Historic presentation :

   Following the experiences of the 1st World War, many officers of the Heer (and notably those of the infantry) want to have a permanent late support at the time of the progression of their troops. This late support is necessary at the time of the meetings under progression, of walled obstacles requiring an immediate late support.

   In 1936, the O.K.W orders the development of a support armored vehicle armed of the Stuck 7.5 37L/24 gun of 75 mm (it arms to this time the Pz IV). Daimler Benz gets involved in the survey of the contraption. In 1937, the first 5 prototypes come out of the chains. Based on the frame of the Pz III Ausf B, these contraptions are very feature because of their suspension and the two circular pitfalls of visit situated on the front of the vehicle. These prototypes give satisfaction at the time of the tests, it's decided therefore to throw the production in January 1940 (while modifying somewhat prototype). This new vehicle is baptized Stug.III Ausf A.
   
If the conception of the contraption hardly varies during the period of production (1940 to 45), 8 evolutions notice themselves:

- Ausf A : Constructs on the frame of the Pz III Ausf F by Alkett, the frame is not nearly modified.
               In a casemate, went up a Stuck 37L/24 gun. the armor of the Stug is consequent for the time.
               4 batterien intervenes in France, they prove the utility of this type of device at the time of the fights of infantry.

- Ausf B : Constructs on the frame of the Pz III Ausf.H, on the outside, not of difference with the Ausf.A.
               The main changes are mechanical and the width of the tracks that passes from 36cm to 40cm.
               The drive sprockets and the idler wheels are modified in concequence.

- Ausf C/D : Always constructs on the frame of the Pz III Ausf.H. Its superstructure is redrawn, the main modification being the redevelopment of the front of the over of the driver and the gunman stations.
                  The armor is improved there for more being a "trap to shell". Not of considerable difference between the C & D versions.

- Ausf.E : Always constructs on the frame of the Pz III Ausf.H. The armored compartments are created on the custards of the casemate in order to increase the interior storage space.
               They form some excrescences outside on the whole length of the casemate and present on the face before an armor slightly inclined toward the outside to deviate the shells.
               One Mg 34 is mount to the outside of the Stug in order to assure the brought closer protection. To serve the weapon, it's necessary to leave (no protection of the gunman to that moment).


- Ausf.F8 : Few modifications on this model, that only permit with difficulty to differentiate it of the Ausf F.
                The installation of the 30 mm armor plates (bolted or welded) is systematic.
                The majority of the models is constructed on the frame of the Pz.III Ausf J and L. The gun is henceforth the 7.5 Cm Kwk 40L/48 gun. To note the disappearance of the two lights in the front replaced by a unique Notek light.
                The protective skirts made of soft steel (schurtzen) went up to the level of the repair shops of the Stug.Abts.
                The considerable differences between the Ausf F's and F8 are the following:
                - the Ausf F possesses the hooks of tow gone up since the Ausf A, the Ausf F8 doesn't have them anymore, they are replaced by two openings pierced in excrescences of the frame.
                - the gun cleaning rods is placed on quoted it left of the casemate (Ausf F) and on the rear (Ausf F8).

 
Technical specifications of the Gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette Sturmgeschutz 7.5 Cm kanone Ausf A to Ausf G  ( Sd kfz 142 - Sd kfz 142/1 - Sd kfz 142/2 ):

Constructor: Alkett, Miag et Man
Equipment radio: FuG 15 ou FuG 16
Crew: 4 men (driver, radio operator, gunman and loader)

Weapons:

Main weapon: - Ausf A to E: 7,5 cm Stuk 37 L/24
                              - Ausf F: 7,5 cm 40 L/43 ou L/48
                              - Ausf F8 to G: 7,5 cm 40 L/48

Iitial speed: unknown
Efficient range: unknown 
Munition load: 44 obus (Ausf A à F8), 54 obus (Ausf G)
Aimed: unknown
Elevation: -0°/+0°
Rotation: 0° to the right and 0° to the left (manual)
Speed of rotation: unknown

Secondary Armenent: 1 x 7,92 mm MG-34 or 42 (Ausf G) +  1 x 7,92 mm MG-34 to 42 in the Saukopf for the late models.
Emport en munition: 600 x 7,92 mm
Elevation:  - Ausf A to D: -10°/+20° (manual)
                - Ausf E to G: -6°/+20° (manual)

Rotation: - Ausf A to D: 12° to the right and 12° to the left (manual)
              - Ausf E à G: 10° to the right and 10° to the left (manual)

Armor:

Type of armor: Homogeneous steel of armor steel type with nickel - laminates
Assembly: bolted on and soldering
Thickness: Hull front (top): 50 mm to 10° (Ausf A) - 50+30 mm or 80 mm to 10° (Ausf G)
                Hull front (back): 50 mm at 21° (Ausf A) - 50+30 mm or 80 mm at 21° (Ausf G)  
                Hull side (superior): 30 mm to 0° + 9 mm to 30° (Ausf A) -  30 mm to 11°  (Ausf G)
                Hull side (lower): 30 mm to 0° (Ausf A) -  30 mm to 0° (Ausf G)
                Hull rear (superior): 30 mm to 30° (Ausf A) - 30 mm to 0° (Ausf G)
                Hull rear (lower): 50 mm to 30° (Ausf A) - 50 mm to 10° (Ausf G)
                Hull roof: 11 mm to 78 and 90° & 17 mm to 85° (Ausf A) - 11 mm to 75 and 90° (Ausf G)
                Hull floor: 16 mm to 90° (Ausf A) - 16 mm to 90° (Ausf G)
                Front of the gun mask: 50 mm or 50+30 mm à 0° ou Saukopfblende (Ausf G)
                Side of the gun mask: 30 mm to 17° or Saukopfblende (Ausf G)
                Top and back of the gun mask: 30 mm to 90° or Saukopfblende (Ausf G)
 
Tracks:
 
Surface of contact: 2,86 m
Width: 360 mm (Ausf A) - 400 mm (Ausf B to G)
Number of links per track: 93
Weight of a link: 0 kg
Total weight of a track: 0 kg

Dimensions:

Length: 5,38 m (Ausf A) - 6,77 m (Ausf G)
Width: 2,38 m  (Ausf A) -  2,95 m (Ausf G)
Total height: 1,95 m (Ausf A) - 2,16 m (Ausf G) 
Weight of combat order: - Ausf A: 19,600 Kg
                                    - Ausf B to D: 20,200 Kg
                                    - Ausf E: 20,800 Kg
                                    - Ausf F: 21,600 Kg
                                    - Ausf F8: 23,200 Kg
                                    - Ausf G: 23,900 Kg

Clearing:

Obstacle: 0,6 m
Slope: 58%
Open trench: 2,30 m
Depth of clearing: 0,80 m
Guard to soil: 385 mm (Ausf A) - 375 mm (Ausf B to G)
Pressure to soil: 0,93 Kg/cm² (Ausf A to Ausf E), 0,98 Kg/m² (Ausf F), 0,99 Kg/cm² (Ausf F/8) and 1,00 Kg/m² (Ausf G)

Motorization and performances:

Motor: Maybach HL 120 TR - V12, watercooled (Ausf A) and Maybach HL 120 TRM - V12, watercooled (Ausf B to G)
Pressed: 11,9 litres
Power: 300 ch à 3000 tr/min
Report weight / power:  - Ausf A: 15,3 ch/t
                                  - Ausf B, C & D: 13,6 ch/t
                                  - Ausf E: 14,4 ch/t
                                  - Ausf F: 12,3 ch/t
                                  - Ausf G: 12,6 ch/t 
Transmission: Maybach SGR 32 8 145 Variorex, 10 front speeds and 1 rear (Ausf A) and ZF SSG 77 Aphon, 6 front speeds and 1 rear (Ausf B to G)
Maximum speed: 40 km/h
Speed on road: 40 km/h
Speed on any ground: 24 km/h
Ray of holdup: 5,85 m
Autonomy on road: 155 km
Autonomy in any ground: 95 km
Capacity reservoirs: 310 litres 
Type of fuel: Gas
Consumption on road: 0 litres/km
Consumption in any ground: 0 litres/km 

Rolling train:

Suspension by torsion bar system
Number of wheels by side: 6 doubles
Nombre de galets de retour: 3 par coté
Type of wheel: metallic wheel to bandaging rubber
Dimension of the wheels: Ø 0 mm x 0 mm

Production:

                  - Ausf A: 30 copies produced from January 1940 to May 1940
                  - Ausf B: 320 copies produced from june 1940 to april 1941
                  - Ausf C et D: 50 et 150 copies produced from avril 1941 to september 1941
                  - Ausf E: 272 copies produced from september 1941 to march 1942
                  - Ausf F: 359 copies produced from mars 1942 to september 1942
                  - Ausf F8: 334 copies produced from september 1942 to december 1942
                  - Ausf G: 7893 copies products of which 173 converts from PzIII Ausf M of December 1942 to March 1945

Time of service:

In the German army of 1940 to 1945. 
Also used by the Finnish, Hungarian and Rumanian armies.

7,5cm Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausführung F/8 (Sd Kfz 142/1) ?
     
   It is under this barbaric designation that hides the last version of the StuG III produced before the arrival of the Ausf G that will have an entirely redrawn casemate. The Ausf F/8 uses a casemate of Ausf F but fixed on a hull of Panzer III Ausf J or L. It makes the transition therefore between the two silhouettes of the StuG III, the Ausf A to F of the war beginning (1940 to 1942) marked by an angular casemate very faceted (prolonged laterally by coffers) and the second time (all end 1942 to 1945) dominated by the Ausf G with its including casemate, geometrically purified.

   The Ausf F/8 defers the Ausf F mainly by the case. To the before, the pitfalls of visit of the transmission (box of speed, directional brakes and access emergency pilot) don't have any outside hinges and are to unique lift (but one will come back to the double-lifts on the end of production of the Ausf F/8, as well as on the Ausf G).
   To the rear, three on five armored hoods of the motor ventilations are oriented longitudinally instead of transversely. The antenna bases is not articulated anymore and becomes stationary. The former gutters receiving the folded back antennas, henceforth useless, are suppressed.
   The disposition of the side share on the mudguard undergoes some modifications, of which most considerable is the transfer of the rack of the swab shafts (for the cleaning of the tube) that passes the left mudguard at the rear of the casemate, to the foot of the nape. The mobile flaps in the front of the mudguard are replaced by a shortened piece and stationary. The reinforcements of armor (additional plates of 30mm) in the front of the hull and the casemate are welded first like on the Ausf F, then bolted.
   To quite the beginning of 1943, appears a prototype of outside machine gun shield-support served by the loader, who will be standardized on the future Ausf G. All as the Ausf G, the Ausf F/8's will be retooled with lateral protective skirts (Schürzen).

   The arming of the assault gun remains unaltered, it is the Sturmkanone 40 L/48,  of 48 calibers long (7,5cm). The first long cannon of the set, introduces on the Ausf F (of a length of 43 calibers in all beginning of production) in order to fight more efficiently against the dangerous soviet tanks. The doorway of the telescope of shooting of the gun, situated on the roof of casemate, is baffled slightly toward the median axis, what makes it bite in the central plate of the roof, to the difference of the Ausf F. The part emerged of the telescope is protected sometimes by a basket in metallic wire fencing, at least on contraptions photographed in Tunisia, and also on the front of Italy (divisions paratroops).
   250 StuGs 40 Ausf F/8 are constructed between September and December 1942 (other sources count 334 units). To comparative title, the StuG 40 Ausf F is produced to about 360 copies between March and September of the same year.

---

Stug III Ausf F/8 multimarks and hybrids ?
     
   This slightly ironic title makes reference to the development and to the distribution of this model. Indeed, this model is available at Dragon, Gunze sangyo and Revell! 
Only the box, instruction and decals sheets different of a marks at the other bus, it is rigorously the same model who is sold by these three marks.

   The model of departure to bring up this Ausf F/8 is the Gunze Sangyo kit that gets married a Panzer III hull of Gunze Sangyo origin with a casemate and a rolling train coming from Dragon. Hybridization is succeeded more or less but one can regret the incongruous presence inside the casemate of the amounts of the hull of the Panzer III! Worse, the planning of this very visible open space by the large scuttles is inexistent, the floor is besides too high and the look-out of the perfectly unrealistic Sturmkanone. A beautiful correctly faithful and detailed realization but, that lets perplexed when to the politics of declension to least cost that wastes the pleasure!

---

A marriage not successful forcing

   The model of this Stug III Ausf. F/8 is the one of at Gunze-Sangyo that gets married a Gunze-Sangyo Pz III hull with a casemate and a train of rolling coming of among Dragon brand. Hybridization is succeeded more or less but, the incongruous presence inside the casemate of the amounts of the hull of the Pz III is not of the happiest. Worse, the planning of this very visible open space through the large scuttles in opened position is inexistent! The floor is besides too high and the look-out of the perfectly unrealistic Sturmkanone.

   No photoetch used to improve this kit. Brass is of course always to honor, but it is worried to the raw state, as circle, thread or leaf. Aluminum is also used. Fine strips of 1 to 1,2 mm of large are cut to the chisel in a leaf of aluminum of 0,20 or 0,25 mm. Bent to the flat clip, they serve to achieve the different attachments of tools and the handfuls of scuttles.

   In view of the painting, it is recommended not to glue the drive sprockets and the return rollers in place in order to disassemble and to carry up the tracks freely. It will be necessary to trim the tip of teeth guide behind the rollers carriers in order to facilitate the passage of the caterpillar.
 
   In the same way, the cables are put in shape, their positioned fixings but, they will only be glued to the all end of the setting in painting. This, will permit to apply the "Greek crosses" quietly on the coffers (and no the "Balkan" crosses as no persist to translate the "Balkenkreuz" word, that means cross/crosspiece of beams literally). The cable of right tow is fixed to one the anklets at the rear of the self-propelled. Absent of the kit, these are therefore the two angled axes of the rear anklets that must be created with the stem of brass. 
   One will avoid to glue too early a part of the side share: the jack, its hold and the extinguisher. The scuttles, to the fragile enough points of fixing, will be put in place subsequently. On the other hand, so long as it is folded back like here on the roof of casemate, one will be able to fix to home the shield of the defense MG brought closer.

---