The following U.S. intelligence report on the German 150-mm self-propelled gun was published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 42, January 13, 1944. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

GERMAN 150-MM SP FIELD HOWITZER a. General In Tactical and Technical Trends No. 36, p. 12, this gun was illustrated in error as a 105-mm light SP howitzer. A correction was printed in No. 39, and the sketch is reprinted here with the correct caption. The gun is a 150-mm, 31 caliber medium (although the German nomenclature calls it "heavy") howitzer on a Pz Kw 4 mount. A muzzle brake may be fitted but whether or not this is standard equipment is still not definitely known. One German magazine photograph shows a group of guns which are thought to be of this type, without such brakes. The reported German nickname is Hummel, which is translated, "humble (US, bumble) bee." British nomenclature refers to it as simply the "Bee". Another German magazine also referred to the short assault howitzer described in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 41, p. 16, as the Hummel, although it is elsewhere known as the Brumbear or Grizzly Bear. Hummel, or Bee is probably the correct title for the 150-mm medium howitzer here illustrated. The SP-105 -- l.F.H. 18 (m) on the Pz Kw 2 chassis -- is named the Wespe or Wasp. b. Description The following are the particulars for the 15-cm s.F.H. 18 on Pz Kw 4 chassis. The equipment is known as 15-cm s.F.H. 18/m Sfl* IV Hummel (150-mm medium field howitzer 18/m, self-propelled mount 4, the Bee) i.e. the Bumble-Bee. This should not be confused with the 10.5-cm l.F.H. 18/m Sfl. II Wespe (105-mm light field howitzer 18/m, self-propelled mount Pz Kw 2 Wasp). (1) Gun Nomenclature (German)       15-cm s.F.H. 18 Actual caliber 149 mm Overall length 15 ft 7 1/2 in Overall length including muzzle brake 17 ft. 4 1/2 in MV charge 6 1,020 fs MV charge 7 1,375 fs MV charge 8 1,965 fs Maximum range, charge 6 10,550 yds Maximum range, charge 7 12,140 yds Maximum range, charge 8 14,380 gds Elevation 0° - 39° Traverse each side 16° Weight of barrel 1.96 tons Weight of breech ring 266 lbs Weight of projectile 95.75 lbs NOTE: Charge 8 must not be used without the muzzle brake. (2) Chassis (a) Dimensions Length       20 ft 4 1/2 in Width 9 ft 4 1/2 in Height 9 ft 4 in Width between tracks 7 ft 10 1/2 in Length of tracks on ground 11 ft 6 1/2 in Width of track 15 in Ground clearance 15 3/4 in (b) Weight Weight in action       25 tons (approx) Weight in draught 25.4 tons (approx) (c) Engine Engine Maybach model H.L. 120/TRKM** No. of cylinders       12 HP 300 Fuel capacity 123.6 gal (US) Fuel consumption roads .79 mpg      cross country .55 mpg (d) Performance Maximum speed       25 mph Radius of action roads 96 miles Radius of action cross country 62 miles Fording capacity 2 ft 7 1/2 ins Gradient 330 *Selbstfahrlafette -- self-propelled mount *Engine identification symbol

Back to Articles by Subject | Intel Bulletin by Issue | T&TT by Issue | Home Page