- For the Steel Division: Normandy 44 unit see SD:StuG III G
StuG III G is a German Tank unit in Steel Division II.
Background[ | ]
Sturmgeschütz III was one of the most successful Nazi designs, both in terms of units produced - ca. 10 086 StuG III- and the number of kills. The G variant was the most numerous, with nearly 8 500 manufactured or converted from previous variants. Several StuGs remained in use in Arab countries as late as 1967, used against Israel in the Six-Day War.
The StuG III began its life as a fire support vehicle, intended to provide infantry units with direct fire support against enemy fortifications and armored units. Daimler-Benz was contracted to create such a weapon in 1936, with the first production units rolling off the assembly line in 1940. Mounting the short-barreled 75 mm StuK 37L/24 gun in a casemate-style hull mounted on the Panzer IIIF chassis, they debuted during the Battle of France. Subsequent iterations of the series, Ausf. B through E, focused on improving mechanical reliability and resilience, without altering its combat role. Everything changed with Ausf. F, which mounted the 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/43 and boasted thickened frontal armor, to allow it to effectively counter superior Soviet armored vehicles. From June 1942, the lengthened 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 was used.
The Ausf. G was the final StuG III model produced from December 1942 onwards, boasting an improved superstructure design and the addition of side-mounted Schürzen for protection against anti-tank rifles and shaped charge weapons. Late G versions mounted the Topfblende pot mantlet, which provided increased protection for the gun, giving it the distinctive pig's head (Saukopf) shape.
Usage[ | ]
78. Sturm has Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 189 with 31 authorized StuGs. This Abteilung had a organic close protection in Sturmgeschütz-Begleitkompanie.
18. Panzergrenadier-Division's Panzer Abteilung 118 which was equipped with StuGs was attached to the ad-hoc Gruppe Harteneck. Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 177 was attached to 3. Kavallerie Brigade.
352. Infanterie had 10 StuG II G in the 352. Panzerjäger Abteilung's Sturmgeschütz Battery 1352. 14. Infanterie had Sturmgeschütz Battery 1014 while 28. Jäger had Sturmgeschütz Battery 1028. Most of the Infantry Division has a Sturmgeschütz Battery in their Panzerjäger Abteilung. Stug.Brig. 667 supported 14. Infanterie.
25. Panzergrenadier has a Panzer Abteilung 8 equipped with Sturmgeschütz
152. Panzerjäger Abteilung of 1. Skijäger were originally Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 270
122. Infanterie was supported by Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 303 which had three batteries of two platoon of StuG III along with a platoon of StuH 42.
5 Cavalerie Motorizata was supported by Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 325.
Fallschirm-StuG-Brigade 12 provided the StuG for 3. Fallschirmjäger. Fallschirm-StuG-Brigade 12 was a II. Fallschirm-Korps asset attached to 3. Fallschirmjäger to provide mobile anti-tank support since Fallschirmjager Divisions only had towed Anti-tank guns. Fallschirm-StuG-Brigade 12 on full establishment should have 31 StuGs.
11. SS-Fr.-Panzergrenadier "Nordland" were planed to have StuGs in the Panzerjäger-Abteilung but only concentrated StuGs in Panzer-Abteilung 11.
Panzerjäger Battalion 152 of 1. Skijäger which were orginally Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 270 had two companies of StuGs.
Panzergrenadier "Großdeutschland" has Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung Großdeutschland which had three companies of StuGs
Panzerdivision Tatra's Kampfgruppe Junck has Panzer-Jäger-Kompanie Gunther which had some 4-6 StuGs III.
5. Gebirgsjäger was supported by StuGs from 26. Panzer and 3 and 15 Panzergrendier.
715. Infanterie was supported by Fernlenk Panzer-Abteilung 301 which used StuG III as control vehicles for their Borgward IV.
16. Panzer's III./Panzer Regiment 2 was equipped with StuG III. This Abteilung served as the panzerjeager formation for 16. Panzer