Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124
Country	Germany
Type	Self-propelled artillery
In service	1943 – 1945
Built	676

The Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 was a self-propelled artillery vehicle used by the German army during World War II. It was based on the chassis of the Panzer II tank and armed with a 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer. The Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 had a crew of five and a maximum speed of 40 km/h. It was produced from 1943 to 1944 and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts. The Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 was effective in providing fire support for the Panzer divisions, but it had limited armor protection and ammunition storage.

Source: Wikipedia

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 Walk Around
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Giving the Panzer II a New Lease on Life

By 1942, the Panzer II was hopelessly outclassed as a frontline battle tank. However, its reliable chassis provided a perfect platform for mobile artillery. The Wespe (Wasp) was designed by Alkett and utilized a modified Panzer II Ausf. F chassis to mount the standard 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer. Unlike the Marder series (which was an anti-tank “hunter”), the Wespe was a true artillery piece, designed to fire from the second line to support moving armored formations. It was so successful that Hitler personally ordered all Panzer II production to be dedicated exclusively to the Wespe.

Attribute	Standard Specification (Sd.Kfz. 124 Wespe)
Role	Self-Propelled Light Field Howitzer
Crew	5 (Commander, Driver, 3 Gunners)
Main Armament	10.5 cm leFH 18/2 L/28 Howitzer
Secondary Armament	1 x 7.92 mm MG 34 (stowed for local defense)
Maximum Firing Range	approx. 10,600 meters (6.6 miles)
Armor	5 mm to 30 mm (enough to stop small arms fire)
Engine	Maybach HL 62 TR 6-cylinder petrol (140 hp)
Max Road Speed	40 km/h (25 mph)
Production Total	676 guns + 159 ammunition carriers

Design Adaptations for Artillery

Chassis Modification: To accommodate the heavy 10.5 cm gun, the Panzer II chassis was lengthened, and the engine was moved forward to a more central position. This helped balance the weight and created a rear fighting platform.
The Split Superstructure: The gun was mounted in an open-topped, high-walled armored box. While this protected the crew from shell splinters and rifle fire from the front, they were vulnerable to the elements and overhead airbursts. [Image showing the internal crew positions and the 10.5cm howitzer breech]
Ammunition Constraints: Due to its small size, the Wespe could only carry 32 rounds of ammunition. To solve this, specialized Munitionsträger Wespe (ammunition carriers) were built—identical vehicles without the gun that carried 90 extra rounds.
Fire Control: The Wespe typically operated in batteries of six, linked by radio to forward observers who provided the coordinates for indirect fire missions.

Combat History: From Kursk to Normandy

Baptism of Fire: The Wespe saw its first major action during Operation Citadel (Kursk) in July 1943. Its ability to keep pace with the Panzers across the Russian steppe made it an instant favorite among commanders.
Reliability: Unlike many late-war German heavy projects, the Wespe was praised for its mechanical reliability and ease of repair, largely because it used the well-vetted Panzer II components.
Global Service: After Kursk, the Wespe served on every major front, including the defense of Sicily and Italy, the battles in Normandy, and the final defense of Germany.