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| EnglishVersion/4-Conversions/Brummbar.htm |
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At the beginning of 1942, Alkett with Krupp was commissioned to carry out new Sturmpanzer. Alkett was to design a tilted superstructure armed with the assault howitzer of 150 mm StuH 43 L/12 (developed by Skoda for the assault gun sIG 33). This superstructure was to be assembled on standard chassis of Panzerkampfwagen IV modified by Krupp. About the semi October 1942, Speer presented the plans of new Sturmpanzer at Adolf Hitler. Führer placed an order from 40 to 60 of these new vehicles which were to be ready for spring 1943. Hitler also proposed the use of a mortar of 210 mm or 220 mm, but this version was never produced. In February 1943, Skoda produced a wooden prototype of new Sturmpanzer IV or Sturmpanzer 43. The vehicle was officially designed (Sd.Kfz.166- Sturmgeschütz IV put 15 cm StuH 43.
In March 1943, the first six specimens were carried out and towards the end April, 40 others were produced. The 14 last will be carried out in May 1943, to satisfy the initial order. New chassis (provided by Nibelungenwerke), as of the recovered chassis were used to carry out conversion. It was about 52 new chassis of Ausf G and eight chassis of recovered Ausf.E and Ausf.F. For more economy it will be decided of more used only recovered chassis for the future specimens. The firms of Heereszeugamt Wien (deposit of army in Vienna) Saurerwerke and Simmering-Graz-Pauker were also put at part. On mid May 1943, Sturmpanzer IV was officially presented at the heads of third Reich at the military base of Arys (Orzysz) in Eastern Prussia. The mass production was to begin in May 1943, but the first vehicles were delivered only as from November of 1943 because of a delay of delivery of chassis. Sturmpanzer IV of early production suffered from a problem of weight, caused by the retreat and the weight (1850 kg) of the 150 mm StuH 43 L/12 misfits to the chassis of Panzerkampfwagen IV. These vehicles also had problems of transmission and were under-motorized what induced a too high consumption. Moreover the lack of auxiliary machine-gun made of them easy targets for the anti-tank sections of the opposing infantry. A machine-gun MP 40 was embarked inside the superstructure and was fired by the side ports of pistol shooting of the superstructure. These vehicles took on board a crew of four men, the loader being also a radio operator operator. The pilot at the beginning was equipped with a episcope Fahrersehklappe 80 adapted of the Tiger tank.
As of December 1943, a new version of the 150 mm, lighter, StuH 43/1 L/12 will be installed and the superstructure reduced to gain weight. The same month the production of the second series began and 80 specimens were built. The position of the pilot had been worked over again but the big problem of Sturmpanzer IV, the weight had not been truly corrected. In January 1944, Sturmpanzer IV was officially baptized Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär (Grizzly). About mid 1944, the superstructure was still reorganized. The production continued until March 1945 and one third and fourth series were produced with a total of 166 specimens. The last models or Abschlusserie were equipped with a MG 34 of hull assembled on ball (Kugelblende 80 mount for shielding of 80 mm) mounted on a bulge in the left higher corner of the frontal plate of the superstructure. The collar of the gun was also modified, a cupola coming from StuG III Ausf G (with support for anti-aircraft MG 34 ) and Schürzen will be also installed and the antimagnetic paste Zimmerit used. These vehicles was smaller than the models of origin. Well better conceived these last models proved to be relevant and effective weapons. Let us note that these models used frames of Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf H (with one or two pairs of any steel road wheels on each side) and of Ausf J (with all any steel road wheels).
Only 38 rounds of 150 mm could be transported in the reduced space of the superstructure. If at the beginning of the ammunition of 150 mm weighing 25 kg were used, of anti-tank rounds of 38 kg more powerful will be preferred thereafter. The assault howitzer was assembled (slightly on the right) on ball mount in the thick frontal plate of 100 mm. This one was equipped with a sight tube Sfl.Z.F.1a (Selbstfahrlafetten-Zielfernrohr) (5x8) and had a vertical field of fire going from -8 to +30 degrees and a horizontal field of fire from -15° to +15°. The crew in the models of late production was composed of five men: the commander, sitted behind the howitzer, two loaders, a gunner and a pilot, sitted in the front compartment. In all four series were produced, from March 1943 to March 1945, and 298-306 Sturmpanzer were produced. Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär one was developed for street battles. It was very effective counters cut off positions of infantry, the buildings and almost any fortifications. It was also useful like support vehicle for the panzergrenadier and infantry units. Sturmpanzer was familiarly baptized "Stupa". Certain vehicles of mid and late production will be used like command vehicles, Bef.Stu.Pz.IV (Befehlsturmpanzer IV) and equipped with additional radio and antenna. Krupp thought of using the chassis and the superstructure of Brummbär to create Jagdpanzer IV armed with the 88 mm Pak 43 L/71, but only one prototype was produced.
Sturmpanzers were versed in Sturmpanzerabteilungen composed with 45
Sturmpanzers accompanied by 85 other vehicles (SdKfz.9...) and 611 officers
and soldiers. The first unit was formed in April 1943. Sturmpanzerabteilung
216 was transferred in the area from Amiens in France to ensure
the training of the crews. The unit was sent on June 10, 1943 on the
Eastern front and known its baptism of fire within the 656th sPanzerjäger
as an element of the group of army Mitte (center) at Koursk (summer
1943). The majority of Sturmpanzer IV of early production will be lost
at the time of the battle of Koursk saillent like in Kharkov and Dneprstroy.
After Koursk, the unit will be reconstituted and returned to the combat
in September 1943. Sturmpanzerabteilung 216 fought in Russia until mid
December 1943, and will again be returned to Germany to be reconstituted.
In February 1944, the unit will be transferred in Italy, in the area
of Anzio and Nettuno. The 216 remained Italy until April 1945, when
the last Brummbärs were destroyed by their crews close to Lake
Garda. Sturmpanzerabteilung 217 was formed from April to June 1944 in Grafenwohr. In July 1944, it was sent in Normandy to the south-east of Caen. A part was destroyed in Falaise, and survivors withdrew in Holland and took part in the defense of Aachen. Sturmpanzerabteilung 217 also took part in the offensive in the Ardennes (winter 44-45). The 217 made finally rendering in Rhür in April 1945. In August 1944, two independent companies were formed, Sturmpanzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 218 and Sturmpanzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 2/218. These two companies were equipped with 10 Brummbärs each one. The 218 was sent in Warsaw on August 13 within the combat group of Reinefarth and was opposed to the revolt of the city. The unit remained in Poland and was to again form in theory part of Sturmpanzerabteilung 218 from which the constitution had begun in January 1945. However a new Soviet offensive put at evil the company and the remainders of the unit were versed in Kampfgruppe Grossdeutschland. Sturmpanzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 2/218 as for it was sent in the Paris area in August 1944, then...?. Sturmpanzerabteilung 218 from which the formation began in January 1945 was ready for the combat in March with a strength of 43 Brummbärs. Into April, the unit will be converted into Panzer-Jaeger-Verband. In September 1944, Sturmpanzerabteilung 219 was formed in Dollersheim. In December, the 219 will be sent in the area of the lake Velencei in Hungary. January of 1945, the 219 within 23rd Panzerdivision took part in the confrontations of the area of Budapest. In March, without any Brummbärs, the unit was sent in Czechoslovakia, where it was reconstituted with 10 Brummbärs In April, it was moved without equipment at Waidhofen and went to enlarge the Panzer-Jagd-Brigade "Trumpa".
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