World War II Technology: Self-propelled Gunss (SPG)

World War II self-proplelled guns
Figure 1.-- The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germany's primary SPG deployed during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank. And as it had a fixed casematea rather than a turret, it was quicker and less expensive to build, vital for the Germans at the time. It also had alow profile, a substantial battlefied advantage. Here some Soviets boys pse infront of a destroyed StuG III. The photograph is undated, but was probably taken in 1944. Imagine having that in your back yard to play with.

A self-propelled gun (SPG) is a form of artillery that is motorized and capable of moving on its own. The impetus for building these guns was the same as for tanks, to support advancing forces. The better armored tanks were used to punch holes in emnemy lines. The SPGs wee used to support infantry and to engage enemy strong points, especially fortified positions. The SPGs had sme advantages over tanks in that they were cheper to produce. Also without a turrat it was easier to instll a larger gun. Some had limited traverse caability. SPGs can be mounted on a motorized wheeled or tracked chassis, butthe major World War II SPGs had tracked tank chass. The SPGs could maneuver under its own power and thus more mobil than a towed gun. The SPG is a combat support weapons. They are normally attached to, the main combat units: infantry and armour, although the Germans during World War II attached them to artillery units. Typically SPGs were more lightly armoured than tanks. As World War II developed, the Germans and Americans made the greatest uses of SPGs and the emhasis shiftd from attacking emplacements to the tank destroyer function. The Germans shifted their use largely because they were firced on the defensive and no longer assaulting enemy defensive positions, but having to contend with advancing enemy tanks. Without aturrey, a SPG was not an effective offensive weapon. It was, however, well suited for defense when likely approached could be presited. The Germans had the hughly effective 88-mm gun, but the SPG was more mobile and could be fitted ith an even heavier gun. The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germany's primary SPG deployed during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank. And as it had a fixed casematea rather than a turret, it was quicker and less expensive to build. This was vital for the Germans facing a tidal wave of Red Army T-34 tans pressing in on them from the East and seemingly an endless supply of American Shermans advancing in the West. The StuG IIIt also had a very low profile, a substantial battlefied advantage. The American M10 tank destroyer was the most widely used Allied SPG and used primarily as a tank destroyer. It used the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank. It had a reasonably potent anti-tank gun on a turreted platform unlike the M3 GMC a limited traversethat it replaced. The M4 Sherman performed well in North Africa during 1942 against the Grman Marrk III tank, but was outclassed by the newer German tanks like the Mark V Panthers and Mark VI and VII Tigers. Ugrading the guns on the Sherman was more dificult than on the SPGs. Newer SPGs after the M10 had heavier guns for just this purpose.






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Created: 9:10 PM 11/18/2011
Last updated: 12:12 AM 8/28/2013