KV-2 of German Panzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 66 (later: Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 66).

Panzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 66 (1)

Captain Hans-Günther Bethke (on the photo still as an NCO and officer aspirant) and the "Malta KV-2". In the end the planned invasion of Malta was cancelled, Bethke was killed in action at Mga/Northern Russia on September 14, 1942.

Hauptmann Bethke and the "Malta KV-2"

In the autumn 1943 after a mass bombing of factories &quot;Alkett&quot; in Germany the manufacture of assault guns has stopped and to their issue firm &quot;Krupp&quot; was connected.

Have here developed a new vehicle, by adapting a cabin from StuG 40 Ausf G for the chassis of the tank PzKpfw IV Ausf G. So it was possible to reduce creation of a new self-propelled gun and to begin its mass manufacture. The new vehicle has received the name &quot; Sturmgeschutz IV (SdKfz 163) &quot;. 
StuG IV was in manufacture from autumn 1943 up to autumn 1944, then it was replaced to Anti-tank self-propelled gun Jagdpanzer IV.

The vehicle has appeared more expensive and more hardly, than StuG 40, but carried greater Ammo for the main armament.