Sturmgeschütz III
| Sturmgeschütz III | |
|---|---|
Sturmgeschütz III Ausführung G (Late) with "Saukopf" (boar's head) mantlet | |
| Type | Assault gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1940–1945 (German service) 1949–1973 (Syrian service) |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | World War II War over Water Six-Day War Yom Kippur War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Alkett |
| Manufacturer | Alkett, MIAG |
| Unit cost | 82,500 ℛ︁ℳ︁ |
| No. built |
|
| Specifications (StuG III Ausf. G, 1942) | |
| Mass | 23.9 tonnes (52,690 lbs) |
| Length | 6.85 m (22 ft 6 in) |
| Width | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) |
| Height | 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) |
| Crew | 4 (driver, commander, gunner, loader) |
| Armour | 16–80 mm (.62–3.15 in) |
Main armament |
|
Secondary armament | |
| Engine | Maybach HL120 TRM V-12 gasoline engine 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW) |
| Power/weight | 12 PS (9.2 kW) / tonne |
| Transmission | six-speed transmission |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Fuel capacity | 300–320 L (66–70 imp gal; 79–85 US gal) |
Operational range | Road: 155 km (96 mi) Cross-country: 75 km (47 mi) (.9 mpg‑US (1.1 mpg‑imp; 260 L/100 km) at 22 mph (35 km/h), 71 US gal (59 imp gal; 270 L) fuel) |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
_b.jpg){kind=link}
The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) was an assault gun produced by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the most-produced German fully tracked armoured fighting vehicle, and second-most produced German armored combat vehicle of any type after the Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. It was built on a slightly modified Panzer III chassis, 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 vehicles, was employed as a tank destroyer.