04 February 2020
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While the format and design of this look at the Sturmgeschütz III Ausführun A to G is in the style of Haynes motoring guides, and is labelled as an Enthusiasts’ Manual, the reality is that it’s a standard guide to the development and use of the StuG III in combat.
It starts with the case being made for a mobile artillery piece that could support the infantry, then lists the various short and long barrelled versions, goes into the anatomy of the hull, the armament and finally, how it was used in two periods – from 1940-43 and 1944-45.
There is copious contemporary photography throughout, but also plenty of schematics , tables of production figures and colour photos of restored examples today. It’s all very dry until you get to the combat section when it livens up. When the StuG was armed with a 75mm gun it became a fearsome weapon against Soviet armour in the East.
With a large format and high production standards, it’s certainly a nice collectable book for the armour enthusiast.
• Haynes
• ISBN 978-1-7852-1213-0
• 174 pages • Hardback • £25
By Mark Healy
Reviewed in The Armourer March 2020 issue
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