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Grille (artillery)
Encyclopedia
The Grille series of self propelled artillery vehicles were used by Nazi Germany
during World War II
. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t)
tank and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.
(heavy infantry gun) was mounted in the front of this armored compartment.
A total of 91 (including the one prototype) were produced in the BMM (erstwhile ČKD
Praga) factory in Prague
from February to April 1943. The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1).
As the Ausf H was built on a tank chassis, its hull armour was 50 mm (front) and its superstructure armour was 25 mm (front)
From April to June 1943 and then from October 1943 to September 1944 a total of 282 vehicles were produced, as well as 120 ammunition carriers, which replaced the main gun with ammunition racks. These could be converted back to normal configuration in the field, by mounting the 15 cm gun onto the vehicle. The Grille Ausf M was the last vehicle built on the Ausf M chassis as the 10 that had been allocated to the Flakpanzer 38(t)
chassis were used to build Grille's instead.
The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33/1 auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) (Sf) Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138/1)
and Panzergrenadier Divisions, in their heavy infantry gun units. Each detachment had six available.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t)
Panzer 38(t)
The Panzerkampfwagen 38 was originally a Czech tank of pre-World War II design. After Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany, it was adopted by the German Army, seeing service in the invasions of Poland and Russia. Production ended in 1942, when its armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over...
tank and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.
Development
The original order for 200 units of the Grille, was to be based on the new 38(t) Ausf M chassis that BMM (Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik) was developing, however delays caused production to start on the 38(t) Ausf H chassis, using, in some cases, the older 38(t)'s returned for factory refit.Grille Ausf. H
The first variant of the Grille was based on the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H, which had its engine in the rear. The turret of the tank was removed and replaced by a low-slung superstructure and fighting compartment. The 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33SIG 33
The 15 cm sIG 33 was the standard German heavy infantry gun used in the Second World War. It was the largest weapon ever classified as an infantry gun by any nation. Sources differ on the development history, but the gun itself was of conventional design. Early production models were...
(heavy infantry gun) was mounted in the front of this armored compartment.
A total of 91 (including the one prototype) were produced in the BMM (erstwhile ČKD
CKD
A knock-down kit is a kit containing the parts needed to assemble a product...
Praga) factory in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
from February to April 1943. The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1).
As the Ausf H was built on a tank chassis, its hull armour was 50 mm (front) and its superstructure armour was 25 mm (front)
Grille Ausf. M
The second Grille variant was based on the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. M, which had its engine in the middle. As with the earlier version, the turret was removed and replaced with a new superstructure and armored compartment. Unlike the Ausf. H variant of the Grille, this was located at the rear of the vehicle, as well as somewhat smaller and higher. This version also carried the 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33.From April to June 1943 and then from October 1943 to September 1944 a total of 282 vehicles were produced, as well as 120 ammunition carriers, which replaced the main gun with ammunition racks. These could be converted back to normal configuration in the field, by mounting the 15 cm gun onto the vehicle. The Grille Ausf M was the last vehicle built on the Ausf M chassis as the 10 that had been allocated to the Flakpanzer 38(t)
Flakpanzer 38(t)
The Flakpanzer 38 was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used in World War II.- Design:...
chassis were used to build Grille's instead.
The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33/1 auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) (Sf) Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138/1)
Combat history
Both versions were intended to take service in the schwere Infantreriegeschütz Companies within the Panzergrenadier Regiments, inside PanzerPanzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
and Panzergrenadier Divisions, in their heavy infantry gun units. Each detachment had six available.
External links
- WWII Vehicles
- Gw. für 15 cm s.I.G. 33/1 (Sd. Kfz. 138/1): S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer (on Czech Chassis) (Catalogue of Enemy Ordnance, 1945)