- Yes, as a tech tree vehicle.
- Yes, as an event vehicle.
- Yes, as a squadron vehicle.
- No
- 2.0
- 2.3
- 2.7
- 3.0
- 3.3
- 3.7
- I said no.
The SG-122 was a Soviet SPH built on captured German StuG III and Panzer III chassis. It was the direct predecessor to the SU-76I. Approximately 21 to 26 vehicles were produced.
History:
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In late 1941, following the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Red Army faced a critical shortage of armored vehicles. Factories were being evacuated east, and production could not keep up with losses. However, the Soviets had captured significant numbers of German vehicles, specifically the StuG III , which Soviet troops nicknamed “Artshturm” (Artillery Assault Tank). While the chassis was praised for its reliability, the Soviets lacked the 75mm ammunition and spare parts for the German guns.
In February 1942, the GAU (Main Artillery Directorate) tasked Factory №592 (led by E.V. Sinilshikov and S.G. Pererushev) to rearm these captured hulls with domestic Soviet weaponry. The 122mm M-30 Howitzer was selected because there was a surplus of these guns available (due to a lack of towing tractors), while 76.2mm tank guns were in short supply.
Work began on March 17th, 1942. By April, the order was official:
Top Secret.
To: Brigade-Engineer Sosenkov (Chief of Repairing Center)
Copy: Director Pankratov (Factory №592)“According to the decision of Lieutenant-General Fedorenko, captured ‘Artshturms’ must be re-armed with the domestic 122 mm Howitzer M-30 Model 1938 at Factory №592… To accelerate the process, the first repaired ‘Artshturm’ must be delivered to the factory before April 25.”
— E. Satel, Chairman of the Tech Council (April 13, 1942)
The Prototype:
The first prototype was built on a StuG III Ausf. C or D chassis. A new, taller welded casemate superstructure was added, raising the height to 2050 mm. The 122mm gun was mounted on a pedestal with 50 rounds of ammunition. The crew of five was cramped: Driver, Commander, Gunner, and two Loaders.
Trials began in July 1942. The vehicle achieved 50 km/h on roads and fired 234 test shots. The rate of fire was respectable at 5–12 rounds per minute depending on the gun elevation. However, issues were found, leading to a redesigned model.
The Production Model:
The production version (SG-122A) featured thinner armor (35mm front vs 45mm on the prototype) to save weight, a new hatch for the gunner, and external fuel tanks. It could be built on either a StuG III or a Panzer III chassis.
Despite an order from Stalin in October 1942 for 120 units, production stalled. Factory №592 was a repair facility, not a production plant, and the supply of captured German chassis was inconsistent. Only ~21 units (Serial numbers 1001–1021) were completed before the project was cancelled. The experience gained from the SG-122 was directly applied to the far more successful SU-76I (see my suggestion here).
Currently, only a replica exists at the UMMC Museum in Verkhnyaya Pyshma.
Specification:
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Dimensions:
Length: 6900 mm.
Width: 2910 mm.
Height: 2250 mm.
Clearance: 350 mm.
Weight: 23.3 tons.
Crews: 5 (driver, commander, gunner, loader 1/radio operator, loader 2)
Engine: 12-cylinder Maybach HL120 TRM, 296 bhp
Top road speed 50 km/h
Hull Armor Front 30 mm, sides 30 mm, rear 20 mm.
Upper Armor Front 35 mm, rear and sides 25mm and roof 15 mm.
Armaments:
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1x 122 mm M-30 howitzer (50 rounds): BP-460A, OF-462, D-462A.
Vertical: N/A
Horizontal: N/A
In game:
In game this would be a nice counterpart to the Su-122 and Su-76i (another shameless plug) as a premium or tech tree vehicle.
Photos:
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Sources: