Panzerkampfwagen III rolls again!

After four years of restoration work carried out almost entirely by the Patton Museum Corps of Volunteers, a WWII German Panzer Mk III tank is now rolling under its own power. Unveiled on Memorial Day weekend, the Panzerkampfwagen III took part in the Museum's annual World War II battle reenactments. CLICK HERE to see more photos of the Patton Museum's restored Pzkw. III.

The Patton Museum's Panzer III an "ausf F" that has had a few features upgraded to ausf J standards, notably the 50mm KwK L/60 main gun and the turret schurzen (skirts). It has the old style drive sprocket on the left side with the 40mm spacers to accept the later, wider 400mm track and the later style drive sprocket on the right side. It also has a very noticeable hole in the gun mantlet from battle damage.

The Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor is one of the best maintained facilities in the world. The museum's quality galleries feature a variety of exhibits of armored vehicles, weapons and other artifacts that show the development of armored warfare and mechanization through the years. The museum's mission is to preserve historical material that relates to armor and cavalry through the ages and to make this material available to the military, the public and research and development organizations.

The museum is open with free admission to the public. It operates year-round on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on holidays and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The only time it is closed is on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. For more info on the museum and its activities, visit www.armorfortheages.com.

All photos courtesy of Michael Koenig