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Stinging Needle - German Hummel Self-Propelled Gun

War Park 2023-04-23 10:58



Since the day, this mobile artillery entered the stage of history, it has won the title of "King of War" and this title is still unshaken today. During World War II, the Soviet Union and Germany fought a bloody tug of war in the vast territory of the Eastern Front. The German towed artillery was unable to keep up with the panzers, causing unnecessary loss and casualties, due to a lack of artillery support.  Self-propelled artillery was proposed as a viable alternative by the German High Command.



The design idea behind the German "self-propelled gun" was simple: take a light or medium tank and use its parts to build a chassis with bulletproof armor.  Install a slightly modified tractor gun on the chassis.  As a result of this proposal, the mobility of the German artillery was significantly improved. The Hummel-type (“Bumblebee”) self-propelled gun became Germany's most powerful "self-propelled artillery." This self-propelled gun became a symbol of German self-propelled artillery.


The first experimental prototype, known as the Geschützwagen FH 18 / 1, was completed by Alkett in late 1942.  The experimental prototype used as many Panzer IV components as possible.  One of its distinguishing features is a large muzzle brake.  But it soon became clear that the muzzle brake was unnecessary, as the gun's stability was sufficient even without it.   The muzzle brake also raise a lot of dust when firing. 



The Hummel carried the sFH-18 type 150 mm artillery piece.  It was Germany's main heavy artillery in the Second World War and could fire 43.5 kg high explosive grenades with an effective range of 13,250 meters. The Hummel had a open top combat bay at the rear of the hull, surrounded by 10 mm armor as protection for the crew and gun, and the engine was moved to the center of the hull to make room for the combat bay.



Despite space constraints, the Hummel self-propelled gun proved to be a useful and popular weapon, widely used on all fronts, with plenty of room for five gunners and maneuverability to keep pace with the armored divisions. Due to insufficient in-vehicle ammunition storage, one ammunition vehicle accompanied every four Hummel self-propelled guns in order to maintain their supply of ammunition during combat. The ammo cart was actually the same tank chassis, but only without the howitzer and with a shield where the firing port had once been, with ammunition racks in the combat compartment.


This month War Park launched the Winter Hummel self-propelled artillery and three men crew.


The turret can rotate, the gun barrel can pitch,

The rear doors can be opened

The antenna can be erected and lowered

The tank has movable tracks

Track+chassis+gun barrel+some parts are made of metal

Other sections are made of resin or ABS.




蜇人的毒针-德国野蜂自行火炮

战争公园 2023-04-23 10:58


自从火炮登上历史舞台之日起就获得了“战争之王”的称号,直到今天这个称号依旧不可撼动。二战时期在东线广袤的土地上,苏德双方展开了血腥的大规模拉锯战。德军普通炮兵无法跟上装甲部队进攻的步伐,导致装甲部队由于缺乏炮兵支援,造成了不必要的伤亡。于是自行火炮就进入了德军最高统帅部的视野。


德国“自行火炮”的设计思路很简单:取一辆轻型或中型坦克,并使用其部件建造一个带有防弹装甲的底盘。在底盘上再安装一个稍微修改过的牵引炮。由于这种现象,德国炮兵的机动性得到了明显提升。野蜂式自行火炮成为了德国最强大的“自行火炮”。这辆自行火炮成为了德国自行火炮的一个象征。 


第一个实验性原型,被称为GeschützwAGen für sFH 18/1,Alkett于1942年底完成。实验性原型尽可能多地使用了IV号坦克的部件。它的显著特征之一是一个巨大的炮口制退器。但很快就发现炮口制退器是不必要的,因为即使没有它,火炮的稳定性也是足够的。而炮口制退器在开火时也会扬起大片尘土。 


野蜂搭载的是sFH-18型150毫米口径榴弹炮,它是德国在第二次世界大战中的主力重型榴弹炮,可以发射43.5kg高爆榴弹,有效射程13250米。野蜂式自行火炮在车体后方有一个顶部开放式战斗间,并有10mm的装甲围绕以保护乘员与火炮,引擎移至车体中央部分以让出空间给战斗间。


尽管空间有所限制,但事实证明,野蜂自行火炮是一种有用且受欢迎的武器,在各条战线上都得到了广泛使用,有足够的空间容纳五名炮手,机动性也能跟上装甲师的步伐。由于车内弹药储存不足,必须为每四辆野蜂自行火炮提供一辆弹药车,以保持其在战斗中的弹药供应。实际上弹药车是相同的战车,只是没有榴弹炮,而且在曾经的射击口的地方有一面护盾。战斗舱内有弹药架。
























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