MiniArt – 72115 – StuH 42 Ausf.G mid Production

Description:

The StuH 42 Ausf. G (Sturmhaubitze 42) was a German self-propelled howitzer developed during World War II, based on the widely used StuG III chassis. Originally intended to provide mobile artillery support to infantry units, it combined the low silhouette and armor of the StuG III with a powerful 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer, making it effective against fortified positions, infantry concentrations, and light vehicles. Its development began around 1942, largely as a response to the increasing demand for mobile fire support on the Eastern Front.

Unlike the StuG III’s main role as a tank destroyer with a high-velocity 75 mm gun, the StuH 42’s howitzer had a shorter barrel and was better suited for high-explosive firepower rather than anti-armor work, although it could fire HEAT (hollow-charge) rounds for self-defense against tanks. The Ausf. G version was the most produced and refined of the series, incorporating late-war improvements like a cast gun mantlet (often called the “Saukopf” or pig’s head mantlet), and sometimes a remote-controlled MG34 on the roof for added protection against infantry. Visually, it looked very similar to the StuG III Ausf. G, leading to confusion between the two.

Despite being produced in relatively limited numbers—just under 1,300 units—the StuH 42 Ausf. G proved useful in combined arms operations, especially in urban combat and defensive scenarios. It served primarily with assault gun brigades and saw action on both the Eastern and Western fronts in the latter stages of the war. Its combination of decent armor, low profile, and heavy HE firepower made it a valued support weapon in the shrinking German arsenal.

Kit include PE (photo-etched) parts and decal sheet with 4 different markings.