Specification Crew : 5 Engine : Maybach HL 120TRM Combat weight : 21.50 tons Max speed : road . 40 km/h Range : 155 km Length : 5.52 m Width : 2.95 m Height : 2.50 m Main gun : One 50mm KwK L/42 : Two 7.92mm MG34 Armour : 10mm to 50mm

The Ausf J was the first model of the series to have the armour protection increased to a basic 50mm.An initial order for 900 was later increased to 2,700 and assigned a second chassis number series.The increase to 50mm of the main front and rear surface armour necessitated newly-designed fittings.An improved visor for the driver was fitted together with a new ball-shaped hull machine gun mount.Single piece access hatches in the glacis , hinged at the front were fitted in place of the double-hatch.Newly-designed air-intakes for brake and final-drive cooling were mounted on the upper hull front.The smoke-cradle rack was re-positioned and mounted inside the redesigned upper tail plate for additional armour protection.From April 1942 20mm spaced armour was added to the gun mantlet and/or superstructure front. The Ausf J with the 50mm KwK L/42 were used to equip the 2nd and 5th Panzer Divisions and an independent Panzer regiment , which were sent as reinforcements to Russia in September 1941.The remainder were used to replace the loss of approximately 1,400 Pz Kpfw III during the first year fighting in Russia and North Africa.At the start of the summer campaign on the Eastern front in June 1942 approximately 500 Pz Kpfw III (50mm KwK L/42) were with the Panzer divisions at the front.A year later at the start of the offensive at Kursk there were still 141 with Army Groups Center and South.