The Wehrmacht of Germany for a long period used quite successfully heavy artillery weapons on various types of traction. When the weapons fleet reached critical limits, the management faced the task of developing tracked platforms for transporting self-propelled guns. Hummel is one of the most advanced and efficient developments combining maneuverability, high maneuverability and firepower.
How the howitzer was created
The experience of the Blitzkrieg showed that careful planning of military operations often faded into the background. Tanks not so rarely went into a breakthrough, moving away from infantry and artillery due to their mobility. As a result, they were left without the necessary support. If the issue was resolved with infantry soldiers through the operation of armored personnel carriers and other equipment, it was practically impossible to quickly prepare heavy howitzers and artillery mounts in a rapid attack mode.
The self-propelled guns Hummel decided to put on a tracked chassis, which made it self-propelled, providing successful support for German tanks. Another problem appeared here - the requirements of the military were so different that a certain universal concept was not enough. In parallel, the development of various machines designed for specific tasks was carried out.
Interim solution
In 1941, the German command of the armed forces gave the task of releasing a self-propelled howitzer to several companies. Among them:
- Rheinmetal.
- Krupp.
- Daimler Benz.
- "Skoda."
At the same time, manufacturers expressed strong outrage because of critically tight deadlines. As a result, the problem was solved by the appearance of the so-called “interim solution”. The Wehrmacht demanded to develop and create only two types of equipment - artillery mounts equipped with a 105 mm gun and howitzer, 150 mm caliber.
The preliminary name is due to the fact that in the future it was planned to manufacture radically different self-propelled guns, made not from tanks and the remnants of other vehicles, but being full-fledged units capable of performing the tasks. However, the maximum implementation of existing and developing technologies was required. In this case, the designers had to meet the minimum time and reduce the cost of production.
Design
Studies have shown that the PT SAM Hummel is most suitable for mounting the IFH-18 (105 mm) and SFH-18 (150 mm) guns. For this, the chassis of the tanks PZ.KPF-2/4 was used. Mostly alterations were carried out in the direction of transfer of the engine compartment to the middle part of the stern, and the side compartment was located in the rear of the combat unit.
The chassis armor has not undergone significant transformations. Protection was provided by elements designed to withstand small arms of various types and shrapnel. The stability of the installation was planned to be provided, regardless of the position of the gun. In addition, it was necessary to guarantee the maximum possible supply of combat kit and fuel storage on a par with the base tanks. It was also assumed that the crew of the Hummel self-propelled guns will be six fighters for a 105 mm gun and 7 for 150 mm. All new components and assemblies were planned to be manufactured on existing equipment using existing technologies. In this case, machining should be minimized.
Development restrictions
The howitzer in question was being developed in parallel with another project called Vespa. Designers already at the initial stage faced with limitations in the selected structural scheme. The main disadvantage of the chassis in question was the expected and well-known problem spot regarding early conversion projects. It consisted of a rather limited stock of ammunition. On the self-propelled gun "Hummel" he made only 18 shells. Therefore, almost a quarter of the updated installations were built as an armored personnel carrier for transporting charges. But the opportunity arose to convert such instances into a combat vehicle without visiting a workshop or hangar.
The supply of light and heavy self-propelled guns to combat units began in the first half of 1943. The doubts about the failure of the “interim solution” were dispelled after the successful use of such equipment in battles of tank battalion batteries. Their units received excellent artillery support. The subsequent deterioration of the military position of the Wehrmacht was the reason for the rejection of further development of such projects. Only a few prototypes of combat self-propelled guns of this configuration were built.
Design features
The predecessor of the Hummel installation was called Geschutzwagen. It was equipped on the chassis of a PZKPF tank with a 150 mm caliber SFH-18 cannon. To create this design, selective systems of armored vehicles were used. The exterior of the navigation units corresponded to the J. V Ausf.F, and the internal equipment included elements of the PzKpfw tank as much as possible. III Ausf.
Among the differences from the prototypes, the modified hull, the presence of track rollers in the running gear, track-sloths, track tensioners and the like are noted. From the second tank, the self-propelled gun got the Maybach power unit with a transmission unit (a variant of SSG-77). In equipment equipment from this machine control units and brake system were also used.
Especially for the German self-propelled guns Hummel, the designers developed new shafts that transform the traction from the motor, exhaust pipes, oil filters, inertia-type starters, winter accessories and fuel-supplying parts. The combat compartment on experimental self-propelled guns was located in the aft compartment, was open from above. He weatherproof crew defended a tarp tent mounted over the wheelhouse.
The motor block was placed in the middle, and the controller responsible for control was installed in front. These two compartments were isolated from one another. Access inside was carried out through a pair of hatches. Additional weapons (except for the cannon) - MG-34 or MG-42 machine guns. The crew used pistols and machine guns as defensive weapons.
Other equipment
Self-propelled guns Hummel, the photo of which is shown below, was also equipped with a reliable HL-120TRM engine and SSG-77 transmission. At the same time, the existing unit did not guarantee a sufficient reserve of specific power for the machine.
The equipment of the radio and transmitters correlates with similar devices of artillery spotters. Often, radio stations worked together with these units, as well as spotters like Funksprechgerat f FuSprG 0 and Bordsprechgerat BoSprG. The receivers functioned in the mid-frequency range and were equipped with a 30-watt transmitter.
Technical characteristics of self-propelled guns "Hummel"
Below are the main parameters of the machine in question:
- A variation is a self-propelled howitzer.
- Length / width / height - 7170/2970/2810 mm.
- Armored equipment - from 10 to 30 mm.
- The travel range at one gas station is up to 215 kilometers along the highway.
- The maximum speed is 40 km / h.
- The number of crew members is 6/7 people.
- Armament - 105 or 150 mm gun and several machine guns of the MG-42 category.
Combat use
The Germans managed to create 115 self-propelled guns like self-propelled guns Hummel-M1-16. A total of about fifty vehicles were sent to combat units. The rest of the equipment was deployed in educational buildings.
The total production volume of the military equipment under consideration amounted to 724 units, which proved to be quite successful. Ten copies were converted from tanks, and the rest of the vehicles from armored personnel carriers. Definitely self-propelled guns Hummel M-1-16 can be called the most popular self-propelled artillery installation of the Second World War. Panzer Panzer divisions were created in early 1943, after which management approved a new state known as the KStN 431 fG (Frei-Gliederung).
Designations
On the sides of the equipment in question were marked not tank three-digit numbers from A to F, but expanded designations, up to the letters G and O. Typically, marks were placed on the frontal part and stern armored plates of the felling. Regarding the decoding of the notation, the following can be noted:
- No. 1 - the first company.
- No. 5 - the fifth platoon.
- No. 8 - the eighth car.
However, such designations were rarely applied to combat artillery self-propelled guns.
In the second half of hostilities, divisional emblems on fascist armored vehicles were applied in some cases. Most often, crews personally left distinctive marks relating to the names of wives, children and other relatives.
