StuG 'Department of Corrections' - Gearbox Cover Colour - Inside Track | Renault TSF Tank Kent

No other untouched wartime MIAG StuGs were available to determine the colour of the gearbox cover for our Black Sea StuG. The next best thing was to record all Alkett assembled StuG gearbox covers. This was achieved through our travels in North America and Europe researching accessible war time survivors. The problem was not only confined to the dearth of good MIAG examples but also the large chronological breaks between the assembly dates based on the Fahrgestellnummerin of the StuGs we studied. The number of early 1943 Alkett examples we recorded were at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, the Museo Historico Militar de Cartagena in Spain and the very original, unrestored but very damaged MIAG at the Canadian War Museum (CWM) in Ottawa. Our target date of late 1943 was covered by the Dec 1943 Alkett StuG of the Patton Museum (now US Armor and Cavalry Museum). Our MIAG StuG had lost its gearbox casing and cover to the elements over the years under the Black Sea. We were starting with a blank canvas. What example was the most appropriate for us to follow? The internal paint colours of the CWM MIAG example were the most appropriate for us but there was no gearbox cover that we could use. The StuGs that had been in Spanish service were very tempting. The condition of these vehicles was very good given the climate. The only problem here was that both were different. One was painted rotbraun (red oxide) and the other appeared to be elfenbein (ivory) – the internal colour of the crew compartment. On balance the rotbraun was the colour to go for given the balance of evidence yet our Black Sea MIAG StuG had grey instead of red oxide as a finish. The elfenbein was also used but painted above the working surfaces of the interior. We knew the red oxide finish was not appropriate for our StuG and we had no evidence for grey so we elected for elfenbein. This was unlikely but we had no concrete evidence of the treatment for our MIAG assembled gearbox cover. This ignorance persisted until the Farley Mowat StuG arrived. The gearbox cover was painted grey. A real break from anything we had seen thus far. Closer examination of this and related items – the retaining screws – raised the clamour for grey. We will at our earliest convenience blast and repaint the gearbox cover to its original grey late 1943 MIAG finish.

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