The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - Sturmgeschutz (Assault Guns) - Apr. 13th, 2004

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[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

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Sturmgeschutz
StuG III, StuH and StuG IV

In view of their experiences in WW I the German Army demanded some mobile form of armored artillery which could accompany and support the infantry. The vehicle should be able to eliminate strong points and other obstacles by direct fire, notably during the period in a battle when the conventional supporting artillery was otherwise engaged or could not be brought into action due to moving up. The vehicle should be armed with a 77mm gun on a maneuverable fully-tracked vehicle, with vehicle and weapon partly protected by armor. These attempts were halted in 1932 because other plans for motorizing the Army seemed more pressing.


A prototype vehicle of the "O" series with two round access hatches in the nose

A memorandum submitted in 1935 to General Beck, the Chief of General Staff, by Colonel Erich von Manstein, suggested to revive the concept of the infantry Begleitbatterien (escort batteries). He indicated the need for an armored self-propelled gun to work under infantry control, the tactical employment and the nature of the weapon itself: "Assault artillery fights as escort artillery within the framework of the infantry. It does not attack like the tank, does not break through, but carries the attack of the infantry forward by quickly eliminating the most dangerous objectives through direct fire. It does not fight in large numbers like the tank units, but is normally employed at platoon strength. The platoon, or even the individual gun, makes a surprise appearance in and then quickly vanishes before it can become a target for enemy artillery. The gun must be able to take enemy machinegun emplacements out of action with a few rounds. It must also be able to knock out enemy tanks; in comparison to them it has inferior armor, but a superior ability to observe and shoot first."


A StuG III Ausf. A in Holland, 1940, with the initial drive sprocket and rear idler

Five prototype vehicles were built in 1937, mounting the same short-barreled 75mm L/24 howitzer fitted to the PzKpfw IV in a limited traverse mounting on the modified chassis of the PzKpfw III Ausf. B. Constructed of soft steel, these vehicles of the "O" series were unsuitable for combat but helped developing the initial production version, the StuG III Ausf. A. The nomenclature adopted was a blend of the parent tank and the gun which was mounted (e.g. StuG III mit 7.5cm Kanone, implying a modified PzKpfw III chassis with a 75mm gun). The chassis nose plates, gun mantlet and frontal armor of the superstructure were 50mm thick, which was sufficient protection against the antitank guns of that time. The gunner's sight required a small opening in the front plate, and the fan-shaped cutout in front of the opening had bullet deflectors to deflect bullets and fragments. Production started in 1940 and 30 vehicles were made before the campaign in the west in 1940. They performed successfully in Holland and France, destroying pill-boxes, machinegun nests and antitank guns.


A StuG III Ausf B with old drive sprocket and rear idler

The assault guns were crewed by artillerymen, since the infantry had difficulties with the necessary technical and logistic infrastructure to maintain the guns in the field, while the Panzertruppen were afraid of interference with tank production. The crew consisted of the commander (called a Geschützführer, or gun leader), a loader, the gunner and a driver. Their uniforms, although cut in the style of the Panzerbesatzungen (tank crews), were German fieldgrey, not black. Their branch colour was the red of the artillery. During initial gunnery trials the assault gun crews performed better than their tank counterparts, being quicker onto the target and using less ammunition to destroy it.


A StuG III Ausf B with wider tracks

In the autumn of 1940 an improved chassis with replaced transmission and engine resulted in the Ausf. B. During production of the Ausf. B the 36cm wide track was replaced by a 40cm wide track, making it necessary to fit new drive sprockets and rear idlers. Early 1941 the Ausf. C was introduced, later followed by the Ausf. D which had some internal changes. The Ausf. C and D had an altered superstructure with a single or binocular gunner's sight now mounted in the roof, eliminating the weak point in the frontal armor. The front, side and driver's roof plates were improved to a more effective shape.


StuG III Ausf. D of StuG Abt. 189

Introduced one year after the Ausf. B, the last short-barreled version was the Ausf. E which had an altered superstructure. This version was to be used as a command vehicle as the SdKfz 253 observation vehicle was no longer included with the StuG units. The angled side plates were removed, and a second armored pannier box was placed on the right side, while the left pannier was lengthened. These boxes contained extra radio equipment and extra ammunition rounds. A command vehicle mounting the additional radios can be identified by the two whip antennas on the back of the superstructure.


Ausf. E with vertical side wall

Of the short-barreled StuG III Ausf. B, C, D and E, 320, 50, 150 and 272 were made, respectively. The StuG III was the most common Sturmgeschütz design, being little more than a tank with a fixed gun of limited traverse instead of a turret. It was slower and less maneuverable than a tank but was suited particularly well for attacking enemy infantry, heavy weapons and main points of restistance. The vehicle was found to be easier to use from concealed positions because of its lower silhouette. It was less complex, less expensive to build and had almost the same performance as a tank, and for this reason the manufacture of assault guns increased until more were being made than tanks. For the hard-fighting infantry, the Sturmgeschütz were often the last rescue in an emergency while confronting increasing numbers of enemy units.


A StuG III Ausf. G unit fitted with Saukopf gun mantlets -note the drawings on the mantlets resembling boars

[carton253]

He really was... glad to see that he got the distinguished service medal for yesterday's (episode) assault on the German guns...

When I go home for lunch...I'm going to watch the JEB Stuart episode. I can't wait.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Johnny, the ME-410 turned out to be a good nightfighter bomber killer.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! Nice to see Feather's Tank on Tuesdays.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for info Archy.

German Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann spent part of his career as a Stug Commander and made a name for himself early in Russia.


On 12 July, 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! - Rottenführer Klinck, Wittmann's gunner, spotted a number of enemy Panzers rapidly approaching. After moving into a postion offering additional visual advantage, eighteen T34/76 tanks were spotted, one group of twelve and another group of six. After ordering his driver Koldenhöff 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 Panzers 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 armour-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 Koldenhöff, who with consummate skill quickly rolled the vehicle into a suitable vantage point, allowing Klinck to obtain an accurate bead on a second T34/76, which was quickly engulfed in flames. Within seconds, loader Petersen 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 spotten, 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. Klinck'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, Koldenhöff skilfully manoeuvred the StuG III to allow Klinck a crack 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 Koldenhöff, 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 Koldenhöff quickly moved the StuG. III to within 500 metres of the last Soviet Panzer, Klinck, quickly reacting to Wittmann's command, let off a round of 75mm armour-piercing shot, which found its way to the Russian vehicle with a resounding crack. The remaining T34/76s quickly directed their aim towards Wittman's vehicle, and Koldenhöff desperately moved the StuG III into position. Klinck let go another round - which bounced off the enemy tank. Loader Petersen was working overtime, and Klinck evetually 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 begin to head off, 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 brave Waffen-SS Unterscharführer 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.

The evening of 12 July 1941 was to see Unterscharführer Wittmann being awarded the first of what would be many decorations, the Iron Cross Second Class, which he received from an elated 'Sepp' Dietrich. 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.

[SAMWolf]

Definately a "textbook" assault.

[carton253]

I am totally deficient when it comes to battle maneuvers. What little bit I understand comes from my study of Stonewall Jackson - though I spend most of my study time learning about the man than his battle tactics.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Neil. You've got to get cable, it's the best way to view the Foxhole. We do tend to be heavy on graphics but find they help tell the history much better than without them.

Thanks for sharing the pic and link to the USS Fresno and as always, thank you for your service to our country.

[snippy_about_it]

I just found out that my first assignment will be as a Stryker Brigade platoon leader.

Thank you for your service and thanks for "falling in" at the Foxhole to share with us. We'd be highly appreciative if you'd let us know what you think of the Stryker once you get to experience it. Good luck and Godspeed to you.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning archy.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Iris7. Thanks for your analysis on the differences between war and peace time equipment. I learned something. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the reminder EGC. I've been neglecting my upgrades and busy with getting settled here in Oregon so I needed the reminder.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning radu. Nice graphic. I'm going to "borrow" it. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Aeronaut.

[snippy_about_it]

Good moring Samwise. We hope you're feeling better soon.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning carton253. Thanks for the heads up on the Civil War Journal, I'll look at my local tv section and see when it's on out here.

We've been rewatching Band of Brothers in the evening. A film I hope to watch often enough to memorize.

[snippy_about_it]

1935 Erich von Däniken author/nutcase (Chariots of the Gods)

LOL. Good morning Valin.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Mayor. We're having a cooling down period, only in the low 60's during the day and low 40's at night. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning feather.

[Iris7]

I think "Stryker" can be used efficiently. I would doubt what I was told about the armor effectiveness until I had a chance to examine it in detail, both in how it is made and in how it is placed. Some areas are always weaker than others, by plan, and the question becomes "what will this mean?"

A written off Stryker would be very useful for field level tests. Combat damaged machines should be retrieved and studied as well as possible.

Additional armor will probably be wise, starting with RPG protection. Even chain link "cyclone" fencing spaced 18" - 24" will give 90% protection. Stack on three layers. 3/8" 6061 aluminum spaced the same will give 99% protection against RPGs. The RPG has to strike the fencing or the aluminum sheet instead of the hull for this to work, of course. This is only the beginning of armor improvement.

It is always better to reduce weight to as low a loaded weight as possible while keeping good protection and adequate weapons (an M113 open top with belt fed 7.62 mm pintle mounts for each man, up to eight mounts, and a .50M2 and one of the belt fed grenade launchers on pintle mounts facing front, and personal weapons with extra ammunition is adequate for light duty use. Gun shields are necessary.) Reliability must be reasonable. Maximum speed is not very important in the Iraq situation. 35 mph is plenty. If you need to reduce weight, and you will, just tear out the junk "features", all the electronics, air conditioning, all that peace time stuff. "Stryker" was intended for high speed reconnaissance in air/land battle, in an NBC environment, and there is none of that sort of thing in Iraq at this time.

Welding onto the hull may cause problems. It won't be SOP that's for sure. The suspension will have to have more weight carrying capacity. A decent armor upgrade will run about ten tons. I'll come and visit if I can be of help. Don't have unlimited time, darn it, or I would be working with the Israelis on proper modification of American vehicles for use in Iraq. Do not hesitate to freepmail me if I may be of help. Harms way is no game.

[snippy_about_it]

I hope Snippy's BicycleSpankenTruppen have their tax-stamps up to date or at least stay out of Amsterdam.

TAX My Troops!

Message to my truppen; Pay No Taxes and Take No Prisoners!