In 1947 a decision was made to upgrade the Heer’s existing inventory of Sturmgeschütz III infantry support vehicles by replacement of the short-barreled 7.5cm KwK 40 with the 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 46, a derivative of the well-tested 10.5cm leFH 18. The decision was based upon the need for vehicle capable of delivering both direct and indirect fire, which would supplant the towed 7.5cm and 15cm infantry guns still serving in the Heer’s infantry formations. The StuH46 was also capable of firing projectiles of the new
“Quetschkopf” type, which offered greater power for attacking static defence positions and fortified bunkers.
The work of upgrading existing vehicles was assigned to several factories and Heer depots under the oversight of Mühlenbau und Industrie AG of Braunschweig.
General Data
Crew: 4
Weight: 23,000 kg
Length: 6.14 metres
Width: 2.96 metres
Height: 2.15 metres
Armour: 80-19 millimetres
Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 300 hp petrol engine driving six-speed transmission
Armament
Main: 10.5cm StuH 46 (48 rounds)
Secondary: 7.92mm MG42 (600 rounds)
Performance
Power/weight ratio: 12.6 hp/tonne
Operational range: 155 kilometres
Road speed: 40 kph