JJGA24B STUH, Grey Barrel

STUH, Grey Barrel

Other StuG IIIs and StuH 42s from the brigade defended the vital area southwest of Cassino, enabling the Fallschirmjäger to hold out for an extended period. Altogether, the battles for Monte Cassino and the Gustav Line involved approximately 240,000 Allied troops and resulted in 55,000 Allied casualties. The Germans suffered approximately 20,000 casualties out of the 140,000 troops they committed.

The new John Jenkins Designs StuG III Ausf. G and StuH 42 represent an assault gun and assault howitzer of StuG Brigade 242 during the fighting at Monte Cassino. While collectors are likely familiar with the StuG III Ausf G armed with a 7.5cm StuK 40 cannon, the StuH 42 is a new addition to the 1/30 scale hobby.

By late 1942, the StuG III had effectively evolved from a direct infantry support weapon into a tank destroyer...a role at which it excelled, ultimately becoming the deadliest German AFV of the war, with the most Allied tank kills. As a result, the StuH 42 was introduced to restore assault gun units’ ability to support infantry, their original mission.

The StuH 42 was essentially identical to the StuG III Ausf. G except for its main armament. While the StuG III Ausf. G's 7.5cm StuK 40 cannon was primarily designed to kill Allied tanks, the StuH 42's 10.5 cm StuH L/28 howitzer, adapted from the proven 10.5 cm leFH 18 light field howitzer, was primarily designed for direct support of infantry.  In this role, the excellent blast and shrapnel effects of the StuH 42's larger howitzer quickly proved highly effective against massed infantry formations, bunkers, and strongpoints. Allied troops came to respect the StuH 42 as a feared "infantry killer."

Together, the combination of StuG III assault guns and StuH 42 howitzers gave a StuG Brigade excellent tactical mobility, capable of performing both anti-tank and infantry support roles as needed. This potent combination enabled StuG Brigades to stiffen the resolve and increase the combat effectiveness of any infantry division they were attached to.