| Year | February 1943 |
| Vehicle Type | Medium Armoured Observation Vehicle |
| Origin & Designer | Germany/Daimler-Benz |
| Numbers Produced | 262 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Main Armament | 1 x 7.92mm MG34 (Turret Front) |
| Main Armament | [@sponson_traverse] |
| Elevation | [@elevation] |
| Turret Traverse | 360° (Manual) |
| Gun Traverse | [@gun_traverse] |
| Gun Mount | [@gun_mounts] |
| Maximum Range | [@maximum_range] |
| Armour Penetration | [@armour_penetration] |
| Gun Sight | [@gun_sight] |
| Secondary Armament | [@secondary_armament] |
| Smoke Discharger | [@smoke_discharger] |
| Ammunition Carried | 1.500 x 7.92mm |
| Height | 2.50m |
| Width | 2.92m |
| Length | 5.52m |
| Combat Weight | 19.500 kg |
| Ground Clearance | 0.39m |
| Fording Depth | 0.80m |
| Trench Crossing | 2.30m |
| Obstacle Clearance | 0.60m |
| Climbing Ability | 30° |
| Radio | FuG-8 & FuG-4 |
| Armour | Hull Front: 60mm Hull Sides: 30mm Hull Rear: 60mm Hull Top: 17mm Hull Bottom: 17mm Gun Mantle: 50mm Turret Front: 30mm Turret Sides: 30mm Turret Rear: 30mm Turret Top: 10mm |
| Engine | Maybach HL 120TRM or TR (Petrol) |
| Transmission | 6 Forward & 1 Reverse |
| Maximum Road Range | 165 km |
| Maximum Cross Country Range | 95 km |
| Maximum Water Range | [@maximum_water_range] |
| Maximum Road Speed | 40 kph |
| Maximum Cross Country Speed | 18 kph |
| Maximum Water Speed | [@maximum_water_speed] |
| Variants | [@variants] |
| Notes | The first tank to be developed as an armoured observation post was the Panzer III, these vehicles were beginning to lose their effectiveness as battle tanks, so 262 were converted to this role. The vehicles chosen were Mk. III Ausf E to H and these were equipped with communication and visual equipment. The main gun had been removed and replaced by a dummy barrel and the new mantlet was fitted with a single machine gun. These were in fact interim vehicles as plans were to be made to issue a specially designed armoured vehicle dedicated for that role. The Pz Beob Wg III was issued to armoured artillery batteries and served until the end of the war. |
