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Germany's 7.5 cm Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausf G⁴; Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G; Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausführung G; StuG III Ausf G fuer StuK 40 L/48⁴; SdKfz 142/1⁴

Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun:	Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun, Soldier has Raketenpanzerbüchse (nicknamed Ofenrohr "oven chimney", Panzerschrek "tank terror"):	Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun:	Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun:
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun:	Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun:	Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun: Tank Museum, Bovington	Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun, in Russia:
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G self propelled gun:

Diecast Armor 1/72
Dragon Armor
60304:	60312:	60318:	60368:

Design

Started to appear in late 1942 and was based on the PzKpfw III Ausf J chassis.⁴

Early models had bolted on supplemental armor on the front, with later models having it welded.³ Later models had the driver's binocular vision device removed.³ Late models had the ventilator mounted on the rear wall of the superstructure, whereas the early models had it mounted in the roof.³

A new commander cupola with 8 periscopes was added. A folding shield for the MG was installed in front of the loader's hatch on the roof.^3,4

The sides of the superstructure were slanted and slanted plates were installed to protect the panniers. The coaxial MG wasn't added until early 1944. In late spring 1944 a Nahverteidigungswaffe (close-in defense weapon) and a remote controlled MG in the roof was added. Most had Schürzen installed to protect against hollow charged weapons.³ Some also had Zimmerit paint to help against magnetic mines.^3,4

The 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun included a muzzle brake.⁵

Identifying

Had commander's cupola³ with 7 episcopes.⁴ No box shaped projections on the sides of the superstructure.³ 165 PzKpfw III Ausf M chassis were used for the StuG Ausf G and 173 PzKpfw III that were returned for overhaul during 1944 were converted as well.

Production

Hitler wanted 220 built every month by June 1943.⁵ He then raised it to 300 per month in 1944.⁵ These goals were exceeded by the factories.⁵

Variants

• Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G:
• Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausführung G with Saukopfblende: In February 1944 the Saukopf (pigs head) mantlet was being used.⁵ Had Schürzen, and most with Zimmerit, installed at the factory.³
• Munitionspanzer auf Fahrgestell Sturmgeschütz III Ausf G: In 1944 and 1945 some StuGs were field converted in to ammunition carriers by removing the main armament and using an armor plate over the aperture.

Usage

Vehicles issued to Funklenk Kompanien (Remote Control Companies) had an additional radio aerial installed on the left front of the fighting compartment.

	StuG III Ausf G, StuG 40 Ausf G
Crew	41,2,3,4
Radio	FuG152
OR	FuG162
Physical Characteristics
Weight	23.52 tons1, 23.9 tons4, 24 tons5 23,900 kg1,3
Length w/gun	22' 2.5"1 6.77 m1,2,3
Length w/o gun
Height	7' 1"1 2.16 m1,2
Width	2.95 m1,2,3 9' 8.1"1 Ostkette: 3.33 m3 Schürzen: 3.41 m3
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	0.39 m3
Ground contact length	2.86 m3
Ground pressure	1.04 (kg/cm2)3
Turret ring diameter
Armament (mm)
Main	75 mm StuK 40 L/482,3,5 75 mm1
Secondary
MG	2: 7.92 mm MG1 7.92 mm MG34 & 7.92 mm MG342 7.92 mm MG345 1: MG 343
OR	7.92 mm MG422
Side arms
Quantity
Main	542,3
Secondary
MG	6002,3
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	501 Front: 505, 803 Side: 303,5 Rear: 205, 303
Hull Front, Upper	50+30 or 80@10°2 Mantlet: 50 or 50+30@0°2 50+303
Hull Front, Lower	50+30 or 80@21°2
Hull Sides, Upper	30@11°2 Mantlet: 30@17°2
Hull Sides, Lower	30@0°2
Hull Rear	30@0°2 & 50@10°2
Hull Top	11-17@75° to 90°2 Mantlet: 30@90°2
Hull Bottom	16@90°2
Superstructure Front
Superstructure Sides
Superstructure Rear
Superstructure Top
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 120 TRM1,2,3
Bore / stroke
Cooling
Cylinders	V-123
Capacity
Net HP	300@3,000 rpm3
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	6 forward, 1 reverse2,3
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)
Octane
Quantity	310 liters3
Road consumption	100 km/184 liters
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	10° left, 10° right, hand.2
Max speed	40 kph2,3
Cross country speed
Road radius	155 km1,2,3, 93.6 miles1
Cross country radius	95 km3
Turning radius	5.85 m3
Elevation limits	-6° to +20°2, -5° to +20°5
Fording depth	0.8 m3
Trench crossing	2.3 m3
Vertical obstacle	0.6 m3
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Torsion Bar3
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length	93 links3
Width	0.4 m3
Width of link
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	2.51 m3

Sources:

1. 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
2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
3. Sturmgeschütz 40 (L/43 & L/48) The Long Gun Versions, Horst Scheibert, 1991
4. Profile, AFV Weapons #55, German Self-Propelled Weapons, Peter Chamberlain, H.L. Doyle, 1973
5. German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998

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