Sturmgeschuetz III Ausf. A/B/C/D/E (Sd. Kfz. 142) (TL 6)
    Copyright (C) 1996 by James Lowry

        In 1936 development was ordered of a heavily armored vehicle capable of
    eliminating strongpoints and obstacles in an infantry assault.  In 1937
    five protoypes were built using the Panzer III B as a basis.  In early 1940
    production of 30 of the finalized design, based off the Panzer III F,
    began, and they saw service in France.
        The Ausf. B was produced from late 1940, and the E saw production until
    the end of '41.  They represented the steady evolution of the design, and
    all served in Russia.
        Its armament is a 75mm howitzer (crit|*|*|no|10|*|6 mi.|1/3|1) with HE
    (exp|6d*4[6d]|n/a) and HEAT (sxp|6d*2(10)|900) in a foward casemate mount.
        I used _Sturmgeschuetz III in Action_ by Bruce Culver as reference.
        The StuG III A/B/C/D/E (v. 1.0) is a TL 6 vehicle [July 96 errata] and
    uses my armor sloping table.

    Structure:  500 cf standard extra-heavy body (HT 1,200), max. load 45,000
        lbs.  Tracked suspension with two tracks (DR 9, HT 600).  18 degree
        sloped front, back, sealed body.
    Propulsion:  239 KW tracked drivetrain.
    Power:  239 KW gasoline engine (DR 5, HT 60), uses 7.17 gallons/hour. 4
        16.5 gallon self-sealing gas tanks (DR 5, HT 12, fire 10), endurance
        9.21 hours.
    Accomodations:  4 cramped internal seats.
    Vision:  Slits.
    Crew:  4; driver, gunner, loader, commander.
    Accessories (A):  Enviromental control, tactical radio (intercept +0, 15
        mi.).
    Accessories (B-E):  Enviromental control, 5 smoke dischargers, tactical
        radio (intercept +0, 15 mi.).
    Weaponry:  75mm howitzer (DR 5, HT 50) in foward casemate mount.  44 HE and
        HEAT rounds.
    Cargo:  40 cf cargo space, 30 cf access space, 66.75/68.75 cf waste space.
    Armor:  468 points expensive armor.  F6/147 (slope), R6/84, L6/84, B6/88
        (slope), T5/31, U5/45.
    Statistics (A/B-E):  Cost $150,745/151,245 (adjusted $10,050/10,083),
        design mass 37,398.5/37,498.5 lbs., max. payload 7,601.5/7,501.5 lbs.,
        max. cargo load 3,600 lbs., current payload 800 lbs., loaded mass
        38,198.5/38,298.5 lbs. (19.1/19.15 tons), Size Modifier +4, Radar
        Signature +4, IR Signature +5, Acoustic Signature +6.
    Ground Performance: Ground speed factor 12, top speed 27 mph, acceleration
        3.375 mph/s, deceleration 20 mph/s, MR .25, SR 7, gets 3.77
        miles/gallon.