Sturmgeschütz III

The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) was an assault gun produced by Germany during World War II. It was the most-produced 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.

Sturmgeschütz III
Sturmgeschütz III Ausführung G
TypeAssault gun
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1940–1945 (German service)
1949–1973 (Syrian service)
Used bySee Operators
WarsWorld War II
War over Water
Six-Day War
Yom Kippur War
Production history
DesignerAlkett
ManufacturerAlkett, MIAG
Unit cost82,500 
No. built
  • c.10,086 StuG III
  • c.1,299 StuH 42
Specifications (StuG III Ausf. G, 1942)
Mass23.9 tonnes (52,690 lbs)
Length6.85 m (22 ft 6 in)
Width2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Height2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)
Crew4 (driver, commander, gunner, loader)

Armour16–80 mm (.62–3.15 in)
Main
armament
Secondary
armament
EngineMaybach HL120 TRM V-12 gasoline engine
300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight12 PS (9.2 kW) / tonne
Transmissionsix-speed transmission
Suspensiontorsion bar
Fuel capacity300–320 L (66–70 imp gal; 79–85 US gal)
Operational
range
Road:
155 km (96 mi)
Cross-country:
75 km (47 mi) (.9 mpgUS (1.1 mpgimp; 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)
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