Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär

The Sturmpanzer IV (also known as Sturmpanzer 43, Sturmgeschütz IV für 15 cm Sturmhaubitze 43, or SdKfz. 166) was a German heavily-armored infantry support panzer based on the Panzer IV chassis. The Sturmpanzer IV was nicknamed Brummbär (“Grizzly Bear”) by the Allies, although German soldiers nicknamed it “Stupa”. The Sturmpanzer IV was armed with a 15 cm StuH 43 L/12 mounted in a superstructure with 100 mm frontal armor.

A camouflaged Brummbär from Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216 in action near the Anzio bridgehead in Italy during WWII. The large armor Schürzen mounted on the side of the panzer are clearly visible. (Attribution: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-476-2069-19 / Bayer / CC-BY-SA)

A pair of dusty, camouflaged Brummbär are parked on a street in Rome, Italy. (Attribution: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-476-2069-19 / Bayer / CC-BY-SA)

Brummbär were issued to specialized Sturmpanzer-Abteilung (Stu.Pz.Abt.) 216, Stu.Pz.Abt. 217, Stu.Pz.Abt. z.b.V. 218, and Stu.Pz.Abt. 219 and served on all major fronts.

In searching Allied intelligence reports, note that Brummbär may be spelled Brummbär, Brummbaer, Brummbar, or Brummbarr along with all these spellings with only one “m”.

See Also: New Guns in the Insect Series, German 150-mm SP Assault Howitzer, German Assault Artillery, Stu. G. IV (“Brummbaer”) für 15 cm Stu. H. 43 (Sd. Kfz. 166): S.P. Heavy Infantry Gun “Grizzly Bear”