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Germany's Brummbär Self Propelled Guns
Brummbär Sturmpanzer IV 15cm Self Propelled Gun7
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Brummbär |
Design
As early as June 9, 1941, in a memo, a need of a 150 mm gun to be carried for infantry support was indicated.7
On October 20, 1942, Hitler saw Alkett's plans and wanted 40-60 to be built as soon as possible.7 On February 7, 1943, it was decided that the first 40 were to be completed by May 12, 1943, with another 20 to be finished after that. Prototypes first appeared in 1943.
Main Armament
The Sturmhaubitze 43 howitzer was a specially developed to go in a ball mount. The 150 mm gun could fire a 83.8 lb HE shell 4,675 yards at a muzzle velocity of 787'/sec.6
Superstructure
The commander sat towards the rear and used a roof mounted periscope to see. The driver sat on the left side and had a sliding shutter visor similar to the Tiger I's.7 Later models had a periscope for the driver.7
From April 1944 on it had a ball mounted MG in the left had corner of the superstructure and a cupola for the commander. Late models installed a ball mounted MG in the hull and Schürzen (side skirts).7
Due to the excess weight caused by the superstructure the front two wheels were replaced by steel rimmed wheels.7
Chassis
The PzKpfw IV Ausf F chassis was used.7
The last vehicles were produced on the PzKpfw IV Ausf J chassis with a redesigned superstructure and had a MG installed in the top right of the superstructure.5
Prototype
Production
The chassis was produced by Nibelungen, superstructure by Bismarckhütte, and assembled by Deutsche Eisenwerke of Duisburg.
- April 1943: 207
- May 1943: 327
Usage
The were deployed in company sized units.5 Most were used in support of Panzergrenadier and infantry units. They were used in the front waves of infantry destroying strong points.
Kursk
First saw action at Kursk5 with the Sturmpanzerabteilung 216.7
Zaparozhye
These also saw action near Zaparozhye up to October 1943.
Italy and France
Three more Sturmpanzer detachments were formed during the war (217, 218, and 219).7 These units saw action in Italy and France.7
| Brummbär | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, gunner, loaders(2) 51,2,3,5,6,7 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 60,800 lb, 62,170 lb3 28,200 kg1,3, 28,651 kg7 27.75 tons1, 28.2 tons2,4,7, 28.3 tons5, 30.4 tons6 |
| Length w/gun | 19'6, 19' 4"5, 19' 5"7, 19' 5.5"1,3 5.89 m5, 5.93 m1,2,3,4,7 |
| Length w/o gun | 19' 4"5 5.89 m5 |
| Height | 8'6, 8' 2", 8' 3"7, 8' 3.2"1,3, 11' 4"5 2.49 m, 2.52 m1,2,3,4,7, 3.45 m5 |
| Width | 9.4'6, 9' 5"7, 9' 5.4"1,3, 9' 8", 12' 3"5 2, 2.88 m1,3,4,7, 3.1 m, 3.73 m5 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 15.8"6 40 cm |
| Ground contact length | 138.5"6 3.52 m |
| Ground pressure | 13.9 psi6 1 kg/cm2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 15cm StuH 43
L/122,5,6,7 150 mm1 150 mm sIG 33 L/123 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG34, coaxial,
internal 7.92 mm MG34, hull5 2: 7.92 mm MG1 2: 7.92 mm MG342,7, (only 1 in early production)2 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 365, 382,4,6 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 6002,5 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 1001,3,7 Front: 3.9"6, 1004 Side: 2"6, 504 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 101@38°, 100@40°2, 80@78°5 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 95@15°, 80@12°2, 50+50@75°5 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 50@18°, 50@15°2, 20+20@90°5 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°2 |
| Hull Rear | 30@25°+0° & 20@10°2, 20@80-82°5 |
| Hull Top | 22@82°, 20@83° + 10@90°2 |
| Hull Bottom | 10@90°2 |
| Superstructure Front | 100@50°5 |
| Superstructure Sides | 20-60@65-88°5 |
| Superstructure Rear | 30@64-90°5 |
| Superstructure Top | 20@6°5 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL120TRM1,2,5,6,7 Maybach HL120TRM1122 Maybach3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water6 |
| Cylinders | 127 V-123,5,6 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 2653, 3004,5,7 300@3,000 rpm6 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:16 |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF SSG 76 6 forward, 1 reverse2,6 Synchromesh6 |
| Steering | Clutch brake6 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric and inertia6 |
| Electrical system | Starting: 24-volt6 Running: 12-volt6 |
| Ignition | Magneto6 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline3,6, Petrol7 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 103 gallons5, 125 gallons6 470 liters5 |
| Road consumption | 1 mpg6 100 km/225 liters |
| Cross country consumption | 0.6 mpg6 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 8° each way 10° left, 10° right.2,4 ±20°6 |
| Max speed | 24 mph7, 24.85 mph3, 24.9 mph1, 25 mph5,6 40 kph1,2,3,4,5,7 |
| Cross country speed | 10 mph6, 15 mph5 24 kph5 |
| Road radius | 124 miles6, 130 miles3,7, 130.5 miles1, 131 miles5 210 km1,2,3,5,7 |
| Cross country radius | 78 miles6, 81 miles5 130 km5 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -8° to + 30°6 -5° to +30°2 -7° to +20°4 |
| Fording depth | 3' 3"3,6 0.9 m3 |
| Trench crossing | 7.6'6, 9' 2.2 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 23.6"6, 2' 6" 60 cm |
| Climbing ability | 30° (57%) slope6 |
| Suspension (Type) | Sprung in pairs on 1/4 elliptic springs6 |
| Wheels each side | 86, 8x2 |
| Return rollers each side | 46, 4x2 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin6 |
| Length | |
| Width | 15.75"6 40 cm |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | 4.75"6 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8.1'6 2.46 m |
| Production | Deutsche Eisenwerke2 Chassis #s: 80801-84400, 86601-87100, 89101-.2 4/1943-3/1945: 2981,2, 3065 converted from PzKpfw IV: 82 Chassis: Krupp6 Superstructure: Alkett6 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
