Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III)

One of the main and most widespread self-propelled guns of the Third Reich during the Second World War, used both on the Eastern Front and on the Western Front. During the Cold War, it was used in the Arab-Israeli wars, as well as on the line of defense of socialist Bulgaria (Warsaw Pact) from Turkey (NATO country).

German Assault Gun (StuG III) Ausf. F/8 (Kubinka Tank museum / Patriot Park collection).

According to the classification of Soviet specialists: German self-propelled gun SU-75 “Artshturm” on the T-III tank chassis, designed in 1940. Serially produced since 1940.

German official classification: Gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz III mit 7,5-cm-Sturmkanone 37 oder 40.

Third Reich official service name: Sd.Kfz. 142. StuG III   or sometimes called StuG 40

Assault Gun  StuG III Ausf.F/8, Kubinka tank museum  & Patriot Park photo gallery.  Especially for the lovers of the military history and the armored vehicles, for the historians, the scale model makers, as well as for the restorers and the researchers, we publish below close-up photographs of the various Stug III parts. Many unidentified metal objects can be found on World War II battlefields and on the scrap metal collecting sites. Perhaps our guide will help you identify the right parts for your intended use. The authors post their personal experience in the WW2 searching such found parts in a special section.

StuG III tactical technical characteristics:

• The Weight — 22 tons.
• The Crew – 4 people.
• Overall dimensions (length x width x height) 5480 mm x 2950 mm x 1960 mm.
• Weaponry:
• the gun –  1 unit with the caliber – 75 mm., the ammunition – 56 shots.
• Armory protection: the  front – 50  mm.,  the turret – 30 mm.
• The Engine power — 300 h/p
• Maximum of the speed — 50 km / hour.
• The Cruising on the highway — up to 175 km.
• The depth overcome the water barrier — 1.1 meters

StuG III Ausf. F/8 design features:

The Base – Panzer III German tank.

The overall layout – standard for the self-propelled gun; the closed type; reduced construction height (compared with the base model). The armament – 75 mm gun;  the machine gun is missing.

The Armory –  protection is compared to the base T-III tank, but  is reduced in the turret thickness.

The Chassis – the carburetor engine “Maybach” HL-120, the average ground pressure of 1 kg / sm; the radio station and a tank intercom.

StuG III (StuG 40) Ausf. G German Assault gun

Soviet classification: German self-propelled gun SU-75 «Artsturm» on the basis of the T-III, 1943, serial.  Designed in 1942. Serially produced from 1943 to 1944. Operated by the army of Nazi Germany. Was used in the WWII battles. (the official catalog)
German classification: Gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz III mit 7,5-cm-Sturmkanone 37 oder 40/ G . Third Reich service name: Sd.Kfz. 142. StuG III or StuG 40

Assault gun StuG III Ausf.G in Kubinka tank museum collection

Tactical technical characteristics of StuG III Ausf.G :

• Weight — 24 tons
• Crew – 4 people
• Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5480 x 2950 x 2170 mm.
• Weaponry:
• gun – 1 piece,  caliber – 75 mm., ammunition – 56 shots
• Armory protection, front – 60 мм.,  turret – 55  мм.
• Engine power — 300 hp
• Maximum speed — 50 km / h
• Cruising on the highway — up to 175 km.
• Depth overcome the water barrier — 1.2 meters

StuG III Ausf. G design features:
Base  – tank Panzer III, The overall layout – typical for all self-propelled units.
Armament – a long-barreled gun Stuk 40 / L48 75 mm caliber with a barrel length of 48 calibers.
Armory Protection – welded body of  the forged parts; compared to the base tank: increased thickness of the frontal armor.
Chassis – Carburetor engine “Maybach” HL-120, the average ground pressure of 1 kg / cm; there is a radio station and tank intercom.

StuH 42 German assault howitzer (Sd Kfz 142/2)

Soviet classification: German assault howitzer SU-105 “Artsturm” on Panzer III, 1942, serial (as the official museum exhibits list). German name:  Sturmhaubitze 42 (StuH 42), Third Reich service name:  Sd Kfz 142/2. Designed in 1942. Serially produced from 1942 to 1944. Operated by the army of Nazi Germany. It participated in the battles of the Second World War.
Assault howitzer StuH 42 in Kubinka tank museum Hall N6.

StuH 42 Tactical technical characteristics:

• Weight – 24,5 tons
• Crew – 4 people
• Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5480 х 2950 х 2180  mm.
• Weaponry:  gun (howitzer) –  1 piece,  caliber – 105  mm.,  ammunition – 36 shots
• machine gun – 1 piece,  caliber – 7,92 mm.
• Armory protection:   front – 32 mm.,  turret – 55 mm.
• Engine power — 300 hp
• Maximum speed — 50 km / h
• Cruising on the highway — up to 150 km.
• Depth overcome the water barrier — 1.2 meters

StuH 42 design features: base – tank Panzer III. The overall layout – typical for all self-propelled units.
Weapons – gun (howitzer) with a unitary loading; one machine gun. Armory Protection – welded body of the forged parts.
Chassis– carburetor engine “Maybach” HL-120; Average ground pressure of 1.1 kg / cm; there is a radio station and a tank intercom.

StuIG 33B (Sturmpanzer III) Assault Infantry Gun

Soviet classification, the official catalog – German self-propelled howitzer SU-150 1943 1942 (assault howitzer based on the T-III), serial (?). the Third Reich name   – Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33 Ausf.B or reduced StuIG 33B – Assault infantry gun on the basis of the self-propelled guns StuG III, by installing 15 cm heavy infantry howitzer sIG 33.
Sometime it named as –Sturmpanzer III, Sturmpanzer 33B or Sturmgeschütz 33B (StuG 33B).
Developed in 1941-42 by AIkett firm. 24 Total production units, but remained the only one. Actively used in the Battle for Stalingrad
StuIG 33B in Kubinka tank collection, Hall N6.

Tactical technical characteristics of StuIG 33B*:

• Weight — 25 tonnes (Kubinka catalogue) 21 tonnes (international sourcers)
• Crew — 5 people
• Overall dimensions (length x width x height)— 5480 х 2950 х 2450 mm
• Weaponry:  gun (howitzer)— 1 piece, caliber 150 mm., ammunition – 24 shots (as catalogue – 30)
• machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7,92 mm., ammunition 2000 shots (Kubinka),  600 (International)
• Armory protection, front – 50 mm,  turret — 80 mm
• Engine power — 300 hp
• Maximum speed — 20 km / h (international sources)
• Cruising on the highway — up to 110 km..
• Depth overcome the water barrier — 1.1 meters.

design features: base is tank Panzer III. The overall layout: the engine compartment behind the front gear, the combat and the control -in the middle.
Weapons —howitzer, a panoramic target sight RbIF 36
Armored protection— compared to the base tank frontal turret armored sheet has a slope of 10 degrees
Chassis – Carburetor engine Maybach HL 120TRM, 12-cylinder, carburetor, V-type, liquid cooling,  the average ground pressure of 1 kg / cm. There is a radio station and a tank intercom.
* data in the official catalog and description, given by the museum officier (B.) are incorrect. Here are some clarifications.

Additional StuIG 33B photos: