World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseSturmpanzer heavy infantry support guns were built by marrying 15-centimeter Sturmhaubitze (StuH) 43 L/12 guns with the chassis of Panzer IV tanks. The 60 examples of the original series were first delivered in Apr 1943. The second series of another 60 vehicles began production in Dec 1943; a number of the first series vehicles were rebuilt to the specs of the second series during this time period as well. The first unit to take these guns to combat was Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216 battalion, which trained in France and then saw combat at Kursk, Russia under the designation Panzerjäger Regiment 656. Combat experience in the Soviet Union showed that the primary guns were too heavy for the chassis, which caused unacceptable wear. This problem was improved, but never completely eliminated, with the third series, which saw a redesign of the primary weapon (by 800 kilograms), reduction of hull armor, and new steel road wheels (replacing the front rubber wheels). The third series of Sturmpanzer heavy infantry support guns began production in Mar 1944 and lasted until Jun 1944. The fourth series entered production in Jun 1944 and lasted until Mar 1945; the vehicles of this final series enjoyed some general improvements as well as further weight-reduced primary guns. Battalions equipped with Sturmpanzer vehicles would subsequently see action in Italy, France, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, and Germany. Overall, 306 Sturmpanzer vehicles were built between 1943 and 1945. While German troops at times nicknamed them "Stupa", a shortened form of "Sturmpanzer", Allied intelligence reports referred to them as "Brummbär" ("growling bear" or "grumbling bear").

SPECIFICATIONS

Sturmpanzer

Machinery	One liquid-cooled Maybach HL120TRM V-12 engine rated at 296hp
Suspension	two-wheel leaf-spring bogies
Armament	1x15cm StuH 43 L/12 gun (38 rounds), 1x or 2x7.92mm MG 34 machine guns
Armor	100mm front
Crew	5
Length	5.93 m
Width	2.88 m
Height	2.52 m
Weight	28.2 t
Speed	24 km/h off-road; 40 km/h on-road
Range	210 km

Photographs