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Germany's Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5 cm Kanone Ausf A3; Sturmgeschütz III Ausf A3, SdKfz 1423 self propelled gun
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf A self propelled gun: |
Design
5 prototypes built in 1937.1
Was the first of the series to be produced and was based on the PzKpfw III Ausf E.3
Has the same suspension, drive train, components, and basic hull shape as the PzKpfw III Ausf F. There were no escape hatches on the hull sides. The 75 mm gun was offset to the right and the driver was provided with a pivoting visor, a twin periscope in the superstructure front, and a vision port in the left superstructure. The gunner had an artillery type periscope and had a vision port in the left superstructure. The commander had a scissors periscope which could be raised by opening the front half of his roof hatch.
Usage
A few were employed at Gazala and Tobruk in North Africa.
| StuG III Ausf A | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 41,2,3 |
| Radio | FuG151, FuG161 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19.5 tons3, 19.6 tons1, 21.3 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 17' 9"2 5.38 m1, 5.41 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 5"2 1.95 m1,2 |
| Width | 9' 7"2 2.92 m1,2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament (mm) | |
| Main | 75 mm StuK L/241,2 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 441, 842 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 50@10°1, 50@80°2 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 50@21°1, 50@69°2 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 30@0°1 + 9@30°1, 30@90°2 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°1, 30@90°2 |
| Hull Rear | 8@60-80°2, 30@30°1 + 10°1 |
| Hull Top | 11@78-90°1 @ 17@85°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 16@90°1 |
| Superstructure Front | 50@75°2 |
| Superstructure Sides | 30@90°2 |
| Superstructure Rear | 30@60°2 |
| Superstructure Top | 8@0-12°2 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TR1,2 Maybach HL 120 TRM2 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 3002, 3202 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh 10 forward, 4 reverse.1 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 70 gallons2 320 liters2 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 12° left1, 12° right1 12.5° left2, 12.5° right2 |
| Max speed | 28 mph2 40 kph1, 45 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 12 mph2 19 kph2 |
| Road radius | 100 miles2 160 km1, 161 km2 |
| Cross country radius | 60 miles2, 97 km2 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°1 |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Profile, AFV Weapons #55, German Self-Propelled Weapons, Peter Chamberlain, H.L. Doyle, 1973
