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12.8 cm Selbstfahrlafette auf VK3001(H) (Sturer Emil)

1942 WORLD WAR 2

VK3001(H) (Sturer Emil) Historical 12.8 cm SPG

The battlefields of World War II gradually became the domain of tanks. The German Blitz of 1939 and 1940 showed the world the power of the strategic use of armored forces combined with fast-moving mechanized infantry and precision air strikes.

Tank warfare inevitably became the hallmark of the North African campaign and proved crucial to the success of France and Italy, while also proving absolutely crucial on the Eastern Front, where the Germans faced a worthy enemy in the Red Army. As tanks became the dominant force on the battlefield, much thought was given to various devices that could disable or destroy enemy tanks, as many participants experimented with powerful anti-tank rifles, anti-tank grenades, improvised field weapons, anti-tank Tank weapons. - Tank field guns, and other ideas that can stop the Iron Beast.

One of the more practical developments is the self-propelled tracked tank destroyer, which can achieve long-range penetrating strikes while improving mobility.

To simplify production, tank destroyers are usually placed on existing tank chassis. The Germans had early experience with this, with their Marder series using captured French tracked vehicles and outgoing Panzer tank chassis. In both cases, the approach has proven to be very effective, as the army can now deploy tanks and tank destroyers from the same fleet of vehicles, while increasing the versatility of parts, fuel and - in some cases - ammunition. These vehicles can also be produced relatively quickly in required quantities - the fixed body is welded to the existing tank.

With the stalemate on the Eastern Front, the Soviet counteroffensive became more and more successful, and the Germans were forced to develop increasingly powerful anti-tank vehicles. The Soviets were very interested in using medium and heavy tank concepts and they started using the T-34 medium tank they had won in the war as well as the KV-85, KV-1 and Joseph Stalin IS heavy tank series.

One such German development became the short-lived "Sturer Emil" - a large tracked armored vehicle with a powerful 128mm main gun.

Sturer Emil (officially named "12.8 cm Selbstfahrlafette auf VK3001(H)" was designed in line with other tank destroyers of the time. The chassis was a slightly modified version of the discontinued Henschel VK3001 heavy tank. The hull became elongated To add a roadwheel on each track side and improve the vehicle's weight distribution, which is critical for maneuverability and traversing loose terrain.

There are a total of eight roadwheels on each track, and the drive sprocket is mounted in front of the track idler Three pulleys manage the upper part of the track section in a conventional manner. The driver is located in a bunker-like position on the left front side of the hull, separate from the artillery.

In the middle and rear of the vehicle is a fixed open-air armored structure, including the vehicle commander in the Four rifle crews live inside. The open-air nature of the carriage allows the crew to move actively while the main battery is reloading, reloading and firing - although this exposes the crew to all possible battlefield hazards and environmental factors.

Since the superstructure is fixed Yes, the main guns can only traverse 7 degrees to either side and can be raised up to 10 and 15 degrees. As a result, the vehicle is mainly turned to the desired direction of fire - a tactical disadvantage.

Sturer Emil's primary weapon is the massive 128mm (12.8cm) main gun PaK 40 L/61 - the tank version of the highly efficient FlaK 40 anti-aircraft gun system, balanced with the inherent penetrating firepower in the design of the 128mm gun. Anti-infantry measures included the installation of an MG34 general-purpose machine gun, operated by one of the gunners. Although this weapon has a limited range, it can be critical in close fire when enemy infantry intends to shell the vehicle.

In addition, all crew members' personal weapons (usually submachine guns or service rifles) and pistols can be deployed if necessary.

Design work on Sturer Emil began in 1941, followed by the production of two prototypes in 1942. Prototypes were named "Max" and "Moritz" in typical German fashion (they were accustomed to naming specialized developments) and were field tested in 1942 and 1943. Each car weighed nearly 40 tons, and the barrels were 32 feet long, more than 10 feet wide, and nearly 9 feet high. Armor protection is 50mm along the key front fairing and 15mm elsewhere. Power comes from a single Maybach-branded HL116 V6 water-cooled engine that produces 300 horsepower and is capable of reaching speeds of 16 mph in a limited operating range.

Slow and bulky, the Sturer Emil certainly has its tactical limitations, but again, this is largely offset by its powerful main gun, while accompanying main battle tanks, infantry and the proper use of air force can provide protection.

Only these two prototypes were completed, although they both served on the Eastern Front. Only one of the two survived, being captured by victorious Soviet troops at Stalingrad in January 1943 (the Battle of Stalingrad ended the following month). Another example was destroyed in battle and faced outright losses.

The captured specimens were then sent back to Moscow for inspection, eventually ending up as trophies in the famous post-war Kubinka Tank Museum. Of particular note on this specimen are the 22 "kill" symbols on the side of the barrel - a testament to the true effectiveness of the Sturer-Emil system, despite its limitations.

All in all, Sturer Emil certainly brought hope to the desperate German army. Its powerful main gun is undoubtedly the main reason for its limited battlefield success (especially when combined with a well-trained and experienced rifle crew).

If there were enough vehicles, the battle on the Eastern Front could have ended differently for both sides. However, history shows otherwise.