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Stug III Ausf G
Stug III Ausf G

STRUMGESCHÜLZ

When considering reasons for the success of the German's panzer arm, the Stug III should come to mind as a major factor. Especially being that it was originally designed as an infantry support weapon. Built on a panzer III chassis, the theory of it's use proved highly successful when they were available in limited numbers for the German invasion of France in 1940. Leading the charge with the infantry, they could destroy enemy strong points with their low valocity 75mm gun at pointblank range saving German casualties.

However, it's short barreled low volicity gun was inadequate against enemy tanks due to the fact it could only knock them out at close range. The invasion of the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941 proved this clearly. The Germans quickly corrected this by late 1941 with the mounting of a more powerful, long barreled 75mm gun. This version was the Stug III Ausf. F which was also up armoured from 50mm to 80mm. Some Ausf. F models mounted a 105mm howitzer as well as the next variant, the Ausf. G, which was the last production assault version built.

With all the constant improvements made to the Stug III, it remained a formidable weapon up to the war's end. 7,720 Ausf. Gs were produced and well over 9,000 in all, counting variants. Some versions were; command vehicles, ammo carriers, some carried bridging material and in the summer of 1943 a flame-thrower version entered service designated the Stug (F1).

SOME INTERESTING NOTES:

1. The Stug III's mounting the new 75mm gun claimed more destroyed enemy tanks than all other different turreted German tanks combined, 20,000 by early 1944 alone!
   
   
2. By the spring of 1944, the Stug III Ausf. G, carried a remote controlled machine gun on the top of it's superstructure.
   
   
3. Because the assault concept originated with the artillery branch of the German army before World War 2, the Stug III was manned by a specially trained artillery crew rather than panzer troops.
   
   
4. Despite their success as tanks destroyers, the Stug III Ausf. F and F/8 were never officially classified by the German's as Jadgpanzers (hunting tanks). This reflected the fact that many German self-propelled weapons like the Stug III series were forced to serve a dual purpose, for example, making up shortages of tanks in the panzer divisions. Regardless of it's classification, the Stug III was well suited for the roll with it's strong gun, reliable design, low profile for concealment and well trained crews.
   
   
5. In 1942 a version which carried a 150mm howitzer in a high armoured superstructure intended for street fighting was planned but the extra armour proving to heavy for the panzer III chassis was abandoned in favor of the Brummbar (Grizzly Bear), so only 12 were built for combat trials.