StuG III Ausf. G, Late Production.

StuG III (short for Sturmgeschütz III, literally "assault gun III") Ausf. G (short for Ausführung, means “model" or “version") Sd.Kfz. 142/1 (stands for Sonderkraftfahrzeug or “special motorized vehicle”) ; December 1942 – April 1945, ~ 8,423 produced, 142 built on Panzer III Ausf. M chassis, 173 converted from Panzer III: The final and by far the most common of the StuG series. Upper superstructure was widened: welded boxes on either sides were abandoned. The back wall of the fighting compartment got straightened, and the ventilation fan on top of the superstructure was relocated to the back of the fighting compartment. From March 1943, the driver's periscope was abandoned. In February 1943, Alkett was joined by MIAG as a second manufacturer. From May 1943, side hull spaced armour plates (Schürzen) were fitted to G models; these were primarily intended for protection against Russian anti-tank rifles, but were also useful against hollow-charge ammunition. Side plates were retro-fitted to some Ausf. F/8 models, as they were to be fitted to all front line StuGs and other tanks by June 1943 in preparation for the battle of Kursk. Mountings for the Schürzen proved to be inadequate, as many were lost in the field. From March 1944, an improved mounting was introduced; as a result, side skirts are seen more often with late model Ausf G. From May 1943, 80 mm thick plates were used for frontal armour instead of two plates of 50 mm + 30 mm. However, a backlog of StuGs with completed 50 mm armour existed. For those, a 30 mm additional armour plate still had to be welded or bolted on until October 1943.

o7