ARTILLERY-Part 2

SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

Part 2

Bryan Perrett continues his series on Self Propelled weapons.

In this article he describes German Assault Guns of the Second World War

Photo by Alan Wilson

the crew. The first versions were equipped with the short 75 mm gun also used in the early Mark IV tanks, a low velocity weapon which could fire a useful high explosive round. However, as their name implies, Assault Guns were meant to fight well forward, and although they were themselves protected in some measure from the fire of tanks. with this model of gun they could do little to protect their infantry by knocking out the enemy armour.

Therefore, the story of the Stug lll’s development is one of increasing calibre length, first from 24 to 33, then to 43, then to 48, the two latter versions being fitted with muzzle brakes. Some of the 48 calibre models also had a redesigned mantlet in the shape of a pig’s head (Saukopf).

Photo by Alan Wilson

Above:
105 mm. Sturm Haubitze front view which replaced the Wasp and was mounted on a PzKwlll.

FOLLOWING World War I, the German Army carried out a searching analysis of the reasons for its defeat, and in doing so arrived at almost the same conclusions that had led the British Army to produce the Gun Carrier Mark I -namely, that the infantryman’s traditional weapons, the rifle, grenade and machine gun, were insufficient in modern terms to enable him to pursue and to defend his tactical objectives.

The establishment of German infantry regiments was, therefore, increased by a battery of guns, an interesting case of history repeating itself, as Gustavus Adolphus had increased fire power of his foot battalions three hundred years earlier by issuing small guns, some allegedly made from leather.

Manoeuvres revealed that the use of the normal towed gun suffered from insufficient mobility and inadequate protection for the gunners, and in 1936 work began on producing a new type of vehicle that would remedy these defects. This vehicle was to be known as an Assault Gun, a term which reflects the influence of German Army psychologists. who recommended an emphasis on aggression in unit and vehicle nomenclature.

The Assault Gun, or, to give it its German title, Sturmgeschutz, was based upon the chassis of the Mark Ill tank. Instead of a turret, the vehicle was fitted with a fixed fighting compartment forward, providing overall protection for

The effect of this development was to increase the muzzle velocity of the round, and so its penetrative power in the anti-tank role. A parallel development using the same vehicle was the installation of a 105 mm howitzer in place of the 75 mm gun. It was intended that these should be issued in the ratio of 1-9 75 mm Stugs. It must be remembered that although the Stug Ill eventually developed an anti-tank capability, these vehicles were still primarily designed to supply the infantry with direct and immediate artillery support. They should not be confused with the

Jagdpanzer {Tank Hunter) series of vehicles developed on the chassis of the PzKw Mark IV, which were employed as tank destroyers. However, one composite type was built employing the chassis of PkKw IV and the superstructure of Stug Ill with a 48 calibre gun and pig’s head mantlet, being known as Stug IV.

Assault guns first saw service in France in 1940, and thereafter in almost every theatre in which the German Army was involved. They performed their duties most satisfactorily, and at one stage of the war their production figures exceeded that of battle tanks.

This apparently irrational policy was brought about by their ease and simplicity of construction, and the need to replace tank losses on the Eastern Front very quickly. However, this was purely a temporary solution, as assault guns were not designed to, nor could they ever hope to perform the role of battle tanks. Experience gained in action led to various improvements to the basic design of the assault gun.

The most important ot ‘these was the provision of a commander’s cupola, and of a machine gun for local defence on the) roof of the fighting compartment. At first this was operated by a gunner lying on the roof behind an armoured shield, but this extremely dangerous practice was eventually superseded by a system of remote control from within the fighting compartment.

Other defensive modifications included the provision of side skirting plates as a protection against hollow charge anti-tank weapons carried by enemy infantry, and smoke grenade dischargers to mask their movements when backing out of the firing line or changing position.

Above Two views of the 75 mm. Stug 111 L24 which should prove useful for modellers.

In practice. Stugs were not issued direct to infantry regiments, as originally intended. They tended to be grouped together in battalions or larger formations, and allotted to the infantry according to operational requirements.

There can be little doubt that their appearance and method of employment on the battlefield came as a great shock to the traditional artilleryman of other armies. and in this field the German Army retained its lead until the war’s end, only the Russians producing an artillery weapon system in any way comparable.

The Bumble Bee’s chassis was made up of parts from the chassis of both PzKw Ill and PzKw IV. The engine was moved from the rear to what would normally have been the lower half of the fighting compartment. with grills visible amidships in the protective plating superstructure.

The driver was positioned beneath an armoured nacelle in the well sloped glacis. with the radio operator to his right. Four other crew members were carried within the superstructure. The weapon was the 150 mm heavy Howitzer with a calibre length of 29.6. Elevation up to 40° was possible, with a hand traverse 3 left and right of zero. Maximum range obtainable, using a super charge, was 14.500 yds. Some early models had a muzzle brake fitted.

18 rounds of ammunition were stored within the fighting compartment and could be replenished from armoured carriers which were simply the same vehicles the Bumble Bee without any armament.

Above:
An interesting photograph depicting a 105mm S.P. Howitzer Bumble Bee. Showing composite PzkwIII/IV chassis and running gear. Note camouflage netting and number of occupants. Unfortunately the drawings for this vehicle which appeared last month in part 1 of this series were wrongly titled ‘Wasp’; the correct ‘Wasp’ drawings are shown below.