The SdKfz 124 Wespe was a self-propelled artillery piece used by Germany during World War II.
Description[]
It had a gasoline powered, water-cooled, Maybach HL62TR engine that was capable of propelling the Wespe at speeds of up to 40 km/h.[1] The Wespe was also based on the chassis of the Panzer II.
Among the modifications made to the original chassis was a reinforced suspension system so it would not be damaged when firing.[2] The SdKfz 124 had a 6 speed forward, 1 speed reverse transmission and a leaf spring suspension system. The armament of the SdKfz 124 was one 10.5 cm leFH 18M main gun and one MG 34. The total weight was about 11,000 kg while the Wespe itself required a crew of at least five men in order to operate effectively. The length was 4.8 meters and the armor protection varied from 10-30 mm.[3]The radio commonly used with the SdKfz 124 was the FuG Spr f and it could carry thirty-two rounds of 10.5 cm ammunition. It could also carry about 170 liters of gasoline and had a maximum range of around 220 kilometers. The main gun of the Wespe's gun elevation ranged from -5 degrees to +42 degrees.
Variants[]
The SdKfz 124 Wespe had only one variant which was a specialized ammunition carrier. It was capable of carrying about 90 projectiles.[4] As with most ammunition carrier variants, the SdKfz 124 variant was unarmed and had less crew members. A little over 120 ammunition carrier were made over the course of the war.
History[]
The Wespe was first developed around 1940 and entered service in 1943. It was meant to provide artillery support to advancing troops and as such, it was not meant to engage other allied vehicles in direct fire. Still, they were equipped with armor piercing rounds just in case.[2] The Wespe proved very effective and was produced until 1944. In total, 676 Wespes were produced during World War II.
References[]
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