Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5 cm Kanone Ausf A8,
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf A8,
SdKfz 1428:
5 prototypes built in 1937.2
Was the first of the series to be produced and was based on the PzKpfw III Ausf E.8
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.
A few were employed at Gazala and Tobruk in North Africa.
| StuG III Ausf A | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 42,5,8 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19.5 tons8, 19.6 tons2, 21.3 tons5 |
| Length w/gun | 17' 9"5 5.38 m2, 5.41 m5 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 5"5 1.95 m2,5 |
| Width | 9' 7"5 2.92 m2,5 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament (mm) | |
| Main | 75 mm StuK L/242,5 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 442, 845 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 50@10°2, 50@80°5 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 50@21°2, 50@69°5 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 30@0°2 + 9@30°2, 30@90°5 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°2, 30@90°5 |
| Hull Rear | 8@60-80°5, 30@30°2 + 10°2 |
| Hull Top | 11@78-90°2 @ 17@85°2 |
| Hull Bottom | 16@90°2 |
| Superstructure Front | 50@75°5 |
| Superstructure Sides | 30@90°5 |
| Superstructure Rear | 30@60°5 |
| Superstructure Top | 8@0-12°5 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TR2,5 Maybach HL 120 TRM5 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 3005, 3205 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh 10 forward, 4 reverse.2 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 70 gallons5 320 liters5 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 12° left, 12° right.2 12.5° left, 12.5° right5 |
| Max speed | 28 mph5 40 kph2, 45 kph5 |
| Cross country speed | 12 mph5 19 kph5 |
| Road radius | 100 miles5 160 km2, 161 km5 |
| Cross country radius | 60 miles5, 97 km5 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°2 |
| 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 | |
| Production |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Sturmgeschütz 40 (L/43 & L/48) The Long Gun Versions, Horst Scheibert, 1991
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Profile, AFV Weapons #55, German Self-Propelled Weapons, Peter Chamberlain, H.L. Doyle, 1973
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