The Sturmgeschutz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germany's most-produced armored fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank, replacing the turret with an armored, fixed superstructure mounting a more powerful gun. Initially intended as a mobile assault gun for direct-fire support for infantry, the StuG III was continually modified, and much like the later Jagdpanzer, was widely employed as a tank destroyer.

The Sturmgeschutz originated from German experiences in World War I, when it was discovered that, during the offensives on the Western Front, the infantry lacked the means to effectively engage fortifications. The artillery of the time was heavy and not mobile enough to keep up with the advancing infantry to destroy bunkers, pillboxes, and other minor fortifications with direct fire. Although the problem was well known in the German army, it was General Erich von Manstein who is considered the father of the Sturmartillerie ("assault artillery"). This is because the initial proposal was from (then) Colonel Erich von Manstein and submitted to General Ludwig Beck in 1935, suggesting that Sturmartillerie units should be used in a direct-fire support role for infantry divisions. On June 15th, 1936, Daimler-Benz AG received an order to develop an armored infantry support vehicle capable of mounting a 75 mm (2.95 in) calibre artillery piece. The gun mount's fixed, fully integrated casemate superstructure was to allow a limited traverse of a minimum of 25 degrees and provide overhead protection for the crew. The height of the vehicle was not to exceed that of the average soldier.

Daimler-Benz AG used the chassis and running gear of its recently designed Panzer III medium tank as a basis for the new vehicle. Prototype manufacture was passed over to Alkett, which produced five prototypes in 1937 on Panzer III Ausf. B chassis. These prototypes featured a mild steel superstructure and Krupp's short-barrelled, howitzer-like in appearance, 7.5 cm StuK 37 L/24 cannon. Production vehicles with this gun were known as Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette fur Sturmgeschutz 7.5 cm Kanone Ausfuhrung A to D (Sd.Kfz.142).

While the StuG was considered self-propelled artillery, it was not initially clear which land combat arm of the German Army would handle the new weapon. The Panzerwaffe (armored corps), the natural user of tracked fighting vehicles, had no resources to spare for the formation of StuG units, and neither did the infantry branch. It was agreed, after a discussion, it would best be employed as part of the artillery arm.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 142 Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. B assault gun that was attached to Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 226 "Samland", then deployed to the Eastern Front during 1941. Pre-order! Ship Date: November 2024.

Dimensions:
Length: 3-1/2-inches
Width: 1-1/2-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Samland" - Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 242 was founded in Juterbog on November 13th, 1942. The Abteilung was intended for deployment in North Africa and as such was also equipped with tropical equipment. The 1st Battery was transported to Tunisia and operated there as an independent battery as Sturmgeschutz-Batterie 90. The rest of the Abteilung surrendered their tropical equipment and were directed to the southeastern front in January 1943. The Abteilung was unloaded in Ostrogozhsk and immediately took part in the fighting east of the city in support of the 168th Infantry Division and also a Hungarian infantry division. They had gotten into trouble due to the Soviet Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh offensive. The Abteilung suffered heavy losses here: 50 percent of the unit was destroyed, wounded or missing and all Sturmgeschutzen were lost. By February 21st, 1943, the meager remains were back in the Heimat, in Zinna, near Juterbog.