With the recent discussion about stug III (one of my favourites too). I cannot help but wonder why the stug IV was build. Was it an effort ot replace pzkw IV production by stug with minimal fuss ? Aglooka
I believe PZ IV chassis were used because PZ III chassis was disrupted by Allied bombing. The design is stupid anyway - when you can have a PZ IV with the 75 mm L/48 in a turret! The Jagdpanzer IV is a much better way to use the chassis.
Turrets are much harder and more expensive to make, though. I too believe that the only reason for the production of the StuG IV was the destruction of factories producing Panzer III chassis.
Sturmgeschütz IV (SdKfz 167): On December 6, 1943, Hitler ordered the StuG III superstructure fitted to the PzKpfw IV chassis. Built on PzKpfw IV Ausf H & G chassis. It was an interim design until Jagdpanzer IV could begin production. Also the Alkett factory's production had been disrupted by bombing so Krupp was asked in December 1943 to produce the StuG IV.... http://www.wwiivehicles.com/germany/sel ... chutz.html
i do not think is stupid, just because it was an interim solution? and remember a lower profile is better in an ambush
. . The whole design of AFV was evolving so fast in 43 , the needs of the front were so acute than any solution was better than a slow considered design , the germans and russians design bureau also were getting pretty good at slapping solutions on the fly,while the U.S. and british were somewhat more leisurely in their style . . .
Comparing the StuG III vs StuG IV i guess it was a de-evolution? The StuG III chassis with the better suspension was a better platform so unfortunatly for the Germans the factory was destroyed and no evolution of the Panzer III chassis was possible...right? Were there any plans for this chassis to upgrade it into something comparable like the Jagdpanzer IV?
The Panzer III chassis could basically not be upgraded anymore - IIRC, its final form was the PzKfWg. IIIN, armed with the 75 mm L/24. The late Sturmgeschütz fitted German needs of the time perfectly. An interim solution is just that - a last resort, not a good design.
As a tank with a turret maybe (Turret ring diameter was to small for bigger guns) but as an assault gun there were still options (as they didn't have a turret)!
