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. A assault gun was commanded by legendary ace SS-Unterscharfuhrer Michael Wittmann who was attached to Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler during the invasion of Russia in the summer of 1941. Pre-order! Ship Date: October 2024.

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

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Early Glory" - Wittmann's unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 for Operation Barbarossa, the planned invasion of the Soviet Union. He was assigned to SS Panzer Regiment 1, a tank unit, where he commanded a StuG III assault gun/tank destroyer as well as a Panzer III medium tank.

On July 12th, Wittmann's StuG III was ordered to move to a vantage point on a hill, designated Point 65.5. After reaching their objective -- after nearly running into a ditch -- SS-Sturmmann Bruggenkamp, Wittmann's gunner, spotted a number of enemy vehicles rapidly approaching. After moving into a position offering additional visual advantage, eighteen T34/76 tanks were spotted, one group of twelve and another group of six. After ordering his driver SS-Unterscharfuhrer Fritz to reposition the vehicle on the left side of the hill, Wittmann prepared his crew for the onslaught, and the gun was set to take the Russian armor head-on.

After repositioning again in order to gain a view over the hill, the first of the T34/76s was quickly taken out with one round of armor-piercing shot from the 75mm KwK. As the StuG III was not equipped with a rotating turret, all of the responsibility was placed on the driver Fritz, who with consummate skill, quickly rolled the vehicle into a suitable vantage point, allowing Bruggenkamp to obtain an accurate bead on a second T34/76, which was quickly engulfed in flames. Within seconds, loader Kneusgen had slammed the next round into the hot and oily breech. After a close escape from another T34/76 (and a Russian gunner with a very poor aim), Wittmann managed to reach the edge of a small wood in order to plan his next move.

While carrying out a quick recce on foot, Wittmann spotted a third enemy vehicle. Assuming that he had not been spotted, Wittmann was rocked off his feet when a terrific crash sounded around him. After dusting himself off, he found himself looking at the destroyed T34/76, its turret completely blown off and now sticking out of the ground like a flag-pole. Bruggenkamp's powers of observation, initiative and gunnery skills had been the obvious factor here: while both vehicles had fired simultaneously, Wittmann's gunner had been alert enough to locate, sight and hit the target. On returning to his cupola, Wittmann was the first to praise his skillful gunner.

After another near miss, following two misplaced shots from an itinerant T34/76, Wittmann quickly spotted another Soviet vehicle. Kicking the powerful Maybach engine to life, Fritz skillfully maneuvered the StuG III to allow Bruggenkamp a shot at the enemy Panzer. In a flash, the fourth Russian tank was obliterated. After another close encounter with a rather deceptive water crossing, expertly negotiated by Fritz, Wittmann set out to locate three Russian vehicles he had seen earlier. After scanning the area, he saw the three T34/76s sitting with engines running on top of a hill.

After Fritz quickly moved the StuG III to within 500 meters of the last Soviet Panzer, Bruggenkamp, quickly reacting to Wittmann's command, let off a round of 75mm armor-piercing shot, which found its way to the Russian vehicle with a resounding crack.

The remaining T34/76s quickly redirected their aim towards Wittmann's vehicle, and Fritz desperately moved the StuG III into position. Bruggenkamp let go another round -- which bounced off the enemy tank. Loader Kneusgen was working overtime, and Bruggenkamp eventually managed to get a shot in, which seemed to have disabled the turret of the enemy machine. While all of this was happening, the third T34/76 had decided to head for safety.

Their work seemingly done, Wittmann and his crew started to move away, only to see the turret of the second T34/76 crank back into life. Petersen quickly slammed in another round into the breech, and the resulting shot saw the Russian vehicle burst into flames, its crew desperately trying to escape the inferno. On this day, in addition to the tremendous courage shown by Wittmann and his crew in the destruction of six Soviet vehicles, the young StuG commander was to show a spirit of humanity that was otherwise lacking in this terrible conflict. Seeing three of the Russians in obvious pain, he ordered his crew to smother the flames engulfing them with their bed rolls.

On the evening of July 12th, 1941, both SS-Unterscharfuhrer Wittmann and his driver SS-Unterschafuhrer Fritz were both presented with the Iron Cross Second Class by an elated SS-Obergruppenfuhrer "Sepp" Dietrich. For Wittmann, it would be the first of many battlefield decorations. As a testament to the humanity of this brave soldier, on being asked by Dietrich if he had a special wish, Wittmann requested that the three wounded Russians be given the best medical treatment. The newly-decorated StuG III commander was warmly received by his loyal crew -- a warrior had truly been born.