Großdeutschland StuG III Ausf. Fs in action during the Third Battle of Kharkov in early 1943

0:00 The StuGs are prepared for action. Of note is the fan on the roof of the superstructure to extract fumes from firing and the size of the cartridge that reveals the vehicles to be armed with the 7.5cm StuK 40 gun, representing a shift in the vehicle's role from infantry support to tank hunter. This high velocity weapon gave the Ausf. F and subsequent variants the ability to defeat the Soviet T-34/76 tank at combat ranges from any aspect.

0:08 The vehicle commander looks through his SF14Z stereoscopic scissor periscope, also visible in the shot is the "birdcage" protection for the gunner's sight. In a subsequent shot the loader can be seen in his position to the right of the gun.

0:17 A wider view of the vehicle reveals it to be equipped with "Winterketten", tracks that were extended in order to lower the vehicle's ground pressure and make it more mobile in the snowy conditions. The loader avoids clutter inside the rather cramped hull by throwing spent cartridges out of his hatch. A view of a StuG in motion reveals an MG 34 machine gun on a pintle mount to provide close defense against infantry, later variants would be fitted with a gun shield.

0:45 A 5cm Pak 38 towed by an Sd.Kfz. 10 half track joins the party.

0:58 Seen from the rear a number of "Winterketten" links can be seen to be broken, the extensions tended to be vulnerable to breaking off in certain types of terrain.

1:06 A Soviet T-70 light tank in flames. This vehicle was quite well protected from the front against fire from 37mm anti-tank guns but against the StuG its armor offered no protection even out to 2 kilometers. In a subsequent shot a T-34/76 turret is visible sporting two penetrating hits, while better armored than the T-70 the heavier tank's turret still offered little resistance to the 75mm armor-piercing projectiles. That being said, its 76.2mm gun could also defeat the StuG's armor at similar ranges, so as so often happens in armored warfare victory would go to the crew capable of landing the first hit.