Sturmgeschütz III
Sd.Kfz.142 Ausf. GIn Detail
November 1943. German forces were engaged in a desperate battle to retain control of the Crimean Peninsula. They faced assaults to the north on the Perekop Isthmus, to the east on the Kertsch Peninsula and a sea borne assault on Kertsch itself. One of the few armoured units still available to the Germans was the 191st ('Büffel') Sturmgeschütz (StuG) Brigade.
The Germans struggled to keep their forces resupplied with their lines of communication under constant air and sea attack.
Towards the end of November 1943, the German supply ship Sante Fe sailed in convoy Wotan from the Romanian port of Konstanza. The ship was carrying supplies and replacement vehicles for the beleaguered German forces, including the 191st Brigade. Only a few hours short of her destination a torpedo slammed into her. Torn apart by internal explosions she broke in half and sank. 1278 tons of vital military cargo had gone to the bottom including ammunition, fuel, 2 Jagdpanzers and 12 Sturmgeschütze assault guns (StuGs).
In 2002 an ambitious plan was hatched to recover some of the vehicles from the wreck. After considerable risk, effort, and expense, divers succeeded in recovering two StuGs.
We were determined to secure a StuG with German provenance given that the majority of survivors did not serve with German forces during WWII. One of the Sante Fe StuGs fitted the bill perfectly. We had the German service and a spectacular provenance albeit somewhat short.
Once the StuG arrived in the UK, a complete photographic and technical survey was undertaken. This included detailed measurements of every feature, both interior and exterior. As with any such restoration details, production information and history are critical parts of the task. These details are built up over the course of the project. This is crucial to help assist in the repair, replacement or manufacture of components to ensure that they are in keeping with the original condition of the vehicle.
When you become a member, you have access to the full article detailing the work and research in this project and the ongoing issue resolution regarding fittings and detail.
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Articles
.JPG "A key discovery")
.JPG "Back in the box StuG III")
.JPG "Discovery - StuG III Canvas weather cover")
.jpg "Maybach HL 120 Engine 360 - Fitted in our StuG III G")
.jpg "StuG III")
.jpg "Photo Focus - From the Archives - StuG III Gun Sight 360")
|Photo Focus - From the Archives - StuG III Gun Sight 360
03 Nov 2016
Photo focus on the StuG III's gun sight
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Air Filters")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Air Filters
31 Jan 2010
Photo focus on the completed air filters for the StuG III
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Ammunition")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Ammunition
16 Dec 2016
Photo focus on the ammunition and ammunition storage for the 7.5cm Sturmkanone
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Ammunition Storage")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Ammunition Storage
10 Jan 2010
Photo focus on the StuG III internal ammunition storage
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Dashboard")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Dashboard
22 Jan 2010
Photo focus on the StuG III's dashboard before restoration
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Drivers visor")
.jpg "StuG III gun")
.jpg "StuG III gun")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Indicator")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Laying Mechanism - Part One")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Laying Mechanism - Part One
27 Oct 2016
Photo focus on the StuG III gun laying mechanism
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Laying Mechanism - Part Two")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Laying Mechanism - Part Two
03 Nov 2016
Photo focus on the StuG III gun laying mechanism
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Mantlet")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Mount")
.jpg "StuG III gun repair kit")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Restoration")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Restoration
24 Nov 2017
Photo focus on the StuG III gun during its restoration
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Sight")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Optic Spares Case")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Gun Optic Spares Case
28 Aug 2019
Photo focus on the spares case for the StuG III's gun optics.
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Interior Restoration - Part one")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Interior Restoration - Part one
15 Jun 2017
Photo focus on the interior of the StuG III during its restoration
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Interior Restoration - Part two")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Interior Restoration - Part two
15 Jun 2017
Photo focus on the StuG III interior during restoration
.jpg "StuG III engine")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Over Track Supports")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Over Track Supports
28 Aug 2019
Photo focus on our MIAG StuG III's over track supports.
.jpg "StuG III radio")
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Spare Road Wheel Carrier")
|Photo Focus - StuG III Spare Road Wheel Carrier
24 Jan 2010
Photo focus on the StuG III's spare road wheel carriers
.jpg "Photo focus - StuG III Top Body Section During Restoration")
|Photo focus - StuG III Top Body Section During Restoration
28 Jan 2010
Photo focus on the StuG III's top section during the restoration
.jpg "Photo Focus - StuG III Track Links")
.JPG "StuG air filter")
|StuG III - It's all in the detail - Air filter artwork
22 Oct 2015
Even though the air filters are normally tucked away in the engine bay it is still important to keep a high standard of accuracy
.JPG "Stug wingnut")
|StuG III - It's all in the detail - Wing nuts
12 Oct 2015
We take accuracy very seriously even down to the wing nuts
.jpg "StuG II spark plug")
.JPG "StuG III Air filter")
.JPG "StuG III floor plate MIAG vs Alkett")
.JPG "Stug III suspension takes shape")
.JPG "StuG MIAG A very integrated enterprise Casting their own components")
|.jpg "StuG Body Top Section Pre Restoration")
.jpg "StuG Commanders Vision")
|StuG 'Department of Corrections' - Hub Caps
06 May 2016
Did October November 1943 assembled MIAGs have Armoured Hub Caps on their drive sprocket?
|StuG 'Department of Corrections' - The Muzzle Brake
18 May 2016
Uncovering the truth behind the StuG muzzle brakes
.jpg "StuG Engine Bay - Photo Focus")
|StuG gives up its secrets - The story of the Farley Mowat StuG
17 Jan 2018
An Example of one of our regular Inside Track articles
.jpg "StuG gun is a Skoda")
.jpg "StuG Gun Mantlet - Photo Focus")
.jpg "StuG Department of Corrections MIAG Zimmerit Treatment Part 1")
