Sturmgeschütz

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Sturmgeschütz is a German word for "assault gun", usually abbreviated StuG. This vehicle was the weapon of The "Sturmartillerie", which was an arm under the German artillery tasked with close fire support of infantry in Infantry, panzer and panzergrenadier units. The Stugs were hugely successful in their intended support role destroying bunkers, pillboxes and other defences. However, destruction of enemy tanks always took precedence and it is estimated the Stug battalions by 1944 had destroyed 20,000 enemy tanks. Most assault guns were mounted on the Panzer III chassis, which was obsolete as a tank, and Panzer IV chassis, producing the StuG III and StuG IV, respectively. The StuG was one of the most effective tracked vehicles of WW2 and was produced in great numbers.

[edit] External links

• Photos of the Sturmgeschutz III at the Canada War Museum in Ottawa Ontario
• Photo of Stugs