A Sturmgeschütz IV which until a short time ago had laid in a swampy area of Poland has been painstakingly restored to her former glory.
Extensive and painstaking research was done, many Panzer owners world-wide donated parts and original blue-prints to help build one-off parts.
The restoration even went so far as to have the “Rundum Feurer” remote controlled MG in full working order with…get this original solenoids.
In November 1943, Alkett, a major StuG III manufacturer, was bombed to the point that it had lost its full production capability.
During its time in October alone,Alkett produced 255 StuG III in, but in December fell to just 24 vehicles.
On December 6–7, 1943, at a conference with the armaments board and leading Panzer Generals, it was suggested to take the StuG III superstructure and mounting it on a Panzer IV chassis.
The StuG IV could be more quickly manufactured than the Jagdpanzer IV during this time, due to the ease of adapting the StuG. III superstructure to the Panzer IVchassis. The superstructure of the StuG III Ausf. G was mounted on a Panzer IV chassis, with a box compartment for the driver added. Combat weight was 23000 kg, lighter than the 23900 kg for the StuG III Ausf. G. On Dec. 16-17, 1943, the StuG.IV was approved with Krupp-Grusonwerk, Magdeburg-Buckau taking on the majority of work.
From December 1943 to May 1945, Krupp built 1,108 StuG IVs and converted an additional 31 from battle-damaged Panzer IV hulls. While the number is smaller than the 9000+ StuG III, the StuG IV supplemented and fought along with StuG III during 1944-45, when they were most needed.
From December 1943 to May 1945, Krupp built 1,108 StuG IVs and converted an additional 31 from battle-damaged Panzer IV hulls. While the number is smaller than the 9000+ StuG III, the StuG IV supplemented and fought along with StuG III during 1944-45, when they were most needed.
A shot of her still laying in the swamp.
A picture right after the main recovery, this is shot from the engine compartment in the front going towards the fighting and driving compartment. The StuG.IV’s powerplant, the Maybach HL 120 TRM V12-cylinder can be seen.
The 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 40 and Topfblende mantlet can be seen here as workers get her out of the muck.
The rear during restoration, here you can see the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.J’s (donor vehicle) remnants, such as the dual “Flammvernichten” exhaust mounts, cast metal “Spannrad” idler wheel and three bolt return roller.
Here she’s getting a coat of Dunkelgelb (RAL 7028) to the lower hull, you can see the work done to the cooling fans, the excellent job of replicating the period German Oxide primer (RAL 8012) and the work done to the superstructure.
And here she is in all of her rebuilt glory at the Muzeum Broni Pancernej, Poland.