Sturmgeschütz IV

Sturmgeschütz IV
A model of a Sturmgeschütz IV.
Type	Assault gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by	Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Production history
Manufacturer	Krupp-Grusonwerk AG
Produced	late 1943 - 1945
No. built	1,108 +31
Specifications
Mass	23 tonnes (50,705 lbs)
Length	6.70 m (22 ft)
Width	2.95 m (9.67 ft)
Height	2.20 m (7.21 ft)
Crew	4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver)
Armor	10 - 80 mm (.39 - 3.14 in)
Main armament	1x 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 63 rounds
Secondary armament	1x 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 600 rounds
Engine	V12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM 300 PS (296 hp, 220.6 kW)
Transmission	ZF SSG 76 Aphon
Suspension	leaf spring
Ground clearance	15.7 in. or 40.0 cm
Fuel capacity	430L or 110gal
Operational range	210 km (130 mi)
Maximum speed	40 km/h (25 mph)

The Sturmgeschütz IV (Sd.Kfz. 167) (StuG IV), was a German assault gun of the Second World War.

Development

The Sturmgeschütz IV resulted from Krupp's effort to supply an assault gun. As Krupp did not build Panzerkampfwagen IIIs, they used the Panzerkampfwagen IV chassis in combination with a slightly modified Sturmgeschütz III superstructure. From December 1943 to May 1945, Krupp built 1,108 StuG IVs and converted an additional 31 from battle-damaged Panzer IV hulls.

The StuG IV became known as an effective tank killer, especially on the Eastern Front. The variant was constantly plagued by supply shortages due to other production lines and allied bombing runs. Losing favour with German industries due to devolpment costs and much needed proven designs such as the Sturmgeschütz III, production was slowed and the remaining uncompleted hulls at the factory sites were scrapped by allied forces in 1945.

It had a four-man crew, and was issued mainly to infantry divisions.

• Commander in hull left rear
• Gunner in hull left center
• Loader in hull right rear
• Driver in hull left front

Surviving vehicles

There are presently two surviving examples of the StuG IV, both in Poland. One vehicle held by the Muzeum im. Orla Bialego is a makeshift restoration using a StuG IV hull and various parts from Stug III:s and Pz IV:s. The other StuG IV, held by the Poznan Army Museum, is complete and is currently (December 2008) undergoing restoration to running condition.

External links

• Muzeum Broni Pancernej CSWL StuG IV restoration homepage, in polish only
• AFV Database - Dimensions
• Panzer World
• OnWar
• Sturmgeschütz III / IV at Achtung Panzer!
• Surviving Panzer IV variants - A PDF file presenting the Panzer IV variants (Jagdpanzer IV, Hummel, Nashorn, Brummbär, StuG IV, Flakpanzer tanks and prototypes based on Pz IV) stil*l existing in the world

External image
Sturmgeschütz IV [1]