The way the StuG were operated in the beginning at least were supposed to be acting in an independent role that supports the infantry. Unlike the panzers which operated in a tank platoon of four, these StuGs were parceled out to the infantry and supposed to just support them. They were also trained in artillery tactics and were usually better shots overall than their panzer crew counter parts. They were formed into their own battalions known as the Sturmgeshultz battalions. While Guderian as Inspector of Panzers would want more of these battalions, their wouldn’t be more than 40 of these at any given time. These battalions would be invaluable during the defensive battles the Germans would later face.

But as the war progressed and German tanks were being lost at a irreplaceable rate, these StuGs were found more and more in an anti tank role. With a low silhouette, a better gun than most other german tanks (early on), and with a reduced cost compared to regular tanks, they were used full the gaps in these panzer divisions. They were deployed in an anti-tank role as the panzer divisions lacked anti tank vehicles due to a lack of them. But this took StuGs out of their intended roles as an offensive infantry support vehicle to a defensive anti tank vehicle. But it filled this role quite nicely, with an upgraded gun it was a major threat to any Allied tank or vehicle. But these vehicles and crew were usually trained in the artillery branch, as such they still wore their artillery brand uniforms when transferred into the panzer divisions. I do not know if this was the same for the SS.

While these vehicles were increasingly put into more and more panzer divisions, they were supposed to be part of the artillery branch and support the infantry. But due to the German increasing shortage of tanks and put on the defensive in the latter half of the war, these vehicles were called on more and more from their offensive supporting role into a defensive anti tank vehicle.