Sturmschar wrote:This is quite an interesting thread, I know next to Jack Sh1t about the German armour used in the middle east and am interested to learn something. I would hope that it does not descend in some kind of apparently paranoid spat about who is calling who what!
Hello Sturmschar thanks for your response, all threads tend to run off topic and there is no intention on my behalf to engage in spats on this or any forum as it is not my way... however when in the middle east I found it extremely interesting to learn that the Russians and Hungarians gave massive military equipment support to the israelis in the form off German WW2 equipment to fight in 1948 and beyond that and then when the Israelis changed to pro American tendencies then the Russians then gave military support to the Syrians whoever i do believe some of the Stug's that Syria had were purchased from either Spain or Portugal. see below information
After May of 1945, production of Hetzer (also abandoned and damaged vehicles were repaired) now designated ST(Stihac Tanku)-I continued at Skoda and Praga Works in Czechoslovakia until early 1960s. Along with ST-I, 50 unarmed training versions (some were fitted with superstructures) designated as ST-III/CVP were produced. In 1949, modified hull of ST-I (with removed armament and opening enclosed) was mounted with modified PzKpfw 38(t) turret. The turret was armed with 7.92mm ZPB-A or 7.62mm DT-28 machine gun (left side) and German Flammenwerfer 41 flamethrower (right side). This flamethrowing tank was designated PM-I and prototype was completed in 1951. It was tested in 1953, but in 1955 Czechoslovak army was not interested in such vehicle anymore and PM-I was cancelled. In 1950, CKD produced prototype of tractor/recovery vehicle based on ST-I, designated Praga VT-III. Czechoslovakian Army was equipped with some 249 ST-1 in 1949 and used them until mid/late 1950s. Hetzers were probably used after the war by Swedish until early 1960s. Swiss army purchased some 158 Hetzers by 1947 and retained them designated as G-13, until early 1970s. G-13 were armed with 75mm Stuk 40 gun as planned by German designers during the war. G-13s were a subject of various modifications which were made by Swiss Army in order to keep them up-to-date (eg. some were fitted with 6-cylinder, 150hp diesel engines and were designated G-13D). In addition, Swiss army ordered tractor/recovery vehicle based on G-13, designated by CKD as Praga DT-III. Also, Israel was interested in purchasing 65 ST-Is, but because of their high price (twice higher than that of a Sherman) transaction was never completed.
Pz. IV:
During the war, Panzer IV was exported and used by Hungarian (52), Romanian (100), Bulgarian (46), Finnish (15), Spanish (20) and Croatian armored formations. In 1943, small number of Ausf G tanks was sold to Turkey. From 1941 to 1943, Russians captured large numbers of PzKpfw III, Sturmgeschutz III and PzKpfw IV. Some were pressed into temporary service (e.g. being used as "Trojan Horses" or as "bait") , while some were converted to assault guns designated SU-76i and SG-122A.
In 1949/50, Finns converted their Panzer IV(s) into (unsuccessful) mineclearing vehicles and from 1951 until September of 1962, used them for training purposes.
In 1950/60s, number of Panzer IV Ausf H sold to Syria by USSR, France, Czechoslovakia and Spain (17) was still used by Syrian Army during Arab-Israeli conflicts of 1966/1967.
Syrians supposedly sold few of their PzKpfw IVs to Cubans before the overthrow of Batista by Castro in 1958, but it is unconfirmed. Few of Syrian PzKpfw IVs were captured by Israelis at the Golan Heights (dug in as bunkers) and one is on display at the Museum of Armored Forces at Latrum, Israel.
Since the beginning of the war, Panzerkampfwagen IV became tactically the most important German tank of World War II that saw service until 1967.
StuG III:
Sturmgeschutz was also exported to Germany's allies: Romania (119 Ausf F/8 and G), Bulgaria (55 Ausf G) , Hungary (40 Ausf G), Italy (5 Ausf G), Spain (10 Ausf F/8 and G) and Finland (59 Ausf G). Stug III Ausf G was known to Romanian Army as TAS T-III (tun de asalt T-III) and remained in service until early 1950s. In Bulgaria, Stug III Ausf G was known as SO-75.
During the war, Croatia, Sweden, Portugal, Turkey and Switzerland were interested in purchasing Stug III (40)s and StuH 42s but transactions were never finalized.
After the war ended, approximately 28 Stug III Ausf Gs found their way to Syria from France, Spain and Romania and served there until 1967. Few were captured by Israelis at the Golan Heights and atleast one is on display at the Museum of Armored Forces at Latrum.
Some Stug III Ausf Gs were also used by Norway along with PzKpfw IIIs - for more info visit Norwegian Panzers article. Small number was also used by Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
In 1943, Finland bought 30 Stug III Ausf Gs (early model) and in the summer of 1944, another 29 Stug III Ausf Gs (middle/late model). Finish Stugs received the tactical marking Ps (Panssarivaunu - armored vehicle) 531 followed by the number of the vehicle (e.g. Ps.531-19). The crews for the first 30 Stug III Ausf Gs were trained in Germany.
Finns modified their Stugs during the battles of 1944. Modifications included the addition of three wooden logs to both sides of the superstructure, armor around the gun mantlet was reinforced with concrete, tracks were mounted on the lower front hull and both sides of the hull along with stowage bins. The original German MG-34 machine gun was replaced with Soviet 7.62mm DT machine gun, which was in Finnish opinion more reliable.
Crew training was very demanding and for example gunners had to write their names on a sheet of paper hanging on a tree with a pencil attached to the gun barrel using the gun aiming wheels. Stugs equipped the Assault Gun Battalion of the Finish Armored Division. Total amount of enemy tanks destroyed by Finnish Stugs was 87 tanks, while own losses were 8 assault-guns. Highest score for single Stug was 11 kills by Ps.531-10 commanded by Senior Sergeant Börje Brotell and gunner Corporal Olli Soimala. Börje Brotell's Stug III Ps.531-10 is today restored and located in the home of Finnish Armour, the Armoured brigade's garrison at Parola, near barracks of 1st Armor Company.
In post-war years, Finns modified their vehicles even further by mounting a plate cover over the driver's visor, new headlight near the driver's position, as well as large stowage box on the right hand side and handles. Some vehicles were mounted with additional armor plates on the hull sides behind the road wheels. Modified Stugs remained in active service with Finnish Army until 1966. After that they were used for target practice or were dug into the ground around some important airfields to serve as protection against "unwanted landings". Today a few of them are restored and preserved in museums in Finland, England and Germany.
Panther:
After the war, many French Army tank units were equipped with Panthers (eg. 503rd Tank Battalion in Mourmelon had 50 Panthers in 1947 and 501rd Tank Battalion used Panthers from 1946 to 1950). Other post-war users included Bulgaria (Bulgarian Panthers), Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia. After the war, modified Panther's 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun was produced by French as 75mm DEFA and CN75-50 gun. It was used by them in a number of light tanks (eg. AMX 13) and armored cars (eg. EBR 75). Also, Israelis used the gun to upgrade their M50 Super Sherman. In 1947, Sweden received single Panzerbefehlswagen Panther Ausf A from France as a gift, which was then handed over to Germany in 1960/61 and is today on display in the Panzermuseum Munster. In late 1940s, Israeli high command was considering starting production of modified Panther but it was never realized