The only surviving WWII Sturmgeschütz Ausf. A recovered from the Eastern Front

AusArmour Assistant Manager, Jason Belgrave, gives us some insights into the only surviving Sturmgeschütz III Ausf A in the world!
Sunk in marshland during WWII on the Eastern Front, this StuG III was restored by Bushmakow Restorations and is now part of the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum's collection.
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[@marcswanson7066]

An absolutely splendid restoration, as usual. Such attention to detail, even the optical glass components appear to be clean and free of fog.

[@Idontknowmaybejohnsmith]

Except for the giant rot holes they just painted over… they would be great at selling craigslist trucks.

[@user-px7fm7lo6v]

I work in the (British) Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, UK and we have just installed the first UK Apache Mark 1 attack helicopter to enter a museum in Europe. One of my best friends is an Australian flying instructor who taught me on the Gazelle back in 1981-82. He went onto become the Director of Australian Army Aviation and retired as a general. I saw him in Sydney for dinner in Feb this year. We do not generally have to do as much restoration as Oz Armour for our exhibits but reckon you do as good a job or better than the Tank Museum at Bovington, UK. keep it up please. All the best.

[@Wolfsschanze99]

Stug is my favourite due to its versatility, just looks so cool too.

[@BruceWayne_87]

My colleague here in Germany said the StuG of all variants were the most mass produced vehicle made during ww2.. Imagine the rarity of this one knowing it is the only surviving first model..

[@Zajuts149]

Most of the StuGs produced were the long-barrelled F/F-8/G variants. IIRC, less than a 1000 of the Ausf. A-E variants were produced, and some of those got upgunned later.

[@abntemplar82]

Stug 3 Michael Wittman's first ride. you guys were genius in this restoration. well done folks.

[@pzkpfw2310]

Stugs are awesome. Probably one of my favorite armored vehicles

[@jensmaul6749]

What a gorgeous piece of machinery. Thanks Jason and Curt for showing this gem.

[@HK94]

For a only surviving model, I'm glad it is with you guys, many will get to enjoy, see and learn about this peice of history for along time.

[@Atomictrooper]

The Australian Armour museum has a really beautiful collection of well maintained vehicles! As a Canadian I'm jealous of how much you've guys have been able to acquire and keep in such splendid condition!

[@tdb7992]

Is there not a similar museum in Canada? You guys have a very proud military history.

[@tdb7992]

Is there not a similar museum in Canada? You guys have a very proud military history.

[@Panzermeister36]

Very cool. This vehicle also shows upgrades done in 1941 before the invasion of Russia -- drive sprockets widened with a spacer ring and the corresponding 400mm tracks and roadwheels (replacing the earlier 380mm ones). Therefore it may appear, at a glance, to be an Ausfürung B, but you can tell the base vehicle is still an Ausfürung A due to the spacing of the return rollers and the configuration of the roof hatches forward of the commander. It also has the transmission hatches with external locks, which may have been an upgrade to the vehicle or simply the only part available during restoration.

[@pseudonym745]

Äääää.., yes, of course, I was just about to mention..😅

[@Zajuts149]

This is the quality of comment that enhances the video👍

[@underworldguardian704]

Wow! I never knew there was one A model left in the world!

[@Slaktrax]

JASON. Thank you. That is the first time I've heard anyone using the correct term ''casemate'' (and hull). So often many ''experts'' refer to AFV's as having a ''chassis'' and ''superstructure''. You're a real tankee! 🙂

[@Panzermeister36]

Well for example, a standard WWII tank does have a superstructure. It's the extension of the hull above the mudguards and bow/transmission plate...onto which the turret sits. But for a turretless vehicle such as this assault gun, there is no turret so the superstructure is correctly called the casemate as it houses the gun now 😊

[@user-px7fm7lo6v]

Thanks for another superb video. I am a great admirer of the excellent work done by all the team. I was in Cairnes a few years ago and regret I did not know about Oz Armour then or I would certainly have visited. Keep up the great work and thanks again.

[@florianscherer3448]

What a great collection you have there!!! Hopefully I can visit you in future. Greatings from Germany and thanks for the nice video!

[@MrJoeGarner]

I have this model to build once I get started again. Great looking piece of history!

[@gerardhogan3]

As always Jason bloody awesome. You know your stuff and I love learning from you mate. You always tell a great yarn and seem to say the right stuff. I gotta get up to Cairns asap.

[@yattaran1484]

So happy to know you guys had Stg3 A in the collection. I really want to see the detail of gunner's sight opening. War time photos never tell me how they closed that opening !.🤔

[@aldosigmann419]

Excellent restoration - great overall collection too from what i could see !

[@robertsmart4628]

Thank you for this. Very interesting.

[@russwoodward8251]

Sweet! Thank you once again.

[@Socrates21stCentury]

Amazing!

[@StuSaville]

"Have you noticed that our tanks actually have little pictures of skulls on them? Hans, are we the baddies?"

[@janreznak881]

No, they were not.

[@obsidianjane4413]

@@janreznak881 Yes they were.

[@Steve.._.]

@@janreznak881 lmao did you just say the Germans weren’t the baddies? I mean sure not everyone makes it their decision to fight for their country but damn they could’ve pulled a Russia and surrendered but they continued fighting

[@lordbyron8927]

@Steve Missing the laugh, this was a great pun of a comedy skit done by Michell and Web.

[@James_T_Quirk]

@@lordbyron8927 Oh I thought it was the Horrible Histories Version ... ;)

[@Nick-rr5cy]

Keep it coming great stuff 😊

[@bundy3132]

awesome work as usual ... really have to make the trip to visit the museum.

[@NinjaKittyBonks]

❤this channel and all the great detail that goes into your presentations 🐱

[@scroggins100]

Many thanks. really enjoyed that.

[@birdsoup777]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@thefantasyreview8709]

wow, Jason really knows his stuff! He level of detailed knowledge is pretty incredible.

[@garfield1415]

Amazing, Thank you!

[@patchmack4469]

fantastic exhibit - one of my first 1:35 scale German tanks was a Sturmgeschutz when i was a kid (still a big kid today) would love to see one up close and personal - to own one must be pretty epic!

[@tommytaylor4458]

Love these videos guys!!!👍😁

[@dnbeckmann]

Beautiful Ausf. A! Thanks!

[@CommitPesticideWorldwide]

Cute Ausf. A* -Hardly anybody ever adresses how kwk37 on the StuG chasis is adorable; but once I mention it hardly anybody can disagree lol

[@lappin6482]

Awesome to have that in Australia....just wish i could get up there to visit you guys....one day 🤞

[@chrisdavis3642]

Outstanding restoration! I've been involved in this type of work. Where detail down to the style of welds where just as prominent as the fabrication in order to maintain authenticity of restoration. Very impressive.!!

[@gavincross2902]

Fantastic bit of history there.

[@bertenerny7867]

Fantastic!!! Thanks for the details. You guys are top-notch. The thing that really astounds me is your capability to remanufacture parts for the collection. A definite place to visit. Regards, Bert

[@beersmurff]

yeah 3D metal printing and 3D scanning has come a long way and there's little you cannot reproduce and in even better quality today. As long as you want to pay for it :-)

[@kiwifruit27]

Fascinating, thanks

[@paulsilva3346]

A fun rerun to watch 0:31

[@davidcole333]

Stunning.

[@simonstock4448]

Jason = The Knowledge

[@benjaminrush4443]

Good Explanation.

[@James_T_Quirk]

Fantastic this Unit is Saved, Unbelievable that is here in Australia & I may get to see it, Sadly I referred to these as the Pig-Nosed Panther, but only in war games ..😀

[@James_T_Quirk]

I should explain, Pig-Nosed for the Gun, but Panther for it's Kill rate, concealed in cover, closer ranges, it is a Surprise !! ..

[@Tuppoo94]

"You don't choose the StuG life, the StuG life chooses you."

[@CR055FIRE]

that looks sick bro damn

[@allgood6760]

Wow!.. thanks mate👍🇳🇿

[@alexwhite2265]

I really love to check this musuem out and do bolt action tourment that runs here every year

[@gianurwiler5098]

Interesting keep going

[@your_royal_highness]

Looks like a nice museum

[@markbehr88]

Very cool.

[@amanitas666]

I wonder if this is, or ever will be, drivable. Such an unique piece!

[@skipsmoyer4574]

Nice presentation, my favorite AFV ( not a tank) of WWII

[@treadheadpete4770]

Cool!

[@nilthonljr]

fala serio o melhor desse canal é a restauração e não essa coisa ai

[@boxhawk5070]

I'd like to see some analysis of the steel on a vehicle made in 1940 vs one made in 1945.

[@seanmcardle]

Good man.

[@elektronischemusik1903]

When you first learn about WW2 Tanks you are impressed of all these TIgers, IS2 , Sturmtigers and what not....but it is quite interesting that buggers like these had the most bang for a buck by far.

[@corpnut2906]

I watched a guy in England on youtube restore a Stug III D captured in N Africa I can't remember his name but it was cool I think he used a FV engine for power cant remember which FV model it was. That got me into watch youtube restoration vids.

[@majmikecalnan]

A stunning restoration! One question: If you know the exact history of the vehicle, why would you paint it in spurious markings?

[@AdstarAPAD]

They probably painted it before they had the exact knowledge of it's history..

[@fryer05maverick31]

Sweet!

[@Mike-mm6jp]

Stug-life, this is an Epic channel!

[@rolandgreth5137]

Very goog Restauration

[@clausaurich]

The perfect infantry support weapon!

[@tu0016]

epic

[@therealmccoy2351]

Lovely!!!

[@georgedistel1203]

Was this one restored as a static display

[@kanonenfutter8320]

Allein schon die genial geschweißten Nähte sind unbeschreiblich gute Wertarbeit, deutsche Wirtschaft die zu gut war für den Rest der Welt 😥😥💪

[@user-rc4nw6xy5p]

Given the fact all British tanks were riveted. You would think if the rivets sheared off inside a British tank the rivets killed the tank crew. So clearly Germany did research blowing up tanks before deciding welding was much stronger and there were less parts flying around inside when it got hit with a tank or artillery round. Or as they say - the British made their tanks the "Vickers" way, meaning the Vickers company did what they felt was right. And it looks like a lot of British tanks were never tested in the areas they were expected to operate in. And it seem the British made a lot useless tanks - and got away with naming them after Churchill, so they could just sell them. Interesting point, the British found when they took Tobruk, in Egypt. The Germans left behind a re-barreling system for re-doing their tank and artillery gun barrels in the field. Which the British never worked out until much later on what it was used for.

[@nicktozie6685]

Think I saw some hills in pics in Bulgaria, save em boys

[@derektierney1314]

Impressive that these tanks are but what's the inside look like I always wondered ☘️🇮🇪✌️

[@thurin84]

sweet!

[@BF5player]

Will you guys make a workshop Wednesday series for the tiger when you start restoring the tiger to running condition

[@ausarmour]

Absolutely

[@albertourrutia5090]

El mejor blindado alemán...pequeño, barato y poderoso.

[@tomitiustritus6672]

In the old Continental halls in my birthtown Hannover, they built Jagdpanther until the end. The end, in this case, was an SS-detachment that was sent from the eastern front to scratch together what armored vehicles they could get their hands on and bumped into the US-Army west of the city. When they came through Hannover, which was at that point already in the process of being secured by the US-Army with little to no armed resistance, the SS went straight to the factory, grabbed every Jagdpanther that could already drive and shoot and tried to punch their way theough to the southeast. They got 100 km or so before they got destroyed. In the old assembly hall of Continental, there is now a bicycle shop, Stadler. And the big steel-beam columns still bear the scars of that battle. Pockmarked by machine gun fire. And in one or two places, there are golfball sized holes punched/molten right through the multi-layered steel-beams, where likely an AP-Tank round hit. This really caught me off guard, when i was looking for a bicycle.

[@ivan200804]

IS that the same Gtug that was found near Moscow in the bog?

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

Micheal Wittman used one of these and destroyed a shitload of T34s in the eastern front.

[@williamashbless7904]

Very nice work! What a bunch of talent you have brought together. Germany lost the war when they had to prioritize tank destroyers over assault guns.

[@1982asd]

The STUG III (G version) has proven itself very well against T34s, but its production was started late It was much cheaper than producing a tank, thanks to its fast speed and 75mm gun, it was considered an effective tank hunter, although it could be fired from the side easily and its aiming was a bit difficult because it did not have a movable gun turret 10,000 units were manufactured by the Germans during the Second World War The Hungarian "43M Zrinyi" armored assault gun, modeled after the German Stug, with a 105 mm gun and 75 mm armor, which was perhaps even better than all the other German Stug versions, only started production late, only 61 of them were made

[@user-wf2lm3vi7o]

👍👍

[@aeroace]

Stunning rebuild project. but the running gear( sprocket and track) seems belong to Ausf.B.🤔

[@Panzermeister36]

Not necessarily. Vehicles equipped with the early 380mm tracks (StuG A, Pz III A-G, Pz IV A-D) were generally refitted for the wider 400mm tracks and corresponding roadwheels before the invasion of Russia in 1941. This vehicle still has the early 380mm sprocket with round lightening holes, but has a spacer ring added to mount the wider tracks. It also has the wider roadwheels to run in these tracks Refitting all vehicles this way simplified logistics of course, and also increased floatation. Only a 400mm sprocket could be fitted with winterketten or tracks with ice cleats too.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I've seen videos of the Russians pulling WWII vehicles out of the Rivers and wetlands. It's amazing how good they are preserved. Not to mention how good they are at locating and recovery. Especially the Divers and heavy equipment operator's. It's a regular time capsule

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Let’s face it the Germans lost the greater bulk of their Panzers in Russia. And the areas close to the vast Pripet marshes are notorious for their boggy terrain.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I wouldn't be surprised if it still runs.

[@FurryCruz]

Totenkopf did use a totenkopf for divisioninsignia right?

[@thurby]

Great collection of afv.but they all look factory fresh.do you not have some war weary and weathered

[@conceptalfa]

👍👍👍

[@Mizone505]

U know your stuff OA

[@bestamerica]

' where is the tank show museum

[@BHARGAV_GAJJAR]

The red skull looks like from captain America

[@MB-oc1nw]

I think you spend more on this museum than the ADF does on hardware

[@tongsllc]

Your British aaak-sent is very strong! In fact, you pronounce aaa-vrything with thaaat sound!

[@kurt5490]

Yet another reason to go to Australia.

[@patrickbuchi8150]

In der Schweiz steht ein voll funktionstüchtiges Sturmgeschütz..

[@fishingthelist4017]

Another episode of "Making The Blokes at Bovington Turn Green With Envy"

[@wirelessone2986]

How does an eastern front combat vehicle end up clear the hell in Australia right past all the countries that actually fought there?Was there a deal struck?If its the only one you would think one of the combatant countries would have pursued owning it.

[@IG10705]

Captured then mostly who had it sold it off and that's how they procured it

[@paulmurray1298]

heavy cav had no jaw in their badges big difference

[@SargentoDuke]

And Michael Wittman destroyed a lot of T34's with this early one with only low velocity explosive rounds...

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Ein schöner Panzer seht gut instandgesetzt.

[@davidm3118]

I'll say it again - if you can't get to Bovington or Kubinka - go to the Gold Coast - brilliant!!!!

[@garynew9637]

This is in Cairns.

[@johnelliott7375]

Where's the MG34 @?

[@blasperezybarra8737]

Is one model Ausf.B not A

[@Panzermeister36]

No, it's an A. It has been refitted with 400mm tracks and running gear as these vehicles were in 1941. You can tell it's not a B by the placement of the return rollers and the arrangement of the roof hatches around the gunsight.

[@mahdimahdi8247]

imagine what equipment and technologies Germans they have now , if they won the war

[@sebastiansieber3559]

This video is just more fuel into the american fire of confusing Austria and Australia

[@IG10705]

What are you on about?