Vehicle History
The Sturmgeschütz III Ausführung C (StuG III Ausf. C), designated Sd.Kfz. 142, was an incremental yet important structural evolution in the early short-barreled StuG III series.
Manufactured exclusively by Alkett from April to May 1941, it was produced in a limited batch of approximately 50 to 100 units before production transitioned to the nearly identical Ausf. B. Entering service just prior to Operation Barbarossa.
The primary engineering upgrade of the Ausf. C was a complete redesign of the gunner’s sighting arrangement.
On the preceding Ausf. B, the gunner's sight protruded through a forward-facing port directly cut into the frontal superstructure—a design that created a dangerous shot trap and weakened the integrity of the forward armor plate.
The Ausf. C eliminated this opening entirely, replacing it with a roof-mounted artillery scissors periscope (Sfl.ZF.1) that extended through a small opening in the top of the casemate. To accommodate this change, the upper frontal glacis was completely re-angled and streamlined.
Beyond the altered sight aperture, the Ausf. C incorporated several minor technical refinements over the Ausf. B, including upgraded road wheels, oil-bath air filters for better engine filtration in dusty environments, and modified electric directional indicators.
Manufactured exclusively by Alkett from April to May 1941, it was produced in a limited batch of approximately 50 to 100 units before production transitioned to the nearly identical Ausf. B. Entering service just prior to Operation Barbarossa.
The primary engineering upgrade of the Ausf. C was a complete redesign of the gunner’s sighting arrangement.
On the preceding Ausf. B, the gunner's sight protruded through a forward-facing port directly cut into the frontal superstructure—a design that created a dangerous shot trap and weakened the integrity of the forward armor plate.
The Ausf. C eliminated this opening entirely, replacing it with a roof-mounted artillery scissors periscope (Sfl.ZF.1) that extended through a small opening in the top of the casemate. To accommodate this change, the upper frontal glacis was completely re-angled and streamlined.
Beyond the altered sight aperture, the Ausf. C incorporated several minor technical refinements over the Ausf. B, including upgraded road wheels, oil-bath air filters for better engine filtration in dusty environments, and modified electric directional indicators.
Vehicle Technical Specification
| Role | Self-propelled gun | Top Speed (km/h) | 40 |
| Crew | 4 (3 In game) | Reverse Speed (km/h) | 5 |
| Primary Armament | 75mm StuK 37 L/24 cannon |
Armour
| Location | Front (mm) | Side (mm) | Rear (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 50 | 30 | 30 |
Ammunition Types
| Ammo Type | Penetration at 100m (mm) |
|---|---|
| 75mm HE | 12 |
| 75mm HEAT | 90 |
| 75mm Smoke | 1 |