SdKfz 124 (Wespe)

History

Although German vehicle engineers focused on producing excellent front-line main battle tanks during World War II, it seems that self-propelled artillery systems developed from scratch were relatively low priority. Engineers were often forced to use existing, and sometimes outdated, chassis and hulls to provide the required solutions for the needs of the German Army.

The SdKfz 124 "Wespe" became such a vehicle, although as a direct modification of the Panzer II series of light tanks, it proved a great success.

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, officially beginning World War II. Hitler's army eventually conquered Norway, the Netherlands and France in April-June 1940. Early tanks were light tanks with armor and armament. The Panzer I used only machine guns, while the Panzer II was armed with a 20mm cannon. This was further advanced when the German invasion of the Soviet Union began the long-awaited "Eastern Front" in June 1941.

The actions of these tanks quickly rendered these types completely obsolete, and these were replaced by the more powerful Panzer III and Panzer IV medium tanks - the former for direct contact with enemy tanks and the latter for infantry support. As a result, the German army had dozens of reliable Panzer Is and Panzer IIs still in service (1,493 for the former and 1,856 for the latter). In order to complement the new generation of German tanks, while at the same time modifying the chassis of the outdated model, it was decided to build a new hull superstructure on the chassis of the Panzer II, while retaining the engine and running gear of the original car to simplify logistics and mechanical friendliness.

It will be equipped with a capable field gun, become a self-propelled artillery (SPA)/fire support vehicle, and increase the range of the German Army on the battlefield. Led by Alkett, the design initially included the Panzer II Ausf. F ("Type F") system, with work beginning in 1942.

The 12-ton Wespe was supplied to German front-line troops in 1943 and incorporated into armored artillery battalions and mechanized infantry divisions. Six howitzers form a company, and five companies are assigned to a battalion. It was used against Soviet troops along the Eastern Front, where early gains had now turned into unacceptable losses and stalemates. The Wespe systems performed so well that in time they surpassed all future Panzer II bodybuilding and Marder II conversion precedents (under Hitler's direct personal direction). The small vehicle is popular with the crew for its agility, speed and firepower.

During the North African campaign, the Wasp proved to be a godsend for the Afrika Korps, which fought in harsh desert conditions, although the view to the horizon was usually unobstructed. The vehicle has the range needed to reach embedded enemy targets and the firepower to repel stubborn troops. What it lacks is protection, which almost always requires it to be equipped with support vehicles and personnel, and stationed behind the front lines.

Additionally, the 40x105mm airborne shells limit the availability of inherent ammunition.

The Wasp is only produced in the other main variant, a special ammo carrier that removes the barrel, recoil mechanism and bracket to make room for the 90x105mm projectile. A total of 158 vehicles were produced, retaining the combat effectiveness of the armed version. Therefore, a 105mm gun system salvaged from a lost Wasp could be fitted to an ammunition carrier to bring the carrier up to the original Wasp operational standard. A full Wespe unit consists of 6 SdKfz 124 artillery platforms and an ammunition carrier deployed for support (the ammunition carrier can also be replaced by a supply vehicle or other tracked vehicle). Although intended as a temporary SPA solution, the Wasp vehicles remained in service until the end of the war in Europe, which ended in May 1945, which is how valuable and lethal they were on the battlefield.

This car appeared on all important fronts with the Bundeswehr.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

32 to 40 x 105mm bullets

600 x 7.92mm ammo

Changes