Emergency StuG | Sturmgeschütz IV für 7.5 cm Sturmkanone 40 (Sd.Kfz. 167)

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When the Alkett factory was heavily bombed by the Allied Air Force in November 1943, the production of the StuG III was almost put to a halt. In an attempt to find a relatively easy solution, the Germans simply merged the Panzer IV chassis with a Stug III upper superstructure, creating a new vehicle, the StuG IV. Production was conducted relatively quickly, with 30 vehicles completed by December 1943 and, by April 1945, over 1,000 would be built. Like its StuG III cousin, the StuG IV was also an effective assault gun that would see service on all major fronts up to the end of the war.

Sources:
B. Perrett (2004) Sturmartillerie and Panzerjager 1939-45, New Vanguard
J. Ledwoch (2006) Sturmgeschütz IV, Militaria
T. Anderson (2017) Sturmgeschütz, Osprey Publishing.
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2001) Panzer Tracts No.20-1 Paper Panzers
S. J. Zaloga (2013) M10 Tank Destroyer Vs. Stug III Assault Gun, Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2017) St. Lo 1944, Osprey Publishing
P.P. Battistelli, Panzer Divisions 1944-45, Osprey Publishing
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2011) Panzer Tracts No.23 Panzer Production from 1933 to 1945
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (20) Panzer Tracts No.8 Sturmgeschütz
D. Nešić, (2008), Naoružanje Drugog Svetsko Rata-Nemačka, Beograd
P. Chamberlain and H. Doyle (1978) Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two – Revised Edition, Arms and Armor press.
Walter J. Spielberger (1993). Sturmheschütz and its Variants, Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
D. Doyle (2005). German military Vehicles, Krause Publications.
A. Lüdeke (2007) Waffentechnik im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Parragon books.
K. Hjermstad (2000), Panzer IV Squadron/Signal Publication.
B, Perrett (2007) Panzerkampfwagen IV Medium Tank 1936-45, Osprey Publishing
B. B. Dumitrijević and D. Savić (2011) Oklopne jedinice na Jugoslovenskom ratištu 1941-1945, Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd

An article by Marko P.
Narrated by Stan Lucian
Edited by ya boy Jim Zawacki

[facundoalonso]

Can we appreciate that they used MOW:AS2 footage with Right Behind You (the Meet the Spy song) as background music
It worked perfectly to illustrate the power of what a sneakety-sneaky Stug can do

[maggiegordon]

Great video! I’ve always been fascinated by German tank destroyers and SPGs and this video helped me learn a lot more about them.

[OltsuSuomesta]

I appreciate the MOW:AS2 at the start.

[der_fuxs]

I needed to pause this video @5:46 !
Probs for your attempt on the correct german pronounciation. That was perfect👌🏼
Amazing how you guys are putting out new content lately!

[guidor.]

Most interesting as usual. REe the Stug IV at 12:16. The metal atop the mantlet does not seem to be armour plate but a rain guard.

[joelex]

Great video! I have always been a fan of German tank destroyers. They were extremely effective particularly on defense.

[markstone]

well done, good explanations, and pictures. two thumbs up.

[SchleiferGER]

Why was the Stug IV easier to produce than the Jagdpanzer IV? The superstructure of the Jagdpanzer IV is way less complex and therefore easier to cut and weld. The only reason I can think of is that the factories were already tooled for it. But that still makes the Jagdpanzer the easier design hampered by circumstances.

[bobjohnston]

As I recall the extended drivers compartment was on the left not the right as stated. Excellent video in any case.

[Emtbtoday]

I'd love to share my knowledge but hate being on camera haha! I do mine through telling the story with models and dioramas! My research is alot I've not long researched the StuH 3 Alket! Quite alot of small differences from the Miag production!

[morteforte]

Great video, always fun to hear about a somewhat common (but also kind of niche at the same time) TD. Also interesting with the adding of concrete for better protection, a habit found on both sides, and equally discouraged by thier commands.

[zaqpak]

Loved that they used Men of War: Assault Squad 2! Haha! Great!!

[Frthar]

I didn’t even know the tank encyclopedia has a YouTube channel

[TheKingofbrooklin]

Did the Stug IV have any speed and stability advantages to the III considering that the Panzer IV had the superior chassis ?

[markchorlton]

I wonder if they every tried fitting the 75mm L70 cannon?

[bradmiller]

To build New Stuff from Old Models, thats Fun

[hugod]

thank you for posting interesting video.

[kellyshistory]

Slight nitpick. When you talk about the bombing of the Berlin Alkett factory around 4:22, the use of a picture with US B17s in it and the description "Allied bombing" suggests the US Army Air Force was involved. In fact the the disruption to StuG III production was purely from two Royal Air Force night raids on Berlin in November 1943 that burnt down much of the Alkett factory. The US Army Air Force was going no where near Berlin at this time, after the mauling of their bombers at Schweinfurt, they were avoiding deep penetration raids until they had more long range fighter units on strength.

[ErokLobotomist]

Kind of off topic but at 4:02 is that Goring in a Heer uniform behind Hitler? I know he was head of Police for a while but I don't think I've ever seen that before, bizarre.

[billd.iniowa]

I recall something about the Panzer III chassis having to be lengthened to accommodate the Panzer IV suspension. Did i miss something?