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hello,

I have few questions about the StuG III Ausf. D preserved in Sweden :

-does it come from Great Britain?
-is the Fahrgestellnummber known?
-is the vehicle's combat history known?

thanks

Pierre-Olivier

There are many questions and rumours about this vehicle.

It was bought in 1946-47, but no records found so far that can verify from which country.
Most likely it came from Denmark or Norway - but that is just guesses, and even if there are people who say they are sure, as long as there are no documents that can verify this it will be regarded as a guess.

No information about the combat history since the last country where it ended up and why is unknown.
There are many guesses about the airfilters on the outside in combination with the Zimmerit.

The Fahrgestellnumber is 90604
I am sure that Arsenalen Tank Museum would like any information that could verify the history or any help in where to search.

The plan is to put it on display in the future, but since it was repainted in a terrible way when it was on display on the former Tank Museum it looks awful and there is an ongoing discussion how to deal with this, to make it look better but without destroying the original patina under this modern layer of paint.

Contact the museum Director for more information,
www.arsenalen.se

thanks for the information. I'm sure someone will find something about this vehicle..

Pierre-Olivier

- Landsverk

There are many questions and rumours about this vehicle.

It was bought in 1946-47, but no records found so far that can verify from which country.
Most likely it came from Denmark or Norway - but that is just guesses, and even if there are people who say they are sure, as long as there are no documents that can verify this it will be regarded as a guess.

No information about the combat history since the last country where it ended up and why is unknown.
There are many guesses about the airfilters on the outside in combination with the Zimmerit.

The Fahrgestellnumber is 90604
I am sure that Arsenalen Tank Museum would like any information that could verify the history or any help in where to search.

The plan is to put it on display in the future, but since it was repainted in a terrible way when it was on display on the former Tank Museum it looks awful and there is an ongoing discussion how to deal with this, to make it look better but without destroying the original patina under this modern layer of paint.

Contact the museum Director for more information,
www.arsenalen.se

Interesting. The Danish Army took three German armoured vehicles for testing from the mineclearing detachment on the West Coast

- An SdKfz 251 for testing as an artillery tractor. The Danish army had tested German halftracks in 1943 for this purpose and in the post-war years they were looking to Sweden for similar tractors (Volvo). They had considerable difficulty in keeping the vehicle moving and it eventually ended up in the Royal Arsenals museum and is currently being restored by a private organisation.
- Panzer IIIN for testing as an infantry support vehicle. It does not appear to have been used much and also ended up in the Royal Arsenals Museum
- StuG III for testing as an infantry support vehicle. It was suggested to scrap it and use it as a target but it is unclear what actually happened to it. It is last mentioned as being in Denmark in 1949. I dont have the serial number, but it would be interesting to see if it might be this vehicle or another one from the mineclearing detachment.

Until Danmark joined NATO in 1949, the Danish Army was looking towards Sweden for possible armoured vehicles, including light tanks ("Lansen") and 10,5cm armed assault guns and self-propelled artillery. Also, much of the Danish Armys equipment up to 1950 came from Sweden, bought during the war, partly to equip the Danish Brigade in Sweden, partly as stocks to equip a future Danish Army. So there was a lot of contact between the Swedish Army and the Danish Army in this timeframe (probably also with Norway?)