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Germany's Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5 cm Kanone Ausf D; Sturmgeschütz III Ausf D, SdKfz 142
Design
Very similar to the StuG III Ausf A with some minor chassis variations.2 Was built on the PzKpfw III Ausf H chassis.2
New superstructure was main change. The gunner's direct vision sight was eliminated. The gunner's hatch was redesigned so that the gun sight could be raised beside it while the hatch remained closed. Some of the StuG III Ausf Ds were modified to be a commander's vehicle by adding a pannier to the right side of the superstructure.
Usage
3 StuG III Ausf Ds were sent to North Africa in the Sonderverband (Detachment for Special Employment 288) in early 1942.
Specifications
| StuG III Ausf D | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 41 |
| Radio | FuG151, FuG161 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 20.2 tons1 |
| Length | 5.4 m1 |
| Height | 1.98 m1 |
| Width | 2.93 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Armament (mm) | |
| Main | 75 mm StuK37 L/241 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 441 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 50@10°1 Mantlet: 50@15°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 50@21°1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 30@0°1 + 9@30°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 30@30°1 + 10°1 |
| Hull Top | 11@78-90°1 @ 17@85°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 16@90°1 |
| Superstructure Front | |
| Superstructure Sides | |
| Superstructure Rear | |
| Superstructure Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM1 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Pre-selective. 6 forward, 1 reverse.1 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 12° left, 12° right, hand.1 |
| Speed - Road | 40 kph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 160 km1 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| 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
- Profile, AFV Weapons #55, German Self-Propelled Weapons, Peter Chamberlain, H.L. Doyle, 1973
