Otherwise known as the 7.5cm Sturmgeschütz III, the 7.5cm Sturmgeschütz 40 was produced in three SdKfz 142/1 versions as the definitive models of the assault gun series based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III medium tank. The first variants of this four-man vehicle were armed with the 7.5cm KwK L/24 short-barrel gun, and were the StuG III Ausf A that was produced in 1940, the StuG III Ausf B/D with chassis variations, and the StuG III Ausf E of 1942 with an additional armoured pannier on the right-hand side for radio equipment when used as a unit commander’s vehicle.
The StuG 40 Ausf F that appeared early in 1942 was a development with a cooling fan in the fighting compartment and the more potent 7.5cm Sturmkanone 40 L/43 assault gun development of the KwK 50 tank gun with 54 rounds, while the StuG 40 Ausf F/8 had the longer L/48 version of the same gun. Late in 1942 there appeared the StuG 40 Ausf G, based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III Ausf J tank with the L/48 gun and, in place of the original commander’s hatch, a cupola with seven episcopes and an armoured shield for the local-defence machine gun and, on later vehicles, armoured skirts.
The final model was the StuG 40 Ausf G (nicknamed the sow’s head) with thicker armour and a cast gun mantlet. The data applies to the StuG 40 Ausf F.
Specifications
- Type
- four-man assault gun
- Calibre
- n/a
- Vehicle Length
- 5.49m (18ft)
- Length of Barrel
- n/a
- Weight Travelling
- n/a
- Weight in Action
- 21,950kg (24,391lb)
- Elevation Arc
- n/a
- Traverse Arc
- n/a
- Effective Ceiling
- n/a
- Road Range
- 155km (96 miles)
- Range
- n/a
- Projectile Weight
- n/a
- Armour
- 30-80mm (1.2-3.15in)
- Engine
- Maybach HL 120 TRM
- Muzzle Velocity
- n/a
- Speed
- 40km/h (25mph)