StuG 40

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StuG 40 ausf F, F/8 and G (Sd.Kfz 142/1) was version with longer 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/43 or 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun.
Since March 1942 a self-propelled gun Stug III was armed with 7,5 cm StuK 40 long-barrel gun, a first version was StuG 40 Ausf F.
Occurrence of a new assault gun StuG 40 Ausf F was caused by a qualitative advantage of Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks. StuG 40 were armed with 7,5 cm StuK 40 L/43 or L/48 gund. Stuk 40 gun was a modification of KwK40 tank gun. Installing a new gun entailed the necessity of installing a ventilator in a fighting compartment which was built in a middle part of the superstructure between a commander’s hatch and a load hatch. The electrically driven ventilator created characteristic “fireplace” on the superstructure. The cannon was protected by a shield made of an armour plate of 30 mm thick. StuG 40 Ausf F were manufactured in two series. The vehicles manufactured in the first batch (182 representatives) from March to July in 1942 did not have an additional armour of an “appliqué” type. The vehicles manufactured from July to September had an additional armour in the form of the armour plate of 30 mm thick. Additionally, in vehicles assembled since August the angle of tilt of armoured plates at the front of the superstructure was changed. Since September 1942 such an improved version of StuG 40 Ausf F was marked StuG 40 Ausf F/8 and launched to a batch production. The production batch ended with building 250 representatives until December 1942. StuG 40 Ausf F/8 self-propelled guns received as a standard armament 7,5 cm Stuk 40 L/48 guns of. A range of technological changes e.g. one-piece motor flaps were also introduced.
Renovated representatives and if it is possible the other ones were modified in the middle of 1943. Armour plates of 5 mm at the side of the vehicle, so called “Schurtzen”, and armoured shield (made of the armour plate of 10 mm thick) for MG-34 were mounted on the right side of the superstructure.
In December 1942 Alkett plants started to produce StuG 40 Ausf G self-propelled gun. Until April 1945 7893 vehicles of this version left assembling halls of factories taking part in production of StuG. StuG 40 Ausf G guns at the beginning of the production were built with an fixed armour of 50 mm, just since May 1943 (Alkett) the armour of 80 mm was introduced and since October in MIAG plants. It should be emphasized that only a body armour was thickened , a front armour of the superstructure was still of 50 + 30 mm. The fighting compartment was enlarged by placing side plates at 79° and back plate at 90°. A rear part of the fighting compartment was also heighten. Since January 1943 a ventilator of the fighting department was transferred to the back wall. A commander’s seven-periscope observation tower was also installed. Until October 1943 the commander’s tower was rotating, then since October 1944 fixed towers were mounted to come back to moveable once at the end of the production. MG34 armour shield was also mounted in two versions as a flat plate placed at 67° and as a low shield in the shape of “V”. Since June 1944 additional MG34 coupled with a cannon was installed. A characteristic difference was a new gun mantlet called “Saukopfblende”.
As a support weapon of close reach, StuG III were excellent combination of armour and weaponry. They were also relatively cheap and simple to produce. That is why as many as 10306 were created, the most among German armoured vehicles.