Pz.Bef.Wg.III Ausf.K w/Schürzen

Plastic kit for a Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.K.

• 1/35 scale
• Metal barrel included
• contains photo-etched parts
• metal Schürzen for the hull
• 4 marking options
• Hatches can be displayed open or closed
• unbuilt, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf. K (Pz.Bef.Wg. III Ausf. K) was the final mass-produced command tank variant based on the Panzer III and represented the pinnacle of this vehicle family's development. Unlike early command tank variants - whose main armament had been severely restricted or even replaced by a dummy gun to accommodate extra radio equipment - the Ausf. K remained a fully combat-capable command vehicle. It combined the firepower of a standard Panzer III with powerful radio equipment for commanding armored formations.

Technically, the Ausf. K was based on the Panzer III Ausf. M but featured a turret specifically designed for the command variant. While its exterior design was inspired by the Panzer IV turret, it was not a direct copy. The 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 gun was retained but mounted slightly to the left to make room for an additional observation hatch on the right. Both the coaxial machine gun and the hull machine gun were removed, creating space for additional radio sets and their operators. The crew consisted of five men. Depending on the specific version (Sd.Kfz. 266, 267, or 268), the radio suite included combinations of FuG 2, FuG 6, FuG 7, or FuG 8 sets, enabling the tank to operate at various levels of command. A distinctive feature was the star antenna at the rear, which replaced the older, bulky frame antenna found on earlier command tanks.

The vehicle was powered by the proven Maybach HL 120 TRM engine, delivering approximately 300 hp. Weighing approximately 23 tonnes, the vehicle reached a top speed of about 40 km/h, and its handling characteristics largely mirrored those of the Panzer III Ausf. M. Its frontal armor consisted of a 50 mm base layer supplemented by an additional 20 mm of spaced armor; from the spring of 1943 onwards, many vehicles were also fitted with Schürze* (side skirts) on the hull and turret to protect against anti-tank rifles and shaped-charge projectiles.

Although 200 vehicles were originally planned, shifting priorities and the increasing use of converted standard tanks as command vehicles meant that only 50 units were produced between December 1942 and February 1943. They served primarily as command vehicles within Panzer regiments and battalions; thanks to their fully functional armament, they remained in service for a considerable time even after the Panzer III had been withdrawn from the front line.

The Pz.Bef.Wg. III Ausf. K is of particular interest to scale modelers, as it differs significantly from all other Panzer III variants due to its unique turret - featuring a distinctive vision port on the right side - as well as the absence of machine guns, the inclusion of a star antenna, and additional radio equipment. Despite the limited number produced, it ranks among the most distinctive German command tanks of World War II.