Sd.Kfz.167 StuG.IV. DRAGON 6612

Assembly plastic kit of an Sd.Kfz.167 StuG.IV, late production.

The Sturmgeschu"tz IV (also known as Sd.Kfz.167) was an assault gun produced in the fashion of the StuG.III. However, as its name suggests, it was based on the hull of the ubiquitous Panzer IV tank rather than the Panzer III. This came about because Alkett (a manufacturer of the StuG.III) was bombed in November 1943, so in an effort to increase assault gun production, Krupp installed slightly modified StuG.III superstructures on the chassis of the Panzer IV. After production was approved on 6 December 1943, Krupp proceeded to build 1,108 StuG.IV vehicles between December 1943 and May 1945. While this number was far less than the StuG.III, Krupp did ensure continuity of assault gun production. Crewed by four men, it proved to be an effective tank hunter platform. The StuG.IV weighed 23 tonnes and it was armed with a 7.5cm StuK40 L/48 gun. The main armament was supplemented by an MG34 mounted on the superstructure roof.