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Tiger H1

2023-12-13T16:34:01Z

U158029538: /* Mobility */

{{About
| about = German heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Tiger I (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H1 (Tiger H1)''' is the first (early-production) variant of the [[Tiger I (Family)|Tiger I heavy tank family]], designed and built by Henschel and used by the German Army during World War II. It offered the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle equipped with the 88 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 36 tank gun, developed from the 88 mm Flugabwehrkanone (FlaK) 36 anti-aircraft gun. Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were ordered on May 26, 1941, to submit proposals for a 45-ton heavy tank that would be available by June 1942. Porsche developed an improved version of its VK 30.01 (P) prototype (which was originally intended to compete for the Panther contract), while Henschel developed two prototypes: the VK 45.01 (H) H1 with an 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56 tank gun and the VK 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm KwK42 L/70 tank gun. The Henschel VK 45.01 (H) H1 prototype was accepted after evaluation, primarily because the Porsche [[VK 45.01 (P)]] prototype design used a petrol-electric transmission system that required large amounts of copper for the manufacture of its electrical drivetrain components, a strategic war material of which Germany had limited supplies. Early Tiger H1s with the Krupp-designed turret featured a high commander cupola. Later in the war, the design was modified, resulting in the [[Tiger E]], which had a new dome-shaped cast-armour commander's cupola and a ring installed on the commander's cupola to accommodate the mounting of an anti-aircraft light machine gun. There are additionally five S-Mine dischargers on the hull-roof, three on the left side and two on the right. Two Feifel air cleaner units designed for dusty environments are located on the hull's back. Between August 1942 and August 1944, a total of 1,347 units were constructed. The Tiger I was phased out of production after August 1944 in favour of the [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]].

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the Tiger H1 was the German Army's first truly heavy tank during World War II, due mostly to combat experience against the French and British Matilda heavy tanks, which demonstrated that the German Army needed better armed and armoured tanks. Within 2,500 metres, Tiger H1 had higher penetration than the 75 mm KwK40 L/43 on the [[StuG III (Family)|Sturmgeschütz IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IVs]] but poorer penetration than the 75 mm KwK42 L/70 on the [[Panther tank (Family)|Panthers]]. At longer ranges, the 88 mm KwK36 L/56 performed better in terms of penetration and accuracy. The Tiger H1, capable of fighting any adversary at any range, is a true marvel of German engineering during World War II and will undoubtedly reward players well.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

[[File:TigerIHTank Armour Angling.png|right|thumbnail|The ideal angling of hull armour on {{PAGENAME}} for maximum effective armour all-around|300px]]
One may feel the need to charge head-on into battle, blaring that 88 mm gun as shells bounce off the front armour while the Schachtellaufwerk suspension system runs over the ground; this is a short-lived strategy.

The Tiger H1 should be played more like a bulky medium tank rather than a heavy tank despite its status, supporting allies from the sideline or from a distance rather than leading directly from the front. This is due to the poor armour arrangement, most of the thickness of the tank is concentrated on the front face of the tank and leaves the sides exposed, especially since this model of tiger has a 'boxier' design. This is even more important to remember as ammunition is stowed along the sides the tank, protected by the inferior side armor. One must remain a distance, exploit the 88 mm long-distance power, and maintain a diamond-shape compound angling to maximize armour thickness against the trailing enemy shells that will inevitably come towards the Tiger's way.

The Tiger H1 is equipped with 12 smoke grenades that can help cover the vehicle while it escapes or repairs. Smoke grenades discharge in 2 salvos of 6 (3 to each side of the turret) covering a 120° sector 10 m in front of the vehicle. The grenades deploy smoke in 4 seconds and last 25 seconds. Both salvos are separated by a 1-minute reload time.

The commander cupola is tall and weak: this can lead APHE shells to detonate inside, knocking out at best the loader or even the commander, loader, and gunner.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Cupola)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear (Slope angle) !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 102 mm (9°) ''Front plate'' 62 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' 102 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis''|| 82 mm ''Top'' 62 mm ''Bottom''|| 82 mm (9°)|| 26 mm
|-
| Turret || 100 mm ''Turret front'' 90 - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 82 mm || 82 mm || 26 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 80 mm (cylindrical) || 26 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Turret front covered by gun mantlet has variable thickness depending on exact place, ranging from 90 to 200 mm of armour.
* Turret side (about 1/3) is covered by attached tracks, adding additional 30 mm of armour.
* While the hull side of the tank is 82 mm, the side where the suspension is located is only 62 mm thick so be aware of this weak point.
* On paper, the best angle is roughly 38.8° with armour all-round being from the front 130 mm.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 839|rbMinHp= 575}}

Speed is not the strong suit of the Tiger HI. While the Tiger HI can generate speed on flat surfaces, it does this very slowly. When stopping do not expect a burst of power when moving from a complete stop. Use declines to your advantage to build up speed quickly in order to get across open areas. Like most heavy tanks, the Tiger HI does not take well to hills. Inclines can quickly bog down the heavy Tiger HI, so try to avoid then when ever possible. The Tiger HI has a deceptive barrel depression. When angling the barrel will only go down a few degrees. When firing from behind a hill try to keep the tank flat. This prevents you from exposing yourself, then realizing your barrel can't get on target. When brawling (Close combat with an enemy tank, often in an urban environment)rotate the Tiger HI instead of relying on the turret traverse. Rotating is much faster and tends to keep you angled when brawling.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

For Tier I modifications obtained the vital "Parts" and "Horizontal Drive" modifications as the former will give the Tiger the ability to repair and the latter will provide a much-needed boost to the Tiger's slow turret traverse rate.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|KwK36 (88 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 92 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+16° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.71 || 13.44 || 16.32 || 18.05 || 19.20 || rowspan="2" | 9.62 || rowspan="2" | 8.51 || rowspan="2" | 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 7.40
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.10 || 8.40 || 10.20 || 11.30 || 12.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''PzGr 39''': The go-to shell for all Tiger H1 drivers as this is arguably the best. It will do incredible damage to any tank shot by it, except SPAA, or any extremely thin armoured vehicles. Heavier tanks like the IS-1, IS-2, or American heavy tanks are able to resist the round at longer ranges, but well-placed shots from close range or sides will do the job. All other medium and light tanks will be history as soon as this shell make contact with them. This shell, however, will almost always over-penetrate all but the most armoured SPAA vehicles, so it is best to use HE or machine gun fire on thin-skinned vehicles.
* '''PzGr ''': This shell is also very useful. It has very similar characteristics as PzGr 39, but sacrifices some penetration for about 150% more Explosive Filler, meaning even more damage than already powerful PzGr 39. It is recommended to carry some of these shells and use them regularly, as the penetration is still enough to deal with most targets (at least when being down-tiered), and switch to PzGr 39 when shooting targets far away, or those that are heavily armoured.
* '''Hl.Gr. 39''': On paper the HEAT rounds don't bring anything new to the table, however they can be used as a substitute for the HE shells due to the greater explosive mass and still gives a fighting chance if caught with pants down.
* '''Sprgr. L/4.5''': The HE shell is completely ineffective against all but SPAA or the AI artillery on the Kursk and Ash River maps, and the machine gun mounted on the Tiger has proven quite capable of dealing with these. Keep a small supply of this shell on hand if planning to flank the enemy and take out their SPAA or artillery, but avoid them for everything else.

{{:KwK36 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Pzgr., Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr. L/4.5}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''92''' || 77 ''(+15)'' || 61 ''(+31)'' || 45 ''(+47)'' || 29 ''(+63)'' || 25 ''(+67)'' || 21 ''(+71)'' || 17 ''(+75)'' || 13 ''(+79)'' || 7 ''(+85)'' || 1 ''(+91)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set
* Large sides empty: 29 ''(+63)'' shells.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,350 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The main role of the Tiger tank was to eliminate enemy tanks at a far range, similar to behaving like a sniping tank, or a Tank Destroyer. Nonetheless, the Tiger can excel at brawling with other tanks at medium, even possibly against two [[Panther D|Panther]] tanks to close range and escape undamaged. It's recommended to not stay in one place for too long or risk getting outflanked, spotted, or bombed.

While guns like the Soviet [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm]] cannon can easily penetrate the Tiger at close range, the Tiger can stay nearly invulnerable at long range. The 88 can take out any tank on Rank 3 at any combat range but may have problems with the [[IS-1]]'s 120 mm front armour at some ranges. When having to close in a bit, it is generally advisable to angle the hull to the sides by about 30°, improving the armour rating enough that it can keep away 85 mm shells very well, even at closer ranges. The {{PAGENAME}} is still vulnerable to the [[SU-152|SU-152s]] howitzer and its HE shell at any range. So whenever encountering these heavy-calibre vehicles, it should be prioritized and eliminated first.

The Tiger's hull has many flat areas that can be easily penetrated. To maximize the angles and thus the protection, the tank should be angled about 40º to either side. An easy way of angling your tank is to make sure the corner of the hull is pointed at the enemy. The side armour is strong enough for such angling, and is flat as well. The turret is more complicated. It features many pieces of armour that overlap and such, and as such will either be exceptionally strong or be penetrated easily. As such, avoid relying on the turret to absorb shells. On the other hand, opponents will also try to avoid hitting the turret, as there is a chance to not penetrate.

Mobility-wise the {{PAGENAME}} is pretty good for a heavy tank. It is much faster than a [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] and about as equally fast as the [[IS-1]], although medium tanks like the [[T-34-85]] can easily outmanoeuvre all three at close range. Try to use the Tiger's mobility to keep a distance rather than for closing in on a target. Don't be afraid to use the speed to fall back if necessary as the Tiger cannot survive close range engagements on open terrain vs. mediums, due to the slow turret and the vulnerability to the 85 mm guns on Soviet medium tanks.

The Tiger has a very bad turret traverse, it is recommended to get the "Turret Drive" traverse modification as fast as possible. Even then, the Tiger will have to turn the tank in the direction of the traverse to make the most of the time to quickly engage a target. This, together with very exposed ammo racks on both sides (though one side can be emptied by reducing the ammo stowage) means that facing multiple enemies at once is almost a certain end to the Tiger tank. The best option is to take cover from one tank and fire on the other.

As far as ammo is concerned, the default PzGr 39 will be the standard AP rounds many players will use. The second AP round available, the Pzgr., is also a good round to use against the enemy as the shell contains more explosive filler than the default, but suffers from a lower penetration value compared to the PzGr 39. The HEAT rounds offer consistent penetration at all ranges including more than 2,000 m. However, they provide less damage upon penetration. HEAT rounds usually are usually not used as the primary ammunition type for this sole reason. Upgrading the tank should mainly be dedicated to turret traverse, hull traverse (as this is needed even with the turret traverse upgrade) and engine upgrades. The Tiger's 88 has massive destructive power. Unlike the other German tank of its rank, all armed with 75 mm guns, the Tiger can easily knock out all the mediums like the T-34s, M4 Shermans with a single shot, and still be a threat against heavy tanks like the IS-1s. If it doesn't destroy a tank in one hit, most of the enemy crew will be wounded or incapacitated. The best place to aim with the 88 is either at the gunner's side of the enemy turret to incapacitate an enemy's firepower, or between the driver and the gunner which would usually wound or knock out most of the enemy crew at once. Attacking from the side also presents a good shot opportunity, as the best shot placement is right below the turret on the hull where most of the tank ammunition are stored, giving a big chance for an ammo-rack explosion.

When driving the Tiger, plan ahead on where it will drive. Even with engine and track modifications, the {{PAGENAME}} is still a heavy tank and a 90 degree or more turn will almost always mean an immediate standstill as the tank try to make the change in movement. Even small adjustments can knock the speed down a bit. Thus, knowing the terrain and destination is of the utmost importance to preserve its mobility to its fullest extent.

The {{PAGENAME}} is also best used on the flanks of the current maps, as these are usually more open and allow good use of its armour and excellent gun. The centre of the map would seem more logical as there are a lot of enemies, but as has already been established a Tiger taking fire from multiple directions won't last long. Going in a flank and taking down light and medium tanks is an easy task for this beast, and thus a flank can be easily secured if the {{PAGENAME}} is driven carefully. Then, work the {{PAGENAME}} into the enemy sides and rear of the main force in the centre, doing much more damage than if the Tiger faced the force head-on because a shot to the side and rear will set most enemies alight if not outright exploding the ammunition. Able to destroy vehicles in one hit, the Tiger can quickly jump from target to target and eliminate a good number of enemies in its lifespan.

The Tiger H1 is very effective at long range, and should be used accordingly. Players should try to avoid point blank fights with other tanks, since this will often result in the vulnerable sides being exposed. As a sniper or flanker, the tank is wonderful and as long as its sides are not exposed, it will last a long time.

There will be many hard eggs to crack such as the IS- Series, T-34 Series, American Jumbos, and several other tanks that will give the {{PAGENAME}} trouble.

* The Russians have many tanks at the BR able to handle the Tiger H1 easily. The main tank at this BR is the T-34-85's. While it may have very thin armour and is easy to penetrate it is easy to angle and the T-34 is a franking machine, it will drive circles around the Tiger so it needs to be destroyed quick. The IS- Heavy tanks are the second worst nightmare situation. Thick armour and a huge gun. If the IS tank is not destroyed first, it will definitely destroy the Tiger.
* The American Jumbos are similar to the T-34. The 75 mm variant would have trouble to penetrate the Tiger's armour at long ranges, but caution needs to be exercised when they are armed with a 76 mm gun.
* The Japanese tanks all have very thin armour that the 88 mm gun can easily penetrate through with no problem, but their guns at this BR all have enough penetration to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} if it gets a hit on.

'''Against the Tiger H1:'''

'''Light tank''': when dealing with a Tiger I, you must utilise your superior speed and agility to your advantage, to compensate for your weak firepower. If your penetration is less than 100 mm, then manoeuvre to the Tiger's side as that is where you can destroy it. The upper part of the hull side is 80 mm thick, without any angling, meaning that light tanks such as [[M24 (Family)|M24]] can reliably penetrate there. Even the reserve [[BT-5]] can punch through that armour section, though guns with less post-penetration damage will have to shoot several times to ensure that all crew are knocked out. The lower section of the hull side is only 60 mm, meaning that even if the player does not have a high tier light tank and can only use low tier tanks like the M3A3 Stuart, that area can still be penetrated. The Tiger's turret turns slowly, but still be careful to move out of its gun's way. Facing a Tiger I is a hard job because it can penetrate most places on your light tank so a frontal strike against it has a high chance of failing.

'''Medium tank''': with a medium tank, you can more confidently target the Tiger's frontal weak spots. Medium tanks such as [[M4A3 (76) W]], [[T-34-85]], and [[Sherman Firefly]] can all pierce through the Tiger's frontal hull armour when it is not angling. The turret armour is way harder to penetrate as it has some complex bulges, leading to the shells being absorbed. However, an experienced Tiger commander will angle its hull, stacking up the effective thickness to more than ~130 mm thus making it immune to all the above medium tanks. Now, if you cannot flank, aim for the commander's cupola. An explosive-packed shell through there will knock out ~1-3 crew in the turret. If the gunner is knocked out, wait for around 12 seconds for it to replenish a new gunner, then shoot at the cupola again. You can also try breaking the gun barrel, since the muzzle brake is quite large and therefore easier to catch onto shells, damaging the barrel. Note, it is better to avoid shooting at the lower front plate as the transmission behind it will absorb all incoming shells for the crew. Throughout this whole process, the player should be very careful not to get hit as the 88 mm cannon is very potent against most tanks.

'''Heavy tank/tank destroyer''': with a more powerful cannon and perhaps better armour, the player can finally duel the Tiger I with relative ease. For a heavy tank or tank destroyer who sacrifices mobility and/or armour just for superior firepower (e.g. [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]], [[ISU-122]]), a Tiger H1 can be penetrated in the hull even if it is angling. Still, do not shoot at the turret and lower front plate where the shells tend to do no damage. Also, try aiming for armour plates that are free of any obstruction, because vehicles who can easily penetrate the Tiger usually have a large calibre gun, their large shells will be bounced or lose penetration should the shell edge impact anything. For example, if you shoot at a Tiger who is facing you, target the dead center of the upper front plate where there is nothing but armour, instead of aiming right next to the driver's port where the armour blocks sticking out will absorb the shell.

'''SPAA''': anti-aircraft guns at this BR cannot really penetrate the Tiger I's armour effectively, but thanks to their fast-firing autocannons SPAAs are great for breaking the Tiger's gun barrel and tracks, assisting your teammates in destroying it. If no supporting fire is near, drop an artillery strike after immobilising the Tiger. Some SPAAs (e.g. [[Phòng không T-34]], [[M42 Duster (Family)|M42]]) have access to AP shells, any shell with more than 60 mm penetration is adequate to penetrate the lower side of the hull. Other than this area, the minimum thickness is 80 mm which is hard for any SPAA. This is an advantage of the Tiger I, although its flat armour performs poorly against heavier cannons, its all-round armour protection is fairly effective against low-penetrating vehicles like SPAAs.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The gun mantlet, MG port and driver's port are particularly hard to penetrate due to their complex, varying shape and thickness
* Decent cannon with adequate accuracy and a range of shells to choose. Stock shell has great penetration and damage, and can knock out common opponents easily with a single shot (e.g. [[T-34-85]], [[M4A2 (76) W]], [[IS-1]], [[M6A1]]). Has another AP that sacrifices a bit penetration for more TNT
* One of the fastest heavy tanks with its top speed of 45 km/h, meaning it can get to some positions quickly alongside friendly medium tanks.
* The box-like hull shape gives the ability to angle. When angling the hull at around 40° and placing yourself far from the enemies (at least 500 m away) the Tiger H1 can resist common tanks like the 76 mm Shermans, T-34-85s and [[M36 Jackson (Family)|M36]]
* Good reverse speed and hull traverse allows it to quickly angle for deflecting shells
* -8° gun depression works well in most hilly terrain
* The rear is surprisingly hard to penetrate, partially due to the slightly-angled armour and partly due to the large exhaust pipes which seem to deflect shells
* The strong gun makes it easy to destroy most opponents at the its battle rating with a single shot, even M4A3E2 Jumbo, as long as you carefully aim for the machine gun port
* The tank is equipped with smoke grenades, which can help escape an undesirable situation alive

'''Cons:'''

* Weak and vertical armour protection. If not angling the Tiger H1 can get destroyed easily by the T-34-85 or 76 mm Sherman. Even if the {{PAGENAME}} is angling, the [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]] can still knock it out with a single shot easily
* The upper front plate is extremely vulnerable if it is not angled. It will be penetrated by any vehicle at its BR
* Struggles to penetrate heavy targets frontally like the [[M4A3E2]], [[M26 (Family)|M26]] and [[IS-2 (1944)]]
* Rather slow acceleration limits its short range manoeuvrability
* Slow turret traverse makes it hard to respond to flankers quickly. The [[M18 GMC]] is very common at this BR
* Ammo storage at the hull sides are very easy to explode when hit
* Commander's cupola is tall and easy to penetrate
* Is a big and tall target, easy to get spotted and shot at
* S-Mine dischargers on the hull limits gun depression in certain areas
* Tracks are rather loud so enemies will most times hear you and will be alert, so surprise attacks will be difficult

== History ==

===Development===
The Tiger I heavy tank was arguably the most infamous tank of World War II. The design for this tank began as early as January 1937 when Henschel & Sohn worked on a large "breakthrough" called the "Durchbruchwagen" that weighed about 30 tons on request by the German military.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref> The request was modified over time for more armour and better gun that increased the weight to 36 tons, but this project was dropped in 1938 in favour of the better prototypes VK 30.01(H) and VK 36.01(H). These new prototypes were the start of the usage of the Schachtellaufwerk wheel arrangements, but these also never passed prototype stages and were both cancelled in 1942.

During the development of the prototypes above, the German invasion of France showed that the Allied tanks such as the Somua, Char B1, and [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] were impervious to their current anti-tank weaponry and a need for better armoured and armed tanks was emphasized. So on May 26, 1941, Henschel and Porsche were asked to submit designs for a 45-ton heavy tank that was to be ready for demonstration by June 1942. During their development in June 1941, Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union and was shocked by appearance of the [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] tanks that were invulnerable to all but the most potent anti-tank weapon in German inventory, one of which was the [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36 cannon]]. The potency of the 88 mm cannon against the heavily armoured tanks that the Germans faced had Hitler ordered that the heavy tank design undertaken by Henschel and Porsche to utilize the 88 mm as its main armament instead of a 75 mm cannon.

The designs of the tank were finalized and ready for demonstration on April 20, 1942, Hitler's birthday, and showed the VK 45.01(H) and the [[VK 45.01 (P)]]. The demonstration and subsequent evaluations on the two designs determined that the Henschel variant was superior to the Porsche variant, proving more reliable, more mobile, and more easily produced than the Porsche. This caused the Henschel variant to be adopted as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger and production started in August 1942. The Porsche variant had many chassis produced as Ferdinand Porsche thought the design would win, so the chassis was instead used in the [[Ferdinand]] tank destroyer.

===Design===
What perhaps made the Tiger I so unique in tank development and German doctrine is a change of focus between the three characteristics of the tank; with more emphasis to firepower and armour than to mobility. The Tiger I contained the large 88 mm KwK36 cannon which was very accurate and powerful, being able to penetrate every Allied armour present at its introduction. The armour on the Tiger I was also one of the greatest at the time, with an astounding 102 mm of armour on the front hull armour, 82 mm on the side superstructure and rear, and 120 mm on the gun mantlet. The armour was vertical faced so no sloping benefits were present like on the [[Panther D|Panther]]. All these armour thicknesses proved invulnerable to most Allied anti-tank weaponry at the time, requiring more creative methods in a shot placement to disable the tank. The mobility, while taken with less emphasis in the development, was still respectable at the time as the tank weighed about 57 metric tons, about 20 tons more than other country's main tanks, yet is able to keep up a speed of 38 km/h (Maximum speed was 45 km/h, but an engine governor was installed to preserve the engine life).

The tank utilized a torsion-bar suspension system in a Schachtellaufwerk overlapping pattern, making the Tiger one of the first German tank design to use the pattern. While the design gave the Tiger I great flotation due to the use of a wider track for lower ground pressure, it had disadvantages in environment and maintenance. In the Eastern Front, mud and other foreign objects could be jammed in between the overlapping wheels, which would freeze in the winter and jam the wheels; the overlapping wheels also were a hassle to change out, in order to replace one wheel in the inside of the suspension, it requires the removal of at least nine other wheels in order to access it. The first 250 Tiger tanks used a Maybach V-12 HL210 engine with 650 hp before switching over to the more powerful Maybach V-12 HL230 engine with 700 hp. The engine proved adequate in propelling the tank but was still considered underpowered for the tank weight.

The Tiger I, as innovative as it is to tank warfare, was a strain on German war production. The tank was over-engineered, taking much more man-hour and materials for its worth as a war machine. Cost-wise, two [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] or four [[StuG III G|StuG IIIs]] can be built for the cost of one Tiger I. The tank was also expensive to maintain and took lots of fuel to run. These attributed to the low number of only 1,354 Tiger Is produced from 1942 to August 1944.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref>

===Variants===
There are three main production Tiger I variants known today, the "early-production", "mid-production", and "late-production" models. The Early-production model, designated as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H, were the first few batches and are distinguished by their drum-style cupola with an over-swinging hatch. The model also had two vehicle lights on the front side of the tank and dished steel wheels with rubber tyres. The Mid-production featured Zimmerit paste and a side-swinging cupola with accommodation for a machine gun mounted on the cupola. The vehicle light was also changed to just one placed right in the front of the hull armour. The mid-production was also redesignated in May 1943 as the [[Tiger E|Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E]]. Late-production models featured the removal of the Zimmerit paste as there was an assumed flaw with it, and the overlapping wheels were instead made into interleaving with full-steel road wheels as well, in a manner similar to the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]].

Other specialized variants of the Tiger I was produced as well. A small number of demolition carrier models were field-made in Italy, where it had its main gun replaced by a crane to carry demolition to clear minefields or destroy obstacles. The demolition carrier version was interpreted by Allied intelligence as a BergeTiger, an armoured recovery vehicle, though it is not known if it ever saw service in this role. Another specialized variant produced in 1944 in some numbers was the [[Sturmtiger]], an heavy assault gun with a 38 cm rocket launcher made from a depth charge. 19 of these were made and saw use in all fronts, though its most noteworthy combat action was in the Warsaw Uprising.

===Combat usage===
In its introduction, Hitler ordered the new Tigers to be used in the Leningrad siege in September 1942. However, as the faults of the tank were still not yet fully ironed out at this stage, the mechanical unreliability and the unsuitable terrain caused one of the Tiger Is to be stuck in the swamps and abandoned by its users. This example was then captured by the Red Army and tipped off the Allies of the development of the new Tiger tanks and so developments in countermeasures began. In North Africa, the Tigers saw the first action against the Western Allies in Tunisia in December 1942. Its impact there left an impression on the Allied armour forces, but its myth as an invulnerable tank was shattered when two Tigers were taken out by the British [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder anti-tank guns]]. The total loss in that campaign was seven Tigers by February 1943.

Once mass-numbers of Tiger Is were available, they were employed in heavy tank battalions that were to be deployed in breakthrough operations or counter-attacks. Field experience with the Tiger showed that the Tiger's heavyweight proved a nuisance in operational mobility, an example being that small bridges were unable to support the Tiger tank's weight. An attempt to remedy this was to use a snorkel device so the tank could ford rivers as deep as four metres, however, this system was phased out of later production models for cost-savings. The Tiger suffered reliability problems in all of its service life that impeded its effectiveness and its high fuel usage limited its combat operations. Armour recovery of the vehicle was also terrible as three heavy recovery half-tracks were required to tow the tank away, causing a strain on the German support line to keep the Tiger tanks in running order. Despite that, the Tiger I proved superior in terms of armour and armament against the Allies and created massive losses among their armoured forces, causing many soldiers to keep an eye out for the infamous "Tigers".

The impact the Tiger had on the battlefield as the superior tank at its introduction created fame to the commanders and crew operating this tank, further fueling the Tiger's reputation in the war as a killing machine. Some Tiger units were able to achieve kill ratios up to 10:1, and some even higher. Some notable Tiger aces known were Kurt Knispel (168 tank kills), Otto Carius (150+), Johannes Bölter (139+), and Michael Wittmann (138).

However, as the war progressed and the impact of the Tiger's surprise in Kursk and Italy has dissolved, Allied developments gave forth more capable tanks able to defeat the Tiger I tanks. The Soviets solution was to up-gun their [[T-34 (1942)|T-34s]] with an [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm gun]] to make the [[T-34-85]], and the Western Allies with the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm]] and [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounders]] on the [[M4A1 (76) W|M4 Sherman]] and [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] respectively. The Tiger went as an highly-invulnerable tank design into a simple heavy tank as the war went on, and it was replaced by the more powerful and more heavily armoured [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]] in 1944. Despite its replacement, many Tiger I models still saw use up until the end of World War II.

===Survivors===
Due to the low number of Tiger Is created during the war (1,354, compared to [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV]]'s 8,550 and the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]'s ~50,000), very few intact Tiger I pieces are left in the world. Today, only seven tanks in various conditions are existent in the world. The most famous of these is the Tiger 131, captured by the British in Tunisia in April 1943, when the crew abandoned the tank due to a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] shot from a [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill tank]] jamming the gun mantlet and turret ring, causing it to be unable to aim. The intact sample is also famous for being the only fully operational Tiger I in the world due to a reconstruction effort by the Bovington Tank Museum in the 1990s. However, the Tiger 131 does not run on its original Maybach HL210 engine, as it was taken out to be used as a separate display; rather, it uses the HL230, which was mostly used for the Tiger II. It is still there as a display and remains the museum's most popular exhibit.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
Work on the creation of a heavy tank began in 1937. Only after the attack on the USSR were the tactical and technical requirements needed for this new war machine met. The tank was designed by the Henschel company, led by Erwin Aders.

Production was handled by Henschel and Weggman factories, which made about 450 tanks from July 1942 to August 1943.

The first 495 vehicles included equipment that enabled the crossing of water obstacles up to 4 metres deep. Beginning with the 251st tank, the Maybach HL 230 P30 engine (600 hp) was replaced with a Maybach HL 230 P45 (700 hp). The Tiger was armed with an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK36 L/56 gun, which was a tank version of the famous Flak 18/36 anti-aircraft gun. In the spring and summer of 1943, the tank received smoke grenade launchers and mortars for launching anti-personnel mines.

The Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger entered service with heavy tank battalions. The tanks were first used in the fall of 1942, on the Leningrad front, in the 502nd heavy tank battalion. In December 1942, in North Africa, Tigers entered service with the 501st battalion.

The first tanks which arrived often broke, owing to the haste with which they were put into mass production. The vehicle was very heavy, with low manoeuvrability. It consumed 10 liters of fuel every 1 km. A full fuel tank, 567 liters, was enough for only two and a half hours of combat work, which was one of the tank's major drawbacks. But this was all compensated for by the battle machine's simplicity and ease of operation. Tank operators who served in Tigers were constantly praising its transmission and steering. The tank's armour also gave the crew a high chance of surviving battle, even if the tank was disabled.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Sights

* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/675135/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (TZF4a, TZF 5a/b/d/e/f/f2, TZF 9b/b1/c/d, TZF 12/a) for Pzkpfw II, Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Pzkpfw V, Pzkpfw VI]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ryx7Uxo_3X0|'''The Shooting Range #250''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:40 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|tcIeR_s6fp8|'''The Shooting Range #204''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:50 discusses the Tiger I and the VK 45.01 (P).|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Tactics & Strategy'' section at 10:50 discusses the Tiger I.|QEz1MgTjUAw|'''Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|kFQd8TYt6Ew|'''Tank Chats #17 Tiger I''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[Tiger E]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4528-profile-pz-kpfw-vi-tiger-ausf-h1-en|[Vehicle Profile] Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1]]
* [[wt:en/news/2641--en|[Vehicle Profile] Pzkpfw VI "Tiger" Ausf. H1]]
* [[wikipedia:Tiger_I|[Wikipedia] Tiger I]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Panzer-VI_Tiger.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger I]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=72 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> SdKfz 181 Panzer VI / Tiger I]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Germany heavy tanks}}

Marder III H

2023-11-17T16:12:13Z

U158029538: Added speed and ability to climb hills to empty "Mobility" section.

{{About
| about = German tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the other version III
| link = Marder III
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_pzkpfw_38t_Marder_III_ausf_H
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''' officially designated '''{{Specs|name}}''' ([[Abbreviations#.28DE.29_Sd.Kfz._Index|Sd.Kfz. Index:]] '''Sd.Kfz. 138''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.47 "Big Guns"]].

The Marder III H is a step above the basic [[Marder III]]. As it is in Germany's open-topped tank destroyer line, its calling card is its superb firepower, in fact, it has a powerful gun for its BR range. APCBC is almost always enough to penetrate and destroy any tank on the battlefield, and with APCR, it has a very high penetration for its battle rating range.

The Marder III Ausf. H mounts a 75 mm gun, slightly surpassing those on the late [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV's]]⁣; thus its only disadvantages are its weak armour and its open fighting compartment.

Being a modified Pz.38(t) tank, it is one of the more mobile of the German tanks, nearly matching some Russian tanks. The gun is better at close range and the gun shield is curved to the sides, unlike the earlier Marder III.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

*Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides (Slope angle) !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 50 mm (19°) ''Front plate'' 12 mm (74°) ''Front glacis'' 50 mm (13°) ''Lower glacis'' || 16 mm ''Upper'' 15 mm ''Lower'' || 15 mm || 12 mm
|-
| Turret || 11 + 8 mm (31°) || 11 mm (8-9°) || N/A || N/A
|-
|}
'''Note:'''

* Belly armour is 15 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
The vehicle itself can gain a good amount of speed on flat ground (about 40-45 km/h). The Marder III does not take well to hills, even the slightest elevation can drop your top speed to 25 km/h or less. Making you an easy target when trying to reach a firing position, especially in open areas. If faced with a large hill, go around it. It will take you the same or less time to find a way around then struggle up the hill. If there is no choice, but the hill. Perform a "zig-zag" up the hill to prevent the vehicle from getting bogged down. {{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=213|rbMinHp=133}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

Always go for "Parts" and "FPE" first to increase the vehicle's survivability. The stock shell is quite effective, so the Ml.Gr 38B HEAT shell and PzGr 40 APCR shell are not priorities either. Instead, focus on mobility upgrades and the Horizontal Drive modification. After that, the order of research will be determined by personal preference.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|PaK40/3 L46 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[PaK40/3 L46 (75 mm)|75 mm PaK40/3 L46]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 38 || rowspan="2" | ±9° || rowspan="2" | ±28° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 10.57 || 14.63 || 17.76 || 19.63 || 20.89 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.79 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.14 || 8.40 || 10.20 || 11.28 || 12.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:PaK40/3 L46 (75 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Hl.Gr 38B, PzGr 40, K.Gr.Rot Nb., Sprgr. 34}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''38''' || 37 ''(+1)'' || 33 ''(+5)'' || 25 ''(+13)'' || 22 ''(+16)'' || 14 ''(+24)'' || 11 ''(+27)'' || 1 ''(+37)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

* Gun shield empty (racks 1 & 2 emptied): 33 ''(+5)'' shells.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|MG37(t) (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG37(t) (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG37(t)]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Hull || 1,200 (200) || 769 || ±10° || ±10°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Since you are an unprotected tank from behind, try to be as far from the action as possible. If getting close to enemy tanks cannot be prevented (urban maps, allies retreat etc.), then try to face at least a part of your hull against a wall or rock.

Use the horizontal range of the Marder III H as much as possible, the gun traverse is excellent for a turretless SPG. This tank destroyer can be penetrated easily; it has next to no armour at its battle rating. Keep close to other tanks to prevent this. Furthermore, it is imperative to exercise caution when being subjected to artillery fire; a single close hit, especially to your unprotected rear, can result in your demise due to shrapnel. Another important aspect to consider is the fact that ammunition is stored in the nearly unarmoured gun shield. Nearly any vehicle in the game, with the notable exception of the [[GAZ-AAA (4M)]], can penetrate there with ease. To mitigate the risk of ammo rack explosion, bring fewer shells, 33 are more than enough. Another fact to consider is that nearly all shells will over penetrate the superstructure and not explode.

The Marder III H's main APCBC shell, the PzGr 39, is good enough against most standard medium tank models like the M4 Sherman and T-34 from a frontal and slightly angled perspective. However, the penetration performance against sloped armour is only just enough under these circumstances, and an extreme angling beyond 60° on those tanks' part can cause rounds heading towards their front glacis to bounce. This makes up-armoured models like the T-34E and T-34E STZ particularly dangerous, as they can defeat the APCBC shell's sloped performance even at slight angles. While the T-34E has enhanced side armour, the T-34E STZ features increased front armour to bounce shots, so be sure to distinguish the two models for a more profound understanding on where to aim.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding gun, can knock out frontally common foes like [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]], [[M4]], [[Churchill I]] with a single shot
* Armour protects the crew from MG fire, and is thin enough for explosive AP rounds to over-penetrate
* Fairly small tank destroyer can hide behind most obstacles
* Good -9° gun depression, good for most hills
* Excellent horizontal arc of 30°, allowing hiding easily
* Amazing penetration of APCR, effective even in uptiers

'''Cons:'''

* Vulnerable to HE shell overpressure (e.g. from [[SU-122]])
* Not fully enclosed (exposed crew), vulnerable to MG, bombs, and strafing planes
* Poor +9° gun elevation can be unsuitable in certain situations
* Shells can overpenetrate some lightly-armoured vehicles (e.g. [[ZiS-12 (94-KM)|ZiS-12 94KM]], [[Chi-Ha LG]])

== History ==

===Development===
After the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht found itself in a very dire situation due to the lack of adequate mobile anti-tank weapons, especially after the appearance of the superior Soviet [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]] tanks. The only mass-issued dedicated anti-tank gun was the 37 mm PaK36 while the sole widely used tank destroyer was the Panzerjäger I with the Czech 47 mm anti-tank gun. Obsolete tanks and captured vehicles were converted to tank destroyers to enable them to penetrate the modern Soviet tanks at common combat distances. Those were mainly the Marder I (from French Lorraine tracked supply vehicles), the Marder II (from [[Pz.II F|Panzer IIs]]), and the Marder III (from Czech [[Pz.38(t) F|Panzer 38(t)s]]).

===Specifications===
The Marder IIIs, like the rest of the Marder series, were self-propelled guns better suited for fighting enemy armour than the Panzers III and IV then in service. They mounted dedicated anti-tank guns such as the 75 mm PaK40 or captured Soviet 76.2 mm guns, mainly the F-22. All the Marders were open-topped vehicles, leaving the crew exposed to mortar fire, shrapnel, or infantry fire. This weakness was mitigated by the fact that the Marders were supposed to be tank destroyers that are to ambush incoming enemy tanks or shoot them from afar.

The '''Marder III Ausf. H''' used the Panzer 38(t) chassis because it was becoming obsolete, and when new, desperately needed more powerful anti-tank weapons became available, as a stop-gap measure they were mounted on outdated tanks like the Panzer 38(t) first. The finished self-propelled mount had a higher silhouette, which left it more vulnerable, but had a 75 mm PaK40 gun and could hold 38 rounds in the vehicle. A machine gun on the hull was retained for anti-infantry purposes.

The Marder III Ausf. H predecessor, simply named as the [[Marder III]] mounted a rechambered 76.2 gun instead of a PaK40. Another variant created, the Ausf. M, featured a lower silhouette and a better-sloped armour and fighting compartment, despite only holding 27 rounds for the mounted PaK40. A total of 3,472 Marder IIIs and its versions were created or converted from Panzer 38(t) during its production life.

===Combat usage===
The Marder III Ausf. H fought on all fronts of the war, being produced from 1942 to 1945, with 450 Marder III Ausf. H with the PaK40 converted and produced. Using the tested design of the Panzer 38(t), the Marder III was mechanically reliable and had a gun that could take out most allied tanks in the war. The vulnerability of the crew due to lack of armour was its most pressing issue, with only a front shield plate at most 15 mm thick and side plates that can't enclose the crew. This makes it a poor assault vehicle or tank substitute, it allows infantry to easily kill the crew from ambushes. Despite that, with the deteriorating situation during the last years of the war, they were nevertheless used this way and suffered considerable losses.

As its production was underway, Germany already had a few self-propelled assault weapons being produced such as the [[StuG III F|StuG III]] that could have the same anti-tank capabilities, yet was fully armoured, enclosing the crew in adequate armour. This obvious advantage over the open Marder series encouraged the development of a new kind of tank destroyer from the Panzer 38(t) with better armour, which would eventually become the [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]]. Despite that, the Marders continued to serve to the end of the war.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
An antitank vehicle designed by Alkett. The prototype was built in June, 1942. It was produced from November, 1942 to April, 1943 at the BMM factory. The Marder II Ausf.H was also rebuilt from damaged tanks at the Wehrmacht factory in Prilougi using cabins obtained from BMM.

Marder IIIs were used actively on all fronts of World War II. Most of them were used on the Eastern Front.

A total of 613 Marder III Ausf. H tank destroyers were produced.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_38t_Marder_III_ausf_H Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|LyVyFGLX1TY|'''The Hetzer's Useless Uncle? - Marder III Ausf. H.''' ''-Military History Visualized''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Germany tank destroyers}}

StuG III G

2023-11-17T15:43:52Z

U158029538:

{{About
| about = German tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = StuG III (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_stug_III_ausf_G
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}_AddArmour.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage2_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Sturmgeschütz III Ausführung G (StuG III G)''' ([[Abbreviations#.28DE.29 Sd.Kfz. Index|Sd.Kfz. Index:]] '''Sd.Kfz. 142/1''') is the seventh variant of the [[StuG III (Family)|Sturmgeschütz III assault gun family]]. The StuG III G made a distinction apart from the rest of the production variants. It was, in essence, the most produced variant, with around 8400 units built between December 1942 and April 1945, which was equal to the entire production of all Panzer IV medium tank variants combined. This enormous effort was the result of a full reorganization of manufacturing, which was divided among other factories such as MIAG (in 1943) and many suppliers. This was done to avoid disturbances from the growing success of Allied bombing attacks. It was, of course, reinforced further by the progressive substitution of Panzer III medium tanks on the same production lines with StuG III assault guns.

Introduced in [[Update 1.43]], the StuG III G was the ultimate variant of the StuG III assault gun family, combining outstanding frontal protection with firepower. The StuG III G, which is armed with a modified long-barrelled 75 mm Sturmkanone (StuK) 40 L/48 tank gun, has the same armour-penetrating power as the [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV H]], the best variant of the [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IV medium tank family]]. The StuG III G, with its low profile and compact silhouette, is ideal for laying up ambushes for enemy armoured columns while remaining stealthy.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, superstructure)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 80 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' 80 mm (19°) ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (76°) ''Bottom junction glacis'' || 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 50 mm (15°) ''Upper plate'' 50 mm ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (66°) ''Bottom junction glacis'' || 30 mm (4°) ''Front part'' 16 mm ''Engine compartment'' 30 mm (13°) ''Rear part''
|-
| Superstructure || 80 mm (0-11°) ''Upper plate'' 80 mm (1-10°) ''Gun mantlet'' 30 mm (69°) ''Upper glacis'' 30 mm (50°) ''Side glacis overhanging the tracks'' || 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 30 mm || 11 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 50 mm (cylindrical) || 11 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* The side skirts protect against HEAT and HE rounds by detonating the fuses before they penetrate the vehicle..
* The [[Add-on Armor|Add-on Armour]] module unlockable at tier IV adds extra tracks (20 mm thick) on several weak spots.
* The belly of the {{PAGENAME}} is 30 mm thick.

While comparatively well armoured to other tank destroyers of its battle rating, it is not well protected enough to allow it to be a frontline assault tank. It is not recommended to attempt angling the vehicle more than 30 degrees to the enemy, as the sides are thin and will easily be penetrated if you attempt to angle the front. One slight advantage this tank has over the previous models of StuGs is the side skirts, which may prevent damage from incoming HE and HEAT shells; they do not provide a large protection bonus for incoming AP rounds, however. A penetration through the driver port can knock out the driver, gunner, and commander as they sit in a line.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=265|AoAweight=0.45}}

While based on the chassis of a Panzer III, the {{PAGENAME}} is uparmoured and thus heavier than a regular Pz.III medium tank. It still benefits from the same all-round mobility but lacks acceleration and top speed. The tank still accelerates decently and is able to reach a maximum speed of 43 km/h in around 12 seconds. The reverse speed is average: it will not get you out of a dangerous situation quickly but isn't a handicap either. The lack of neutral steering makes turning on the spot slow (2 km/h): make sure to build a little speed before turning and you'll be able to turn faster (6 km/h).

If enemies are approaching you to flank, try to shake your hull around to make it harder for them to shoot your tracks and transmission. Defensively, since the StuG III G is a casemate vehicle, the key to survival is putting distance between you and the enemy. When enemies start to close the distance, keep your gun pointed in their direction and hit the reverse gear. When you have to turn toward enemies, it is recommended to use the reverse gear so you don't push out further than you need to.

If the enemy has destroyed one of your tracks, you are still able to turn in a circle and fight. Even when being fired upon, try to sit still for as long as possible to repair the track, as that is your lifeline. If your transmission or engine is taken out, you must call upon friendly forces to defend you, or help you to repair, and/or drag you back into cover.

The stock tracks are narrow and grant you a decent mobility on hard terrain (solid ground, roads) but poor mobility on soft terrain (mud, snow, sand). Once researched, the "Ostketten" wide tracks for snowy terrain will grant you a very good mobility on soft terrain and when driving uphill. The {{PAGENAME}} reaches 15 km/h when fording, 17 km/h when driving uphill with some speed built-up but a mere 7 km/h uphill from a stop-start (12 km/h with Ostketten).

Light obstacles such as fences and bushes are not a problem but medium to large obstacles like posts, trees, concrete blocks and parked vehicles will reduce your mobility or stop you in your tracks: avoid them.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|StuK40 L48 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[StuK40 L48 (75 mm)|75 mm StuK40 L48]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 54 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±10° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.21 || 18.28 || 22.20 || 24.55 || 26.12 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.78 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.92 || 10.50 || 12.75 || 14.10 || 15.00
|-
|}

The 75 mm StuK40 stays reliably accurate until around 1,000 m distance. Beyond 1,200 m the loss of accuracy becomes a real handicap, together with the poor magnification of the gunner's optics. It is recommended to take positions which will allow you to shoot at enemies at medium to long ranges below 1,000 m. The high muzzle velocity of your APCBC and APCR shells grants you pretty flat trajectories and thus helps firing at moving targets from medium to long distances. HE and HEAT shells are slower and will fly with a curved trajectory, so you will have to aim higher to hit the target. It is recommended to take 2-3 HE or HEAT shells in order to destroy lightly armoured trucks as AP will likely pass through them and do little to no damage and the StuG has no coaxial weapon. They will likely be moving faster than you can traverse, so glancing shots might be the only option. HE or HEAT rounds will explode on contact and the resulting overpressure can kill the entire enemy truck crew instantly, no matter where it hits. The StuG III G is not equipped with a stabilizer, so it can't shoot accurately while moving.

The gun has a limited traverse on the horizontal axis. Your field of fire is best described as 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock field. This can make the tracking of a target difficult as targets going to the left or right can quickly move out of your gunsight. Take that constraint into account when positioning your hull in a firing spot and aiming. For wider "kill zones" make sure to reposition the hull before firing. The traverse speed of the gun, however, is decent in comparison to other tank destroyers at the battle rating which makes your targeting process fast even in the case of hull repositioning. Elevation and depression angles of the gun are poor, with only a 20 degree and -6 degree angles. So you may have to sit on top of or slightly over a hill to shoot at targets below you, or be driving up a hill to shoot at targets above you. Shooting at planes is not recommended in this vehicle as you are unlikely to hit it unless it is flying directly at you at eye level. For best results find a covered and concealed position (Rocks, trees, bushes, camouflage, other destroyed tanks, etc) on slightly elevated ground and fire from there.

Your reload time is similar to vehicles at the same BR, if not a little shorter than average. This can make follow-up shots quick if the enemy isn't destroyed on the first shot. The recoil is average for a German vehicle and not high enough to throw your gun too far off target after firing, but beware that it will affect you if you are balanced on a ledge or firing at your maximum horizontal angles.

==== Ammunition ====
The ammunition available to the {{PAGENAME}} allows for engaging all types of targets:

* '''PzGr 39''': APCBC; a capped armour-piercing shell with a ballistic cap that has a high penetration power and decent explosive filler. It will destroy any armoured target it penetrates.
* '''Hl.Gr 38B''': HEAT; a shaped charge shell with good penetration power and post-penetration damage. Due to the nature of HEAT rounds, there is no penetration loss over distance: The shaped charge will penetrate the same amount of armour whether the target is 10 m away or 1,000 m away. It is a slow shell, however, and penetrates flat surfaces only. It is effective against lightly armoured and open-topped vehicles.
* '''PzGr 40''': APCR; a composite round with a very high penetration power but no explosive filler, resulting in very poor post-penetration damage. It penetrates only flat vertical surfaces and will easily ricochet on sloped armour. It is recommended to use these only on targets that you cannot penetrate with PzGr 39.
* '''Sprgr. 34''': HE; a high explosive round useful for destroying open-topped and lightly armoured vehicles. It is recommended to take a few of these as you don't have a coaxial weapon for use against lightly armoured targets.
* '''K.Gr.Rot Nb.''': Smoke; an obscuring shell useful for blinding enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives. They can also be used defensively, fired in front of you to hide behind or fired ahead of friendly forces to cover their manoeuvres. While the shell is able to kill crew members directly and damage aircraft, it is not recommended to use these to try to kill enemy vehicles.

{{:StuK40 L48 (75 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Hl.Gr 38B, PzGr 40, Sprgr. 34, K.Gr.Rot Nb.}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''54''' || 40 ''(+14)'' || 17 ''(+37)'' || 1 ''(+53)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Racks disappear after you've used all shells in the rack.
* Pack 17 ''(+37)'' shells into battle to deplete your right flank of ammo (racks 1 & 2 emptied).

== Usage in battles ==


This tank destroyer is best played as a support vehicle. Unlike its predecessors, it has excellent armour and can be nearly invincible from long ranges. However, if playing the StuG close to the front lines, (for example, capturing points) this armour will not be adequate against the close-range power of most vehicles. Any shot which penetrates the armour will most likely destroy the vehicle due to the tight interior layout. The sides are a weak point from any ranges, so try not to show it to the enemy. It is recommended to support teammates from the flanks, attack from long ranges, and refrain from closing the distance even for objectives unless necessary. If properly concealed, the enemy will not know where they are being attacked from as they concentrate their assault forwards.

Once in a game, it is recommended to choose the spawn point patiently to pick the best area to start accepting firing positions. Wide open areas are not good for the StuGs so when repositioning, make sure it is safe before moving ahead. Flanking an enemy cap point where the where teammates are frontally attacking can present easy, distracted targets. Be careful not to get detected by the enemy and find a place where the StuG can be in cover and start shooting. Always look around, and if the situation gets bad, relocate to another vantage point. If the StuG is rooted deep in enemy lines and alone, try to hold back and attack if there is only one enemy. From long ranges, the StuG can always be a winner in 1v1 duels if played cautiously. From short ranges, the key is situational awareness and how fast the StuG can shoot the enemy before they flank and destroy. If you are being attacked from multiple enemies, try to prioritize the most dangerous ones and move from them to the less dangerous ones.

Notable enemies:

* American Tanks - [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Shermans]] are easy targets, but their 75 mm guns can penetrate the StuG's frontal armour if unangled. 76 mm-armed Shermans are more dangerous. [[M4A3E2|M4A3E2 Jumbos]] can lead to stalemates, but getting too close can allow the Jumbo to aim for weak spots. The best way to defeat the Jumbo is to flank and hit them at the side, preferably the lower area at the suspension where it is only 38.1 mm thick.
* Soviet tanks - [[T-34 (Family)|T-34s]] are also easy targets, but 57 mm-armed [[T-34-57|T-34-57s]] and 85 mm-armed [[T-34-85|T-34-85s]] can destroy the StuG in one or two shots. It is easy to penetrate the T-34's hull, as the hull goes nearly unchanged across all variants so they should be detected and destroyed quickly. From long ranges, angling the StuG slightly might enhance the front armour against the T-34's shells, but angling too much will allow the T-34 to punch through the vulnerable side armour. [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1s]] can be shot through the side and the front gun mantlet, but their tough armour will often be able to bounce or eat shells. Try to destroy their mobility or weapons before they do the same to you. Autocannon-armed trucks like the [[ZiS-12 (94-KM)]] are a diminutive but real danger to the StuG. An HE or HEAT shell should be used to destroy them before they quickly flank and punch through your thin side armour.
* British tanks - British tanks have some low calibre guns, but their high muzzle velocity and fast reload rate will penetrate and destroy the StuG easily. The Cruiser tanks and armoured cars like the [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] and [[SARC MkVI (6pdr)|SARC Mk VI]] will be difficult targets, as they are mobile and can flank quickly. Try to be the first to detect the tank and fire at them while they are trying to position themselves, as their armour can be easily pierced by the StuK40 gun. If faced with a [[Churchill Mk VII]] from the front, it is recommended to withdraw and call on teammates and aircraft for support. If the Churchill is distracted, reposition to take aim at the side armour and try to destroy the interior with a couple of APHE rounds. Other Churchills ([[Churchill I|Mk I]] or [[Churchill III|Mk III]]) can be penetrated frontally, as long as they are not angled. [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Fireflies]] and the [[Archer]] are equipped with the excellent 17-pounder gun, which can punch through the StuG in one shot. Try to prioritize destroying these vehicles first.
* Japanese tanks - Japanese tanks are generally overlooked and under-prioritized, but don't underestimate them and never let them flank. Even the Japanese 37 mm guns can penetrate the StuG from the side. [[M24 (Japan)|JSDF M24s]], [[Na-To|Na-Tos]], [[Chi-Nu II|Chi-Nu IIs]], and [[Chi-To|Chi-Tos]] are particularly dangerous. M24s can close the distance fast and manoeuvre faster than the StuG can blink, literally driving circles around it and blowing it up. Na-Tos, Chi-Nu IIs and Chi-Tos have good guns with great post-penetration damage. Allowing one to hit you will result in destruction.
* Italian tanks - Italian vehicles armed with the 90 mm 90/53, like the [[Breda 501]], will be able to destroy the StuG frontally in one shot. Interestingly, the Italians also have the [[StuG III G (Italy)|StuG III G]] which, having identical capabilities to the German version, can instigate long, stalemate sniping matches between it and you. The fact that both of you have identical vehicles also means that you both have extensive understanding of both of your vehicles. Try to shoot first. The similarly configured [[75/46 M43]] is slightly more dangerous, as penetration of its upper front plate can be unreliable and its 75 mm cannon is more potent. The [[R3 T20 FA-HS]] is potent for obvious reasons.
* Chinese tanks - When facing Chinese ground forces, they will most likely be using the tanks mentioned in the American and Soviet sections. The same concerns apply.
* French tanks - A lot of mid-tier French vehicles like the [[M4A4 (SA50)]] have great cannons which can practically ignore the StuG's armour. Though the [[AMX-13 (FL11)]] is not one of those, its high mobility allows it to motor around the StuG and flank. The [[AMX-13 DCA 40]] can wear down the StuG's modules and crew quickly due to its quick-firing 40 mm cannon.
* '''Swedish tanks:''' Though Swedish tanks are generally slow and carry little armour, some Swedish vehicles like the [[Pvkv II]] can be dangerous. APDS can penetrate the StuG's armour but will do little damage post-penetration. Swedish HEAT rounds at the tier can be blocked by the side skirts.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 75 mm cannon with decent penetration, great accuracy, good velocity, and a piercing APCR: even with the stock APCBC it can frontally one-shot most opponents like the [[M4]], [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]], [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] or even the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]]
* Great frontal angled armour of 80 mm plus 20 mm add-on tracks (100 mm total, same as the [[Tiger H1]]) makes it immune to low-penetrating rounds
* Competent reverse gear and mobility
* Low silhouette makes the StuG easy to conceal in RB and SB
* Large side skirts can more or less provide some additional protection against HE and HEAT rounds
* Multi-role potential: can be effective in city combat and close quarters, or long-range sniping

'''Cons:'''

* Vertical parts of frontal armour can be penetrated relatively easily; a penetration through the driver port can knock out the driver, gunner, and commander, resulting in instant knock-out for the StuG
* Fixed casemate superstructure restricts gun traverse, especially in horizontal and vertical angles
* No neutral steering, so it can't turn on the spot
* No coaxial weapons for use against lightly armoured targets or aircraft
* A HE shell onto the machine gun shield can send the shrapnel down through the hull roof down into the crew compartment, particularly from large calibre cannons such as the [[M-10T (152 mm)|152 mm M-10T]]

== History ==


===Development===
The role of a self-propelled gun came from combat experiences in World War I. During the German offensives on the Allied front; infantry lacked artillery support against fortifications in places out-ranged by their heavy artillery behind the lines. A need for a mobile artillery piece was necessary to keep up with the German infantry and fight enemy fortifications with a direct-fire assault role. The father of this concept was German General Erich von Manstein and was coined as the ''Sturmartillerie'' (assault artillery), and these units were to be embedded in infantry divisions.

On June 15, 1936, Daimler-Benz AG was ordered to develop a support vehicle mounting the 75 mm howitzer as its armament in a casemate structure with a traverse of 25 degrees. The vehicle was to provide full protection for its crew and be no taller than an average soldier. Daimler-Benz repurposed the chassis and running gear of their [[Pz.III E|Panzer III]] design for the role. These new vehicles were named the '''Sturmgeschütz III''' (assault gun), or the shortened '''StuG III''' and the finished designs were sent to Alkett for prototype production and five were produced in 1937. These prototypes were made of mild steel and had the 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 cannon, an adaption of the original 75 mm KwK 37 cannon on the [[Pz.IV E|Panzer IV]]. This gun would be featured on the StuG III variants [[StuG III A|Ausf. A]] to Ausf. E. The StuG III entered production from January 1940 to the end of the war on April 1945 due to the many upgrades done on the vehicle to increase serviceability and its low cost. At about a total production of 11,300 StuG III and its variants, the StuG III design was the most produced armoured fighting vehicle in German service.

===Design===
The StuG III had a fully enclosed armoured shell, keeping the crew safe within the vehicle. As a casemate structure, it has a limited traverse range for its front view, and the whole vehicle must be turned if a target is outside its traverse range. The StuG III featured about 50 mm of armour on the front, but about 30 mm of armour everywhere else, this was upgraded as the war progressed to 80 mm. The suspension system is identical to the Panzer III's, a torsion bar system. The StuG III had a crew of four, the commander, driver, loader, and gunner. Initial variants lack machine guns, so the StuG was required to work with support units to ensure it does not get overrun by infantry. It wasn't until December 1942 when a machine gun could be accommodated for the loader to use. Initial variants also did not have a commander's cupola, so his view was quite restricted. However, models after September 1943 had them installed.

===Combat usage===
During the initial stages of World War II, the StuG III with the 75 mm StuK 37 howitzer fared well in the campaigns in France and Poland, but when the invasion of Soviet Union commenced, the lack of German guns able to destroy their [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]] tanks prompted Germany to rearm their vehicles with newer guns. So the original StuK 37 cannon from the [[StuG III A|initial designs]] was upgraded to the 75 mm StuK 40 cannons. The [[StuG III F|StuG III Ausf. F]] has the shorter L/43 cannon, but the '''StuG III Ausf. G''' featured the longer L/48 cannon with improved design features on the vehicle. The Ausf. G was the most common and produced StuG III variant in the war. It featured a widened superstructure with a straightened back wall, also making it slightly higher with a height of 2160 mm now. The exhaust fan is moved to the back, and a commander's cupola is added onto the design. The driver's periscope on the design was abandoned, and the vehicle has Schürzen armour plates installed on the hull to protect the weaker hull sides against anti-tank rifles and HEAT rounds. Instead of the 50 mm hull armour with an additional 30 mm welded on the Ausf. F, the Ausf. G featured a solid 80 mm plate on the hull front. A machine gun mount has also become integrated into the design with a small shield for the loader as well to operate it in safety, though a "remote" operated version was also installed later so that the loader would only need to get out to reload the machine gun. This design is the most numerous of the StuG III variants, and the 11,300 StuG IIIs built, 8738 StuG III Ausf. Gs were built from December 1942 to April 1945, with some converted from fully built Panzer IIIs.

The new 75 mm StuK 40 cannon could engage many Allied tank designs. This upgrade changed the StuG III role from its usual infantry support role into a tank destroyer, though it can serve both roles with acceptable performance. The vehicles were deemed very successful and attributed to more tanks destroyed than any other armoured fighting vehicle in German service. The success of the StuG III urged Germany to prioritize the production of casemate structure vehicles built from chassis of other vehicles for further development in tank destroyers such as the [[Jagdpanther|Jagdpanther]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)|Jagdpanzer 38(t)]], and the [[Ferdinand|Ferdinand]].

The StuG III design was also made into different variants with different armaments, such as a 105 mm howitzer on the ''[[StuH 42 G|StuH 42]]'' , a flamethrower on the ''StuG III (Flamm)'', and even a 150 mm sIG 33 infantry gun on the ''Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B''.

===Legacy===
The StuG III design would see service in the entire war due to its adaptability to the changing course of the war, going from an offensive support weapon to a defensive tank destroyer. The StuG III holds the distinct title of knocking out the most Allied tanks in German service with about 20,000 tanks destroyed, much more than the better [[Panther D|Panther]] and [[Tiger H1|Tiger]] tanks. It was a widely-exported design to Germany's allies, such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Finland. The StuG III would continue serving in various countries past World War II in conflicts in the 1960s, such as the Six Days War in Syria's service that was donated by the Soviet Union. Today, some are still serving as static pillboxes on the Golan Heights.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
The final and most mass-produced variant of the Sturmgeschütz III. These guns began to be released in December 1942 and continued to be made until the end of the war. With these modifications, the designation of production models was changed to StuG.40 Ausf. G. The design of their conning tower was different from that of previous variants. The tower was wider, and extended halfway over both of the vehicle's treads. A commander's cupola was installed, which greatly improved the gun commander's view and required an increase in the emplacement's height, up to 2,160 mm. The ballistic protection of the gunner's sight was also improved. The first series of this assault gun still had 50 mm of forward armour, but by the summer of 1943 this had been reinforced by additional plates 30 mm thick. From May 1943 onward, the vehicles were fitted with Schurzen side skirts as a means of protection against high-explosive anti-tank shells and anti-tank rifle bullets. From August 1943 to September 1944, the assault guns were coated with an anti-magnetic Zimmerit paste. Some sources claim the paste could make shells ricochet off, but it was probably applied to counter magnetic mines.

Vehicles manufactured before October 1943 had a commander's cupola which could rotate, as it was mounted on ball bearings. However, due to a lack of ball bearings, the cupola began to be welded on in September 1943 and following. From August 1944 to the end of the war, the self-propelled assault guns once again had rotating commander's cupolas.

In 1944, the troops began to receive assault guns with remote-controlled machine guns to fight against infantry, in addition to a new, streamlined gun mantlet. The characteristic outline of this mantlet received the name Saukopfblende.

By the end of the war, the companies Alkett and MIAG had built 7,834 StuG.40 Ausf. G assault guns.

The overall quality of the armament and armour of this assault gun made it a frequent winner in battles against allied tanks.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_stug_III_ausf_G Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[StuG III (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[SU-85]]
* [[75/46 M43]]
* [[Pvkv m/43 (1946)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3380/current|[National Forces] German Sturmgeschütz Units]]
* [[wikipedia:Sturmgesch%C3%BCtz_III|[Wikipedia] Sturmgeschütz III]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Sturmgeschutz-III.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Sturmgeschütz III]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=257 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> SdKfz 142 StuG III (Sturmgeschütz III)]

{{Germany tank destroyers}}

StuG III G

2023-11-17T15:42:58Z

U158029538: Added some details on horizontal and elevation limits and added some tips for finding a good firing position.

{{About
| about = German tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = StuG III (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_stug_III_ausf_G
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}_AddArmour.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage2_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Sturmgeschütz III Ausführung G (StuG III G)''' ([[Abbreviations#.28DE.29 Sd.Kfz. Index|Sd.Kfz. Index:]] '''Sd.Kfz. 142/1''') is the seventh variant of the [[StuG III (Family)|Sturmgeschütz III assault gun family]]. The StuG III G made a distinction apart from the rest of the production variants. It was, in essence, the most produced variant, with around 8400 units built between December 1942 and April 1945, which was equal to the entire production of all Panzer IV medium tank variants combined. This enormous effort was the result of a full reorganization of manufacturing, which was divided among other factories such as MIAG (in 1943) and many suppliers. This was done to avoid disturbances from the growing success of Allied bombing attacks. It was, of course, reinforced further by the progressive substitution of Panzer III medium tanks on the same production lines with StuG III assault guns.

Introduced in [[Update 1.43]], the StuG III G was the ultimate variant of the StuG III assault gun family, combining outstanding frontal protection with firepower. The StuG III G, which is armed with a modified long-barrelled 75 mm Sturmkanone (StuK) 40 L/48 tank gun, has the same armour-penetrating power as the [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV H]], the best variant of the [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IV medium tank family]]. The StuG III G, with its low profile and compact silhouette, is ideal for laying up ambushes for enemy armoured columns while remaining stealthy.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, superstructure)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 80 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' 80 mm (19°) ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (76°) ''Bottom junction glacis'' || 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 50 mm (15°) ''Upper plate'' 50 mm ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (66°) ''Bottom junction glacis'' || 30 mm (4°) ''Front part'' 16 mm ''Engine compartment'' 30 mm (13°) ''Rear part''
|-
| Superstructure || 80 mm (0-11°) ''Upper plate'' 80 mm (1-10°) ''Gun mantlet'' 30 mm (69°) ''Upper glacis'' 30 mm (50°) ''Side glacis overhanging the tracks'' || 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 30 mm || 11 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 50 mm (cylindrical) || 11 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* The side skirts protect against HEAT and HE rounds by detonating the fuses before they penetrate the vehicle..
* The [[Add-on Armor|Add-on Armour]] module unlockable at tier IV adds extra tracks (20 mm thick) on several weak spots.
* The belly of the {{PAGENAME}} is 30 mm thick.

While comparatively well armoured to other tank destroyers of its battle rating, it is not well protected enough to allow it to be a frontline assault tank. It is not recommended to attempt angling the vehicle more than 30 degrees to the enemy, as the sides are thin and will easily be penetrated if you attempt to angle the front. One slight advantage this tank has over the previous models of StuGs is the side skirts, which may prevent damage from incoming HE and HEAT shells; they do not provide a large protection bonus for incoming AP rounds, however. A penetration through the driver port can knock out the driver, gunner, and commander as they sit in a line.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=265|AoAweight=0.45}}

While based on the chassis of a Panzer III, the {{PAGENAME}} is uparmoured and thus heavier than a regular Pz.III medium tank. It still benefits from the same all-round mobility but lacks acceleration and top speed. The tank still accelerates decently and is able to reach a maximum speed of 43 km/h in around 12 seconds. The reverse speed is average: it will not get you out of a dangerous situation quickly but isn't a handicap either. The lack of neutral steering makes turning on the spot slow (2 km/h): make sure to build a little speed before turning and you'll be able to turn faster (6 km/h).

If enemies are approaching you to flank, try to shake your hull around to make it harder for them to shoot your tracks and transmission. Defensively, since the StuG III G is a casemate vehicle, the key to survival is putting distance between you and the enemy. When enemies start to close the distance, keep your gun pointed in their direction and hit the reverse gear. When you have to turn toward enemies, it is recommended to use the reverse gear so you don't push out further than you need to.

If the enemy has destroyed one of your tracks, you are still able to turn in a circle and fight. Even when being fired upon, try to sit still for as long as possible to repair the track, as that is your lifeline. If your transmission or engine is taken out, you must call upon friendly forces to defend you, or help you to repair, and/or drag you back into cover.

The stock tracks are narrow and grant you a decent mobility on hard terrain (solid ground, roads) but poor mobility on soft terrain (mud, snow, sand). Once researched, the "Ostketten" wide tracks for snowy terrain will grant you a very good mobility on soft terrain and when driving uphill. The {{PAGENAME}} reaches 15 km/h when fording, 17 km/h when driving uphill with some speed built-up but a mere 7 km/h uphill from a stop-start (12 km/h with Ostketten).

Light obstacles such as fences and bushes are not a problem but medium to large obstacles like posts, trees, concrete blocks and parked vehicles will reduce your mobility or stop you in your tracks: avoid them.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|StuK40 L48 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[StuK40 L48 (75 mm)|75 mm StuK40 L48]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 54 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±10° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.21 || 18.28 || 22.20 || 24.55 || 26.12 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.78 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.92 || 10.50 || 12.75 || 14.10 || 15.00
|-
|}

The 75 mm StuK40 stays reliably accurate until around 1,000 m distance. Beyond 1,200 m the loss of accuracy becomes a real handicap, together with the poor magnification of the gunner's optics. It is recommended to take positions which will allow you to shoot at enemies at medium to long ranges below 1,000 m. The high muzzle velocity of your APCBC and APCR shells grants you pretty flat trajectories and thus helps firing at moving targets from medium to long distances. HE and HEAT shells are slower and will fly with a curved trajectory, so you will have to aim higher to hit the target. It is recommended to take 2-3 HE or HEAT shells in order to destroy lightly armoured trucks as AP will likely pass through them and do little to no damage and the StuG has no coaxial weapon. They will likely be moving faster than you can traverse, so glancing shots might be the only option. HE or HEAT rounds will explode on contact and the resulting overpressure can kill the entire enemy truck crew instantly, no matter where it hits. The StuG III G is not equipped with a stabilizer, so it can't shoot accurately while moving.

The gun has a limited traverse on the horizontal axis. Your field of fire is best described as 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock field. This can make the tracking of a target difficult as targets going to the left or right can quickly move out of your gunsight. Take that constraint into account when positioning your hull in a firing spot and aiming. For wider "kill zones" make sure reposition the hull before firing. The traverse speed of the gun, however, is decent in comparison to other tank destroyers at the battle rating which makes your targeting process fast even in the case of hull repositioning. Elevation and depression angles of the gun are poor, with only a 20 degree and -6 degree angles. So you may have to sit on top of or slightly over a hill to shoot at targets below you, or be driving up a hill to shoot at targets above you. Shooting at planes is not recommended in this vehicle as you are unlikely to hit it unless it is flying directly at you at eye level. For best results find a covered and concealed position (Rocks, trees, bushes, camouflage, other destroyed tanks, etc) on slightly elevated ground and fire from there.

Your reload time is similar to vehicles at the same BR, if not a little shorter than average. This can make follow-up shots quick if the enemy isn't destroyed on the first shot. The recoil is average for a German vehicle and not high enough to throw your gun too far off target after firing, but beware that it will affect you if you are balanced on a ledge or firing at your maximum horizontal angles.

==== Ammunition ====
The ammunition available to the {{PAGENAME}} allows for engaging all types of targets:

* '''PzGr 39''': APCBC; a capped armour-piercing shell with a ballistic cap that has a high penetration power and decent explosive filler. It will destroy any armoured target it penetrates.
* '''Hl.Gr 38B''': HEAT; a shaped charge shell with good penetration power and post-penetration damage. Due to the nature of HEAT rounds, there is no penetration loss over distance: The shaped charge will penetrate the same amount of armour whether the target is 10 m away or 1,000 m away. It is a slow shell, however, and penetrates flat surfaces only. It is effective against lightly armoured and open-topped vehicles.
* '''PzGr 40''': APCR; a composite round with a very high penetration power but no explosive filler, resulting in very poor post-penetration damage. It penetrates only flat vertical surfaces and will easily ricochet on sloped armour. It is recommended to use these only on targets that you cannot penetrate with PzGr 39.
* '''Sprgr. 34''': HE; a high explosive round useful for destroying open-topped and lightly armoured vehicles. It is recommended to take a few of these as you don't have a coaxial weapon for use against lightly armoured targets.
* '''K.Gr.Rot Nb.''': Smoke; an obscuring shell useful for blinding enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives. They can also be used defensively, fired in front of you to hide behind or fired ahead of friendly forces to cover their manoeuvres. While the shell is able to kill crew members directly and damage aircraft, it is not recommended to use these to try to kill enemy vehicles.

{{:StuK40 L48 (75 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Hl.Gr 38B, PzGr 40, Sprgr. 34, K.Gr.Rot Nb.}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''54''' || 40 ''(+14)'' || 17 ''(+37)'' || 1 ''(+53)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Racks disappear after you've used all shells in the rack.
* Pack 17 ''(+37)'' shells into battle to deplete your right flank of ammo (racks 1 & 2 emptied).

== Usage in battles ==


This tank destroyer is best played as a support vehicle. Unlike its predecessors, it has excellent armour and can be nearly invincible from long ranges. However, if playing the StuG close to the front lines, (for example, capturing points) this armour will not be adequate against the close-range power of most vehicles. Any shot which penetrates the armour will most likely destroy the vehicle due to the tight interior layout. The sides are a weak point from any ranges, so try not to show it to the enemy. It is recommended to support teammates from the flanks, attack from long ranges, and refrain from closing the distance even for objectives unless necessary. If properly concealed, the enemy will not know where they are being attacked from as they concentrate their assault forwards.

Once in a game, it is recommended to choose the spawn point patiently to pick the best area to start accepting firing positions. Wide open areas are not good for the StuGs so when repositioning, make sure it is safe before moving ahead. Flanking an enemy cap point where the where teammates are frontally attacking can present easy, distracted targets. Be careful not to get detected by the enemy and find a place where the StuG can be in cover and start shooting. Always look around, and if the situation gets bad, relocate to another vantage point. If the StuG is rooted deep in enemy lines and alone, try to hold back and attack if there is only one enemy. From long ranges, the StuG can always be a winner in 1v1 duels if played cautiously. From short ranges, the key is situational awareness and how fast the StuG can shoot the enemy before they flank and destroy. If you are being attacked from multiple enemies, try to prioritize the most dangerous ones and move from them to the less dangerous ones.

Notable enemies:

* American Tanks - [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Shermans]] are easy targets, but their 75 mm guns can penetrate the StuG's frontal armour if unangled. 76 mm-armed Shermans are more dangerous. [[M4A3E2|M4A3E2 Jumbos]] can lead to stalemates, but getting too close can allow the Jumbo to aim for weak spots. The best way to defeat the Jumbo is to flank and hit them at the side, preferably the lower area at the suspension where it is only 38.1 mm thick.
* Soviet tanks - [[T-34 (Family)|T-34s]] are also easy targets, but 57 mm-armed [[T-34-57|T-34-57s]] and 85 mm-armed [[T-34-85|T-34-85s]] can destroy the StuG in one or two shots. It is easy to penetrate the T-34's hull, as the hull goes nearly unchanged across all variants so they should be detected and destroyed quickly. From long ranges, angling the StuG slightly might enhance the front armour against the T-34's shells, but angling too much will allow the T-34 to punch through the vulnerable side armour. [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1s]] can be shot through the side and the front gun mantlet, but their tough armour will often be able to bounce or eat shells. Try to destroy their mobility or weapons before they do the same to you. Autocannon-armed trucks like the [[ZiS-12 (94-KM)]] are a diminutive but real danger to the StuG. An HE or HEAT shell should be used to destroy them before they quickly flank and punch through your thin side armour.
* British tanks - British tanks have some low calibre guns, but their high muzzle velocity and fast reload rate will penetrate and destroy the StuG easily. The Cruiser tanks and armoured cars like the [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] and [[SARC MkVI (6pdr)|SARC Mk VI]] will be difficult targets, as they are mobile and can flank quickly. Try to be the first to detect the tank and fire at them while they are trying to position themselves, as their armour can be easily pierced by the StuK40 gun. If faced with a [[Churchill Mk VII]] from the front, it is recommended to withdraw and call on teammates and aircraft for support. If the Churchill is distracted, reposition to take aim at the side armour and try to destroy the interior with a couple of APHE rounds. Other Churchills ([[Churchill I|Mk I]] or [[Churchill III|Mk III]]) can be penetrated frontally, as long as they are not angled. [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Fireflies]] and the [[Archer]] are equipped with the excellent 17-pounder gun, which can punch through the StuG in one shot. Try to prioritize destroying these vehicles first.
* Japanese tanks - Japanese tanks are generally overlooked and under-prioritized, but don't underestimate them and never let them flank. Even the Japanese 37 mm guns can penetrate the StuG from the side. [[M24 (Japan)|JSDF M24s]], [[Na-To|Na-Tos]], [[Chi-Nu II|Chi-Nu IIs]], and [[Chi-To|Chi-Tos]] are particularly dangerous. M24s can close the distance fast and manoeuvre faster than the StuG can blink, literally driving circles around it and blowing it up. Na-Tos, Chi-Nu IIs and Chi-Tos have good guns with great post-penetration damage. Allowing one to hit you will result in destruction.
* Italian tanks - Italian vehicles armed with the 90 mm 90/53, like the [[Breda 501]], will be able to destroy the StuG frontally in one shot. Interestingly, the Italians also have the [[StuG III G (Italy)|StuG III G]] which, having identical capabilities to the German version, can instigate long, stalemate sniping matches between it and you. The fact that both of you have identical vehicles also means that you both have extensive understanding of both of your vehicles. Try to shoot first. The similarly configured [[75/46 M43]] is slightly more dangerous, as penetration of its upper front plate can be unreliable and its 75 mm cannon is more potent. The [[R3 T20 FA-HS]] is potent for obvious reasons.
* Chinese tanks - When facing Chinese ground forces, they will most likely be using the tanks mentioned in the American and Soviet sections. The same concerns apply.
* French tanks - A lot of mid-tier French vehicles like the [[M4A4 (SA50)]] have great cannons which can practically ignore the StuG's armour. Though the [[AMX-13 (FL11)]] is not one of those, its high mobility allows it to motor around the StuG and flank. The [[AMX-13 DCA 40]] can wear down the StuG's modules and crew quickly due to its quick-firing 40 mm cannon.
* '''Swedish tanks:''' Though Swedish tanks are generally slow and carry little armour, some Swedish vehicles like the [[Pvkv II]] can be dangerous. APDS can penetrate the StuG's armour but will do little damage post-penetration. Swedish HEAT rounds at the tier can be blocked by the side skirts.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 75 mm cannon with decent penetration, great accuracy, good velocity, and a piercing APCR: even with the stock APCBC it can frontally one-shot most opponents like the [[M4]], [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]], [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] or even the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]]
* Great frontal angled armour of 80 mm plus 20 mm add-on tracks (100 mm total, same as the [[Tiger H1]]) makes it immune to low-penetrating rounds
* Competent reverse gear and mobility
* Low silhouette makes the StuG easy to conceal in RB and SB
* Large side skirts can more or less provide some additional protection against HE and HEAT rounds
* Multi-role potential: can be effective in city combat and close quarters, or long-range sniping

'''Cons:'''

* Vertical parts of frontal armour can be penetrated relatively easily; a penetration through the driver port can knock out the driver, gunner, and commander, resulting in instant knock-out for the StuG
* Fixed casemate superstructure restricts gun traverse, especially in horizontal and vertical angles
* No neutral steering, so it can't turn on the spot
* No coaxial weapons for use against lightly armoured targets or aircraft
* A HE shell onto the machine gun shield can send the shrapnel down through the hull roof down into the crew compartment, particularly from large calibre cannons such as the [[M-10T (152 mm)|152 mm M-10T]]

== History ==


===Development===
The role of a self-propelled gun came from combat experiences in World War I. During the German offensives on the Allied front; infantry lacked artillery support against fortifications in places out-ranged by their heavy artillery behind the lines. A need for a mobile artillery piece was necessary to keep up with the German infantry and fight enemy fortifications with a direct-fire assault role. The father of this concept was German General Erich von Manstein and was coined as the ''Sturmartillerie'' (assault artillery), and these units were to be embedded in infantry divisions.

On June 15, 1936, Daimler-Benz AG was ordered to develop a support vehicle mounting the 75 mm howitzer as its armament in a casemate structure with a traverse of 25 degrees. The vehicle was to provide full protection for its crew and be no taller than an average soldier. Daimler-Benz repurposed the chassis and running gear of their [[Pz.III E|Panzer III]] design for the role. These new vehicles were named the '''Sturmgeschütz III''' (assault gun), or the shortened '''StuG III''' and the finished designs were sent to Alkett for prototype production and five were produced in 1937. These prototypes were made of mild steel and had the 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 cannon, an adaption of the original 75 mm KwK 37 cannon on the [[Pz.IV E|Panzer IV]]. This gun would be featured on the StuG III variants [[StuG III A|Ausf. A]] to Ausf. E. The StuG III entered production from January 1940 to the end of the war on April 1945 due to the many upgrades done on the vehicle to increase serviceability and its low cost. At about a total production of 11,300 StuG III and its variants, the StuG III design was the most produced armoured fighting vehicle in German service.

===Design===
The StuG III had a fully enclosed armoured shell, keeping the crew safe within the vehicle. As a casemate structure, it has a limited traverse range for its front view, and the whole vehicle must be turned if a target is outside its traverse range. The StuG III featured about 50 mm of armour on the front, but about 30 mm of armour everywhere else, this was upgraded as the war progressed to 80 mm. The suspension system is identical to the Panzer III's, a torsion bar system. The StuG III had a crew of four, the commander, driver, loader, and gunner. Initial variants lack machine guns, so the StuG was required to work with support units to ensure it does not get overrun by infantry. It wasn't until December 1942 when a machine gun could be accommodated for the loader to use. Initial variants also did not have a commander's cupola, so his view was quite restricted. However, models after September 1943 had them installed.

===Combat usage===
During the initial stages of World War II, the StuG III with the 75 mm StuK 37 howitzer fared well in the campaigns in France and Poland, but when the invasion of Soviet Union commenced, the lack of German guns able to destroy their [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]] tanks prompted Germany to rearm their vehicles with newer guns. So the original StuK 37 cannon from the [[StuG III A|initial designs]] was upgraded to the 75 mm StuK 40 cannons. The [[StuG III F|StuG III Ausf. F]] has the shorter L/43 cannon, but the '''StuG III Ausf. G''' featured the longer L/48 cannon with improved design features on the vehicle. The Ausf. G was the most common and produced StuG III variant in the war. It featured a widened superstructure with a straightened back wall, also making it slightly higher with a height of 2160 mm now. The exhaust fan is moved to the back, and a commander's cupola is added onto the design. The driver's periscope on the design was abandoned, and the vehicle has Schürzen armour plates installed on the hull to protect the weaker hull sides against anti-tank rifles and HEAT rounds. Instead of the 50 mm hull armour with an additional 30 mm welded on the Ausf. F, the Ausf. G featured a solid 80 mm plate on the hull front. A machine gun mount has also become integrated into the design with a small shield for the loader as well to operate it in safety, though a "remote" operated version was also installed later so that the loader would only need to get out to reload the machine gun. This design is the most numerous of the StuG III variants, and the 11,300 StuG IIIs built, 8738 StuG III Ausf. Gs were built from December 1942 to April 1945, with some converted from fully built Panzer IIIs.

The new 75 mm StuK 40 cannon could engage many Allied tank designs. This upgrade changed the StuG III role from its usual infantry support role into a tank destroyer, though it can serve both roles with acceptable performance. The vehicles were deemed very successful and attributed to more tanks destroyed than any other armoured fighting vehicle in German service. The success of the StuG III urged Germany to prioritize the production of casemate structure vehicles built from chassis of other vehicles for further development in tank destroyers such as the [[Jagdpanther|Jagdpanther]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)|Jagdpanzer 38(t)]], and the [[Ferdinand|Ferdinand]].

The StuG III design was also made into different variants with different armaments, such as a 105 mm howitzer on the ''[[StuH 42 G|StuH 42]]'' , a flamethrower on the ''StuG III (Flamm)'', and even a 150 mm sIG 33 infantry gun on the ''Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B''.

===Legacy===
The StuG III design would see service in the entire war due to its adaptability to the changing course of the war, going from an offensive support weapon to a defensive tank destroyer. The StuG III holds the distinct title of knocking out the most Allied tanks in German service with about 20,000 tanks destroyed, much more than the better [[Panther D|Panther]] and [[Tiger H1|Tiger]] tanks. It was a widely-exported design to Germany's allies, such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Finland. The StuG III would continue serving in various countries past World War II in conflicts in the 1960s, such as the Six Days War in Syria's service that was donated by the Soviet Union. Today, some are still serving as static pillboxes on the Golan Heights.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
The final and most mass-produced variant of the Sturmgeschütz III. These guns began to be released in December 1942 and continued to be made until the end of the war. With these modifications, the designation of production models was changed to StuG.40 Ausf. G. The design of their conning tower was different from that of previous variants. The tower was wider, and extended halfway over both of the vehicle's treads. A commander's cupola was installed, which greatly improved the gun commander's view and required an increase in the emplacement's height, up to 2,160 mm. The ballistic protection of the gunner's sight was also improved. The first series of this assault gun still had 50 mm of forward armour, but by the summer of 1943 this had been reinforced by additional plates 30 mm thick. From May 1943 onward, the vehicles were fitted with Schurzen side skirts as a means of protection against high-explosive anti-tank shells and anti-tank rifle bullets. From August 1943 to September 1944, the assault guns were coated with an anti-magnetic Zimmerit paste. Some sources claim the paste could make shells ricochet off, but it was probably applied to counter magnetic mines.

Vehicles manufactured before October 1943 had a commander's cupola which could rotate, as it was mounted on ball bearings. However, due to a lack of ball bearings, the cupola began to be welded on in September 1943 and following. From August 1944 to the end of the war, the self-propelled assault guns once again had rotating commander's cupolas.

In 1944, the troops began to receive assault guns with remote-controlled machine guns to fight against infantry, in addition to a new, streamlined gun mantlet. The characteristic outline of this mantlet received the name Saukopfblende.

By the end of the war, the companies Alkett and MIAG had built 7,834 StuG.40 Ausf. G assault guns.

The overall quality of the armament and armour of this assault gun made it a frequent winner in battles against allied tanks.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_stug_III_ausf_G Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[StuG III (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[SU-85]]
* [[75/46 M43]]
* [[Pvkv m/43 (1946)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3380/current|[National Forces] German Sturmgeschütz Units]]
* [[wikipedia:Sturmgesch%C3%BCtz_III|[Wikipedia] Sturmgeschütz III]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Sturmgeschutz-III.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Sturmgeschütz III]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=257 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> SdKfz 142 StuG III (Sturmgeschütz III)]

{{Germany tank destroyers}}