Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33 Assault Gun

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Following the success of the Sturmgeschütz 40 and Sturmhaubitze 42, the Heereswaffenamt decided to use the PzKpfw III chassis for a further, heavy assault gun design. This was to be armed with a larger calibre howitzer, the 15.0cm schwere Infanteriegeschütz 33 (sIG 33), and was designated the Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33 (StuIG 33). The howitzer was mounted in a high armoured superstructure at the centre of the PzKpfw III Ausf H chassis. A prototype was shown to Hitler on 31 March 1941 and a contract was subsequently placed with Alkett of Berlin for an experimental series of 12 vehicles. Production took place in July and August 1941, with all vehicles being completed by September 1941. It was planned that this vehicle would be used for close combat fighting in built up areas. Previously, a number of vehicles had been used to mount the sIG 33; these were the 15cm sIG 33 auf PzKpfw I, the 15cm sIG 33 auf Sf II (on the PzKpfw II chassis) and the sIG 33/1 auf GW 38(t) (on the PzKpfw 38(t) chassis). These vehicles were lightly armoured and open topped and were completely unsuitable for this role. However, it was decided that the StuIG 33 itself required heavier armour protection and since the PzKpfw III chassis was not powerful enough for this, the project was dropped in favour of the Brummbär assault gun based on the larger PzKpfw IV chassis. Full production of the StuIG, which was to start in Spring 1942, never took place. All examples of the StuIG 33 built were issued to units on the Eastern Front. They are believed to have seen service with the 9th Abteilung of Panzer Regiment 201 in Russia during the summer of 1943. Model Id: 167 Manufacture: Altmärkische Kettenfabrik (Alkett) GmbH, Berlin-Spandau, Germany (Sole manufacturer) 1) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Foreign Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia Number of Photos: 2 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 154 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This vehicle was captured by Soviet troops on the Eastern Front and is now the only surviving example of this type.