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Heuschrecke 10
Waffenträger (Weapon Carrier)

10.5cm leFH 18/1 L/28 auf Waffenträger GW IVb
Heuschrecke 10
Heuschrecke 10 at Aberdeen, USA.
Picture provided by Jon Cuneo, New Hampshire.

In 1942, Krupp-Gruson began designing very intersting construction of self-propelled gun (Waffentrager - weapon carrier) on Geschutzwagen IV chassis (as used by Hummel). It had fully rotating turret that could be removed with the use of the crane mounted in the back of the vehicle (by hydraulic mechanism or by hand). Turret could be removed and mounted on the wheeled cart/carriage (carried on the vehicle) and moved to a designated position. It could also be removed and placed next to the vehicle on a prepared concrete base as an armored pillbox. At the same time, the turretless vehicle could be used as ammunition carrier or recovery vehicle. The vehicle was seen as replacement for Wespe starting from May of 1944.

Heuschrecke 10
Heuschrecke 10 with its turret being removed to be placed on the cart.

Prototype turret was armed with 105mm leFH 18/1 L/28 (light field howitzer) but for production models 105mm LeFH 43 L/28 (light field howitzer) was planned to be used. The armament was the same as in 10.5cm leFH 18/1(Sf) auf Geschützwagen IVb but was mounted in fully traversible turret unlike it. Its 5 men crew (commander, 3 gunners and driver) was provided with armor protection that ranged from 10mm to 30mm. Prototype was fitted with 12-cylinder Maybach HL90 engine with total power of 360 horsepower but production models were suppose to have 12-cylinder Maybach HL100 engine. The vehicle was based on the Geschutzwagen IV chassis developed for Hummel. In 1943, Krupp produced only 3 prototypes (Serial Numbers 582501 - 582503) that were designated as Heuschrecke 10 or Heuschrecke IVb. This design never reached the production stage although the development lasted from May of 1943 to May of 1944, and was ready for production.

Similar design by Alkett/Rhinemetall-Borsig - 10.5cm leFH 18/40/2 auf Geschuetzwagen III/IV (Sf) was built in competition with Krupp's Heuschrecke 10. It is overall performance was slightly better than that of Krupp's vehicle and prototype was ready in March of 1944. It was decided to utilize Alkett's design by placing it on Panzerkampfwagen IV chassis and production was to start in October of 1944. In December of 1944, it was then decided to produce vehicle based on Geschutzwagen IV chassis and production was to start in February of 1945, but none were made.

There were also similar projects by Skoda based on their project of T-25 medium tank and on VK1602 Leopard. Finally, it was decided that Panther chassis will be used to create Heuschrecke 15, which was also never realized.

In general, concept behind Heuschrecke 10 was to provide mobility for artillery pieces, while they could also perform the role of fixed artillery if required. Today, new German Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 based on Leopard 2 is a continuation of wartime designs such as Heuschrecke 10.

Alkett/Rhinemetall-Borsig
Alkett/Rhinemetall-Borsig's design - 10.5cm leFH 18/40/2 auf Geschuetzwagen III/IV (Sf).
Picture provided by Marco Hoveling, Rotterdam, Holland.
Imperial War Musuem, Duxford, UK.

Specifications

Model:Krupp-GrusonRheinmetall-Borsig
Weight:23000kg25000kg
Crew:5 men5 men
Engine:Maybach HL 90 / 12-cylinder / 360hpMaybach HL 90 / 12-cylinder / 360hp
Speed:45km/h45km/h
Range:Road: 300kmRoad: 300km
Lenght:6.00m6.80m
Width:3.00m3.00m
Height:3.00m2.90m
Armament:105mm leFH 18/1 L/28105mm leFH 18/40/2 L/28
Ammo:105mm - 60 rounds105mm - 80 rounds
Armor (mm/angle): Front Superstructure: 30/20
Front Hull: 30/20
Front Turret: 30/30
Gun Mantlet: 30/round
Side Superstructure: 16/0
Side Hull: 16/0
Side Turret: 16/20
Rear Superstructure: 16/20
Rear Hull: 16/20
Rear Turret: 16/25
Top Superstructure: 10/90
Top/Bottom Hull: 10/90
Top Turret: open
Front Superstructure: 30/20
Front Hull: 20/20
Front Turret: 10/25
Gun Shield: 10/0
Side Superstructure: 10/0
Side Hull: 20/0
Side Turret: 10/25
Rear Superstructure: 10/10
Rear Hull: 20/10
Rear Turret: 10/12
Top Superstructure: 10/90
Top/Bottom Hull: 10/90
Top Turret: open




Sd.Kfz.165/1

10.5cm leFH 18/1(Sf) auf Geschützwagen IVb
In September of 1939, Krupp designed first real self-propelled artillery piece. Two test vehicles were ordered and completed for tests (V1 and V2). They were tested and then accepted by the army in January of 1942. In 1941, Krupp-Gruson based in Magdeburg, build prototype vehicles armed with 105mm leFH 18/1 L/28 (light field howitzer) gun based on modified Panzerkampfwagen IV's chassis (Sd.Kfz.161). Modified chassis consisted of three-station bogies per side and larger road wheels. Prototypes were fitted with smaller 6-cylinder Maybach HL66P engine with total power of 188 horsepower. Production models were to be fitted with 12-cylinder Maybach HL90 P20k engine with total power of 320 horsepower. Its open-top turret was not fully traversible and could only traverse 70 degrees to the each side. The crew of 4 (commander, 2 gunners and driver) was protected by armor ranging from 14.5mm to 30mm in thickness.

Sd.Kfz.165/1

Only 10 prototypes (0-Serie - chassis number 150631-150640) were completed by Krupp-Gruson from August to December of 1942 and were troop tested in Russia with 16th Panzer Division in 1942/43. 200 were ordered from Krupp in December of 1941, but in July of 1942, it became evident that 105mm LeFH 18 can be mounted on modified Panzerkampfwagen II chassis - Wespe. It was then decided to utilize the chassis to mount heavier 150mm sFH but it proved impossible. As a result production scheduled for January of 1943 was cancelled in November of 1942. Sd.Kfz.165's design never reached the production stage as entire self-propelled artillery program was redesigned. Its place was taken by Wespe and StuH 42. Designers planned to use its chassis as a base for Panzerjager armed with 75mm Pak 39 L/48 gun but Jagdpanzer IV was the first to enter production.

Today, new German Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 based on Leopard 2 is a continuation of wartime designs such as 10.5cm leFH 18/1(Sf) auf Geschützwagen IVb.

Sd.Kfz.165/1
Sd.Kfz.165/1 during tests in Russia.

Specifications for Sd.Kfz.165/1

Weight:18000kg
Crew:4 men
Engine:Maybach HL 66 / 6-cylinder / 188hp
Speed: 35km/h
Range:Road: 240km / Cross-Country: 130km
Capacity:410 liters
Lenght:5.90m
Width:2.87m
Height:2.25m
Armament:105mm leFH 18/1 L/28
Ammo:105mm - 60 rounds
Armor (mm/angle): Front Superstructure: 30/10
Front Hull: 30/12
Front Turret: 20/20
Gun Mantlet: 20/0-70
Side Superstructure: 14.5/0
Side Hull: 14.5/0
Side Turret: 14.5/15
Rear Superstructure: 14.5/20
Rear Hull: 14.5/10
Rear Turret: 14.5/10
Top Superstructure: 10/90
Top/Bottom Hull: 14.5/90
Top Turret: open




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