Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124
Land	Tyskland
Typ	Självgående artilleri
I bruk	1943 – 1945
Byggd	676

Den Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 var ett självgående artillerifordon som användes av den tyska armén under andra världskriget. Den var baserad på chassit av stridsvagnen Panzer II och beväpnad med en 10,5 cm leFH 18 haubits. Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 hade en besättning på fem personer och en maxhastighet på 40 km/h. Den tillverkades mellan 1943 och 1944 och tjänstgjorde på öst- och västfronten. Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 var effektiv när det gällde att ge eldunderstöd till pansardivisionerna, men den hade begränsat pansarskydd och ammunitionsförråd.

Källkod: Wikipedia

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 Walk Around
Fotograf	Unknow
Lokalisering	Unknow
Bilder	26

[

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 01

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 02

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 03

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 04

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 05

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 06

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 07

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 08

Wespe Sd.Kfz. 124 09

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Vänta, Söker 15 cm Kanone 18 för dig...

Köp mig en kaffe

Se även:

Giving the Panzer II a New Lease on Life

By 1942, the Pansar 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)
Roll	Self-Propelled Light Field Howitzer
besättning	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)
Motor	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.
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.