Steve,

Was Pz Jg IV more common?I have always thought StuG III/IV was the vehicle most commonly found in infantry units. I also believe that PGDs occassionaly might actually possess a battalion of real panzers, but rarely, and never Panthers.

Never said it was a common type in infantry divisions, PzJg 4 have been noted as substitute for StuGs in infantry divisions in varous sources but I think this would be an exception (and possibly this reporting may be the result the panzer enthusiasts jumping in with both feet in the past). Ideally if it had been possible to replace all STuG 3 and 4 production with JP4 and Hetzer it would as they were viewed as better vehicles, the gun mount in particular StuGs were prone to spall ingress.

With regard to Stugs unit disposition in June 1940 of the 4 independant batteries available 3 were held by XIII Corps and used as required, Gross Deutschland received it own dedicated battery 640th in June in addition LAH then an infantry regiment had a battery making a total of 30 vehicles ie the number produced and issued at the beginning of the attack on France.

After France the number of StuG batteries increased and became StuG Abtilung in there own right with 15 StuG in each and would be attached to various infantry division as required.

~Steve

Do you mean the gun mount is prone to spalling?

The StuG was a wonderfully cost effective vehicle, but the internal arrangements was far from comfortable from what I have heard! There was no system to vent the cannon's noxious fumes, the driver must constantly drive the vehicle at high RPMs to compensate for the weak transmission, and instead of intercom, there was a loud speaker set at decibles more deafening than the sounds of combat!

Other a more powerful gun and better mount, did JgPz offer other refinements?