Catalog > MILITARY > MILITARY - All Models > DRR60357

StuH42 Assault Haubitze, unidentified unit.

Model: [DRR60357]
Manufacturer: DRAGON Armor
Download description:

Price: $20.99 MSRP: $28.50

Scale:	1:72
Released date:	2008

DRAGON

Series – Armor

DRR60357 – StuH42, Unidentified Unit

Scale – 1/72, fully assembled and finished model with a display case.

Released – Spring 2008

Condition – Stock as issued

MSRP - $28.50

List Price - $23.99

Introductory Sale Price – $20.99

History of development. In 1935, Erich von Manstain (a colonel at that time) proposed that Sturmartillerie units were to create in order to provide direct support for infantry divisions. Development of an assault gun began in 1936 and the first version Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette fur Sturmgeschutz 7.5cm Kanone (StuG III) Ausf A went into production in January 1940. It was a self propelled fully tracked vehicle that had the same suspension, drive train components and basic hull shape as the Pz. Kpfw. III Ausf F. The gun was mounted in the hull eliminating the requirement for a turret. Production of such vehicles was much less expensive (about 20% compare to Pz III and Pz IV and cost about ¼ of a Tiger tank), consuming much less time to produce a turreted tank. Assault guns also have much lover higth that makes it much easier to conceal, made it a smaller target, and to care a much heavier gun without significant weight increase compare to a similar type tank. Nazi Germany produced a large number of assault guns from 1940 till the end of the war.

From StuG detachments (later renamed to stugbrigade) combat lessons in the beginning of the war it was realize that a heavier weapon needed to complement 7.5cm gun.

In 1941 and order was placed to mount the 10.5cm haubitze on 12 StuG III chassis as a trial series. With long delays only 5 were produced by October 1942 and delivery of first production units begins only in March 1943. The vehicle was designated as 10.5 cm Sturmhaubitze 42 (Sd Kfz 142/2) or StuH42. It was produced by Alkett; during the production cycle 1,211 units were produced. StuH42 was practically identical to StuG III modifications produced at the same period but gun mount was altered to accept the 10.5cm StuH42 L/28 (L/30) and internal storage was altered in order to accommodate larger rounds. Each stugbrigade received nine StuH42. At the time of the famous battle of the Kursk sixty-eight StuH42 were with Army Groups Centre and South in Russia. StuH42 provided heavier destructive power and supplement anti-tank defense.