Tank surrogate

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The tank surrogate was a response during World War II to the need of mobile, large-caliber anti-tank vehicles in order to support infantry during offensive and defensive operations. The need for heavy armor outside of mechanized formations led to the development of tank-surrogates due to their low cost, as compared to a tank, and ability to defend against heavy tanks. In that sense, a tank surrogate would need heavy frontal armor and a heavy gun, although not necessarily a turret - leading to reduced weights. Normally, tank surrogates were constructed from old tank hulls, such as the German StuG III.