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Germany's Sturmmörser Tiger,
Sturmtiger,
38 cm R.W. 61 auf Sturmmörser Tiger⁵:

1/72 Diecast Models of Sturmtiger
Dragon Armor:
60025: 60026: 60113:	60114: 60173: 60178:	60233: 60346:

It was suggested to Hitler on Aug. 5, 1943, to mount the 38cm RTg launcher that was being developed for the navy by Rheinmetall-Borsig onto a tank chassis and used as an assault weapon. The recoil was around 40 tons so the Tiger I chassis was selected. The first prototype was developed by Alkett and was shown to Hitler on October 20, 1943 at Arys, East Prussia.

Was developed at Henschell's Kassel factory.⁴ In August 1944 Alkett converted 18 damaged Tigers.⁴

18 Tiger I chassis were converted to ammunition carriers.⁴

Brandenburger Eisenwerke produced the superstructure and Alkett converted the Tiger I chassis and completed the vehicle at their Berlin-Spandau plant.

Fired a 376 kg/761 lb shell 6,000 m/19,685'.⁴ The shell could only be loaded when the barrel was at 0° elevation.⁴ There were vents around the gun tube that allowed the exhaust to go forward. It took about 10 minutes to load the 761 lb. shell. There was a crane that was used to help load the rounds into the vehicle. The range was around 5,900 meters.

Fired an HE 716 lb shell to a range of 6,014 yards.⁵

It consumed fuel at the rate of 2 gallons per mile.

Used the FuG5 radio.²

10 used in East with first action August 1944. Formed 3 companies the 1000, 1001, 1002. The 1000 and 1001 were used in the Ardennes offensive with 4 tanks each. Used in the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto.⁴ Seven were in the Ardennes offensive.⁴

Company 1001 saw action in western Eifel. In March 1945 their last action was east of Bonn.

Company 1002 saw action in the Reichswald area. In March 1945 they moved to Rheinberg.

	Sturmtiger
Crew	Commander, driver, gun crew (4) 51,2,4,5, 73
Physical Characteristics
Weight	143,300 lb3, 145,600 lb 65,000 kg1,3 64 tons1, 65 tons2, 68 tons4, 70 tons5
Length w/gun	20' 7.2"1, 20' 7.25"3, 20' 8"4, 20' 9", 21.25'5 6.28 m1,2,3, 6.31 m4
Length w/o gun	20' 8"4 6.31 m4
Height	8.9'5, 9' 4.2"1,3, 11' 4" 2.85 m1,2,3 w/Crane: 11' 4"4, 3.46 m4
Width	11' 8.5"1, 11' 8.6"3, 12' 2", 12' 3"4, 12.25'5 3.57 m1,2,3, 3.73 m4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 6", 19.3"5 47 cm
Ground contact length	142"5 3.81 m
Ground pressure	17.3 psi5, 21.3 psi 1.24 kg/cm2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	380 mm Stu M RW61 L/5.42 380 mm depth charge launcher1 380 mm Raketenwerfer 61 rocket projector3 38 cm Mirser RW61 L/5.44 38 cm RW 61 rocket projector 5
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm MG34, coaxial 7.92 mm MG1,3 7.92 mm MG342 7.92 mm MG34, hull4
Side arms
Quantity
Main	142, 134,5
Secondary
MG	6002, 8004
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	1501,3 Front: 5.9"5 Side: 3.2"5
Hull Front, Upper	150@45°2, 150@80°4
Hull Front, Lower	100@25°2, 150@66°4
Hull Sides, Upper	80@30-0°2, 80@90°4
Hull Sides, Lower	60@0°2
Hull Rear	80@0°2 & 80@9°2, 80@70°4
Hull Top	25-40@90°2
Hull Bottom	25@90°2
Superstructure Front	5.9"5 150@45°4
Superstructure Sides	3.3"5 80@70°4
Superstructure Rear	80@80°4
Superstructure Top	40@0°4
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 210 P45, Maybach HL 230 P452,4 Maybach HL 210 P301,5 Maybach3
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water5
Cylinders	V-123,4,5
Net HP	6503, 7004, 700@3,000 rpm5
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio	6.8:15
Transmission (Type)	Olvar 40 12 16 8 forward, 4 reverse2,5 Olvar preselective5
Steering	Regenerative controlled differential - 2 radii of turn, hydraulically operated.5 Wheel controlled, but auxiliary levers provided5
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric and inertia
Electrical system	Start: 24-volt5 Normal: 12-volt5
Ignition	Magneto5
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline3,4,5
Octane
Quantity	119 gallons4, 143 gallons, 228 gallons5 540 liters4
Road consumption	0.47 mpg5 100 km/450 liters
Cross country consumption	0.14 mpg5
Performance
Traverse	±10°5, 10° left, 10° right2,4 Hand.2
Max speed	24.86 mph3, 24.9 mph1, 25 mph4, 26 mph5 40 kph1,2,3,4
Cross country speed	9 - 12 mph5, 15 mph4 24 kph4
Road radius	60 miles, 74.5 miles1, 75 miles3,4, 106 miles5 120 km1,2,3,4
Cross country radius	37 miles4, 75 miles5 85 km4
Turning radius	7 m
Elevation limits	+0° to +85°2,5
Fording depth	4'3, 64"5 1.22 m3
Trench crossing	9.85'5 2.3 m
Vertical obstacle	33.5"5 79 cm
Climbing ability	35° (70%) slope5
Suspension (Type)	Pair of road wheels, independently sprung on torsion bars5
Wheels each side	9x25
Return rollers each side	05
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin5
Length	11' 9"
Width	28.5"5, 2' 5" 72 cm
Diameter
Number of links	945
Pitch	5.5"5
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	9.25'5 2.83 m
Production	Alkett2,5 Chassis #s: 250001-2513572 8/1944-12/1944: 181 105

Sources:

1. 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
2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
4. German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
5. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?

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