History: The
Hornisse (hornet) was designed in 1942, to provide an adequate self-propelled
mount for the 8.8cm PaK43. In October 1942, it was decided to have 100 Hornisse
built by 12 May 1943, in time for the summer offensive. The initial order was
for a series of 500, of which 494 were completed.
Specific features:
The 8.8cm PaK43/1 was mounted on the same Pz Kpfw III/IV chassis as the Hummel.
The Pz Kpfw III/IV chassis used a lengthened Pz Kpfw IV hull as the basic
design, but with the motor moved forward to a central position. It retained the
basic suspension of the Pz Kpfw IV except for the spacing between components.
The drive sprocket was of the type designed for the Pz Kpfw III. The open-topped
fighting compartment was enclosed on all four sides by slanted armour plates bolted
to the hull. The glacis plate was extended, and a small compartment for the
driver was fitted to it on the left-hand side. The Hummel produced from early
1944, had a crew compartment for the driver and radio operator, extending
across the full width of the hull. The 15cm sFH18/1 was mounted in the middle
over the engine, and this gave the vehicle a very high silhouette. The
Munitions Fahrzeuge varied from the Hummel by having a plate bolted over the
front of the superstructure to close the gap normally filled by the gun and its
shield, and its internal stowage was different.
Combat service:
Hornissen were issued to schwere Panzerjager detachments which were independent
units attached to a Korps or Armee, to provide a mobile, highly effective
tank-killing force. Their first service was with the 655th schwere
Panzerjagerabteilung on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1943. Five other
heavy tank-hunter detachments were formed, and saw action in Italy and in the
West, as well as in the East.
Type | Tank destroyer |
---|---|
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Production history | |
Designer | Alkett |
Manufacturer | Deutsche Eisenwerke |
Number built | 473 |
Specifications | |
Weight | 24 tonnes (52,910 lbs) |
Length | 8.44 m (27 ft 8 in) with gun |
Width | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) |
Height | 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) |
Crew | 4 or 5 |
|
|
Armor | hull: 20-30 mm (.78-1.18 in) superstructure: 10 mm (.39 in) |
Main
armament |
8.8 cm (3.46 in) Pak 43/1 |
Secondary
armament |
7.92 mm MG (carried inside) |
Engine | Maybach 11.9 litre V-12 gasoline 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW) |
Power/weight | 12.5 PS/tonne |
Suspension | leaf spring |
Operational
range |
235 km (146 mi) |
Speed | 42 km/h (26.71 mph) |
No comments:
Post a Comment