Capt. Cheatham
14-08-07, 07:18
http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/503/StugIII.jpg
Armament: 75mm StuK 37 L/24 gun (44 rounds). Armour: 50mm at 10°.
Weight: 19.5 tons.
Speed: 40kmh (25mph).Range: 160km (100 miles).
Crew: 4. commander, gunner, loader and radio operator.
In 1935, it was proposed that Sturmartillerie units were to be formed and used for direct support of infantry divisions. They were to be equipped with assault guns mounted on a tracked chassis and used to accompany the infantry into the attack. The assault gun's main aim was to knock out strong points, machine gun nests, anti-tank guns and other obstacles. Assault guns were simpler, cheaper and less time consuming to produce than turreted tanks and that is why German factories built them in large numbers.
In June 1936, development began of an armoured infantry support vehicle mounting a 75mm gun. The gun was to have a limited traverse of 25°, in order to provide direct support. The gun was to be mounted in a superstructure that provided full protection for the crew.
The first vehicles, based on the PzKfw III Ausf F chassis, entered production in 1940. They were armed with the 75mm StuK 37 L/24 gun, mounted offset to the right in a sloped superstructure. The superstructure was made of armour plates and was mounted on the welded hull. Frontal hull and superstructure armour protection was 50mm.
The Ausf A was followed by improved Ausf B, C, D and E variants, all armed with short 75mm StuK 37 L/24 gun. All versions featured a number of modifications and improvements. Many early models were recalled to the factory to be rearmed with newer guns and up-armoured by addition of armour plates. The Stug III Ausf E was the first of the series to be provided with 7.92mm MG34, which was carried inside the superstructure for local defence.
In March of 1942, Ausf F entered production. It was not only an assault gun but also a badly needed tank destroyer. It was mounted with a new 75mm StuK 40 L/43 gun. The long 75mm gun allowed assault guns to combat tanks and also afforded greater accuracy at longer ranges. The Ausf F was then replaced by the Ausf F8, armed exclusively with the 75mm L/48 gun.
In May 1943, 10 battle damaged Stug III Ausf F/8's, were converted into flame-thrower tanks armed with a 14mm Flammenwerfer. They were designated as Sturmgeschutz III (Fl).
The Ausf G entered production in December 1942. It used the Ausf F hull, suspension and engine, while the superstructure was modified. The superstructure was widened, its 30mm sides were sloped at 79°, the roof was raised in the rear and its rear 30mm superstructure wall was mounted at 90°. This provided additional room for both the commander and loader.
Other changes included the layout of the roof, the addition of a commander's cupola with seven periscopes and a 10mm machine gun shield in front of the loader's hatch. The 50mm frontal hull armour was increased to 80mm by addition of 30mm bolted armour plate. Ausf Gs were also mounted with 5mm Schurzen from mid 1943 onwards.
Common field practice was the addition of a layer of concrete added over the armour plate above the driver's position to improve the protection. Models produced between September 1943 and September 1944, were factory applied with Zimmerit (anti-magnetic paste).
Overall, the Sturmgeschutz series proved to be very successful, and served on all fronts as assault guns and tank destroyers in both offensive and defensive mode. Sturmgeschutz III with its low silhouette was a difficult target and a dangerous opponent. Each battery according to organization scheme from November of 1939 had 6 assault guns in three platoons (with 2 assault guns each). In August 1940, Sturmartillerie units were reorganized into Abteilungen (battalions) with 18 assault guns in three batteries (with 6 assault guns each). In early 1941, the battalions were renamed - Sturmgeschuetz Abteilungen and batteries to Sturmgeschuetz Batteries. In March/April of 1941, all Sturmgeschuetz Batteries had the number of assault guns increased to seven. In 1942, with the introduction of long-barrelled Stug III (75mm L/43 and L/48), Sturmgeschuetz Abteilungen were reformed and number of assault guns was increased to 28 per battalion. Each battalion still had three batteries but number of assault guns in platoons was increased to three. In November of 1942, Sturmgeschuetz Abteilungen were reformed again and number of assault guns was increased to 31 per battalion with three additional assault guns for battery commanders. In June of 1944, new organization scheme was introduced - Sturmartillerie Brigade with 45 assault guns, including 33 Stug III/IV (75mm L/48) assault guns and 12 Sturmhaubitze 42 (105mm L/28) assault howitzers. The Brigade had three batteries with 2 Stug III's for each battery command, while each battery had two platoons of four Stug IIIs and one of four StuH 42's. Towards the end of the war, Stugs (40) were often issued to other units as replacement for tank destroyers and even tanks.
In December 1943, the Stug IV was introduced. It was essentially a slightly modified Stug III superstructure mounted on PzKfw IV chassis. It was armed with the 75mm StuK 40 L/48 gun mounted in cast "saukopf" mantlet. It was operated by a 4-man crew. The majority were issued in companies to infantry divisions.
Armament: 75mm StuK 37 L/24 gun (44 rounds). Armour: 50mm at 10°.
Weight: 19.5 tons.
Speed: 40kmh (25mph).Range: 160km (100 miles).
Crew: 4. commander, gunner, loader and radio operator.
In 1935, it was proposed that Sturmartillerie units were to be formed and used for direct support of infantry divisions. They were to be equipped with assault guns mounted on a tracked chassis and used to accompany the infantry into the attack. The assault gun's main aim was to knock out strong points, machine gun nests, anti-tank guns and other obstacles. Assault guns were simpler, cheaper and less time consuming to produce than turreted tanks and that is why German factories built them in large numbers.
In June 1936, development began of an armoured infantry support vehicle mounting a 75mm gun. The gun was to have a limited traverse of 25°, in order to provide direct support. The gun was to be mounted in a superstructure that provided full protection for the crew.
The first vehicles, based on the PzKfw III Ausf F chassis, entered production in 1940. They were armed with the 75mm StuK 37 L/24 gun, mounted offset to the right in a sloped superstructure. The superstructure was made of armour plates and was mounted on the welded hull. Frontal hull and superstructure armour protection was 50mm.
The Ausf A was followed by improved Ausf B, C, D and E variants, all armed with short 75mm StuK 37 L/24 gun. All versions featured a number of modifications and improvements. Many early models were recalled to the factory to be rearmed with newer guns and up-armoured by addition of armour plates. The Stug III Ausf E was the first of the series to be provided with 7.92mm MG34, which was carried inside the superstructure for local defence.
In March of 1942, Ausf F entered production. It was not only an assault gun but also a badly needed tank destroyer. It was mounted with a new 75mm StuK 40 L/43 gun. The long 75mm gun allowed assault guns to combat tanks and also afforded greater accuracy at longer ranges. The Ausf F was then replaced by the Ausf F8, armed exclusively with the 75mm L/48 gun.
In May 1943, 10 battle damaged Stug III Ausf F/8's, were converted into flame-thrower tanks armed with a 14mm Flammenwerfer. They were designated as Sturmgeschutz III (Fl).
The Ausf G entered production in December 1942. It used the Ausf F hull, suspension and engine, while the superstructure was modified. The superstructure was widened, its 30mm sides were sloped at 79°, the roof was raised in the rear and its rear 30mm superstructure wall was mounted at 90°. This provided additional room for both the commander and loader.
Other changes included the layout of the roof, the addition of a commander's cupola with seven periscopes and a 10mm machine gun shield in front of the loader's hatch. The 50mm frontal hull armour was increased to 80mm by addition of 30mm bolted armour plate. Ausf Gs were also mounted with 5mm Schurzen from mid 1943 onwards.
Common field practice was the addition of a layer of concrete added over the armour plate above the driver's position to improve the protection. Models produced between September 1943 and September 1944, were factory applied with Zimmerit (anti-magnetic paste).
Overall, the Sturmgeschutz series proved to be very successful, and served on all fronts as assault guns and tank destroyers in both offensive and defensive mode. Sturmgeschutz III with its low silhouette was a difficult target and a dangerous opponent. Each battery according to organization scheme from November of 1939 had 6 assault guns in three platoons (with 2 assault guns each). In August 1940, Sturmartillerie units were reorganized into Abteilungen (battalions) with 18 assault guns in three batteries (with 6 assault guns each). In early 1941, the battalions were renamed - Sturmgeschuetz Abteilungen and batteries to Sturmgeschuetz Batteries. In March/April of 1941, all Sturmgeschuetz Batteries had the number of assault guns increased to seven. In 1942, with the introduction of long-barrelled Stug III (75mm L/43 and L/48), Sturmgeschuetz Abteilungen were reformed and number of assault guns was increased to 28 per battalion. Each battalion still had three batteries but number of assault guns in platoons was increased to three. In November of 1942, Sturmgeschuetz Abteilungen were reformed again and number of assault guns was increased to 31 per battalion with three additional assault guns for battery commanders. In June of 1944, new organization scheme was introduced - Sturmartillerie Brigade with 45 assault guns, including 33 Stug III/IV (75mm L/48) assault guns and 12 Sturmhaubitze 42 (105mm L/28) assault howitzers. The Brigade had three batteries with 2 Stug III's for each battery command, while each battery had two platoons of four Stug IIIs and one of four StuH 42's. Towards the end of the war, Stugs (40) were often issued to other units as replacement for tank destroyers and even tanks.
In December 1943, the Stug IV was introduced. It was essentially a slightly modified Stug III superstructure mounted on PzKfw IV chassis. It was armed with the 75mm StuK 40 L/48 gun mounted in cast "saukopf" mantlet. It was operated by a 4-man crew. The majority were issued in companies to infantry divisions.