Sd.Kfz.166 Stu.Pz.IV 'Brummbär' Mid-Production w/Zimmerit (2 in 1)
- World War Two
- German
- Sturmpanzer 43 (Sd.Kfz.166 Stu.Pz.IV "Brummbär") - armoured infantry support gun (the 15-centimetre (5.9 in) Sturmhaubitze (StuH) 43 L/12) based on the Panzer IV chassis. Total 306 built.
- was used at the Battles of Kursk, Anzio, Normandy, and was deployed in the Warsaw Uprising
- 1st series - 60 vehicles were built from April 1943, using Panzer IV Ausf. G chassis (52 vehicles) and Ausf. E/F chassis (8 vehicles). ~30 vehicles were upgraded to 2nd series standard in December 1943.
- 2nd series - 60 vehicles were built, using Ausf. H chassis from December 1943 to March 1944. Reinforced driver's armour protection (experience from the Battle of Kursk). The gunner's hatch was removed and a ventilator fan was fitted. Steel-rimmed road wheels replaced the front two rubber-rimmed road wheels in an effort to reduce the stress on the forward suspension.
- 3rd series - March to June 1944. The Fahrersehklappe 80 was replaced by periscopes and the lighter gun StuH 43/1 was used.
- 4th series - from June 1944 to March 1945. The superstructure (reduction in height) was redesigned, using Ausf. J chassis. Redesigned gun collar. Introduced a ball mount MG 34 machine gun (600 rounds) in the front superstructure . The vehicle commander's position was modified to use the cupola of the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, which could mount a machine gun for anti-aircraft defense.
- Zimmerit coating was applied to all vehicles until September 1944
|
Print this page
