Sd.Kfz 165 Hummel

Hummel was a German self-propelled artillery used in WWII. Had low speed, his advantage was the powerful cannon of 150mm, which made him a formidable piece of mobile artillery.

Development and production
Even before the war raised the later Colonel General and Marshal Heinz Guderian, the armored force for self- developed branch of service, the demand for motorized and armored protection under standing artillery, which follow the armored units into battle and give them the necessary artillery support should be. These plans could be realized due to the initial low level of productive capacity of the tank industry until 1942nd After it was recognized that an initially planned special design of self-propelled with Rundumfeuerung because of the war was no longer responsible, they tried to use already existing chassis and weapons.

The vehicle, developed in 1942 based , like the tank destroyer Rhino on the gun carriage III / IV. This was one of the chassis Panzer IV with the drive train of a Panzer III, The engine was moved forward to create a large fight in the rear room. As a weapon was the 150 mm howitzer sFH 18 used, which had a side directional field of 15 ° to both sides and with a 43 -pound projectile shot a range of 13 km. Since the vehicle was not designed for direct combat, one was enough light armor, which protect against rifle fire and shrapnel. The structure had only one Rundumpanzerung of 10 mm. The development was carried out at Alkett and the assembly at the German ironworks in Duisburg. The official title was " 15 cm heavy howitzer 18 / 1 on chassis Panzer III / IV (Sf) ( Sd.Kfz. 165). The Hummel came in May 1943 to the front until the summer, 85 pieces with the troops. By the end of the year 227 units were delivered. A total of 724 howitzers were produced , ten of which resulted from conversions. On February 27, 1944 accounted for on the instructions of Adolf Hitler the previously used Suggestiv name "Hummel ". In early 1945, the production of Hummel has been set. At that time there were 335 Hummels, which was the most part of the Eastern Front and was suffering from the lack of fuel and ammunition.

Use in Combat
The Hummel was propelled howitzer artillery regiment of the tank organization Panzer Division assumed. A regiment had three Departments with only one department was equipped with self-propelled. One section consisted of three Batteries. The first two batteries were included with the Wespe equipped, and the third battery with six sollmäßig bumblebees and two ammunition bearers. Although the vehicles had a high lift and had no opportunity to Rundumfeuerung, they proved themselves on the front. In a direct contact with the enemy a fight enemy tanks in direct alignment of the cannon was possible, but this should be low because of the armor only in emergencies. From the autumn of 1944 was officially provided only a Panzer Division I. Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment with. Also in the third was the battery Sollausstattung six bumblebees, with advent of war , there were numerous discrepancies , since the production could not keep step with losses. It was mentioned in 1944 but lost on the Eastern Front 240 Hummels.

Ammunition carrier Hummel
Since the Hummel had 18 shots with only a limited amount of ammunition, and this is not sustainable over a long enough time fire support, or 157 " Hummel ammunition carriers were built . This was around the same type of vehicle , set aside the to the installation of the main weapon. The interior of the still open top battle space , additional ammunition brackets attached and sealed the conditional by the absence of the main weapon gap in the front armor of the building by an additional armor plate . The ammunition carrier could carry 90 grenades and cartridges. Although the vehicles were in their purchase relatively expensive, but they made for the logistics of heavy artillery units, a considerable relief dar. Thus the munitions makers as well as the off-road self-propelled howitzer , were better protected than those normally used in the supply squadrons Opel Blitz and no additional purchase of spare parts was necessary. The conversion of a munitions carrier in a self-propelled howitzer Hummel Hummel was also possible. These had to be opened only with an armor plate aperture and a closed gun guns - which had been obtained for example from a different Damaged Hummels - built.

Specifications

 * Weight: 24.3 ton.
 * Garrison: 6 men
 * Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM, 12 -cylinder ( 265hp )
 * Speed: 42 Km / h ( road) and 20 km / h ( off road )
 * Range: 215 km ( highway) and 130 km (off -road)
 * Length: 7.17 m (with cannon)
 * Width: 2.97 m
 * Height: 2.81 m
 * Main Armament: A cannon SFH 18 / 1 150 mm/L30
 * Secondary armament: A MG34 or MG42 machine gun of 7.92 mm
 * Ammunition: 18 rounds of 150 mm and 600 mm 7.92
 * Hoof Shield: 30 mm (front), 20mm (side and aft ) and 15 mm (roof)
 * Shielding of Superstructure: 10 mm (front, side and aft )