The Sturer Emil, officially designated the Selbstfahrlafette auf VK3001(H), was a heavy tank destroyer used by Germany during World War II.
Description[]
The Emil was powered by a 300 hp, V-6 water-cooled Maybach HL 116 petrol engine. It measured 9.70 meters long, 3.16 meters wide and 2.70 meters high, and weighed approximately 35,000 kilograms. The Emil required a crew of five, comprising a driver, gunner, commander and two loaders. The armor protection for the crew was 50 mm at the thickest, and 15 mm at the thinest. The Emil was essentially the chassis of the Henschel VK3001 heavy tank prototype, mounted with a Rheinmetall-made, 128 mm K 40 L/61 gun. An additional 7.92 mm MG 34 was carried inside the fixed, forward-facing turret. The maximum range of the Emil was 25 kilometers.[1]
History[]
The Sturer Emil design was completed in 1941 by Henschel in order to find a use for the two existing VK3001 heavy tank prototypes. The design involved the mounting of a 128 mm Rheinmetall gun in fixed open turret on the chassis of the prototype. The design was successful for the most part, but was never put into mass production. Two vehicles were completed in 1942, one on each of the existing prototype chassis, and each being nicknamed "Max" and "Moritz" respectively. Both vehicles were sent to the Eastern Front, were they saw extensive service against Soviet forces. One of the Emils was destroyed later that same year, while the other remained in service until 1943 at the Battle of Stalingrad, it was captured by Soviet forces, after having destroyed some twenty-two Soviet vehicles. After the war, it was placed on display at the Kubinka Tank Museum near Moscow, and is still there today.[1]
References[]
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