Assault guns vs. tanks

[Mobhack]

All of the above is why I really dont like casemated SP-guns

for a few points less for the turret
a) They don't react as well to flank attacks - less chance to turn to face firers
b) When stuck due to track or engine hit, then they are only effective where the guns currently pointing

The German case where Stugs have a decent 8 armour at the front, whereas the versions of the Pz4 that have the long 75s don't carry more than 5 armour (the turret could not handle any more weight - it was at maximum) is about the only reason to stick with them until panthers arrive. (If up on a hill or dug in and so hull down, more hits will register on the turret, which in the Pz4s case is somewhat less optimal situation than desired!).

I do stick with Soviet Su's - the later one has more ammo than the IS2 (but a stuck IS-2 may be able to sweep a useful zone), and the 152 one with all HE ammo is nice, as I really like great big bangs. Lobbing 6 inch bricks into infantry formations, trucks, tanks carrying riders - what's not to like! - so I usually take some 15cm sturmpanzers if German, as well. The Su-76 are cheap direct support for a soviet rifle company, better than a little light T-70 tankette anyway.

[Wiking]

I've yet to play much past 1943 so we'll see if I feel the same as you do later on. Certainly from 1941 through 1942 the StuG is pretty sturdy and as long as the ammo holds out it can deal with most Soviet armor handily. I haven't really played the Western Desert since the days of Steel Panthers 1 so I can't comment on their performance out there, but I would imagine it to be rather less good at those long ranges.

I do agree with the argument of StuG vs. Panzer IV though, as I always felt like the Mark IV is pretty fragile in a straight up fight, even though I am very fond of it anyways.

[Griefbringer]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

the 152 one with all HE ammo is nice, as I really like great big bangs. Lobbing 6 inch bricks into infantry formations, trucks, tanks carrying riders - what's not to like!

Those big bangs are certainly very impressive, and can spell bad news for lightly armoured vehicles! AP version tends to be quite nasty against more heavily armoured targets, if you manage to hit something - they are not usually very accurate when I am in command.

That said, Soviet assault guns tend to lack machine-guns (until the late war versions with 12.7 mm AAMGs), which means that once they run out HE ammo they cannot do much against enemy infantry.

[Wiking]

I've had that problem when I played Soviets as well. Its similar to the German's problem with the Ausf A and B StuG's which don't even have machineguns!

My big debate with my current campaign is whether I should upgrade my StuG's to Jagdpanthers and all of my PzKw IV's to PzKw V's or not when I hit 1944. Although it is definitely more attractive than trying to fight "realistically", I always feel a bit guilty going top-heavy like that.