Sturmhaubitze 42

The Sturmhaubitze 42, or StuH 42, was the howitzer armed version of the German Sturmgeschütz III assault gun, carrying a 10.5 cm light field howitzer in place of the 7.5 cm gun. It was conceived in 1941 to give the assault gun detachments a heavier infantry support weapon that could also break bunkers, and it was needed all the more once the standard StuG had grown into a powerful anti-tank gun. In March 1942 Alkett mounted an experimental le.FH 18 howitzer in a StuG III Ausf. E chassis, and the first development vehicles reached the front near Leningrad in November 1942. Series production followed from 1943, on the StuG III Ausf. G hull, and was solely at Alkett. The weapon was modified to be electrically fired and usually had a muzzle brake. Elevation was limited to minus 6 to plus 20 degrees, and 36 rounds were carried by a crew of four. Sources give about 1,211 to 1,299 built.