear the issue that so many commented on, but in this video, the music *really* is distracting. Not too big on background music in general, but we sort of have to live with it (its a fad), but could you please tone it down a few notches? Its too loud compared to his voice, which is what we come for; information over noise. Other than that, refreshing to see a tank with good ergonomics for a change ;)

[@bodavidson2804]

Fun fact The boxy design of WWII German panzers was inspired by the shape of Hindenberg's head

[@Sydney559]

Really great vidéos!!! I am doing a Das Werk 1/16 Panzer 3 ausf J Glad to see all the details.

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@Clangokkuner]

Maybe the azimuth indicator is so the commander can know the relative positions without completely shifting his field of vision? I can imagine the reasoning being that they want to be able to let the commander track targets without having to look away and still be able to give accurate commands to the various crewmen

[@abrahkadabra9501]

Always enjoy going over those old German designs. They were so well thought out and well built. No wonder the German tank divisions were so dangerous!

[@kingofhogwarts9499]

Finally! I have to say, this is all I wanted for christmas

[@trauko1388]

About time!!!

[@pweter351]

Thanks for the video just a suggestion is to have close up shots from the crew position and details

[@simonrichardson5077]

Excellent,thanks

[@justforever96]

Shorter people back then, yes. But they also specifically chose crewmen based on their physical ability to fit. I think Moran would have been advised to go to the infantry instead, they *wanted* smaller crew for armor and aircraft, for similar reasons. Making the tank just enough bigger to accommodate a man of 6'2" instead of 6' could easily add hundreds of pounds worth of armor hull plate, and strange as it seems, saving weight was a major consideration for tank designers. Even with the later behemoths like the Tigers, the weight was already so huge, they had to try to limit it as much as possible, and the thicker your armor is, the larger the increase is when you add a few inches to the dimensions. In aircraft, it means more material and weight, and more size means more drag (and a larger target, which is especially significant on a panzer). It is much simpler to simply be selective of your crewmen. And yes, those are escape hatches. A person can squeeze out of a surpisingly small space when it is a matter of life or death...but yet another reason to prefer small men. Hatch openings are vulnerable weak points, and you want them as small as possible (especially on an extremely vulnerable spot like the hull side). All they needed was a space barely big enough to squeeze out of in dire emergency, it would make no sense to make them larger for comfort (or to accommodate fat crewmen) at the cost of making the whole panzer more vulnerable.

[@cosimopiovasco8196]

Oh bugger, that guitar riff again! Let's escape before my ears burn! (otherwise, great review of a really smart tank!)

[@skjorta1984]

I like it

[@e90baby]

Cosimo Piovasco looks comfy

[@zacheryloop1947]

Music is much to loud. Rather hear what he is saying. It's a distraction!

[@haydenmoore3421]

I honestly get lit to the looping guitar in the background

[@khps0413]

Panzer IV! Panzer IV! Panzer IV! We need a complete tour video for Panzer IV! (Challenger already made one for it, but I still hope there will be a complete tour for this warhorse.)

[@begines7787]

STUG 3 NEXT EPISODE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

[@Fajnybobr]

YES!!!

[@frankwhite3406]

The Drivers and Radio Operators / Hull machine gunners hatches were located on the sides of the lower hull between the tracks on the Ausf L model . I think you could also escape in an emergency out of the differential drive shaft inspection hatches above the Drivers knees. As on the Stug 3.

[@peterlewerin4213]

Side hatches yes. The inspection hatches are too small, and you can't squeeze past the gearbox/final drive assembly anyway.

[@frankwhite3406]

@@peterlewerin4213 Ooh Yes you can when the tanks on fire !!!

[@justforever96]

Did you see inside those hatches in part 1? I was thinking "those are literally just inspection hatches, you couldn't even fit your hands in there to work on anything", and here you are claiming a whole person could squeeze out? There is no way. The *hatch* is large enough, but there is less than six inches of space between the brakes and the hull.

[@frankwhite3406]

@@justforever96 Hi , I have seen pictures of German Panzer Crewmen coming out of the hatch in question in front of the driver . Once you squeeze past the control leavers you open the hatch from the inside of the Panzer III / Stug and pop out. ( please note people were also alot slimmer in the 1940's)!

[@gaustadtpanzer3606]

Very informative! Any chance of doing a Pz IV video other then the one that is done already?

[@RussianThunderrr]

Awesome! Feels like an eternity for long awaited Part II video. Thank you, so much though! -- Any plans for making T-34-76(Sniper) 1942-43 edition video, with test driving that tank? Or Kubinka is off limits?

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Kubinka isn't off limits, as he has done their Maus

[@RussianThunderrr]

@@sirboomsalot4902 - I think he mentioned that there were some changes to the whole museum set up in Kubinka.

[@chippledon1]

Access hatches for the driver/machine gunner in the hull were located on the glacis plate in front. I've seen a pic of a pz 3 driver standing in the open hatch.

[@donvanduzen8944]

No you haven't.

[@daveybyrden3936]

@@donvanduzen8944 I've seen that too.

[@sheikbombalot5781]

An absolutely brilliant tank for the first years of the war. Up until 1941/42 there wasn’t much that could match them, except for T34’s which were tactically inferior. And after 41 they were an excellent basis for the STUG and as infantry support vehicle.

[@NuGanjaTron]

Amazing -- a thank Sir Chieftain actually likes!!!

[@bigchunk1]

A comfortable crew would make for an effective tank I imagine.

[@user6008]

One of the original Blitzkrieg tanks deployed so effectively by Germany early on during WWII. Excellent engineering, combined with mechanical reliability and as the Chieftain so ably pointed out....great ergonomics.

[@olliemaxwell18]

A fantastic video, many thanks! I saw the gun traverse/ elevation wheels but I would love to know how the main gun was fired?

[@daveybyrden3936]

At 05:35 he is holding the grip handle of the traverse wheel. It has a trigger which you can see. That pushes up a rod which closes a switch in a little box on top of the traverse gear. You can see it peeping out just above the white shaft of the elevation wheel. Its wires are missing but you can see the two round connectors for them. It also has a red lamp which lights when you press the trigger. The twelve volts then runs along a wire to the front roof of the turret, above the gun and on the right, where there's a socket. A lead from the gun is plugged into that. And so the signal goes to a safety switch on the gun, then to another diagnostic lamp on the gun frame, and then into the breech block.

[@olliemaxwell18]

@@daveybyrden3936 Many thanks 😀

[@iwhbyd2683]

Honestly, wiggling into the driver seat without a hatch looked much easier than going through many other tanks that had a drivers hatch. Didn’t notice him having to do any twisting or bending, or shoulder dislocating, can’t say that for some other tanks.

[@leftnoname]

Really would like to see Nick do a video on Tiger I.

[@fhlostonparaphrase]

Apparently, the wooden Challenger has already done one... So its probably not first priority.

[@das_edelweiss8736]

Finally, I can never ever find a video on the panzer 3 interior

[@Dick-Dastardly]

Very interesting. Have you done a StuG III video?

[@stefanstoian8908]

Panzer IV next please :)

[@VonRammsteyn]

AWESOME! I was waiting 4 this! The panzer III ausf H is my favorite tank of the war. And something to remember is it was with this tank that the wehrmacht did achieve it's best victories. Large push ups like the french campaign or the early manouvers of barbarroja would been unreacheable with the rate of malfunctions of the tiger or the panther. This was the tool wich come closer to achieve Hitler's dreams. As allways, a big fat Thank you for the video, Nicholas! It was better than i espected.

[@peterlewerin4213]

It was with this tank that the Wehrmacht achieved its *only* victories. Retiring the Pz III from its original role coincided with the Germans going into sustained defense/retreat. (I'm obviously not saying they should have stuck to the Pz III to avoid losing.) It's my favorite WWII tank too. One of the very first tanks that wasn't just a lumbering tin can monster, and throughout its career its crews consistently defeated tanks that were, on paper, superior to it. The little tank that could, until it couldn't any more.

[@1joshjosh1]

I'm proud that I knew that 18 years ago about the 39 versus the 40

[@thundrstruck87]

Can you please put the camera up to the cupola and weapon/driver sights so we can get an idea of the Commander and crewman view please?? Would definitely add more to the video, I would love to see that!

[@snowindafunboots4369]

GRAZIE MUCHACHI

[@danielvallejos9]

Nicholas is pleased :3

[@DeadValeryi]

Перевода в ближайшем десятилетии мы не дожёмся. Для русскоязычной аудитории передачу можно назвать «Учим английский вместе с Николасом Мораном»

[@SuperCragster]

About time

[@Dethfield]

StuG III please!!

[@VladiSSius]

Pz 3 was my most favourite tank. I even make a semi sci-fi upgrade depiction of it by having a turret of a Comet tank (bit modified of course for the gun) and swap the gun with 7,5 kwk 39 gun so that it has more room inside and included modern upgrade such as modern gun sight, digital battlefield system, etc etc. Btw, how much weight a Comet turret has? Oh and any specific on the dimension of it? Anyway I really really love the video, and it is kinda painful of a wait for part 2 :))

[@justforever96]

They don't even have the same turret ring diameter. If you could easily make a Pz III ring larger, they would have done so, and to reduce the diameter of the Comet turret would defeat the whole purpose and make it impossible to fit the larger gun (never mind that reengineering it to that extent would basically involve designing a whole new turret, so you might as well just design a whole new turret; the whole point of using an existing one is to use up existing stocks or at least tooling and molds instead of setting up a whole new production line). What you are describing is fantasy, not sci-fi. Sci stands for science, which means it is based on plausible, reality-based (or potentially real) scenarios. Fantasy can be fun as well, but they aren't the same thing. And dropping a Comet turret on a PzIII chassis is fantasy.

[@thecashier930]

Looking at the turret hatches and the ergonomics inside the hull a "Oh booger, the tank is on fire" test from the hull would probably be quicker than some of the other tanks, where he got stuck. Not having a hatch for the people is pretty horrible, but if you were to build one without them, this is probably the best you can do.

[@henrikhilskov]

I once read that the latest version of the Pzkmpf III with the short barrel 75mm was produced to be a support tank for the Tiger I units, messenger tank ect. However that very fast turned out to be a bad idea. The best support for a Tiger was another Tiger.

[@gusgone4527]

If Panzer IV production had been numerous enough. I'm sure all Panzer III hulls would have been given over to Stug production early in the war. That combination with either Tiger Mk1 or another, would have given the USSR a real problem. The resources wasted on Panther, Tiger II and the other crazies lost the production of the workhorse vehicles. With more tanks available, the German armies could have reached much needed oil reserves before halting for the winter and consolidating. The T34 and KV's were a shock but very difficult to both operate, coordinate and keep running. Don't get me wrong. I'm so pleased the Germans never achieved their full potential. But but with hindsight the allies were very lucky Hitler was a drug addicted megalomaniac. Had he "died" in 1941 and been replaced by Erich Von Manstein or similar. Who know what would have happened?

[@derekbaker3279]

Excellent, and I agree that the PzKmpfw III is an underappreciated tank. After all, Germany's greatest successes in WWII all occurred while the PzKmpfw III was their main battle tank (and the PzKmpfw IV was a support tank). I was quite surprised with the proximity of the recoil guard to the commander's legs. Was this a compromise when the L/60 gun replaced the L/42 gun? Or was it a design flaw (inconvenience?) from the outset. Finally, I think that the PzKmpfw III in 1940 had the 37mm gun, so it was inadequately armed, IMHO. However, by Barbarrossa, all PzKmpfw IIIs had the 50mm L/42 & it may be fair to say that in 1941 it was the best tank in the world that was available in impactful quantities (so the T-34/76 wouldn't count). Looking forward to your next video!

[@darthtrudeau4907]

8:40 look at the soldiers looking into the tank 😅

[@visionist7]

Seeing as the driver has no hatch to poke his head through the designers had no choice but to give him a generous vision block.

[@francissullivan6400]

ABDOLUTELY BRILLIANT INFORMATIVE VIDEO..have been trying to set the interior of a 1/16 scale static model of the panzer 3 mark m..leave it to an Irish AMERICAN tanker to do this ..MERRY CHRISTmas

[@geramos109]

What about the lateral door between the weels? This is a good escape for the driver and the radio man.

[@johnludmon7419]

The hull escape hatches were deleted in the later production models of this tank I think mid way through the “J” spec model. Possibly that is why they are very blocked up as they have moved things around in the hull with the adoption of the larger gun and bigger ammunition.

[@TheStugbit]

Thx for the video, Chieftain! Do you know if the Pz III had some kind of tungsten warhead ammunition?

[@nepete7]

PzGrt40, he mentioned it in the video.

[@TheStugbit]

@@nepete7 my english is not so good, I may have missheard it. Thx nepete7.

[@lllPlatinumlll]

The hatch in the floor is also for hosing out the gore of the previous crew if needed. I read about one becoming blocked with a skull and the guy cleaning it had to hop in and remove the skull so he could keep hosing.

[@DrLoverLover]

Cool story bro

[@paoloviti6156]

It good to remember that the Pz.Kpfw III not only had better ergonomics but it had a number of first regarding tanks: it was the first to understand the importance of having a three manned turret to divide the workload in a more logic way, it was the first to recognize the importance to give good view to the crew with the hatches closed so it was fitted armored glass all around with an cupola with an all-around view for commander, it was the first to be regularly fitted with the intercom system permitting a excellent coordination among the crew altrough the loader was not connected for ease of movement, and finally it was the first to have torsion bars permitting a relatively smooth ride on rough terrain. Compare it, with the exception of the Pz.Kpfw IV, to the contemporary tanks then in production in other countries to get an overall picture...

[@zafranorbian757]

The Neubaufahrzeugs turret, wich became a huge influence for the turret on the Pz3 and 4, already had the 3 man configuration with the commander elevated in the back. But you could still say the Pz3 was the first to bring that turret design to a mass produced tank.

[@paoloviti6156]

@@zafranorbian757 interesting, as I didn't know that the turret of the Neubaufahrze had a three man-crew. Thanks for the heads up!!

[@erikhalvorseth3950]

P-III impresses me more and more. Apart from the escape hatches for driver and funker ..they dont have emergency hatches either? I believe I have read somewhere that P-III was a favorite in DAK because of its reliability. The problem ofc was the punch of the gun.

[@zafranorbian757]

there were originally escape hatches in the side of the hull, though they were super tiny and were removed on later models.

[@arminramschak1438]

Finally!!!

[@AFatT34]

Thats interisting

[@JustSomeCanuck]

"Oh bugger, the main gun ammo under the commander's seat is on fire..."

[@VladiSSius]

*insert "guess i'll die" meme*

[@randymotter51]

@@VladiSSius *insert "(chuckles) I'm in danger" meme*

[@user-uq1bq5wq4w]

@@randymotter51 i think during the eastern front i would like that lmao. heated seats, made in germany!

[@richardrobinson7645]

"ahwell - he was an arsehole anyway"

[@petesheppard1709]

at least those big side turret hatches made escape for the gunner and loader fairly quick, clearing the way for the hull crew to bail. Still, the hull crew had to be something of claustrophiles even if they were small.

[@d.f.9140]

Pete Sheppard u didn't watched it right. He even mentions that even it's such a small tank, the crew ergonomics are astonishing for that time. I'm 1,80 m in height and would fit in it, very comfortable tank and space magic.

[@ico9750]

Panzer 4 now? Please?

[@RussianThunderrr]

There we go... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYHInoqbeaeafJI

[@screamingfang]

@@RussianThunderrr no we want Tank Jesus to do the Panzer 4! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@geldoncupi1]

A very big like, from me.

[@pauljames9869]

Ok, the tank is in fire! For many Panzer 3s they had a hull escape hatch on each side. He even showed it on this one. The later ones. Didn’t have them. It is the GUNNER that was lucky to have his own hatch. Most LOADERS always had their own hatch.

[@airnt]

so even when coming out of the turret, isn't it still quicker than many other tanks you looked at? Obviously you might need to cross the actual fire hazard, but still, that all depends where the fire even started. Also the covered ammo storage makes for a bit more fire resistance?

[@trauko1388]

WHAT!!!!! No side escape hatch test?!?!?!?!?!?!

[@trauko1388]

@@razor1uk610 For that you do not need such big hatches... they appear to be too small for people and too large for anything else. Earlier versions had pistol ports, they were way smaller. Plus there was the bottom hatch for other uses.

[@thebog11]

@@razor1uk610 I've heard of shooting gold rounds, but this is ridiculous!

[@mbr5742]

To put german males of the period into perspective: My step-grandfather (maternal) was a WW2 german tanker (Panzer IV and Panther). He was considered a BIG GUY both in hight and shoulder width. He was 182cm in hight and visibly bigger than his crew My geandfather (paternal) was seen as a giant at 192cm, towering a head over his fellow miners on pictures. And even at 190cm today I am well above average for a german male (177cm for german my age, 179cm for age 18-30)

[@anatolib.suvarov6621]

Col., I see the boys at Bovington chained the MG-34 to the mount, so you couldn't liberate it.

[@erikaitsumi7198]

I wanna see the Tiger 2 so much

[@mrbigshoworelse]

If the Pz. III is so close to perfect I'd imagine the Pz. IV is going to be arguably perfect, takes everything the Pz. III does wrong and makes it right.

[@DrLoverLover]

Why is there music playing when he's talking?????