150mm s.IG.33 auf Fgst. Pz.Kpfw.III (Sf)

The 150mm s.IG. 33 auf Fgst. Pz.Kpfw. III was a modified SPG based on the chassis of Pz. III Ausf. H. The turret of Pz. III H has been replaced and a 150mm heavy infantry howitzer (s.IG 33 L/11) was installed. 

The moment when frontline engineers installed the 150mm howitzer on the chassis of Pz. III H. 

 

 

There was only one 150mm s.IG.auf Fgst. Pz III was produced during WW II and the vehicle was served in 200 Schutzen Regiment of 90 Leichter Div.

I did not find the exact time that DAK finished the modifications on this vehicle, but according to some researches we knew the chassis of this vehicle was from a Pz. III H which affiliated to 21st Pz. Div., the turret of that Pz. III H was heavily damaged and not worthy to be repaired; meanwhile, one of 150mm s.IG 33 (Sfl.) auf Pz.Kpfw. II’s (Bison II) from 708 motorized infantry kompany lost its power and engine could not be recovered any more, luckily, its 150mm howitzer was still in good function. Under this circumstance, the engineers on frontline made their decision: they removed the Bison II’s 150mm howitzer and installed it to the chassis of Pz. III H.

Many of photos for this vehicle were taken in early 1942, so we could infer the vehicle’s revision works were all finished in early 1942 and it should participate all actions in 1942 (i.e. Battle of Gazala, Second Battle of Tobruk, Battle of El Alamein, etc). 

The tracks used by this vehicle were same as Pz. III H's (early 40cm version with high teeth), while the spare tracks on bracket were mid 40cm version which used by Pz. III Ausf. J, L, M and N. 

It seemed that there were brunch of M24 hand grenades on the right fender. 

Hide in the mud. 

 

The box-art of Dragon 6904 that composed by Ron Volstad. 

Project starts here: This is a rebox product of Dragon in 2021, the initial released product in 2018 could not be found in nowadays’ marketplace. 

The plastic sprue/components of rebox product are not as good as initial released product. One major problem was that plastic were not sharp enough compared with the old smart kit.

But the good news was Dragon replaced the low quality DS track by using magic tracks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topcoat for DAK in early stage: RAL8000. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The track assembly operations are always difficult tasks. Maybe I should finish the track links first before the installations of fenders and upper structure.