This other example of German enginery which could have been very useful, if it would have been produced and entered in combat early years of the war. Germans produced many specialistic armoured vehicles. Storm tanks are among them. In November 1943 when the masive Sturmpanzer IV production starts is launched, Germany Army was on the defensive on all fronts. 

The Sturmpanzer IV was designed to offer direct infantry fire support with sufficient destructive capability, especially to fight in urban areas. This is the reason because in initial sieges, especially in Eastern Front, like Stalingrad in 1942, the Sturmpanzer IV would have been a very effective weapon. In fact, the Sturmpanzer IV could level an average city house with no more than two or three shots. When they entered in combat, they were capable destroy buildings, fortifications, barricades etc. From 1943 till 1945 Sturmpanzer IV took part in fights on all fronts.

The Sturmpanzer IV was a heavy development and a vast improvement of sIG 33 B (on a Panzer III) and of sIG (on Panzer I and II models), it was a development on a Panzer IV chassis. It included a fixed superstructure (armored casemate), and was armed with 150 mm StuH storm howitzer. It brings its gun into close range and smashes the enemy with 40kg shells. Effective against infantry and structures. Weak to anti-tank weapons. 

Sturmpanzer IV, also known as Sturmpanzer 43 or Sd.Kfz. 166, was developed by Alkett (superstructure) and Krupp (chassis). On 20 October 1942, after seeing Alketts plans Hitler demanded that 40 – 60 Sturmpanzer IV be built as soon as possible. After initial run, the production of a long term series went ahead in November 1943 and continued until the end of the war. Over 300 vehicles would be produced; with the vehicle seeing four revisions including changes to improve the capacity of the vehicle to handle it’s weight.

The Sturmpanzer IV was given the nickname Brummbär ("grizzly bear") by Allied intelligence, a name which was not used by the German Army who used the acronym "Stupa" when referring to the Sturmpanzer IV. The vehicle would see combat for the first time by July of 1943 in the Battle of Kursk, later it would be used at the Battles of Anzio, Normandy, Holland, Hungary and the defence of the Reich itself. It was deployed in the Warsaw Uprisingtoo. They were assigned to four independent battalions: Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216 (the first unit to take the Sturmpanzer into battle), Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217, Sturmpanzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 218, and Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 219.

Watch and enjoy with this rare footage: