StuG III Ausf.B trop

[brano]

Hi guys, my friend have one dilema. Existing eventuality for modification StuG III Ausf.B to TROP mod. or later version (without 3 exemplars D´ from z.v.B 288 and Ausf.F) ? Existing photos Ausf.B with trop air filter, torsion bars on chassis sides, extra replacement wheels, extra canisters...from Czech 1945, CCCP 1941(?).
THX
Braňo

http://www.ebay.de

[brano]

StuG III from Axvall armor museum have extra air filter. It´s special StuG or ...?

[Luftflotte2]

StuGs were fitted with filters for Russia and the tropics.

[Bill 13]

Brano
Your picture I think is not a Tropicalized Stug Ausf B , but a standard Stug.
According to secondary sources ( ie. books) an unknown number of Stug Ausf CD
were tropicalized and issued to troops in Summer of 1941.

Now on the pictures of the z.v.B 288 tropicals, the pre-filters were placed above the
main cooling air intakes in brackets. The Axvall Stug has pre-filters, but they just
rest on bracket to the side of the main cooling air intakes.

The Axvall Stug also has the modifications to the rear Engine Decking that the
z.v.B 288 tropicals had. So I would hazzard a guess that it is a true tropicalized StuG.
(I could be wrong)

If the positioning of the pre-filter as per the Axvall Stug is normal then Photo evidence for
Stug Ausf F-F/8's being built or Modified to tropical standards with outside pre-filtering
exist.

Bill

[Bill 13]

Part two Photo's
Note most seem to be from training establishments as was most likely the Axvall Stug's source.
Bill

[Panzer-jäger]

Very interesting pics, thanks for sharing

Darío

[Denniss]

Nice photo of the StuH42 although the "tank killer" comment by the book author is somewhat misplaced.

[verdenpark]

Does anyone know if these pre-filters were used on the Pz.III in North Africa?

[arminfreitag]

Hi verdenpark
I've never seen a picture of Pz III in North Africa equipped with pre-filters.
From the pictures of Pz III that I collected in more than 20 years I have only very few
pictures of Pz III with pre-filters. Actually I hve only 1 picture of an Ausf L all the
others are Ausf N. Here are a few of them.

Regards
Armin

[arminfreitag]

Here some more.

Regards
Armin

[verdenpark]

Thankyou so much. These are absolutely brilliant photos. Fantastic detail in some of them, ideal for the modellers. Do you happen to know if they blocked off the original intake grills for the pre-filter to work?

Best regards,
A.

P.S.
Sorry. I also forgot to ask if they were fitted to the four Stug III F8s' sent to Africa in 1942/43? I know the three Stug III Ds' (?) sent there had them.

[arminfreitag]

Hi verdenpark
I do not know how the air flow was managed. As can be seen in the photo below
the mesh does not seem to be blocked off. Maybe somebody else can explain the air flow.

Your question about Ausf. F8s in NA I can not answer. I haven't seen any pictures of F8s
with the prefilters in NA.

Regards
Armin

[verdenpark]

Hi verdenpark
I do not know how the air flow was managed. As can be seen in the photo below
the mesh does not seem to be blocked off. Maybe somebody else can explain the air flow.

Your question about Ausf. F8s in NA I can not answer. I haven't seen any pictures of F8s
with the prefilters in NA.

Regards
Armin

Hello,
Thanks again for your help. Another beautifully detailed photo. I zoomed in on the louvre, and noticed that the pipe from the pre-filter appears to loop back along the louvre under the mesh. One can only guess at how it attaches to the primary filter. If only we had one nearby to have a look at.

As for the F8's, I think I will need to do more research. To be honest, I have never seen a photo of one in NA. Only read about them. Much fun ahead of me, but I do enjoy the hunt for information.

Best regards,
A.