The 15-centimetre (5.9 in) sIG 33 gun was used as direct-fire artillery in support of assaulting infantry. To improve its mobility 38 guns were mounted on a Panzerkampfwagen I chassis in February 1940. The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B that had participated in the Invasion of France in 1940 had proven to be too heavy for its chassis as well as being enormously tall.[1]
The same gun was mated to the Panzerkampfwagen II chassis in an attempt to drastically lower its height while using a stronger chassis. The prototype used a standard Panzer II Ausf. B chassis when it was built in February 1941, but this was too cramped for use. The chassis was lengthened by 60 centimetres (24 in), which required adding a sixth roadwheel, and widened by 32 centimetres (13 in) to better accommodate the gun while preserving its low silhouette. 15-millimetre (0.6 in) plates formed the front and sides of the open-topped fighting compartment, which was also open at the rear. Its sides were notably lower than the front, which made the crew vulnerable to small arms fire and shell fragments. Large hatches were added to the rear deck to better cool the engine.[2] The vehicle carried 30 rounds for the gun which could traverse a total of 5° left and right and used a Rblf36 sight.[2]
Combat useedit
Twelve were built in December 1941 – January 1942.[1] They were shipped to North Africa later that year, where they formed schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanien (mot.S.) ("Heavy Self-propelled Infantry Gun Companies") 707 and 708. They were used as close support mobile artillery, with the former assigned to Schützen-Regiment 155 and the latter to Schützen-Regiment 200, both part of the 90. leichte Afrika-Division.[3] Both companies fought until the Axis surrender in Tunisia in May 1943.[2]
Chamberlain, Peter, and Hilary L. Doyle. Thomas L. Jentz (Technical Editor). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: A Complete Illustrated Directory of German Battle Tanks, Armoured Cars, Self-propelled Guns, and Semi-tracked Vehicles, 1933–1945. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1978 (revised edition 1993) ISBN1-85409-214-6
Doyle, Hilary Louis, Friedli, Lukas and Jentz, Thomas. Sturmpanzer: Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33, Sturmpanzer and Munitionspanzer Development and Production from 1942 to 1945. Panzer Tracts No. 8-1. Boyds, Maryland: Panzer Tracts, 2014.
Jentz, Thomas L. Rommel's Funnies. Darlington, Maryland: Darlington Productions, 1997. ISBN0-9648793-6-0
Trojca, Waldemar and Jaugitz, Markus. Sturmtiger and Sturmpanzer in Combat. Katowice, Poland: Model Hobby, 2008 ISBN978-83-60041-29-1
External linksedit
"Gw. II für 15 cm s.I.G. 33: S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer 14 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine" (U.S. World War II intelligence report)
November 16, 2023
fahrgestell, panzerkampfwagen, sometimes, referred, sturmpanzer, bison, german, assault, used, during, world, dozen, vehicles, produced, were, assigned, 90th, light, infantry, division, north, africa, during, wrecked, example, captured, israelis, from, egypt, . The 15 cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Sf sometimes referred to as the Sturmpanzer II Bison was a German assault gun used during World War II The dozen vehicles produced were assigned to the 90th Light Infantry Division in North Africa during the war 15 cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Sf Wrecked example captured by the Israelis from Egypt in 1948TypeHeavy assault gunPlace of originNazi GermanyService historyIn service1942 1943 1948Used byNazi Germany EgyptWarsWorld War II 1948 Arab Israeli WarProduction historyManufacturerAlkettProduced1941 1942No built12SpecificationsMass11 2 t 11 0 long tons 12 3 short tons Length5 41 m 17 7 ft Width2 6 m 8 5 ft Height1 9 m 6 2 ft Crew4Armor5 30 mm 0 20 1 18 in Mainarmament1 15 cm 5 9 in sIG 33 heavy infantry gunSecondaryarmament1 7 92 mm Maschinengewehr 34EngineBussing NAG engineTransmission6 forward 1 reverse gearsSuspensionleaf springOperationalrange160 km 99 mi Maximum speed40 km h 25 mph Contents 1 Development 2 Combat use 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksDevelopment editThe 15 centimetre 5 9 in sIG 33 gun was used as direct fire artillery in support of assaulting infantry To improve its mobility 38 guns were mounted on a Panzerkampfwagen I chassis in February 1940 The 15 cm sIG 33 Sf auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B that had participated in the Invasion of France in 1940 had proven to be too heavy for its chassis as well as being enormously tall 1 The same gun was mated to the Panzerkampfwagen II chassis in an attempt to drastically lower its height while using a stronger chassis The prototype used a standard Panzer II Ausf B chassis when it was built in February 1941 but this was too cramped for use The chassis was lengthened by 60 centimetres 24 in which required adding a sixth roadwheel and widened by 32 centimetres 13 in to better accommodate the gun while preserving its low silhouette 15 millimetre 0 6 in plates formed the front and sides of the open topped fighting compartment which was also open at the rear Its sides were notably lower than the front which made the crew vulnerable to small arms fire and shell fragments Large hatches were added to the rear deck to better cool the engine 2 The vehicle carried 30 rounds for the gun which could traverse a total of 5 left and right and used a Rblf36 sight 2 Combat use editTwelve were built in December 1941 January 1942 1 They were shipped to North Africa later that year where they formed schwere Infanteriegeschutz Kompanien mot S Heavy Self propelled Infantry Gun Companies 707 and 708 They were used as close support mobile artillery with the former assigned to Schutzen Regiment 155 and the latter to Schutzen Regiment 200 both part of the 90 leichte Afrika Division 3 Both companies fought until the Axis surrender in Tunisia in May 1943 2 References editNotes edit a b Doyle Friedli amp Jentz p 8 1 5 a b c Chamberlain amp Doyle p 37 Trojca amp Jaugitz p 5 Bibliography edit Chamberlain Peter and Hilary L Doyle Thomas L Jentz Technical Editor Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two A Complete Illustrated Directory of German Battle Tanks Armoured Cars Self propelled Guns and Semi tracked Vehicles 1933 1945 London Arms and Armour Press 1978 revised edition 1993 ISBN 1 85409 214 6 Doyle Hilary Louis Friedli Lukas and Jentz Thomas Sturmpanzer Sturminfanteriegeschutz 33 Sturmpanzer and Munitionspanzer Development and Production from 1942 to 1945 Panzer Tracts No 8 1 Boyds Maryland Panzer Tracts 2014 Jentz Thomas L Rommel s Funnies Darlington Maryland Darlington Productions 1997 ISBN 0 9648793 6 0 Trojca Waldemar and Jaugitz Markus Sturmtiger and Sturmpanzer in Combat Katowice Poland Model Hobby 2008 ISBN 978 83 60041 29 1External links editPanzers of the Reich wwiivehicles com Gw II fur 15 cm s I G 33 S P Heavy Infantry Howitzer Archived 14 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine U S World War II intelligence report Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 15 cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Sf amp oldid 1169237555, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
