The vehicle is a combination of the Pz. Kpfw. III tank chassis and the 10.5 cm l.F.H. 18 (M) with muzzle brake.
The squat superstructure which replaced the turret of the original tank is similar to the Stu. K. 40. Motor, track, and other chassis mechanisms are the same as those in the standard Pz. Kpfw. III tank and its performance should nearly approximate that vehicle.
The howitzer, Stu. H. 42, is identical to the 10.5 cm l.F.H. 18 (M), except that the former is electrically fired and has the following radius of movement: traverse 20°; elevation -6° to +20°. The piece has a length of 115.75 inches excluding the muzzle brake, which is approximately 15 inches in length. The weight of the gun and cradle is 1.7 tons. Firing a long range shell with supercharge, its muzzle velocity is 1,770 f.s. and its maximum range is 13,480 yards. It fires the 32.6 lb. H.E. shell, a long range H.E. shell, a 32.51 lb. smoke shell, a 25.9 lb. hollow charge shell, and an H.E./incendiary shell.
Auxiliary armament consists of 2 machine pistols, 18 egg grenades, and 1 signal pistol. There are no coaxially mounted or free-mounted machine guns.
The Germans have recently begun attaching thin skirting armor plate of from 5 mm to 8 mm thickness on various fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz. The following theories have been advanced for this development: (1) to break up or deflect 20 mm tungsten carbide core ammunition; (2) to defeat hollow charge shells; (3) to defeat the 14.7 mm Russian antitank rifle; (4) to defeat the American Bazooka.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | 27 tons | |
| Length | 17 ft., 9 ins. | |
| Width | 9 ft., 8 ins. | |
| Height | 6 ft., 5 ins. | |
| Ground clearance | 14 ins. | |
| Tread centers | 8 ft., 2 1/2 ins. | |
| Ground contact | 9 ft., 4 1/2 ins. | |
| Width of track | 15 ins. | |
| Pitch of track | 4 3/4 ins. | |
| Track links | 90 | |
| Fording depth | 3 ft. | |
| Theoretical radius of action: | ||
| Roads | 100 miles | |
| Cross-country | 60 miles | |
| Speed: | ||
| Road | 25 m.p.h. | |
| Cross-country | 15 m.p.h. | |
| Armor: | ||
| Front plate | 50 + 30 mm | |
| Sides | 30 mm | |
| Armament | 10.5 cm LF.H. 18 (M) 2 M.P.’s |
|
| Ammunition | 10.5 cm gun—75 rds. | |
| Engine | Maybach, HL 120 TRM, V-12, 320 hp. | |
| Transmission: | ||
| Clutch | Multiplate, dry. | |
| Gear box | Synchromesh, manual control, 6 speeds forward, 1 reverse. | |
| Final drive | Spur reduction gear. | |
| Steering | Epicyclic, clutch brake | |
| Crew | 4 |
German: p. 29