Tag: StuG III

This development of the Sturmgeschütz mounts the Stu. K. 40 assault gun, with muzzle brake, on a Pz. Kpfw. III chassis. The gun. is identical to the Kw.K. 40 with the exception that in the Stu. K. 40 the buffer and recuperator systems are mounted on each side of the barrel to accommodate the S. P. mounting, while the Kw.K. 40 mounts the recoil mechanism above the barrel. The road performance of this vehicle will approach that of the Pz. Kpfw. III tank.

The superstructure is a box-like arrangement, closed in on the top and welded to the chassis. A commander’s cupola, loader’s entrance hatch, and an opening for the sight are provided on the roof of the superstructure. There is no hull entrance door. A circular hole approximately 9 inches in diameter, cut in the rear of the superstructure, houses a small electric fan which draws air into the fighting compartment. A circular plate 12 inches in diameter and 30 mm thick is fitted over the hole at a distance of 3 inches from the superstructure by means of 3 bolts. The thickness of superstructure armor is as follows: front vertical plate 50 + 30 mm, gun mantlet 50 mm, sides 30 mm, top 20 mm. Side skirting armor is often mounted on this vehicle.

The gun has a length of 126 inches, without the muzzle brake, a muzzle velocity of 2525 f/s for the 15.0 lb. projectile and an effective range of 2000 yards firing A.P.C. shell. Its approximate radius of elevation is -5 to + 20°; traverse 10° left and right. It utilizes the following types of ammunition—A.P.C., H.E., and hollow charge. The penetration of A.P.C. shell against homogeneous plate is reported as follows: 500 yards, 4.0 inches at 30° obliquity; 4.8 inches normal—1000 yards, 3.6 inches at 30°, 4.3 inches normal—2000 yards, 2.8 inches at 30°, 3.4 inches normal.

SPECIFICATIONS

German: p. 28

This version of the Sturmgeschütz is similar to its predecessor, the Stu. G. 7.5 cm K., except for its armament. The 7.5 cm Kw.K. short gun which appeared in the original Sturmgeschutz was replaced by the 7.5 cm Stu. G. lg. K., 87 inches long as shown above. The arrangement of the recoil mechanism also differs, the long version having what appears to be the original mounting provided for the Kw.K. 40 and is evidently a forerunner in its design and development. Photographs show the 7.5 cm Stu. G. lg. K. to be equipped at times with a muzzle brake. The front superstructure has been modified to accommodate the improved armament.

This vehicle is made up of the Pz. Kpfw. III tank chassis and an early development of the 7.5 cm Pak 40, and includes the hull and superstructure improvements made at this time on the original Sturmgeschütz. A roof was added, a commander’s cupola, smoke pot projectors and heavier front plate. The piece represents the trend in design from the short barrel 7.5 cm Kw.K. to the Stu. K. 40.

SPECIFICATIONS

German: p. 27

The Sturmgeschütz is an assault weapon. Unlike the two other classes of self-propelled guns, antitank and artillery, which consist merely of guns placed in the hull of a tank with shields erected around the front and sides thereof, the assault gun is built into the hull and is consequently nearer the ground and has a much more solid superstructure built round the gun. The original Sturmgeschütz consisted of the turretless chassis of a Pz. Kpfw. III tank, upon which was mounted the Stu. G. 7.5 cm K., a short-barreled (69.5 inch) piece found in the first models of the Pz. Kpfw. IV. Since the power plant and other mechanical components of the chassis of the Sturmgeschütz are identical to those of the Pz. Kpfw. III tank, and their weights are approximately the same, the performance data of the two are comparable.

The turret of the original tank has been removed and replaced by a squat superstructure, reducing the height of the vehicle from 8 feet, 3 inches as a tank to 6 feet, 5 inches as an assault weapon. The gun compartment is roofed over, but there is no rotating turret. The fighting compartment is armored as follows: front 53 mm, sides 43 mm, top 11 mm.

The gun, which is mounted low in the hull and fires forward, is identical to the 7.5 cm Kpfw. K. short tank gun, originally the main armament of the Pz. Kpfw. IV tank. It is primarily a close support weapon, the ammunition scale comprising only 25% A.P. against 10% smoke and 65% H.E.; its armor-piercing performance is relatively poor. Its muzzle velocity and maximum range firing H.E. shell is 1,378 f.s. and 6,758 yards, respectively. The penetration of A.P.C.B.C. shell against homogeneous armor is reported as follows: 500 yards, 1.81 inches at 30° obliquity, 2.16 inches normal—1000 yards, 1.61 inches at 30°, 1.97 inches normal—1,200 yards, 1.57 inches at 30°, 1.89 inches normal.

SPECIFICATIONS

German: p. 26