Pz. Kpfw. III Ausf.N. DRAGON 7407

Plastic kit to build a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N. with side-skirt armor.

Considering the fact that the Panzer III was a product of the 1930s, this German medium tank did well to serve so long in WWII. It was obviously supplanted by the Panzer IV and later the Panther in the tank-versus-tank role, but it did find a niche in the infantry support role. This is most clearly expressed in the final Pz.Kpfw.III variant to enter service – the Ausf.N, of which 700 were manufactured or converted. The Panzer III N entered service in June 1942 and production continued until August 1943. Key characteristics of the Ausf.N were its basis on the Ausf.J or M chassis, and the fitting of a short-barreled 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun. Ironically, this was the weapon fitted to older Panzer IV A-F1 tanks. Thus equipped, the Panzer III N was used in the close-support role in Tiger battalions or Panzergrenadier divisions.