| Wespe | |
|---|---|
Wespe at the Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster, Germany |
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| Type | Self-propelled artillery |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943 - 1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Alkett |
| Designed | 1942 |
| Produced | 1943 - 1944 |
| Number built | 682 |
| Variants | ammunition carrier |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 11 tonnes (24,250 lb) |
| Length | 4.81 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Width | 2.28 m (7 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, three gunners) |
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| Armor | 5 - 30 mm (.19 - 1.18 in) |
| Main armament |
1x 10.5 cm leFH 18M L/28 with 40 rounds |
| Engine | 6-cyl petrol Maybach HL62TR 140 hp (105 kW) |
| Power/weight | 12.7 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | leaf spring |
| Operational range |
220 km (137 mi) |
| Speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
The SdKfz 124 Wespe (German for "wasp"), also known as Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ("Light field howitzer 18 on Panzer II chassis"), was a German self-propelled artillery vehicle developed and used during the Second World War. It was based mainly on the Panzer II tank.
Contents |
In 1940, during the Battle of France, it was apparent that the main tank of the German forces, the Panzer II, was unsuitable as a tank; though mechanically sound, it was both under-gunned and under-armoured. Thus, when the need arose for a self-propelled artillery vehicle, the Panzer II was a natural choice, removing the vehicles from front line service and extending their usable lifespan.
The design for the Wespe was produced by Alkett, and was based on the Panzer II Ausf. F chassis. Production of the vehicles was carried out at various plants, mainly in occupied Poland, Specifically Warsaw's Famo factory. The conversion process itself proved relatively simple, involving the replacement of the Panzer II turret with a 105 mm leFH 18 howitzer and a gun-shield.
The Wespe first saw combat in 1943 on the Eastern Front, and proved so successful that Hitler ordered all Panzer II production to be reserved for the Wespe alone, dropping other projects such as the Marder II self-propelled anti-tank gun. They were allocated to the armored artillery battalions (Panzerartillerie Abteilungen) of Panzer divisions along with heavier Hummel self-propelled guns. The Wespe had major success because of it's ability to fit in with the German plan of Blitzkrieg by having a great mobility along with firepower.
The Wespe stayed in production from February 1943 until mid-1944. By that time, 682 had been produced, with an additional 158 built as weaponless ammunition carriers.
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