Panzertruppen
StuG III Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz 142/1) with shurtzen
Many World War II-era German tanks utilized armored skirts (Schürzen) to make their thinner side armor more resistant to anti-tank rifle fire. Contrary to popular belief the German Schürzen were designed against kinetic (AP, APBC, APCBC) projectiles. The effectiveness of conventional AP projectiles was significantly reduced if they broke through a thin plate or dense wire net, because the projectiles become unstable in their trajectory and their tip would also be damaged. This method was very effective against contemporary light anti-tank weapons, like the Soviet PTRD-41 and M1937, the British 6-pounder, and the US 37mm guns.
StuG III Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz 142/1) with shurtzen
Many World War II-era German tanks utilized armored skirts (Schürzen) to make their thinner side armor more resistant to anti-tank rifle fire. Contrary to popular belief the German Schürzen were designed against kinetic (AP, APBC, APCBC) projectiles. The effectiveness of conventional AP projectiles was significantly reduced if they broke through a thin plate or dense wire net, because the projectiles become unstable in their trajectory and their tip would also be damaged. This method was very effective against contemporary light anti-tank weapons, like the Soviet PTRD-41 and M1937, the British 6-pounder, and the US 37mm guns.