Well, in time honoured fashion, I'm clearing the decks for the festive period and calling this one (two) done!
SturmkanoneThe Sturmkanone was an assault gun produced by the Imperial German Army during WW1. German experiences during the early stages of the conflict had shown that, during offensives, the infantry lacked the means to engage fortifications effectively. The artillery of the time was heavy and not mobile enough to keep up with the advancing infantry to destroy bunkers, pillboxes, and other minor fortifications with direct fire [1]. The Sturmkanone was an attempt to rectify this situation.
DevelopmentIn 1917, with the writing on the wall for Imperial Russia, the German High Command could, at last, start planning for a significant redeployment of forces and for the possibility of major offensive actions on the western front in the spring of 1918. With this in mind, Joseph Vollmer, the designer of the A7V heavy tank, was tasked with designing a suitable mobile gun carrier, that would mount the standard 7.7cm FK96 n/A field gun, carry defensive machine guns, be capable of traversing rough terrain, cross ditches up to 1.5m (4.9”) wide and have a top speed of at least 12km/h (7.5mph).
The first two preproduction vehicles were produced by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in October 1917 and given to Assault Tank Units 1 and 2 – the same units that were evaluating the larger A7V. It was at this time that the design gained the designation Sturmkanone (Assault cannon/gun) in order to reflect its artillery antecedents.
Design VariantsSturmkanone Ausf. AThe initial design, or Sturmkanone Ausf. A as it would later be designated, was 6.65m (21’ 10”) long, 2.42m (9’ 6”) wide and the maximum height was 2.6m (8’ 5”). Like the A7V, frontal armour was 30mm, side 15mm and the roof 10mm.
The hull was a basic, flat-sided box with the engine at the rear and the fighting compartment to the front. The separation of the engine from the crew was already a major advantage over the crowded A7V, however, the initial design was not without its flaws. In order to keep the frontal aspect as narrow as possible (it being assumed that the fortification being assaulted was likely to be firing back) the crew compartment was compact, being only 1.4m (4’ 7”) wide. The field gun was mounted offset to the right with the driver also filling the role of gunner – not entirely a mad idea as the vehicle would not be firing on the move. The commander was to the rear with his own observation cupola whilst the loader had to service the gun and ensure that he was well out of the way (moving from the right to the left of the vehicle) before the gun fired and recoiled. Defensively, the Ausf A. carried three LMG 08/15, one firing to the rear and two which could be side mounded but which were nor routinely fitted in normal operations as they interfered with the operation of the main gun. The initial trials concluded that the internal layout and demands on the crew were unfavourable.
Sturmkanone Ausf. BA major review and redesign were quickly carried out which led directly to the Sturmkanone Ausf B. The new vehicle was the same length and height as the Aus. A but was 10cm wider at 2.52m with an enlarged crew compartment which as 1.7m wide. The gun was now centrally placed in the hull with the driver’s position being moved to the right-hand side with a dedicated gunner on the left. Whilst the commander kept the same position as before, the loader was now free to service the main gun without being crushed for his troubles. With the driver/gunner roles being separated and there now being more space available, a 4th LMG was added in an armoured frontal ball mounting to be operated by the gunner.
Combat HistoryThe Sturmkanone Ausf. B performed admirably during the German spring offensives of 1918 both in supporting the storm trooper divisions and the follow up infantry which would reduce any bypassed fortifications. However, there were simply never enough Sturmkanones available (only [edit 100] having ever been constructed) to prevent the inevitable stagnation of the German assault and the consequent allied counter attacks. The few Sturmkanone Ausf. A that were produced (no more than five) would finally see service as ammunition haulers with their field guns removed and replaced with a machine gun and given the designation of Ausf. C.
However, it was during these dark days and the battle of Amiens in particular that the Sturmkanone had perhaps its finest hour. In what would prophetically be a foretaste of things to come in the next war, a single Sturmkanone Ausf. B (A2) of Sturmartillerie Abteilung 301 was responsible for the destruction of 5 British Mk V Heavy tanks in the course of 30 minutes.
The models depict Sturmkanone Ausf. A trials vehicle ‘Loki’ and Sturmkanone Ausf. B A2 of Sturmartillerie Abteilung 301 circa 8 August 1918 and are primarily 3D printed from a highly modified cults3d.com LK II design, much of my own original 3D designs and, of course, much plastic card.
Reference:
1. Wikipedia StuG III page.
Sturmkanone Auf. A
Sturmkanone Ausf. B
