StuG.III Ausf.G with Winterketten Early Production

Takom 1/35. Suomellakin käytössä ollut G mallin Sturmi.

The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germany's most-produced fully trackedarmoured fighting vehicle during World War II, and second-most produced German armored combat vehicle of any type after the Sd.Kfz. 251half-track.

StuG III Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 142/1; 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. This new superstructure design increased its height to
2160 mm. 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.

 Finland
- 30 StuGs, nicknamed "Sturmi", were bought in 1943 and another 29
bought in 1944, all directly from Germany. They were used during the
Continuation War against the Soviet Union in 1944