Sturmgeschütz 40 – Ausf. G – Sd.Kfz. 142 – Tank Destroyer – The Tank Museum, Bovington – England. This German Sturmgeschütz III, also known as Stug III, was used by the Finnish Army and was build on a adjusted Panzer III chassis. It had a high-velocity 75mm canon. The 7,5cm StuK40/L48 is a 75mm Sturmkanone 40 with a barrel lenght L/48 (approx. 3,6m). Photographed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, England 2017.
StuG 40 – German Sturmgeschütz III
The Sturmgeschütz 40 (StuG 40) Ausf. G was the final and most widely produced version of the German Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun, a highly effective infantry support and anti-tank vehicle used during World War II. Introduced in 1942 and produced from 1942 to 1945, the Ausf. G featured significant design changes to improve reliability, firepower, and combat effectiveness.
The StuG 40 Ausf. G was armed with the 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 gun, a high-velocity anti-tank weapon capable of penetrating the armor of most Allied and Soviet tanks. The gun was mounted in a fully rotating, fixed superstructure, with no turret, allowing for a low profile and a smaller target for enemy fire. In addition, the vehicle carried a 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun for anti-infantry and close defense.
Powered by a 300-horsepower Maybach HL 120 TRM engine, the StuG 40 Ausf. G had a top speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph) and a range of 210 km (130 miles) on roads. The armor thickness ranged from 50 mm to 80 mm, providing solid protection against small arms and medium-caliber weapons, but it remained vulnerable to heavier anti-tank guns.
Weighing approximately 23 tons, the StuG 40 Ausf. G became one of the most widely used German armored vehicles, with over 7,000 units produced. It was used in a variety of roles, from anti-tank warfare to infantry support, and saw action on all fronts throughout the war.
