Sturmhaubitze 42 (StuH 42, Sd.Kfz. 142/2) was a German WWII self-propelled assault gun developed by Alkett to provide specialized artillery support for infantry. Based on the Sturmgeschütz III chassis, it was armed with a 105 mm leFH 18 L/28 howitzer instead of the standard 75 mm anti-tank gun. Following initial testing on a StuG III Ausf. E chassis in late 1941 and Hitler’s approval, full series production ran from February 1943 until April 1945, producing around 1,300 units. Throughout production, the vehicle shared design updates with contemporary StuG III variants, though late-war models from September 1944 onward omitted the muzzle brake. Deployed directly within assault gun battalions alongside the long-gun StuG III, the StuH 42 was used exclusively by German forces until the end of the war.
