I few have asked about my Stug luv, I think if you asked modellers, people interested in WW11 to name tanks/armoured vehicles they would usually say (in no order)
Tiger/king Tiger, Sherman ,T34. Panther etc but little said about one of the most deadly tank hunters in history the Sturmgeschutz 111, about 20,000 kills or so and in production from 1937 - 1945!
I have a wide interest in history from the middle ages to WW11, battleships to the SS and I have a large library on these subjects especially the SS / Waffen SS but by far the Stug dominates my book collection. I have always liked its mean looks, low down, great ambush vehicle but not as glamorous as a Tiger and not a pretty thing lol.
So for a few good years I have spent hours reading about them so although I bet a few on the sight know more about the Stug I know a thing or two or even three (should do)!!!
So here goes, lets make a small start
In the mid 1930’s German infantry officers supported by von Manstein wanted to find a way of mounting artillery to support the infantry on vehicles. The time it took to set up towed artillery guns was a major problem with the new blitzkrieg ideas. Coupled with their experience of WW1 they wanted an armoured vehicle to work with the infantry to take out obstacles such as pill box’s and other fortifications. Unlike British tactics where infantry tanks moved at the pace of the infantry (slow) The German infantry advanced at the support vehicles pace, much faster. The recently developed Pz 111 was selected for the prototype and the Ausf B was used. The design called for the use of the short barrelled L24 gun, this was use then fitted to the Pz IV with limited movement; remember the Stug was not originally designed as a tank hunter! The vehicle had to have a very low height, this was in the original plans as it must be not be taller than a standing man! Originally it was to have an open body but this was dropped as it offered poor protection for the crew.
A total of 5 were made by Daimler Benz and completed by 1937, these were made out of soft steel, so not for combat. These went on to develop the Sturmgeschutz or assault gun theory. They where used as driver training vehicles, the last know use was in 1941 in Juterbog (home of the Stug).
As you can see the Stug was born and is easily recognised even as a prototype when compared with the other later versions, but by far the biggest difference was the running gear. The Pz 111 B running gear was a very complicated leaf spring suspension with lots of linkages and would have been a nightmare in the field, it would be dropped to the much more recognised torsion bar system.
The two round hatches were for inspection and dropped, remember not armoured
I do hope this is of interest to you chaps, if not please let me know!! I cry easily though lol
Feedback would be important, please
Thanks bob
