When did StuG III get the L48 ?

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Peter
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When did StuG III get the L48 ?

#1

Post by Peter » 14 Jan 2018, 20:49

Please can anybody tell me when the StuG III equipped with the L48 (7,5cm high velocity cannon) reached the front line and with what unit ?
thanks Peter

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#2

Post by yantaylor » 14 Jan 2018, 21:18

I am sure that the first version of the StuG III to be fitted with the 75mm StuK L/48 was the Ausf F. These were produced between March and September 1942 with some sources stating that the last thirty one built were fitted with the L/48.

I am not sure on who received the first StuG III Ausf F as most of the data I have read says that most of the Ausf’s where sent to the front as replacement vehicles to make up for losses suffered in Sturmgeschutz battalions.


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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#3

Post by Christian Ankerstjerne » 14 Jan 2018, 21:38

The June 1942 production report states that 71 out of the 88 assault guns accepted by Inspectorate 6 in May 1942 had the 7,5 cm Stu K 40, with no previous such notes.

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#4

Post by Peter » 15 Jan 2018, 13:07

thank you both

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#5

Post by Yoozername » 18 Jan 2018, 15:49

Technically, the first longer barreled StuK 40 were L43. These were the initial run of the StuG F with the longer barrel. Later in the run, the L48 was introduced. I believe the first L48 StuG F were later in 1942 during the Fall. Note the ammunition was the same. The F8 version were all L48.

It is interesting to note that the Panzer IV kept the L43 much longer into the Spring of 1943 and there were mixed fielded versions during Kursk and later in the year.

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#6

Post by Peter » 18 Jan 2018, 18:29

Thanks for that information, I have read other posts which you have made and I appreciate your help.

Do you know when the L43 first reached the front and which unit had them ?

thank you Peter

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#7

Post by Mobius » 18 Jan 2018, 21:45

From the Spielberger book on Sturmgeschultz
................L/24 .....StuK 40
March 1942....41........2 L/43
April 1942.....14........51 L/43
May 1942.......9........66 L/43
June 1942.....11........78 L/48
July 1942.......0........88 L/48

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#8

Post by Cult Icon » 19 Jan 2018, 06:42

History of Stug 202 state that their first long barrels were in Jan 1943.

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#9

Post by Peter » 19 Jan 2018, 12:03

thanks, it looks as if the unit histories are next.......................
Peter

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#10

Post by DirkAH » 19 Jan 2018, 13:27

Hello!

According to the war diary of A.O.K. 11 (entry of 14th April 1942) the first 6 accepted Stu.Gesch. III L/43 delivered to H.Gr. Süd were to be sent to Stu.Gesch.Abt. 190 with XXX. A.K. Stu.Gesch.Abt. 190 received them on 2nd May 1942.

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#11

Post by Peter » 19 Jan 2018, 15:03

Thanks Dirk, excellent, so StuG Abt 190 were amongst the first (and maybe actually the first).

That reminded me of a reference to the unit in Feist/Fleischer and on page 47 I found this - "first production StuG with the new long barreled gun left the factories in March 1942. Some were conversions of StuG III Ausf E vehicles." The official designation was Ausf F. "Production continued until September 1942 by which time 364 of this version had been completed". It also says that these were used at vital points in the south of the eastern front in the areas of Heeresgruppen A and B. and that 182 of the Ausf F arrived at the front with external 30mm armour plates already fitted.

There is also a piece on page 49 "on 20 May 1942 a special detachment of the Heereswaffenamt filed a report on the operational use of six StuG fitted with the long Stu K on the strength of StuG Abt 190", it apparently referred to an action when three Russian tanks were knocked out by each of the six new StuG. It said that 13 of the destroyed tanks including three T34 were examined on the battlefield to determine the effects of the gunfire. Most showed clean penetrations, especially on the turret front and hull sides. It concluded the maximum effective firing range against tanks was 1200 metres.

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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#12

Post by Yoozername » 19 Jan 2018, 15:17

Cult Icon wrote:History of Stug 202 state that their first long barrels were in Jan 1943.
Yes, but they were available to other units before that, of course, the 202 supposedly had exclusively short barrels till Jan 1943 but racked up some impressive results non-the-less. They received long barreled StuGs on Jan 12 but operated with a mix. Actually, they had very few long barreled weapons and it is remarkable they used HEAT rounds for both long and short 7,5 cm weapons.

https://books.google.com/books?id=-vzkD ... 02&f=false

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Re: When did StuG III get the L48 ?

#13

Post by Richard Anderson » 19 Jan 2018, 19:46

Sadly, it does not appear that the Panzeroffizier beim Chef General Stab OKH began recording the distinction between the StuG and Pz IV kurz, L43, and L48 until the report of 14 May 1943 for the period ending 30 April for StuG and the report of 14 June 1943 for the period ending 20 May for Panzer.
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
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Re: When did StuG iii get the L48 ?

#14

Post by Cult Icon » 19 Jan 2018, 23:44

Yoozername wrote:
Cult Icon wrote:History of Stug 202 state that their first long barrels were in Jan 1943.
Yes, but they were available to other units before that, of course, the 202 supposedly had exclusively short barrels till Jan 1943 but racked up some impressive results non-the-less. They received long barreled StuGs on Jan 12 but operated with a mix. Actually, they had very few long barreled weapons and it is remarkable they used HEAT rounds for both long and short 7,5 cm weapons.

https://books.google.com/books?id=-vzkD ... 02&f=false
I did not understand how they were able to destroy T-34s and KV tanks with the 75mm Short. Does the HEAT work on them?

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Re: When did StuG III get the L48 ?

#15

Post by Cult Icon » 19 Jan 2018, 23:45

Also, the G.D division (mot.) had the Stug longs (June 1942)

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