- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest the StuG III Ausf. D the last of the very classical design, befor more and greater improvements came in.
In comparisson to the in game StuG III Ausf. A, from a game play perspecitve it will have the new scope and mounting system, that has the periscope through the roof instead of the frontplate (this was allready implemented in the Ausf. C, but still) and 12° Traverse to both directions instead of -5° to +7° Horizontally. It however still retains the original 9-11mm thick side spaced plates, which were discontinued with the Ausf. E. Most other changes and developments are on the internal side.
Its place in game could be to show the historically development of the StuG III series and replace the StuG III Ausf. A at 2.3 (which instead could move to 2.0 where the Pz IV Ausf. F1 sits, as the Ausf. A has a smaller horizontal traverse). Overall it would be a slightly better StuG III Ausf. A to widen the available models to play and differentiate.
History:
The StuG III Ausf. D was pretty much a direct copy of the Ausf. C, in about mid September in 1940, the German Army officials and Daimler Benz came together to consult on necessary changes to the future StuG IIIs. The side was to change from the Front plate to through the roof and simplefie the design. This was made in a small production run of 50 Ausf. C vehicles. At the same time the German army wanted more vehicles to boost the frontline and replacement for lost vehicles, these were 150 Ausf. D (pretty much just a new designation for the same vehicle).
Changes were mostly for improvement and simplefication such as new idler wheel.
Pictures:
Armor:
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 30 mm (86°) Front glacis | |||
| 50 mm (23°) Lower glacis | 30 mm | 30 mm | 17 mm | |
| Superstructure | 50 mm (11°) Front plate | 30 mm + 10mm(30°) | 30 mm | 11 mm |
The Gun:
7,5 cm StuK 37 L/24
Horizontal: 12° Both direcitons.
Vertical: -10° +20°
Ammo amount: 44 rounds.
K.Gr. Rot. Pz. Apcbc 6,78 kg 385m/s 80g Fp.02 und Np.10 with 52mm/10m
Gr. 38 Hl/b Heat 4,57 kg 450m/s 872,1 g TnT aquivalent 87mm/all
Gr. 38 Hl/c Heat 4,8 kg 450m/s 875,5 g TnT aquivalent 115mm/all
Sprgr. 34 He 5,74 kg 420m/s 686g Fp.02 und Np.10 (878,08g TnTa) 13mm/all
K.Gr. Rot. Nb. 6,2 kg 423m/s 50g Smokestuff
Source:
Munition der 7,5 cm StuK
Sturmartillerie Tome 1 Didier Laugier
Sturmgeschütz & Its Variants, Walter J Spielberger
Panzer Tracts No. 8 Sturmgeschütz Thomas J Lentz and Hilary Doyle
Stug III Assault Gun 1940-1942 Thomas J Lentz and Hilary Doyle
