Sturmgeschütz III

The gun of attack Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) was the Armored vehicle of combat produced with the greatest number of specimens by Germany during the Second world war. It was built on the frame of the tank Panzer III. Conceived at the beginning like an armor-plated light gun intended to support the infantry, StuG was continuously modified and was largely employed like Hunter of tanks.

The series of Sturmgeschütz is recognized for his excellent price ratio/quality. At the end of the war, one had built some more: 10500.

History

Sturmgeschütz finds its origin in a project initially filed in by Colonel Erich von Manstein with the Beck General in 1935, in whom it suggested that the Sturmartillerie (artillery of attack) should be used in a role of support of direct fire for divisions of infantry. June 15th, 1936, Daimler-Benz AG accepted the order to develop an armored vehicle of support of infantry able to support the assembly of a piece of artillery of 75 Misters the gun was to at least have a side displacement of 25 degrees and to be gone up in a superstructure providing a protection (including on the top) to the crew. The height was not to exceed the intermediate size of a man.

Daimler-Benz used the frame and the gear box of the tank average Panzerkampfwagen III which it had just designed as bases of the new vehicle. The construction of the prototype was delegated to the Alkett company, which in 1937 produced five specimens of the experimental series StuG, based on PsKpfw III ausf. B. These prototypes had a mild steel superstructure and Krupp gun with tube short Sturmkanone 37 L/24 of 75 Misters.

As StuG III was intended to fulfill a role of support brought closer to the infantry, the first models were provided with the gun at low speed StuK 37 L/24 of 75 mm which drew from the high-explosive shells. After the Germans had been confronted with the Soviet tank T-34, StuG III were armed with the gun at high-speed StuK 40 L/43 of 75 mm (spring 1942) or anti-tank L/48 of 75 mm (autumn 1942).

The following models of StuG III had a machine-gun MG34 of 7,92 mm assembled on the hull for an increased protection against the infantry.

In 1944, the Finnish army accepted 59 StuG III delivered by Germany and against the Soviet Union used them. The latter destroyed at least 87 enemy tanks for a loss from only 8 StuG (some of them were destroyed by the crews when they gave up them to avoid the capture of it). After the war, they became the principal fighting vehicle of the Finnish army until the beginning of the year 1960. These StuGs were called “Sturmi”, which can be found on certain plastic models.

Sturmgeschütz were also exported towards other countries like Bulgaria, Italy, Romania and Spain.

After the Second world war, the Soviet Union gave some of the German vehicles captured to the Syria which continued to use them at least until the Guerre the Six Day old (1967).

Engagements

What remains probably implying engagement more successful of Sturmgeschütz Ausf. F take place with Stalingrad at the beginning of September 1942. StuG III Ausf. F pertaining to Stug. Abt. 244 ordered by Oberwachtmeister Kurt Pfreundtner destroyed 9 Soviet tanks in the twenty minutes space. September 18th, 1942, Oberwachtmeister Kurt Pfreundtner was decorated with the Cross of Knight for this feat of arms.

1st at January 4th, 1943, Unteroffizier Naumann Horst of Stug. Abt. 184 destroyed twelve Soviet tanks during violent one engagements in the area of Demyansk. January 4th, Naumann received the Cross of Knight to have destroyed a total of twenty-seven enemy tanks.

Most known of the aces of Waffen S using of StuG was Sturmbannführer Walter Kniep which ordered 2nd Sturmgeschütz Abteilung of 2nd Pz. Division “Das Reich” of Waffen S. From July 5th, 1943 to January 17th, 1944, its unit asserted the destruction of 129 Soviet tanks by recording the loss only of two StuG. It was decorated with the Cross of Knight.

In general, the guns of attack of the Sturmgeschütz series were shown very effective and were used on all fronts as guns as attack and tank destroyers. Although the tanks Panther and Tigre acquired a greater reputation, the guns of attack have the destruction of many enemy tanks to their credit. Because of their silhouette bases, Sturmgeschütz III were easy to camouflage and constituted a target difficult to reach. In 1944, the majority of them were equipped with guns of 75 mm for high swiftness. It was considered that their crews belonged to the elite of the units of artillery. In spring 1944, the units of Sturmgeschütz held a record impressing of approximately: 20000 destroyed opposing tanks. At April 10th, 1945, it remained: 1053 Stug III and 277 StuH in service. Approximately: 9500 Sturmgeschütz of various versions were produced until March 1945 by Alkett and a small number by MIAG.

Versions

StuG III Ausf. With (Sd.Kfz 142; 1940,30 produced specimens).

It was used for the first time during the Battle of France. It was built on the basis of frame of Panzer III Ausf. F and provided with the gun StuK 37 L/24 of 75 mm

StuG III Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz 142; 1940-1941, 320 produced specimens).

Broader caterpillars and other minor modifications

StuG III Ausf. C (Sd.Kfz 142; 1941,50 produced specimens).

Small improvements compared to the previous model

StuG III Ausf. D (Sd.Kfz 142; 1941,150 produced specimens).

Small improvements compared to the previous model

StuG III Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz 142; 1941-1942, 272 produced specimens).

A machine-gun MG34 is added to protect the vehicle from the enemy infantry. Other small improvements

StuG III Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz 142/1; 1942,359 produced specimens) also called Stug 40.

First real modification of the armament. This version uses the gun StuK 40 L/43 which has a longer tube. This change made that Stug III became more one tank destroyer that a vehicle of support of infantry. Side skirts were added to certain models to protect them from Soviet rifles anti-tank device; these skirts will much more often meet however on the Ausf version. G which is posterior for him.

StuG III Ausf. F/8 (Sd.Kfz 142/1; 1942,334 produced specimens).

New gun, StuK 40 L/48 of 75 Misters

StuG III Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz 142/1; 1942-1945: 7893 produced specimens).

The final version and by far most built StuG series. The version G used the hull of Panzer III Ausf. M and, after 1944, was equipped with one second machine-gun. Later versions were provided with the coat of gun Saukopf (out of face mask of pig), which was more effective than the original coat to divert the shootings with the goal. Side skirts were added to the version G for a greater protection of its sides. Certains StuG III was also created on the basis of frame of Panzer III whole while being provided with the system of suspension of the Panzer IV and was called Stug IV. Only twenty specimens were produced. The intention was to simplify repairs on the ground, but the system appearing inoperative and this version were abandoned.

In 1942, an alternative of StuG III was conceived with an howitzer of 105 mm in the place of StuK 40 L/43. These vehicles indicated under the name of Sturmhaubitze 42 (or StuH 42 ), also listed under the term Sd.Kfz 142/2 ), were intended to provide a support of infantry because of the growing number of StuG III F/8 used in a role of tank destroyers. StuH was equipped with an alternative of the light howitzer of countryside model 1918, modified to profit from a firing electric and equipped with a brake of mouth. The late models were built at the beginning of frame of StuG III G as well as frame StuG III F and F/8. The brake of mouth was often ignored because of the scarcity of the resources.

In 1943, ten StuG III were converted into Stug I (FLAMM) by a replacement of the gun by a Lance-flame Schwade. These frames all were reconverted with the deposit and were an alternative of the pre-Ausf version. F. No report/ratio indicates that they would have been used with the combat and they all were retransformés in StuG III standard in 1944.

The self-propelled gun Soviet SU-76i was based on StuG III and tanks Panzer III captured German. Close to: 1200 of these vehicles were converted to be used by the Red Army while adding to it to a superstructure and the ZiS-5 gun of 76,2 Misters.

See too

External bonds

Information concerning Sturmgeschütz III on Panzerworld
Sturmgeschütz III/IV in Achtung Panzer!
Sturmgeschutz III Photographs of Sturmgeschutz III in Canada War Museum in Ottawa, Canada

AFV Database
LemaireSoft
OnWar model specifications: WITH B D E F G
WWII Vehicles
WarGamer
Panzer-modell

References

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