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UNIQUE ID 1528: STURMGESCHÜTZ III ASSAULT GUN

(Model: Ausf G)

Piazzale Garibaldi, Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy

(Location: Castiglion Fiorentino)


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Sample Photo from Tank with UniqueID 1528


Unique ID: 1528
Added to Database: 27 January 2011
Last Edited: 30 January 2011
Type (ID): Sturmgeschütz III (80)
Model (ID): Ausf G (161)
Location Category (ID): Piazzale Garibaldi (5410)
Location (ID): Castiglion Fiorentino (5410)
Serial Number:
Registration:
Name:
Other Identification: Missing fourth roadwheel on left side. Shell case fixed on superstructure front. Painted overall with camouflage scheme of green stripes over desert sand.
Collection Reference:
Links: Historia Militaria
Ferrea Mole
Axis History 1
Axis History 2
DalVolturnoACassino
DeAgostini Video
References: Wheels & Tracks 56 p2
Associated Tanks:

Location History:
(see map)

1: Altmärkische Kettenfabrik (Alkett) GmbH, Berlin-Spandau, Germany (Primary manufacturer)
2: La Capannacce – Arezzo, Italy (Recovered 27 April 1991)
3: Menci & C – Montecchio, Italy (Restoration 1991-93)
4: Piazzale Garibaldi, Castiglion Fiorentino, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy (Current location)


Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication:

[No entry]

Text in Preserved German Tanks Update:

New entry.

Text in original Preserved Tanks In Italy publication:

This is an early production Ausf G model. It has a plaque fitted to the right side of the superstructure that reads:

‘FERREA MOLE – FERREO CUORE’‘IRON HULL IRON HEART’
MONUMENTO DEDICATO AL CARRISTI CADUTI IN TUTTE LE GUERRE
CANNONE D’ASSALTO TEDESCO
MARCA STURMGESCHUTZ III
ANNO DI COSTRUZIONE 1940
LA CARCASSA E’ STATA RECUPERATA IN LOCALITA’ ‘LE CAPANNACCE’ IN DATA 27 APRILE 1991.
LE ALTRE PARTI SONO STATE RIGOSTRUITE FEDELMENTE
DALLA LOCALE ASSOCIAZIONE CARRISTI, CON LA FATTIVA COLLABORAZIONE DELLA DITTA MENCI S.P.A. DI MONTECCHIO di CASTIGLION FIORENTINO E DI ALCUNI SUOI DIPENDENTI
E’ STATO INAUGURATO IN DATA 30 MAGGIO 1993
MONUMENT DEDICATED TO ALL FALLEN TANK CREW OF ALL WARS
GERMAN ASSAULT GUN
MODEL STURMGESCHUTZ III
YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION 1940 [sic*]
THE WRECK WAS RECOVERED IN THE LOCATION ‘LE CAPANNACCE’ ON 27 APRIL 1991.
THE OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN FAITHFULLY RECONSTRUCTED
BY THE LOCAL TANK CREW ASSOCIATION, WITH THE ACTIVE COLLABORATION OF MENCI S.P.A. OF MONTECCHIO OF CASTIGLION FIORENTINO AND SOME OF ITS EMPLOYEES
IT WAS INAUGURATED ON 30 MAY 1993

*Note that this particular model of Sturmgeschütz did not enter production until 1943.

In the early summer of 1944 a retreating German column had an accident – the bridge at Capannacce yielded under the weight of its armoured vehicles and one fell through. They were constantly harassed by Allied forces and under attack by enemy aircraft so there was no time to attempt recovery of the vehicle or repair of the bridge. The commander of the column ordered the other vehicles to drive over the wedged vehicle and so they continued their retreat north. After the war and over the years many external parts were removed from the vehicle and vegetation grew up around it. It remained hidden until it was recovered from the riverbed through the intervention of the local tank crew association, Menci and the Italian Ministry of Defence. The latter provided information and drawings to aid the restoration, primarily recreation of the complete superstructure above the level of the hull, including the gun and mantlet, plus other missing parts such as the tracks. Internally all that remains are the torsion bars and some of the drivetrain. (Source: Historia Militaria, Axis History). This vehicle probably originally belonged to the Hermann Goering Division (source: DVaC). It has a used shell case fixed with brackets to the left front of the superstructure.


Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

November 2007

Rear left view
1: Rear left view

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4418
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 040_StuG...
Views: 224
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    

 

Lower front left view
2: Lower front left view

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4419
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 044_StuG...
Views: 212
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    

 

Lower front view
3: Lower front view

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4420
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 035_StuG...
Views: 203
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Lower front right view
4: Lower front right view

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4421
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 043_StuG...
Views: 182
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Rear right view
5: Rear right view

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4422
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 034_StuG...
Views: 202
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Running gear
6: Running gear

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4423
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 049_StuG...
Views: 177
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Close-up
7: Close-up

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4424
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 036_StuG...
Views: 175
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Engine compartment
8: Engine compartment

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4425
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 042_StuG...
Views: 163
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Rear view
9: Rear view

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4426
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 041_StuG...
Views: 164
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Underside
10: Underside

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4427
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 048_StuG...
Views: 172
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Close-up of running gear
11: Close-up of running gear

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4428
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 039_StuG...
Views: 165
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Front left sprocket
12: Front left sprocket

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4429
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 038_StuG...
Views: 169
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Fighting compartment
13: Fighting compartment

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4430
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 037_StuG...
Views: 175
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Memorial plaque
14: Memorial plaque

Taken: 22 November 2007
Contributor: F. Monti
Photo ID: 4431
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: 033_StuG...
Views: 171
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    

    



June 2007

Lower front left view, photo by Stefanomencarelli
15: Lower front left view, photo by Stefanomencarelli

Taken: 21 June 2007
Contributor: Wikimedia
Photo ID: 4432
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: Dig_Stug...
Views: 219
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



 

Nose, photo by Stefanomencarelli
16: Nose, photo by Stefanomencarelli

Taken: 21 June 2007
Contributor: Wikimedia
Photo ID: 4435
Added: 30 January 2011
Filename: Dig2_Stu...
Views: 153
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



 

Shell case on hull front, photo by Stefanomencarelli
17: Shell case on hull front, photo by Stefanomencarelli

Taken: 21 June 2007
Contributor: Wikimedia
Photo ID: 4436
Added: 30 January 2011
Filename: Dig4_Stu...
Views: 162
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Running gear, photo by Stefanomencarelli
18: Running gear, photo by Stefanomencarelli

Taken: 21 June 2007
Contributor: Wikimedia
Photo ID: 4437
Added: 30 January 2011
Filename: Dig3_Stu...
Views: 162
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



Memorial plaque, photo by Stefanomencarelli
19: Memorial plaque, photo by Stefanomencarelli

Taken: 21 June 2007
Contributor: Wikimedia
Photo ID: 4438
Added: 30 January 2011
Filename: Targhett...
Views: 162
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    

    



1996

Lower front right view
20: Lower front right view

Taken: 1996 (Estimated)
Contributor: D. Guglielmi
Photo ID: 4433
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: Scan_Stu...
Views: 183
Select/Has Priority: 22/0
    



 

Rear left view
21: Rear left view

Taken: 1996 (Estimated)
Contributor: D. Guglielmi
Photo ID: 4434
Added: 29 January 2011
Filename: Scan2_St...
Views: 168
Select/Has Priority: 22/0