Spare tracks bolted around commander copula for additional armor protection. Stug painted in winter white-wash camouflage, gunner's shield folded down, zimmerit (anti-magnetic ceramic paste) applied in square waffle patterns, water canister snuggled between schurzen (armor skirts) and the hull. Its crew wore Panzer fur beret which closely followed Soviet Ushanka headgear design. Military Headgear - www.snyderstreasures.com/pages/headgear.htm

Inset 1 : Stug interior with commander scanning battlefield via telescopic periscope, multi-sided window evident in copula mount. Enclosed armor interior painted beige color to enhance vision in confined space. MP40 submachine gun and spare clip poach hung behind him, weapon assumed iconic status with US/UK forces and was nicknamed the Schmeisser.

MP38 and MP40 submachine guns were virtually identical, with MP38 made from machined parts while MP40 constructed with machine-pressed parts. Its submachine status referred to use of pistol ammunition, hence a sub-level below the machine gun. German title Maschinenpistole 40 (Machine Pistol 40) was more indicative of its performance. MP40 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP40

Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) Ostfront 1943, Stug passing knocked-out Soviet T-34 tanks, specifically of T34/76 1942 design as indicated by large single turret hatch, later versions had two smaller circular hatches (commander and gunner). Soviet T-34 tank introduced in late-1941 and was shock to German frontline troops and military intelligence, often created Tank Panic (ex. with ineffective anti-tank guns, infantry would abandon its position in headlong disorganized retreat when T-34 tanks broke through perimeter). Its streamline ballistic design was quickly emulated by Germans (ex. Panther and King Tiger tanks), its large boggie wheels and cross-country suspension were derived from 1920s-era American Christie tank. Recovered T-34
Tank With German Markings - www.rense.com/general75/germ2.htm

Due to massive US defensive spending cutback in post-WW1, American tank designer J. Walter Christie successfully demonstrated his Christie tank to US Army, but US Congress refused to fund any tank unit expansion or upgrade. Hence, Christie sold his design to Soviet Union, whereupon they initially incorporated design into 1930s-era BT-series tanks and then 1940s-era T-34 tanks. Christie Tank in the USSR - www.battlefield.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=50&lang=en

• Additional info : The Christie Tanks - www.geocities.com/firefly1002000/chrisindex.html

Inset 2 : Stug exterior commander hatch with telescopic sights without anti-glare tubes. Commander wore M1940 Panzer Cap, woven in forest green instead of black, although this commander decided to reverse his cap thus its national and Panzer emblems are in back. This design also resembled WW2 American military fold-up service cap. German Army Headgear - web2.airmail.net/recon36/german/heer/heercaps.html

German Panzer headgear underwent variety of designs between 1930s-1940s. Original issue was 1935 Panzer Schutzmütze (beret), black for tank crews, grey or field-green for assault gun crews. Heer Panzer crew headgear - www.panzerworld.net/uniforms-heerheadgear.html

By 1940, beret was replaced by Panzer Feldmutze (cap), but some armor commanders still preferred M1934 Officer's Field Cap (also called Old-Style field cap) since it was more distinctive with a soft black leather visor, hence was used throughout WW2. Being made from field grey wool, commander could wrap bulky headphones around his head with comfort than latter cap versions. This field cap is depicted in model's commander figure. Uniforms of die Panzertruppe - www.panzerworld.net/uniforms.html

Inset 3 : Stug interior loader side, square hatch opened above for him to operate top machine gun for close-in defense, and to eject spent artillery shell casings. Artillery shells stored in front of him for ease of loading into gun breech. His vehicle communication gear includes Panzer Model B headphones draped over his Feldmutze cap and throat microphones clamped to his neck. PANZER MODEL "B" HEADPHONE SET. (Doppel Kopffernhörer) - www.germanmilitaria.com/Heer/photos/H05754.html

Panzer Model B Throat microphones are small sound sensors wrapped around Panzertruppen neck to pick up vocal chord vibrations and convert them to audible sound, its small compact nature made it easy to handle in confined vehicle space (contrasted with bulky handheld microphones). Nevertheless, after prolonged hours of usage it can be very uncomfortable to wear. PANZER MODEL "B" THROAT MICROPHONE. (Kehlkopfmikrofon) - www.germanmilitaria.com/Heer/photos/H058256.html