Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw II (SF) Wespe, SdKfz 124, "Wasp",
10.5 cm Le.F.H. 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzer II (sf) Wespe5,
10.5 cm L.F.H. 18/2 auf GW II, "Wespe", SdKfz 1246:
MAN developed the chassis, Alkett the superstructure, and Rheinmetall-Borsig the gun. Main production center was FAMO (formerly Vereinigte Maschinenfabrik) plant in Warsaw, Poland. Used PzKpfw II chassis that was lengthened and the engine was also moved forward. First entered service at Battle of Kursk in 1943. Range of 10,675 meters. These were usually used by divisional artillery batteries of the Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions. Were organized into batteries of 6 howitzers with up to 5 batteries to an Abteilung (battalion).
The muzzle velocity was 470 m/s / 1,542'/s.5 The HE shell weighed 32.7 lbs and was fired at a muzzle velocity of 1,772'/sec.6 The range was 11,679 yards.6 If the gun was fitted with a muzzle brake and an Fernladung (extra charge) then the range was 13,450 yards.6
1591 (1585) were produced as ammunition carriers and had a plate in the gun slot that could be removed in the field and a 105 mm gun placed. Could carry 90 rounds.4,5 It carried a driver and 2 gunners.
Was named the "Wespe" but Hitler ordered the name dropped on February 27, 1944.
Used FuG Spr f radio.2
| Wespe, SdKfz 124, "Wasp" | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Driver, gun crew (5) 51,2,3,5,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 24,660 lb, 24,251 lb3 11,000 kg1,3, 11,480 kg 10.8 tons1, 11 tons2,4, 11.5 tons5, 12.1 tons6 |
| Length w/gun | 15.8'6, 15' 8"5, 15' 9.4"1,3 4.79 m5, 4.81 m1,2,3,4 |
| Length w/o gun | 15' 8"5, 15' 9" 4.79 m5 |
| Height | 7' 6.5"1, 7' 6.6"3, 7.6'6, 7' 7"5, 7' 10.5" 2.3 m1,2,3,4, 2.32 m5 |
| Width | 7' 3.5", 7' 5.75"3, 7' 5.7"1, 7' 4"5, 7.5'6 2.24 m5, 2.28 m1,2,3,4 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 13.4"6 36 cm |
| Ground contact length | 94.5"6 2.4 m |
| Ground pressure | 10.9 psi6 0.82 kg/cm2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 10.5 cm leFH8M L/282 105 mm howitzer1 105 mm leFH 18 field howitzer3 105 mm Howitzer, 18/15 10.5 cm leFH 18/2 L/28 howitzer5 10.5 cm L.F.H. 18/2, L/286 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG342,3 7.92 mm MG1 7.9 mm MG346 |
| Side arms | 2: MP386 |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 321,2,4,5,6, 405 22: HE, 8: HC |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 600 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 183, 301 Front: 0.7"6, 304 Side: 0.6"6, 154 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 10, 20@30°2, 20@60-75°5 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 10, 30@15°2, 20@75°5 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 15@0°2, 15@90°5 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 15@0°2 |
| Hull Rear | 8@0°2 & 15@10°2, 20@90°5 |
| Hull Top | 10@90°2 |
| Hull Bottom | 5@90°2 |
| Superstructure Front | 12, 10@24°2, 12@69°5 |
| Superstructure Sides | 10@17°2, 10@73°5 |
| Superstructure Rear | 8, 10@16°2, 10@74°5 |
| Superstructure Top | open2,5 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 62 TR1,2,5,6 Maybach3 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 cycles6 |
| Cooling | Water6 |
| Cylinders | I-66, 63, R-65 |
| Net HP | 1403,4,5, 140@2,600 rpm6 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:16 |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh6, SSG/46 6 forward, 1 reverse2,6 |
| Steering | Clutch brake6 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric6 |
| Electrical system | 12-volt6 |
| Ignition | Magneto6 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline3,6 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 37 gallons5, 45 gallons6 170 liters5 |
| Road consumption | 1.9 mpg6 |
| Cross country consumption | 1.3 mpg6 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 10° each way, ±20°6 17° left, 17° right2,4,5 |
| Max speed | 25 mph5,6, 24.85 mph3, 24.8 mph1 40 kph1,2,3,4,5 |
| Cross country speed | 12.5 mph5 20 kph5 |
| Road radius | 87 miles5,6, 127 miles, 136 miles, 136.7 miles1, 137 miles3 140 km5, 220 km1,2,3 |
| Cross country radius | 59 miles5,6 95 km5 |
| Turning radius | 4.8 m |
| Elevation limits | -5° to +42°2,4,6 |
| Fording depth | 2' 7.5"3,6, 3' 0.8 m3 |
| Trench crossing | 5.6'6, 6' |
| Vertical obstacle | 1', 1' 4.5"6 42 cm |
| Climbing ability | 30° (57%) slope6 |
| Suspension (Type) | Each wheel attached to a movable arm which is attached to a 1/4 elliptic spring and rests next to a roller on the hull6 |
| Wheels each side | 56 |
| Return rollers each side | 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin6 |
| Length | 7' 10.5" |
| Track width | 11.8"6 28 cm |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 1066 |
| Pitch | 3.6"6 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 6.2'6, 6' 2" 1.88 m |
| Production | 2/1943-7/1944: 683, 6762 Chassis #s: 31001-321902 FAMO2,5 1943-1944: 6835 1942-1944: 6835 Chassis: MAN-Alkett6 Howitzer: Rheinmetall-Borsig6 |
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?
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