dyeager535

My Feedback: (1)

I thought I noticed this in a WW2 picture some time ago (the "step" in the fender directly above the return roller shown below), but it wasn't that great quality, so I chalked it up to battle damage. Now I see this one:

which is also what I saw on the WW2 photo.

I note that the HL StuG III does not have the same fender setup.

I don't have my reference material handy, but this bugs me, as this is the first time I actually noticed it on a "good" photo.

Bauer66

I had noticed that too. This picture I have in a File show's the same step to the Fender.

smittyrob

Do you have the WW2 photo?

This is a Finnish modification to the fender, I don't beleive there are any german wartime Stug III's with this "step" and the WW2 photo probably was with damage as you say.

Bauer66

Re posted above.

dyeager535

My Feedback: (1)

Two pictures here, looks like it's both fenders.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_79...tm.htm#7916363

bananapirate

looks like the german ones have the step too. maybe it has to do with HLusing the regualar Pz III chassis?

smittyrob

Ok, guess I was wrong. Found these in Speilbergers book, Sturmgeschutz. I have it as a pdf but unfortunately I can't really read german.
It might have something to do with the different manufacturers MIAG and Alkett.

smittyrob

No because only some Stug's have this step others don't

Wight

According to the Osprey book the Stug hull was based on the Panzer III hull,but was essentially it's own design.
Panzer III hulls were also used to speed up production of the Stug by putting the superstructure of the Stug III onto it.
A photo in the Osprey book shows a Stug with the stepped fenders and the caption decribes it as being one of the Panzer III hulled Sturmgeshutz.
Obviously there are differences between the lower hulls of the Stug and the Panzer,one of them being the splash guard at the front of the fender.The Stug's is short and fixed whereas the Panzer's is longer and hinged,as in your photo.

Steve.

bananapirate

well I was partially right

dyeager535

My Feedback: (1)

Where is that photo that popped up of the StuG III with the side hull escape hatch on it? Wonder what the fender looks like on that one?

Note that the pictures shown do not have the side escape hatches, but do have the stepped fenders (the ones that are clear) so to me that kind of kills the idea that it was only the PzIII hulled StuG's.

I would suspect that either it was a manufacturer thing, or a running change. Any of the cast mantlet StuG III's show the stepped fenders?

smittyrob

From the Concord book Sturmartillerie at War. Seems to suggest the step is a trait of initial production ausf G's.

smittyrob

Some more pictures of the same stug dyeager535 originally posted.

Looks like an earlier version, which also explains the longer panzer III mudflaps.

smittyrob

Still seems these could have been using Panzer III hulls initially. Later model panzer III's had no escape hatches.
My german is not too good but this caption states this stug is mounted on a panzer III chassis.