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| ? | Based on the experiences gained in the early stages of fighting on the Eastern Front,in late 1941, plans were laid for the development of artillery support vehicles, including a howitzer carrier based on Panzerkampfwagen III’s chassis. Its main role was to provide other units with mobile artillery support on the battlefield. | | + | History [ edit ] |
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| ? | In early 1942, one prototype based on the Panzerkampfwagen III’s chassis and armed with 105mm leFH17 howitzer (with muzzle brake) was constructed. Its design was rejected in favor of using the Panzerkampfwagen IV’s chassis. This design was accepted, and one prototype, based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV’s chassis and armed with 105mm leFH17, was produced. | | + | Development and production [ Edit ] |
| | | + | Even before the war, rose later to Colonel General Heinz Guderian , who developed the armor for independent branch of service, the demand for motorized and armored protection standing artillery, the armored units to battle follow and give them the necessary artillery support should be. These plans could be realized due to the initially low production capacity of the tank industry only 1942nd [1] After it was recognized that an initially planned special construction of self-propelled guns with Rundumfeuerung due to the war was no longer justify an attempt was made to use existing chassis and weapons . |
| | | + | Developed in 1942, the vehicle-based, just like the tank hunter rhino , on the gun carriage III / IV. This was a chassis of the Panzer IV with the drive train of a Panzer III , where the engine was moved forward to create a spacious in the rear battle area. As a weapon, the 150-mm howitzer was 18 howitzers used which had a side directional field of 15 ° to both sides and with a 43-pound projectile a firing range of 13 km. Since the vehicle was not designed for direct combat, only a light armor protected against rifle fire and shrapnel. So the building had only one round of 10 mm armor. The development took place at Alkett and assembly in the German iron works in Duisburg. The official designation was "heavy howitzer 15 cm 18 / 1 on Chassis Panzerkampfwagen III / IV (Sf)" (Sd.Kfz. 165). The "Hummel" came in May 1943 to the front until the summer of 85 pieces were with the troops. [2] By the end of the year, 227 pieces delivered. Total of 724 self-propelled howitzers were produced, ten of which resulted from conversions. [3] On 27 February 1944 was accounted for by transfer of Adolf Hitler used until that time the suggestive name "bumblebee." [4] In early 1945, the production of the "Bumblebee" is set. At this time there were 335 "Bumblebees", which was the largest part of the Eastern Front and from the lack of fuel and ammunition was suffering. [5] |
| | | + | Use [ Edit ] |
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| ? | In late July of 1942, it was decided to replace the gun with the more powerful 150mm sFH 18 L/30 howitzer (without muzzle brake) based on the special chassis by Alkett/Rheinmetall-Borsig designated Geschutzwagen III/IV. It combined components of both the PzKpfw III (mainly Ausf J - driving and steering mechanism) and PzKpfw IV (mainly Ausf F - suspension, engine, cooling system). Originally, the Hummel (Bumble-Bee) was planned to be another "interim solution" until a especially designed gun platform / chassis was developed. | | + | |
| | | + | Easy to see the open-topped fighting compartment |
| | | + | The howitzer "Hummel" was organisationally armored artillery regiment, an armored division assumed. A regiment had three departments , with only one department was equipped with self-propelled guns. A division consisted of three batteries . The first two batteries were with the howitzer "Wasp" feature, and the third battery is equipped with six "bumblebees" and two ammunition carriers. Although the vehicles had a high lift and had no opportunity to Rundumfeuerung, they proved themselves at the front. [6] For a direct contact with the enemy was a fight enemy tanks in the direct aiming of the gun is possible, but this should be low because of the armor in the only emergency . done From autumn 1944, the First Department officially equipped only one tank regiment with artillery self-propelled guns. Here too was the target of the 3rd Equipment Battery six "bumblebees", where there were numerous discrepancies due to the war, since the production could not keep step with losses. Such were alone on the Eastern Front 1944 240 howitzers "Hummel" lost. [7] |
| | | + | Ammunition carrier "Hummel" [ Edit ] |
| | | + | Because the howitzer "Hummel" with 18 rounds only a limited amount of ammunition and had not for a sustained fire support over a long enough time, were still 157 ammunition carrier "Hummel" built. This was around the same type of vehicle was used during the installation on the main weapon. Inside the still open-topped fighting compartment were sealed and placed supports additional ammunition caused by the absence of the main weapon of the gap in front of the building by an additional armor plate armor. The ammunition carrier could carry 90 grenades and cartridges. Although the vehicles were in their purchase relatively expensive, but they made for the logistics of heavy artillery units, a considerable relief dar. Thus, the ammunition carrier just off-road as the howitzer, were better protected than those normally used in the replenishment squadrons Opel Blitz and it was not additional spare parts required. The conversion of such ammunition to support a self-propelled howitzer "Hummel" was also possible. This required only to open a locked gun aperture plate armor and a gun - for example, from another damaged "Bumblebee" was born - to be installed |
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| | {{Panel Gallery|Historical Gallery| | | | {{Panel Gallery|Historical Gallery| |
• IV Birch Gun • V Bishop • VI FV304 • VII Crusader 5.5-in. SP • VIII FV207 • IX FV3805 • X Conqueror Gun Carriage
