TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces   LoneSentry.com

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department Technical Manual, TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces published in March 1945. — Figures and illustrations are not reproduced, see source details. — As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. — Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

CHAPTER VII. WEAPONS

Section V. SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

3. Field and Medium Self-Propelled Artillery

a. WASP (Wespe), 10.5 cm le. F. H. (18/2) ON THE MODIFIED Pz. Kpfw. II CHASSIS. (1) General. The Wasp is the most common self-propelled version of the standard German light field howitzer, 10.5 cm le. F. H. 18. With a maximum elevation of 42 degrees, it has only slightly less maximum range than the field-mounted version. Other modified versions of the 10.5 cm le. F. H. 18 may be found mounted on the French "Lorraine" chassis, the Hotchkiss 39 tank chassis, and the Pz. Kpfw. IV B chassis.

(2) Specifications.

General
Nomenclature   . . . . .   Wespe
Type of carriage   . . . . .   Gw. II (Wespe), Sd. Kfz. 124.
Length over-all:
    Excluding gun   . . . . .   15 feet 9 inches.
Width over-all   . . . . .   7 feet 3 1/2 inches.
Height over-all   . . . . .   7 feet 10 1/2 inches.
Weight   . . . . .   12.33 tons.
Crew   . . . . .   5 men.
Gun
Type   . . . . .   10.5 cm le. F. H. 18/2.
Muzzle velocity   . . . . .   HE 1,772 feet per second.
Maximum range   . . . . .   13,500 yards.
Elevation   . . . . .   -5° to +42°.
Traverse   . . . . .   10° each way.
Muzzle brake   . . . . .   Yes.
Buffer   . . . . .   Hydraulic.
Recuperator   . . . . .   Hydropneumatic.
Ammunition:
    Types fired   . . . . .    HE  HC   Smoke      
    Rounds carried   . . . . .   22 8  
    Muzzle velocity (feet per second)   . . . . .   1,772  (supercharge)
    Projectile weight (pounds)   . . . . .   32.6 25.9 32.4 
Carriage
Suspension:
    Number of bogie wheels   . . . . .   5.
    Type of bogie wheels   . . . . .   large.
    Number of return rollers   . . . . .   3.
    Track, length   . . . . .   7 feet 10 1/2 inches.
    Track, width   . . . . .   6 feet 2 inches.
    Width of link   . . . . .   11 3/4 inches.
Hull armor:
    Front   . . . . .   30 mm.
    Sides   . . . . .   20 mm.
Fighting compartment armor:
    Front   . . . . .   10 mm.
    Sides   . . . . .   10 mm.
Power
Engine:
    Type   . . . . .   Maybach HL 62 TR.
    Cylinders   . . . . .   6.
    Fuel   . . . . .   Gasoline.
    Horsepower   . . . . .   140.
Transmission   . . . . .   Synchromesh; 6 forward, one reverse.
Drive   . . . . .   Front sprocket.
Performance
Trench crossing   . . . . .   6 feet.
Fording   . . . . .   3 feet.
Radius of action   . . . . .   127 miles.
Step   . . . . .   1 foot.
Gradient   . . . . .   30°.
Maximum speed   . . . . .   25 miles per hour.

b. GRIZZLY BEAR (Brummbär) or Stu. Pz. 43 (15 cm Stu. H. 43 (L/12) on Pz. Kpfw. IV CHASSIS). (1) General. This is essentially a close-support weapon and mounts a very short-barreled howitzer in a high, armored superstructure. The 150-mm infantry gun (s. I. G. 33) performs a similar role on its various self-propelled mountings: the chassis of Pz. Kpfw. IB, Pz. Kpfw. II, and the Czech 38 (t). The Grizzly Bear gives much better protection to the crew than any of these.

(2) Specifications.

General
Nomenclature   . . . . .   Brummbär or Stu. Pz. 43.
Type of carriage   . . . . .   Stu. G. IV, Sd. Kfz. 166.
Length over-all:
Including gun   . . . . .   19 feet 4 inches.
Excluding gun   . . . . .   19 feet 4 inches.
Width over-all   . . . . .   9 feet 8 inches.
Height over-all   . . . . .   8 feet 2 inches.
Weight   . . . . .   30.4 tons.
Crew   . . . . .   5 men.
Gun
Type   . . . . .   15 cm Stu. H. 43 (L/12).
Muzzle velocity   . . . . .   HE 790 feet per second.
Maximum range   . . . . .   HE 5,000 yards (approximately).
Elevation   . . . . .   -8.5° to +30°.
Traverse   . . . . .   8° each way.
Muzzle brake   . . . . .   No.
Ammunition:
    Types fired   . . . . .    HE   HC   Smoke      
    Muzzle velocity (feet per second)   . . . . .   790 902 780 
    Projectile weight (pounds)   . . . . .   83.6 55 85.7 
    Rounds carried   . . . . .   Total of 38 rounds.
Carriage
Suspension:
    Number of bogie wheels   . . . . .   8.
    Type of bogie wheels   . . . . .   Small rubber tired.
    Number of return rollers   . . . . .   4.
    Track, length   . . . . .   11 feet 6 inches.
    Track, width   . . . . .   8 feet 1 inch.
Hull armor:
    Front   . . . . .   45 plus 50 mm armor at 15°.
    Sides   . . . . .   30 mm vertical.
    Rear   . . . . .   20 mm.
Fighting compartment armor:
    Front   . . . . .   101 mm at 38°.
    Sides   . . . . .   50 mm at 18°.
    Roof   . . . . .   22 mm at 82°.
Power
Engine:
    Type   . . . . .   Maybach HL 120 TRM.
    Cylinders   . . . . .   V-12.
    Fuel   . . . . .   Gasoline.
    Horsepower   . . . . .   295 at 3,000 rpm.
    Transmission   . . . . .   Synchromesh; 6 forward, 1 reverse.
    Drive   . . . . .   Front sprocket.
Performance
Trench crossing   . . . . .   9 feet.
Fording   . . . . .   3 feet.
Radius of action   . . . . .   130 miles.
Step   . . . . .   2 feet 6 inches.
Gradient   . . . . .   30°.
Maximum speed   . . . . .   25 miles per hour.
Armament
Type   . . . . .   One M.G. 34, ball mount.
Location   . . . . .   Left of main armament.

c. BUMBLE BEE (Hummel) 15 cm s. F. H. 18/1 ON Gw. III/IV. (1) General. This self-propelled medium howitzer employs a hybrid chassis made up of the suspension of the Pz. Kpfw. IV and various components of Pz. Kpfw. III. This gun has the same mission in its self-propelled version as in its field version. The 15 cm S. F. H. 13, an older medium howitzer (obsolete on its field mount), may be found in the same role, mounted on the French "Lorraine" chassis.

(2) Specifications.

General
Nomenclature   . . . . .   Hummel.
Type of carriage   . . . . .   Gw. III/IV, Sd. Kfz. 165.
Length over-all:
    Including gun   . . . . .   21 feet 3 7/8 inches.
    Excluding gun   . . . . .   20 feet 4 1/8 inches.
Width over-all   . . . . .   9 feet 8 1/8 inches.
Height over-all   . . . . .   9 feet 7 3/4 inches.
Weight   . . . . .   25.2 tons.
Crew   . . . . .   6 men.
Gun
Type   . . . . .   15 cm s. F. H. 18/1.
Weight   . . . . .   2.07 tons (barrel and breech).
Muzzle velocity   . . . . .   HE 1,705 feet per second.
Maximum range   . . . . .   HE charge eight 14,570 yards.
Elevation   . . . . .   0° to 39°.
Traverse   . . . . .   16° each way.
Muzzle brake   . . . . .   No.
Buffer   . . . . .   Hydraulic (under tube).
Recuperator   . . . . .   Hydropneumatic (over tube).
Ammunition:
    Types fired   . . . . .    HE   HC   Smoke      
    Rounds carried   . . . . .   12 6  
    Muzzle velocity (feet per second)   . . . . .   1,705   
    Projectile weight (pounds)   . . . . .   95.9  86 
Carriage
Suspension:
    Number of bogie wheels   . . . . .   8.
    Type of bogie wheels.   . . . . .   Small rubber tired.
    Number of return rollers   . . . . .   4.
    Track, length   . . . . .   11 feet 6 inches.
    Track, width   . . . . .   7 feet 10 7/8 inches.
    Width of link   . . . . .   1 foot 3 inches.
Hull armor:
    Front   . . . . .   30 mm at 22°.
    Sides   . . . . .   20 mm vertical.
    Rear   . . . . .   20 mm at 9°.
    Top   . . . . .   17 mm horizontal.
    Belly   . . . . .   17 mm horizontal.
    Fighting compartment armor:
    Front   . . . . .   10 mm at 37°.
    Sides   . . . . .   10 mm at 16°.
    Top   . . . . .   10 mm at 12°.
Power
Engine:
    Type   . . . . .   Maybach HL 120 TRM.
    Cylinders   . . . . .   V-12.
    Fuel   . . . . .   Gasoline.
    Location   . . . . .   Center.
    Horsepower   . . . . .   295 at 3,000 rpm.
Transmission   . . . . .   Synchromesh; 6 forward, 1 reverse.
    Drive   . . . . .   Front sprocket.
Performance
    Trench crossing   . . . . .   9 feet.
    Fording   . . . . .   2 feet 7 1/2 inches.
    Radius of action   . . . . .   160 miles.
    Step   . . . . .   2 feet 6 inches.
    Gradient   . . . . .   30°.
    Maximum speed   . . . . .   25 miles per hour.

   

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